The Carling Cup - Because You Know Who The Last Eight Are

When Carling isn't promoting its ability to bring friends together it's sponsoring The League Cup, a cup competition much maligned for it's poor attendances, weakened sides and general low prioritisation by managers and fans alike.

Despite this, the competition always entertains me, not least for the school kid excitement of seeing the top dogs playing the small fry but mainly through it's one legged tie approach. This means the cup is far less predictable, because a poor 90 minutes can cost you the match before or after the subsequent extra time and penalties.

Take, for example, the case of Everton losing to Brentford in the Third round of the Carling Cup this September. The 1-1 scoreline at the end of normal time would have meant League One Brentford would have had to go to Goodison Park for a replay had it been the FA Cup, but the more nail-biting one legged approach allowed Brentford the chance to go through on penalties. Had it been an FA Cup tie, they would have surely gone to Goodison Park and suffered defeat in the replay.

This competition suits the underdogs, and that is why I like it. Especially in a sport surrounded by seeds and standings that always aim to look after the big boys. Look no further than the sudden seeding of the World Cup playoff games, when FIFA realised sides such as France and Portugal could be drawn against each other, so a seeding system was introduced last minute in order to keep them apart, therefore increasing the chances that the big teams went through.

After the last 16 got whittled down to just 8 this week, the bookies have made Manchester United and Arsenal joint favourites, which is impossible to argue against. Manchester United are attempting to win the competition for an amazing third year in a row, something Sir Alex will revel in, especially in the light of Arsenal's recent inability to lift a trophy.

That is exactly the reason Arsene Wenger will be looking for his Gunners to beat United to the Cup, a five year span of no trophies is seen as unacceptable by some critics and his squad selections tell you this season the League Cup is on his radar. In past seasons a hugely inexperienced Arsenal side has been knocked out in the early rounds, this season the likes of Rosicky, Fabregas, Arshavin and Nasri have all been unleashed on their unwitting opponents.

Supposing the two favourites are drawn against each other between now and the semi-finals, who will be the team to reach the final at Wembley? Last season's beaten finalists Aston Villa will certainly fancy winning the trophy to make amends and even have a former Carling Cup winner as manager now in Gerard Houllier. Their West Midlands rivals West Brom and Birmingham City also still have a fighting chance, both clubs are currently in good form and supposing they can be drawn at home, they will fancy their chances versus any of the teams remaining.

Premier League stragglers Wigan and West Ham will hope that the good form in the competition will begin to show in their league form and again, over a single leg, they will fancy their chances of going all the way to Wembley especially if they can avoid the big boys in Saturday's draw.

The rank outsiders, and only Football League representatives are Roy Keane's Ipswich Town. For the League Cup, a competition created by The Football League and not the breakaway Premier League, I think it is a shame they are the only survivors, and a double shame that whomever they draw, they will most likely be knocked out. As previously mentioned though, this competition favours the underdogs and I'm hoping their bite is as devastating as a feisty Roy Keane challenge come the quarter final.

So readers, who is your money on?? Leave your views in the comment section...