Is It Acceptable to “Forfeit” the Carling Cup?
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December 1, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Surely one of the main roles of a football manager is to create a winning culture? Then again, maybe not.
After hearing Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean claim his team “forfeited” their Carling Cup tie with Cardiff, it raises questions as to whether winning trophies matters to teams outside the top four or five anymore.
Managers outside of the top four in the Premier League now seemingly approach the Carling Cup with the view that it is acceptable to be knocked out so long as they have their players fit for the ‘important’ games in the league. Three reason standout for why this occurs: Firstly, they are protecting themselves from getting sacked; second, the culture in football has changed from aiming for success to avoiding failure; and finally, money is the most important form of success.
Outside of the elite teams in the league, winning trophies is no longer of importance for clubs. Rather, they focus on limiting failures through the financial security of staying in the Premier League. Why else would Alex McLeish make statements such as: “If you are saying [the choice between] staying in the league but sacrificing the Carling Cup, then of course I would [sacrifice the cup]” after he won the Carling Cup with Birmingham but got relegated last season?
McLeish viewed the failure of being relegated form the Premier League as greater than the success of winning a major trophy against one of the country’s perennial powerhouses in a thrilling final. Personally, I remember the glory days of winning sports rather than my failures, so why has that become the focus in our professional leagues?
Money is, of course, the answer. Football is a business nowadays and being financially stable has become far more important to owners then winning titles for their fans. Once a team has experienced the Premier League high life, and the riches that it can offer, there is nothing more important.
There is no problem with a team making priorities but I do question whether Blackburn “forfeiting” their tie with Cardiff is really going to affect whether they stay up and go down. Surely having the opportunity to win a trophy would be a boost to players at the club, helping them elevate their game?
Let’s also remember that Cardiff would probably prefer to achieve promotion to the Premiership rather than winning the Carling Cup but at least that motivation did not stop them from playing their first team on Tuesday night. Championship teams play in a league with more teams, resulting in more games, and often with smaller squads due to lower incomes, so why are they able to attack both competitions with the same intensity whilst mid to lower Premier League teams disregard the competition?
It comes back to my original point. Cardiff City’s first team probably could give Blackburn a run for their money even if they played their first team and did not ‘forfeit’. Why? Because they have created a winning culture at the club. What professional sportsman is inspired to play for a manager that is willing to give up? Confidence is a huge part of sports and a team that keeps losing can only be dwindling in confidence, so why take away a chance to gain added belief with a cup run?
It is the nature of football these days. Winning and success are overshadowed by failure and debt. Sure, the Carling Cup is not the biggest competition in English football, but only four to five teams have any chance winning the major trophies anyway, so why not give your fans something to cheer about and go for Carling Cup success?
By Matthew Giles
[Image courtesy of Musgrave_archive]