The League Cup is often viewed as the least important of the domestic competitions, and a lot of teams now use it as an excuse to run out the youngsters and B-teamers. If they get knocked out, it is generally seen as no great loss.
The excuse normally given is that they want to either rest the star players or, more importantly, not risk injury in a competition that holds no esteem any more.The same can even be said of the FA Cup to some extent now amongst the big teams, because the attention in continually being drawn to European competitions.
McLeish has already hinted that he will be fielding a first-choice squad to compete, because he wants to keep the trophy as manager. I admire the ambition and I think a decent Carling Cup run would be excellent. But, do other fans agree? Or would they prefer to see our best players kept for the league games?
It is an interesting question that will divide opinion, as it always has done. Is it acceptable to just roll over like Houllier did against Man City if it is in the best interests of the season (which it didn't turn out to be after all), or does it make a mockery of being in these competitions in the first place?