Just How Unimportant Is Tomorrow Night's Cup Game Against Everton?

9 hours ago

3 min read

Quite a few Newcastle supporters - me included - are suggesting that tomorrow night's Carabao Cup tie against Everton isn't particularly important.

The view is that Monday night's Premier League meeting with the same opposition is far more significant, especially now that Sunday's victory over Crystal Palace has lifted us into seventh place.

That opinion is based on believing we should concentrate on consolidating that position, rest some of our players tomorrow, especially old warhorses like Burn, Schar, Jo and Murphy, and make sure we're as strong as possible for Monday.

But I wonder how many supporters really believe that?

Let's suppose Jaissle makes six or seven changes tomorrow night, rests several of our key players and we get beaten.

That's it. Out of the Carabao Cup. Another opportunity to reach Wembley gone.

And, wouldn't be typical if Everton won and they get drawn at home to Fleetwood in the next round, who for all of their exploits last night against Arsenal, will surely present a march into the next round for any PL team playing them at home.

Our name, if we win, could be on that ball in the draw and a home draw and win - against any team - could see us just two rounds away from another EFL Cup final at Wembley.

After just one Wembley cup final win in my 60 odd years as a Toon supporter I would be delirious if we lifted the cup again, especially after the turmoil, upheaval and concerns that we had in pre-season and in recent weeks.

So, I find myself having second thoughts.

Not about the PL game on Monday being the most important of the two, but whether I would really shrug my shoulders if we lost tomorrow night.

Apart from anything else; a second win on the bounce after three defeats in four games won't do the confidence of Jaissle and the squad any harm at all - whereas a loss might.

And, I suspect among other fans saying the cup game isn't that important, if the whistle blows and we've lost many won't take it their stride but will be kicking off again.

Are we really in a position where we can afford to dismiss a genuine opportunity to win another trophy?

No.

And my guess is that Jaissle won't fill the team with youngsters just to give them a run out and a bit of first team experience.

He may rest Schar and Burn but if so Thiaw and Botman will step in, Willock may step in for Jo, and perhaps Wissa for Osula - and Toure may get a start in place of Murphy.

That's still a team packed with experience and one that should be able capable of getting a win even though it's never easy playing a David Moyes team away from home.

So, the PL game is definitely the more important.

But that doesn't say tomorrow night's match is unimportant.

It's anything but. And we want to win it.

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