A Lower League Carling Cup Nightmare

The Carling Cup is often lambasted by the press as being a waste of time because the bigger clubs tend to play weakened sides. However most "Big Four" supporters actually like the Carling Cup because they get a chance to see reserve or fringe players get a shot on the big stage. The press will often say that managers of these big clubs don't like the fixture congestion that the tournament creates. Managers though must love the opportunity to play these kids, at no risk to the first team since almost all of them are rested.

The midtable Premier League teams love this tournament as well because it is a legitimate shot a silverware. Just ask Tottenham who made the tournament final two years running and won the tournament in 2008. It wasn't a useless tournament for them and it sure wasn't for their supporters. Although the FA Cup is obviously a bigger tournament winning the FA Cup is much less likely for these midtable teams because the bigger teams tend to play stronger sides in these matches.

One of the great things about Cup football is that a League One side can draw the Premier League champions and upsets do happen in these competitions. However these Carling Cup matches can prove to be just as destructive for lower league clubs as they are exciting. Take for example Leeds United who welcomed Liverpool to Elland Road today.

It was a great day for Leeds supporters who got to watch their team play a massive Premier League team and they enjoyed positive media attention like their clubs hasn't had since their Premier League days ended in 2004. They lost one-nil to Liverpool, but went home happy all the same after a quality performance from their side. What they might not realize is that getting out of the Carling Cup may benefit Leeds this season and for a few seasons to come.

First off the fixture congestion is an issue for lower league clubs like Leeds because they usually play their starting XIs in the Carling Cup and Leeds top priority this season is obviously promotion to the Championship. This however is a minor issue because Leeds would obviously welcome the money a few extra high profile matches would bring. The bigger problem is the baggage that comes with these high profile matches.

Leeds top scorer this season, Jermaine Beckford, is being tracked by several Premier League clubs and it is absolutely essential that Leeds hold on to him if they want to compete in the Championship next year if they gain promotion. There is no better advertisement for Beckford than playing on national television like he did tonight against Liverpool. If Beckford had scored a brace tonight and Leeds had went on in the competition and played one or two more high profile televised matches there would be many more clubs and offers waiting for Beckford.

Leeds have another quality young player named Robert Snodgrass who has quietly performed very well for them in League One this season. He was Leeds man of the match against Liverpool and despite not being nearly as highly followed as Beckford before the match there will now almost certainly be a few Premier League clubs keeping tabs on him.

If Leeds were to have advanced to say the semi-finals of the Carling Cup it would have brought in a lot of money for the club. The extra attention may have also taken two key players away from the club. If Leeds were to get promoted (which is looking very likely), but Beckford and Snodgrass were picked up in the summer because they got offers they couldn't refuse as a result of Carling Cup performances would the Carling Cup be looked back on as something positive for Leeds? If they were relegated the next year in the Championship they would look back and have their Carling Cup run to blame.

The point is for clubs that have a solid squad in the lower leagues who have a few players flying below the radar, extra attention, nationally televised games and the Carling Cup may do more harm than help.