English Soccer Question

[GGGG]

I've been watching a lot of the English Premier League this year.  A good way to pass a Saturday and Sunday morning.  I fully understand that the Premier League "regular season" and the FA Cup tournament run during the same time...with schedules intermingled.  (This is similar to most European soccer leagues I believe.)

My question is, how important is the FA Cup to top level teams?  For instance, will a team that is facing potential relegation to a lower level not play their top players in a FA Cup match in order to rest them for the regular season?  Will a Uefa Cup qualifier do the same to keep players rested for the European tournament?

[groove]

Most of the top teams like Man Utd and Chelsea tend to rest some of their starters for the FA cup games. Most of those teams, in addition to the regular league games, are also playing UEFA champions league games so the schedule can get pretty congested. There is also the Carling Cup going on at the same time. As the teams move along through the FA Cup rounds, they take them more seriously.

For the lower teams it is a way to salvage an otherwise poor season. If a team is on the verge of relegation however, it can become a balancing act.

[GGGG]

WTF is the Carling Cup? 

OK...just looked it up.  It is basically the a Cup tournament for the top programs that don't get involved in the FA Cup until later on.

Really strange.

[caltruda]

I think it depends on whether the "elite" (i.e., Champions League teams) have reserve squads and when they have the matches. If they have a EPL match Saturday and an FA match Wednesday, most of the higher-end teams will turn over anywhere from half to two-thirds of their starting lineup. Sometimes this will bite a team in the ass, such in the case of Arsenal in that it was forced to "replay" its most recent match against Leeds after it played to a 1-1 draw the first time. Agree with groove in the sense that the balancing act for lower teams between advancing and relegation is a finer one because there's a lot more at stake financially, which also works at the same level for Champions League teams as they try to get through group play.

[reinko]

Nothing really to add, other than go Everton!!!!

[groove]

Nothing really to add, other than go Everton!!!!

It would be nice if Donovan was with Everton again this winter. Looks like they could have used him again.

[reinko]

It would be nice if Donovan was with Everton again this winter. Looks like they could have used him again.

Tell me about it, and with Cahill on loan forever for that stupid Asian Cup tournament, I just hope the Toffees don't get regulated.

[Golden Avalanche]

WTF is the Carling Cup? 

OK...just looked it up.  It is basically the a Cup tournament for the top programs that don't get involved in the FA Cup until later on.

Really strange.

The main difference between the two is that the Carling Cup (formerly called the League Cup) only includes the Professional clubs in England whereas the FA Cup is open to any organized soccer club (whether it be professional, semi-professional, or regulated amateurs).

The FA Cup begins in June with all the loosely connected "Sunday/Pub league" teams battling it out and then as it runs its course through late Summer into Autumn League One enters (kind of like Single A baseball), the Championship teams enter (Triple AAA), then finally the Premiership teams enter in the 4th Round.

[PaintTouches]

Sultan, it really depends on the team. Take this for example.

West Ham was just bounced out of the Carling Cup Semis and it was a big blow to the fanbase here in London, especially because they are at the bottom of the league and have no hopes for anyother trophies. They are not a top 4 team regularly but they are usually battling for a spot in the Europa League (spots 5-8).

Now West Ham played its starters in the games most of the tournament (resulting in a shocking 4-0 win over Man U) because it didn't have to focus on many other tournaments, just the regular EPL, FA Cup, and Carling Cup. On the other hand, Arsenal played scrubs up until the semis because it is also competing in the Champions League, EPL, FA and Carling.

Relegation teams usually play full squads because its an opportunity to win a trophy ($$) and give their fan base victories they can savor. 

[GGGG]

My friend who lives in London said that if West Ham is relegated, it would very likely mean that they will not be able to afford taking over Olympic Stadium after 2012.  Is that the case too?

Thanks for the answers everyone!

[PaintTouches]

My friend who lives in London said that if West Ham is relegated, it would very likely mean that they will not be able to afford taking over Olympic Stadium after 2012.  Is that the case too?

I'm not sure about that because as is the case when "big name" clubs get relegated, they usually are back within a year. The financial difference between the Premier League (Majors) and the Championship (AAA) is enormous, but for one season, I think they could withstand it. Plus, they wouldn't play in it until the 2012-13 season at the earliest, and they would most likely be back by then.

The thing with the olympic stadium is that it's not West Ham's to own yet. The committees have yet to decide whether it will go to West Ham or Tottenham. The general feeling was that it was West Ham's to lose (because they would have kept the running track and only reduced the size of it), but with all the losing they are doing, Tottenham may well end up getting it. The decision was supposed to be made a week ago but it was postponed and a lot of the people I've talked to here say that favors the Spurs.

In my opinion, it would be a shame for either club to move out of their stadiums with over 100 years of history each. And it would be stupid for them to award it to Tottenham because their plan is to simply tear down the stadium and build a new one. But what do I know.   

http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/01/28/west-ham-spurs-olympic-stadium-bids-athletics-football/

[groove]

Tell me about it, and with Cahill on loan forever for that stupid Asian Cup tournament, I just hope the Toffees don't get regulated.

It's a shame that Donovan is wasting so much time in MLS.

[IAmMarquette]

It's a shame that Donovan is wasting so much time in MLS.

I agree. It's too bad LA won't loan him out. Doing so can only serve to benefit US Soccer.

In other news, really like the move by Liverpool to pick up Suarez, although they still need a holding midfielder (Xabi Alonso filled that role to perfection). Perhaps Dalglish wants to pair Suarez alongside Torres and just try to outscore everyone, rather than play defense...

[77ncaachamps]

I agree. It's too bad LA won't loan him out. Doing so can only serve to benefit US Soccer.

In other news, really like the move by Liverpool to pick up Suarez, although they still need a holding midfielder (Xabi Alonso filled that role to perfection). Perhaps Dalglish wants to pair Suarez alongside Torres and just try to outscore everyone, rather than play defense...

we're talking football still and not MU's basketball scheme, right?

[MUfan12]

Perhaps Dalglish wants to pair Suarez alongside Torres and just try to outscore everyone, rather than play defense...

If Torres is still around... Hopefully Kenny and co. can convince him to stick it out.

I think Lucas has been excellent in the holding mid role this season. He was out injured against Fulham on Wednesday and the difference was very noticeable. Poulsen just doesn't have the pace or vision that Lucas has.