Everton to face Rotherham in League Cup

Thursday, 16 August, 2018 52comments  |  Jump to most recent
Everton have been drawn to play against Rotherham United at Goodison Park in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The game will take place on Wednesday, August 29, with a 7:45pm kick-off.  



Reader Comments (52)

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Gordon White
1 Posted 16/08/2018 at 20:42:57
A chance for the youngsters.
Matthew Williams
2 Posted 16/08/2018 at 20:45:33
Strongest possible team please, win in 90 mins... repeat 6 times.

Job done... then onto the Europa League.

Nothing else matters this season but this cup.

Derek Knox
3 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:00:23
Let's hope for once that we take this Cup seriously, and field decent sides, rather than throw reserves and fringe players in, and go out at an early stage.

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

Si Pulford
4 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:29:58
Don't care how early in the season it is. We should still rotate. Sensibly. None of this 11 changes nonsense but I'd play Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny, Stekelenburg and Dowell. They need game time.
Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:33:26
Err... Matthew (#2). There are no replays in the League Cup... and this season they have even done away with extra time. Even games will go straight to penalties... but probably after a minute or three of added time! 😉

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.

Jack Convery
6 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:42:52
This is the easiest cup to win – so let's have a go. Once silver arrives, it becomes a habit, a habit you need to feed, unless you're Klopp of course.
Paul Birmingham
7 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:58:40
Hopefully a chance to take this tournament seriously, and put out a genuine good team to build on a solid start to this season.
Andy Crooks
8 Posted 16/08/2018 at 21:59:15
Michael, it's not a tin pot piece of crap. It's a trophy we have never won. A trophy which would get us into Europe. A trophy that would give Evertonians a life long memory of a day at Wembley.

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

John Raftery
9 Posted 16/08/2018 at 22:02:07
This cup is usually won by one of the big teams. A two-legged semi final in January, just after the busiest period of the season, suits the clubs with the biggest and best quality squads. Getting that far is fine but not if it affects league form.

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.

Steve Carse
10 Posted 16/08/2018 at 22:15:11
Why on earth should winning League Cup games affect league form?

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.

Lord Hughes
11 Posted 16/08/2018 at 22:28:21
Is it just the semis in January that are two legged?
Lord Hughes
12 Posted 16/08/2018 at 22:32:25
Ah yes it is just the semis that are two legged, just checked:

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

John Raftery
13 Posted 16/08/2018 at 22:54:56
Steve (10) The games in this competition attract young kids at cheap prices. I heard part of the Football League's thinking was that extra time and penalties meant they were not leaving the stadium until 10:30 pm or later.

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.

Jay Harris
14 Posted 16/08/2018 at 23:09:18
With no Europe this season and only 6 games to win it and gain an automatic European campaign next season, I really hope we go balls out for this cup.
Bill Watson
15 Posted 16/08/2018 at 23:21:04
We must start with the strongest side possible. The time to bring fringe players on will be if we're comfortably ahead.

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

Bobby Mallon
16 Posted 16/08/2018 at 23:25:36
We have to go for this cup. I'm sick of being knocked out early.
Eddie Dunn
17 Posted 16/08/2018 at 23:41:10
Si (#4), no mate, Pickford needs game time, not Stekelenburg.
Brian Wilkinson
18 Posted 17/08/2018 at 01:11:06
I recall Everton playing a pretty strong team when we beat Leyton Orient at home, if memory serves me right 5-1.

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.

Karl Meighan
19 Posted 17/08/2018 at 02:25:14
We have a huge squad so I expect fringe players to play in this cup, anyway we should have enough to be knocking over lower league teams regardless of who plays.
Victor Yu
20 Posted 17/08/2018 at 02:44:16
A Sandro hat-trick coming?
Jamie Crowley
21 Posted 17/08/2018 at 02:52:37
Michael Kenrick @5 -

**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**

Fran Mitchell
22 Posted 17/08/2018 at 03:58:50
I hope we do well in the tournament, silverware is silverware afterall, but as to it's overall importance, the Premier League is more important, the FA Cup is more important.

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.

Ernie Baywood
23 Posted 17/08/2018 at 04:24:26
We can rotate and still put out a relatively strong team.

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.

Alan J Thompson
24 Posted 17/08/2018 at 04:39:04
I'd like to win it to be one of the few teams to have won all domestic competitions (Zenith Cup and the like aside) and a European trophy and playing squad members (does it still number in the 30s?) who aren't regularly playing in the 1st XI is an added bonus.
David Ellis
25 Posted 17/08/2018 at 04:57:22
Fran (#22),

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.

Brian Porter
26 Posted 17/08/2018 at 06:15:28
I don't hold with those who advocate playing the kids in this one. It may be 'only' Rotherham but respect due, they are in the championship and shouldn't be dismissed as if they are a league two outfit. Play our best eleven on the night, a few youngsters on the bench, and bring them on in the second half, If it looks like we have the tie sewn up.

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

John McGimpsey
27 Posted 17/08/2018 at 06:24:41
David Ellis (#25) – summed up perfectly.
Darren Murphy
28 Posted 17/08/2018 at 07:27:22
If we were in Europe, then I'd say don't worry about it; we're not so give it a go.

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.

Arild Andersen
29 Posted 17/08/2018 at 08:36:02
Just go for it. Pickford needs games, Mina, Zouma, Bernard too. A cup run would be great, don’t care if it’s the «lesser» trophy. We need it.
Bill Griffiths
30 Posted 17/08/2018 at 08:50:46
Brian, when is your next Mersey Police novel due out?
Hari Singh
31 Posted 17/08/2018 at 09:02:51
Players like Lookman, Gomes and Bernard should play in the Carabao Cup, especially Lookman can prove his worth at Everton.
Jim Burns
32 Posted 17/08/2018 at 11:04:35
Michael @ 5 – I'm afraid it's you that's talking arrant nonsense. Mathew's point is – I think – this is, or should be, the best chance of us winning a trophy this season. Any trophy is beyond value for us after years of disappointment even ‘tin pot crap' ones.

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.

Brian Williams
33 Posted 17/08/2018 at 11:14:51
Nothing else matters this season but this cup.

No... that's nonsense!

John Hammond
35 Posted 17/08/2018 at 12:02:16
Big changes in the cup this year including the use of VAR and no extra time or replays. We need to be fielding our strongest possible lineup but include 2 or 3 fringe players to give them game time. Nothing like a good cup run to lift the spirits (especially with our history in this one); were this to be our first trophy since 95, I'd be ecstatic.
Ed Fitzgerald
36 Posted 17/08/2018 at 12:37:06
Don't often disagree with Mr Kenrick but on this point I'm with the majority. Winning the League Cup would end a trophy drought of 23-24 years, get us into Europe and raise our profile.

Matthew Williams
37 Posted 17/08/2018 at 12:50:58
Michael (#5).

..."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!?

Brent Stephens
38 Posted 17/08/2018 at 12:55:49
Start with the strongest side until the score and the time left allow us to bring on the kids, the second string. If we reach that point early in the game, there's little risk of injury to first team players. If we don't reach that point until late in the game, it will have told us the risks of having put out a second string and losing it.

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.

Brent Stephens
39 Posted 17/08/2018 at 12:58:12
...and at the moment we're a tin-pot club. Let's be honest. When we've won the league, then we get sniffy.
Brent Stephens
40 Posted 17/08/2018 at 13:09:00
I didn't read Michael #2 before I posted. Don't see much wrong with what he said...

"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?

Dan Davies
41 Posted 17/08/2018 at 13:21:27
As much as I dislike saying it, we should seriously target this cup. We have to start somewhere?

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!)

Chris Corn
42 Posted 17/08/2018 at 14:05:13
I think this club needs to win silverware .Any silverware. It will breathe life into the supporter like you've never seen. I was lucky enough to be a match going supporters through the 80's glory years and 1995 and what it meant to be able to enjoy that with your family and peers is a fantastic feeling. I was at the semi-final in 2009 and the sense of excitement after winning the semi was palpable and it was like the good old days. That was why losing so tamely was tough to take.

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.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

43 Posted 17/08/2018 at 15:05:02
We are Everton.

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.

Matthew Williams
46 Posted 17/08/2018 at 16:29:53
Even now some of my fellow Blues diss this competition and only seek the Champions League holy grail by Premier League placings... sigh.

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.

Matthew Williams
47 Posted 17/08/2018 at 18:18:17
Brian#33.

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!

Tim Greeley
48 Posted 18/08/2018 at 01:52:36
I commend David Ellis comment up at #22. Now Everton ain't Swansea (in all the good ways), but goddamn if we wouldn't all still shat all over ourselves if Everton won this cup this season – and yes we would remember those moments way more than a 7th place finish.

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.

Ray Robinson
49 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:02:40
I have just received an e-mail today from Everton reminding me to purchase my ticket for the Rotherham match on Wednesday 29 August but when I go onto the site to actually buy it, the fixture is advertised for Tuesday 28 August. You couldn't make this up! Which day is it, anyone know?
Ray Robinson
50 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:08:50
When you actually log on to buy (as opposed to just looking at the Ticketing information), it appears it is Wednesday.
Brent Stephens
51 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:24:20
Ray, maybe we've returned to two-legged rounds!
Will Mabon
52 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:26:04
Will never understand how anyone could knock any of the prizes available (OK we can exclude the Texaco cup of yesteryear). None of them are easy to achieve, and all represent the end of a difficult campaign of a type.

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.

Brent Stephens
53 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:35:41
Ray, my ticket says Wednesday. I did email the club earlier about the conflicting dates.
Rob B Williams
54 Posted 20/08/2018 at 19:45:47
Tim G @48,

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

Any chance you tell us where you live.

Ray Robinson
55 Posted 20/08/2018 at 20:23:23
Thanks Brent. Makes no difference to me in the end but it might to some people!

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