The team take on Dagenham & Redbridge.
Capital One Cup ambassador Peter Beagrie was speaking to Jamie Holt…..
We are all desperate for the start of the new football season, and this week’s Capital One Cup draw has enabled the build-up to begin in earnest.
A couple of ties that have caught my eye are Brentford against Dagenham & Redbridge and AFC Wimbledon’s difficult-looking trip to take on Millwall.
Manager of Brentford of course is my old Manchester City teammate Uwe Rosler, someone I feel blessed to count as one of my best friends.
Uwe was a player that I always thought would go into management such was his love and affinity and never-say-die attitude.
He embraced the English game and the way he played his football personified what the English game is about – attitude and application.
It has been great for him to come back over here. I’ve helped him when he has asked me about players and what to expect but he’s covered himself in glory.
He was incredibly unfortunate not to see his Brentford side get promotion last season from League One after the last-day drama against Doncaster and then losing the play-off final against Yeovil at Wembley.
Everyone looks at Uwe and sees this deadly serious character – and he is with regards to football – but his passion for life and football and his family and his friends stand out.
He’s overcome an awful lot in his personal life, to the point of being on the brink of death, and because of his desire that makes him the man that he is. I have a huge amount of respect for him as a person and a player.
I’m pleased that he holds me in such high regard that he rings me and runs a few things by me.
Uwe will want to start the season well by beating the League Two Daggers at Griffin Park before they bid to fight for promotion once again.
While Brentford’s boss is going into his third season now at the helm, AFC Wimbledon take on a Millwall side who will have a new manager when the teams meat at The Den.
Steve Lomas has replaced Kenny Jackett and he will be getting his feet under the table when the Dons make the journey across London.
It is a big ask to expect a League Two side to win at a Championship club but last year in the Capital One Cup was amazing – a fantastic year.
There were goals galore with the Reading-Arsenal game, then my old club Bradford went all the way to the final – nobody would have thought they would have put three Premier League sides to the sword but that’s the magic of the competition.
It’s also a good barometer for clubs to see if they need a few additions and if they’ve got enough as far as the squad is concerned.
It’s a competition that has always endeared itself to the players and it is held in high esteem.
I’m not a big believer in rotation and you’d rather be playing games – it’s the real thing and it’s difficult to replicate that in training.
You get into a pattern, a shape, and people get used to each other. It can only help your overall league form.
Peter Beagrie was speaking on behalf of credit card company Capital One, sponsor of The League Cup.
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