Everton to face Rotherham in League Cup

Job done... then onto the Europa League.

Nothing else matters this season but this cup.

Rotherham are not a bad side, but I hope we can dispense with them and be in the Hat for the next stage.

But what's this: "Nothing else matters this season but this cup." — Arrant nonsense, I'm afraid. Everything matters supremely. The Premier League is probably the most important, there is no way that failure here could be tolerated, and for me, that would be lower half of the table. Next the FA Cup... then this tin-pot piece of crap a distant third for me.

However, it comes first in terms of the fixtures, so it does need some effort applied.

A trophy that vastly superior teams to what we have had in twenty years have taken seriously. Do you think it us beneath us?

In the modern game, cup runs which end in failure are not enough to keep a manager in his job, as Martinez found out in 2016. So don't expect Silva to give priority to this competition – least of all in the early rounds.

On a related matter can anyone explain the logic of doing away with extra time? The teams are there, the crowd is there, extra time is often the most exciting part of the 120 minutes if played, and in any event the managers will have second XIs out and will presumably be wanting as much time on the pitch for these players so as to help them make their judgements of them.

Carabao Cup 2018-19: Fixtures, teams, draw dates & all you need to know

I think managers can make an assessment of their fringe players in 90 minutes. An additional 30 minutes Is merely a test of stamina, something which can be assessed in training.

We've had too many mishaps in this cup: time to take the competition seriously.

The following round we drew a Leeds away, a stronger team at the time and live on tv.

What do we do, make a number of changes and end up getting beat.

So many times we have rotated in this competition, as others have pointed out, no Euro games so no reason not to field a very strong team, regardless of our opposition.

**walks on eggshells as he's about to rip the TW boss**

Have you lost your ever-loving mind??!!

When is the last time Everton won...?...? ANYTHING?!

And you have the audacity to call this competition a "tin pot piece of crap"??

Seriously man, win something - ANYTHING - then spout off like you're above the League Cup or too good for it.

You're kidding, right? You have to win something to show that level of arrogance.

We need to win silverware! This is a great place to start, and a competition that's actually winnable - if that's even a word!

Pretty gutsy to say supporting a team that's won the sum of sweet fuck all for 30 something years, there or thereabouts.

I want to win this. This is the competition I think we should target to start our climb up the football importance ladder. Silverware. Tin pot piece of crap my ass!

Win it. It's worth our while.

**puts the gun down and slowly backs out of the room**

The last winners of the League Cup have been the top clubs, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea. The most recent 'non-top 6' team to win was Swansea a few years ago and does anyone remember? No, because it just ain't that important.

Finishing 7th is more important, challenging for 6th is more important.

Given the timing of the game, it will be a chance to play some of the new guys and young guys. I wouldn't suggest wholesale changes, but a chance for the likes of Mina, Bernard, Lookman, Kenny and Dowell would seem sensible.

Lookman wants an opportunity to show he should be playing... perfect chance.

Niasse wants to show he can be a viable option.

Then there are new signings who need games under their belt.

I'd definitely rotate.

I'm pretty sure Swansea fans remember, and will remember it much longer than a top 7th finish in the Premier League which doesn't appear on any honours list.

I'd take the League Cup over a top 4 finish.

Can you imagine the flak Silva would receive if he fielded a weakened team and we got beaten?

What does annoy me is when top teams draw other like teams later on in the cup, they shove their youth and fringe players aside and play their first eleven... which they're entitled to but think it's pretty shit to tell them, "Thanks for getting us to the semi's lads but we'll take it from here". Obviously it's allowed etc but I think it's a bad thing.

The other side of the coin is, playing our best eleven and one of our best players getting injured because of an away game against lower level because they want to prove a point and get stuck in. It happens so I'm 50/50.

Yes, it would be great to win something... Just hate the name of this cup over the years, hahaa.

You sound like you've swallowed some of the shite the Sky crowd and their top 6 Premier League cronies have been spouting for years now. They'll be applauding you as one of their own.

Any trophy could be that all-important first step to our comeback – and my kids, who've seen fuck all by way of success all their lives, would be ecstatic. Shame on you.

No... that's nonsense!

..."A crappy little tin pot cup"... behave, let's see if you feel the same if Seamus lifts it for us, he looks of pure joy on thousands of Blues faces, a global audience of millions watching Everton as WINNERS again, maybe it could be the catalyst for Usmanov to think maybe it's time to invest.

It's what it means, the hope it gives, the new belief that we can go on and win more against anyone, anywhere and it would also mean those sad pricks on the kop will have to take down that fucking rag of a banner that they just love to fly in our faces.

Even if we break the glass ceiling and bag top four after 38 games... then what, an early exit against the elite in Europe, more Euro heartache... no, ta.

I just want us to go after Cups that are achievable, Cups we've never won. Let's start with the League Cup, then Europa League, then the Super Cup.

Imagine Blues looking at that Hat-trick of Cups in the Trophy cabinet at our new ground.

Who knows our loveable neighbors might just win fuck all again this season!?

Go for it – a cup and where that then takes us. The (rest of the) top 6 can look down their noses at us for winning that cup. Not arsed.

"Nothing else matters this season but this cup." Everything matters supremely. The Premier League is probably the most important, there is no way that failure here could be tolerated, and for me, that would be lower half of the table. Next the FA Cup... then this tin-pot piece of crap a distant third for me.

This cup is the least prestigious.

However, it comes first in terms of the fixtures, so it does need some effort applied.

Just what many here are saying?

I also think that at this point Silva should be picking his strongest possible team every game. What Everton need now is a settled team and matchday squad.

These new players need time to get to know each other's game and the manager's tactics. Keep the team as strong as possible until they're a well-oiled machine, then start drip-feeding the youngsters in when we are on a roll, playing well, and winning matches consistently.

Nobody is bothered about this cup until they win it! So let's go for it. A Cup is a cup and success breeds confidence leading to more success. (Hopefully!)

I appreciate the game has changed and the Premier League, Champions League take precedence and the knockout are seen as Mickey Mouse (until the latter stages) but, if we were to win one of them, it would make a massive difference to this club and the feeling around the club.

We should be serial winners of silverware.

We should be competing and looking to win every competition we enter.

It's time we returned to that winning mentality.

I am fully aware too of the scrapping of extra time this season, I would like us to go through every round without the need of the dreaded penalty shoot-out. To me, only shithouse teams need penalties to win trophies.

I have seen titles at Goodison Park and FA Cups but never this one... so, to me, nothing else matters.

Next time you're in one of our shops folks, have a look at the club pennant... what does it show!?

It's time to WIN this Trophy!!!

Rant over.

Nonsense! ...not to me, so tell me what else will we win this season?

Just 6 wins for a Cup (we could even lose one semi-final leg), the fastest route possible to Wembley and back playing European football next season, an achievable trophy should be our sole aim this season.

59 years this Cup's been going and I am starting to get fucked off being dumped out early doors by teams we shoul see off.

The footballing world only notices winners...
as it stands, we're nowhere!

As a long distance fan, my involvement in the Live Forum shows the emotions that go into EVERY match. Winning a cup, this cup, would be fucking awesome. That said, Rotherham sounds like shitty place to live. Rotten Ham as far as the eye can see.

There may nowadays be a case for "Too much football" but then, it could be said that achieving a cup win amongst this is even better. City were well up for it last season.

I think a lot of this attitude that cups are "Not what they were" etc., is as much a result of the statements and focus of the media over some years now, as a natural evolution in fans' minds.

Of course the cost in time and money of actually attending so many live matches has some bearing today.

'Rotherham sounds like shitty place to live. Rotten Ham as far as the eye can see.'

Any chance you tell us where you live.