Source: Liverpool_Echo
David Prentice: Is Everton FC’s cup half-full, or half empty?
Everton crash out of the Carling Cup at Brentford[LNB]FOR such an inconsequential competition, the League Cup can lead to some pretty serious consequences.[LNB]A giantkilling in the Football League's knockout competition has been the beginning of the end for two Everton managers.[LNB]And judging by the angry reaction from some supporters to Tuesday's exit at Brentford, there are plenty more who want to see a third.[LNB]In 1996 a two-legged defeat by tiny York City was the snowball which turned into an avalanche and buried Joe Royle.[LNB] Walter Smith limped on for a further 18 months after Bristol Rovers had ended his League Cup aspirations in another two-legged horror story in 2000. But he'd been fatally wounded by The Pirates.[LNB]But it doesn't have to be that way.[LNB]Another League Cup upset was the making of a young Blues boss.[LNB]In 1984, when Howard Kendall's emerging young side just needed confidence to go with their undoubted class, Grimsby Town took shock advantage (although that was the most one-sided upset I've ever witnessed and Kendall's side was applauded off the pitch).[LNB]But that side had hunger to go with its potential.[LNB]Appetite - or lack of it - seems to have been a problem at Goodison Park this summer.[LNB]And it has manifested itself in the worst start to a season since Mike Walker somehow convinced a Goodison board he could be the man to follow Howard Kendall.[LNB]Judging from Phil Neville's admirably honest assessment of Tuesday's debacle, this current Blues squad had prematurely started to believe its own publicity.[LNB]'Forget Champions League football. Forget Europa League football.[LNB]Maybe at the start of the season we looked at the end of the season rather than concentrating on the now,' he admitted.
