The fact Elland Road is practically sold out for tonight says more than words ever could about this great club of ours.
No disrespect to Crewe, but for well over 30,000 people to pledge their support for a game like this is amazing and only underlines how big a club Leeds United are.
Quite what Marcelo will do with the team is anyone’s guess. You’d think that he would look to give some of the lads a game who haven’t had much time on the pitch and maybe throw a few youngsters in there as well.
I did wonder if we might get an opportunity to see Joe Geldhart tonight but given that he played the full 90 minutes for the U23s against Tottenham yesterday I think that’s unlikely. Charlie Cresswell only played the first half so it could be that he is involved, and you’d think the lads who were on the bench at the weekend could get a run-out.
Adam Forshaw is one who needs some game time – it’s been fantastic to see him return after what must have been a horrible time for him – and it could be that the likes of Helder Costa and Rodrigo get the opportunity.
Whoever plays will benefit from a great experience in playing in front of such a big crowd. The same can be said for the Crewe lads as well. As a League One player it’s very rare you get the chance to play in front of a crowd like that and it will be an experience for them too.
Crewe’s only win this season has been in this cup and they go to Leeds on the back of three straight defeats, but I’ve heard a lot good things about their manager Dave Artell, and he won’t want to go there and make up the numbers.
Over the years, the Carabao Cup (League Cup in old money) has seemingly lost its edge in the early rounds because of the amount of games clubs play at this time of year, but it still offers the opportunity of a Wembley final, and discounting the play-off final in 2008, the 1996 final when Leeds lost to Villa was the last time we reached a domestic final at the stadium.
Whoever plays will want to impress tonight and get through in the competition, and with such a huge crowd at Elland Road, there’ll be no shortage of backing or support.