Source: Liverpool_Echo
David Prentice: Is Everton FC’s cup half-full, or half empty?
Everton crash out of the Carling Cup at BrentfordFOR such an inconsequential competition, the League Cup can lead to some pretty serious consequences.A giantkilling in the Football League's knockout competition has been the beginning of the end for two Everton managers.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.In 1996 a two-legged defeat by tiny York City was the snowball which turned into an avalanche and buried Joe Royle. 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.But it doesn't have to be that way.Another League Cup upset was the making of a young Blues boss.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).But that side had hunger to go with its potential.Appetite - or lack of it - seems to have been a problem at Goodison Park this summer.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.Judging from Phil Neville's admirably honest assessment of Tuesday's debacle, this current Blues squad had prematurely started to believe its own publicity.'Forget Champions League football. Forget Europa League football.Maybe at the start of the season we looked at the end of the season rather than concentrating on the now,' he admitted.