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League Cup 2023/24 Discussion Thread


Toxteth O'Grady
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  • David changed the title to League Cup 2023/24 Discussion Thread
1 hour ago, MJC said:

A winnable group in a competition we should be looking to go as far as possible in. Best way to start a season and none of this Europa league pish.

It's  a group we will stroll through especially if we still have KVV on the books, we are too strong for the rest of those teams.

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Just now, Spiderpig said:

It's  a group we will stroll through especially if we still have KVV on the books, we are too strong for the rest of those teams.

On paper yes and with or without KvV we should have too much for the rest of the sides. But we must be properly prepared and professional when the games come around.

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1 hour ago, twistandshout1983 said:

Hopefully a strong start in this group setting us up for a good start in the league and a run to Hampden , similar to 2017 

We will be going to hampden.

Queen's Park move back to Hampden for next season after 2020 sale to Scottish FA - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65843389

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5 minutes ago, Spiderpig said:

We will be going to hampden.

Queen's Park move back to Hampden for next season after 2020 sale to Scottish FA - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65843389

"Queen’s Park’s home games prior to September 12th will be played at Lesser Hampden."

https://queensparkfc.co.uk/queens-park-to-return-to-national-stadium-next-season/

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If we still have KVV, Butcher and Casey with us and we play anything like we did post split this group will be a cake walk. Would love to attend at least a semi final this time round.  🥳👙🍾

Edited by Yabba's Turd
Quit hawking yourself.
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On 6/8/2023 at 3:00 PM, Spiderpig said:

It's  a group we will stroll through especially if we still have KVV on the books, we are too strong for the rest of those teams.

We have a pretty good record in these league cup group stages (Airdrie and Stranraer aside) but you could make a long list of Premiership teams losing to lower league teams at the start of the season and usually a couple go out the competition at this stage. 

The timing of the fixtures are a big equaliser.

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13 hours ago, Ya Bezzer! said:

We have a pretty good record in these league cup group stages (Airdrie and Stranraer aside) but you could make a long list of Premiership teams losing to lower league teams at the start of the season and usually a couple go out the competition at this stage. 

The timing of the fixtures are a big equaliser.

Timing really only becomes an issue if there is a large turnover within the first choice fourteen or so and lots of new recruits need bedded in. There is no excuse whatsoever for fitness levels being an issue. And our opponents are in the same situation. We are a Premiership, full time club with better players so it is up to us to perform like it. No excuses or dropping of standards. We had enough of that last season.

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It's not so much about fitness as training schedule.

In the regular season you are tailoring your training to be in peak form in time for the match. Pre-season you start off with some of the intensive stuff to push you to the limits. It's not designed to get you ready for a match at that point. I remember Robinson talking about one league cup game we played where the team had done double endurance sessions during the day before playing in the evening.

The alternative, of course, is to change your training to be less intensive between games, but you run the risk of not being at your peak when the league kicks off. I've heard a few managers say that since the new League Cup format started it can take 2 or 3 weeks into the regular season before the fitness is where they need it to be.

Finally, the lower league teams kick-off their season before the Premiership so typically start pre-season earlier too. That means they are usually a week ahead in their programme.

Of course, as a Premiership team we should have the better and fitter players, especially compared to League One and League Two. It does mean, however, that the differential can be less this early in the season and if you aren't 100% on it that results can go against you. That is why you see so many "upsets" in the group stages.

I don't have any fear that SK will have us well prepared. My bigger concern is what kind of squad we'll have 6 or 7 weeks before the transfer window closes.

I'm still not convinced this is the best format for the League Cup, but we're all in the same boat, so just need to deal with it. After seeing many variants over the years my favourite was still the one-leg, straight knockout, decided on the night approach with the final in October.

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5 hours ago, weeyin said:

 

Finally, the lower league teams kick-off their season before the Premiership so typically start pre-season earlier too. That means they are usually a week ahead in their programme.

 

Not checked further back than last season but Matchday One for all Divisions, including ours,  was July 30. So no such advantage as you suggest for lower league clubs. We can see what dates are scheduled for Match Day One this season. In fairness, last season we did start our League campaign after the lower league clubs....by one day.

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  • 3 weeks later...

My uncle lives near Elgin, av been up there many times. Anyone need any info, please just ask. 

The ground is ½mile from town centre, but prob 2miles from train station(40mins from Inverness or 90mins from Aberdeen). 

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