Cup runs, a waste of time?
Tranmere Crest
By David Sindall
August 19 2025
Tonight, subject to the electricity staying on, we play Burton Albion in the English League Cup. The fixture has quickly been rearranged and the game we should have been playing at Accrington, moved to a date yet tbc. Fans will turn out tonight because there is the mouthwatering prospect of the mighty Lincoln City in the next round.
It might be that if we overcome Burton we will gain a bit of confidence. It’s always good to beat a team from a League above. The team announced before the abandoned game hinted at the fact that progress in the competition may not be at the forefront of Andy Crosby’s mind. I suspect most supporters feel the same way.
It’s 25 years since we played Leicester in the final of the competition. Over that time domestic cup competitions have changed to a point beyond recognition. The third round of the FA Cup is no longer that point at which minnows come up against the big boys. Instead the big boys tend to put out a squad that even their own supporters struggle to recognise. Supporters have cottoned on to this and now a home draw against Man City no longer seems like an exciting prospect but at best a chance to play a squad of fringe and youth players.
There are some exceptions. When Spurs narrowly beat us in the FA Cup in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino put out a full strength team and even Harry Kane got a run out. He later explained he did this out of respect to our supporters. Hats off to the man. Just a pity that all of their 7 goals were offside.
It seems to me that unless you get to the semi-final of the FA Cup and the final or the League Cup the knockout competitions have lost their attraction. The same is true of the EFL Trophy, ruined by the inclusion of U21 teams from the Premier League. There is prize money for progressing but most clubs seem not that bothered. Unless we get to the playoffs it’s highly unlikely we will be at Wembley this season.
It’s a great pity, and one of those sad changes to football across the course of o my lifetime. Imagine if our win at Highbury in 1973 had been played under current practice. The team that we played against would have been made up of unknown players. The victory would be portrayed as unimportant.
Given our limited resources, and our need to get promoted, I’ve come to the conclusion that cups are a distraction. Going to them is almost like watching a reserve game. Such a great pity, but if you go tonight, enjoy the game.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Leyland Daf 1990
Letland Daf Cup run 1991
League Cup final 2000
FA Cup and league Cup 'giant killing' wins against Everton, Southampton, Coventry, Sunderland, Middlesborough, Millwall , Chelsea , West Ham, Bolton, Leeds, Watford.
Pizza Cup Run 2021 (all be it no days out)
Big Games like the Villa Semi-final. Quarter final against Liverpool.
Most of the supporters wont shut up about 'St Yates day' 🤢🤮 cringe as it is.
What would we have to look back on without these games, focussing on the league , more bad times than good, relegations than promotions.
Id go so far as to say the cup runs under Aldo kept the clubs head above water as-well, allowing us to re-sign or sign players and pay some bills. PJ wouldn't have let us go but the debt would have been far bigger and we may not have been sold in 2014.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:08:19:11:00:35 by Bored rover.
Tranmere 2 Coventry 0 1967 21000 fans
Tranmere 2 Stoke 2 (after 0-2) 1972 24000 fans
.. and those 3 FL Cup replays vs Chester (net crowd after 4 games 35000) with the winner (us) getting the away tie to EFC.
Unbelievable experiences as a kid
***SPORTY VIKINGS - BBC Radio Merseyside with Sean Styles****
👊👊 [tinyurl.com] 👊👊
League Cup - interested in it but not as much as the FA Cup.
Pizza Cup - only start getting interested in it after the group stage and if we start making progress in the knockout stages..Totally against having Premier academy sides in the tournament.
Quote:hong kong rover
.Totally against having Premier academy sides in the tournament.
Agree , how is the england side League 2's problem!
I can never ever remember Lincoln being called Mighty Lincoln City, we've been called many things but not Mighty
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:08:19:15:38:27 by jal jal.
Chance for prize money, grow fanbase with reduced admission cost, new away day for fans to different stadia etc.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:08:19:18:00:25 by TRFCooooooo.