Can Everton Afford to Sacrifice Cup Competitions?

A little under a year since that bitter cup defeat at Molineux, it's déjà vu for Everton in the Carabao Cup third round as we once again face Wolverhampton Wanderers . This time, however, it's under the lights of Hill Dickinson Stadium as Everton hope to inflict revenge on the Black Country outfit.

A paper-thin Everton squad following deadline day prompted a few rumblings amongst the fanbase about not taking the cup competitions seriously. The Carabao Cup is one of those, especially considering all the rounds fall before the January window opens.

But can Everton seriously afford to sacrifice the cup competitions this season?

Even before the end of the transfer window in the build-up to Everton's second-round clash against Preston North End at Deepdale, David Moyes' comments may have foreshadowed Everton having to make a decision between league or cup this season.

Speaking to Joe Thomas at the Liverpool Echo, this is what Moyes had to say: "Of course we all want to win the cups. Yes the cups are hugely important, would it be more important than staying in the Premier League? I'll ask you the question: Is winning a cup more important than staying in the Premier League? What would your answer be?"

This prompted its fair share of debate online.

Now the transfer window is shut, the argument for sacrificing the cups is pretty straightforward. Everton have an exceptionally small squad, and after last season's late drop-off, there's an argument to suggest that protecting players for a league push should be a priority for David Moyes. Players like Jarrad Branthwaite , James Garner and Thierno Barry probably fall into this category.

It's an argument I can certainly understand. The lack of depth means that Wednesday night's game represents another hurdle to manoeuvre, praying not to see any key players pull up with an injury.

So, if the Wolves game presents an opportunity to choose between a first-team side and heavy rotation as Moyes did this time last year, there are probably more grounds to accept that decision this time around.

But there's another question worth asking. What exactly is the point of Everton saving themselves for the league?

The positive start to the season by Everton, remaining unbeaten across all competitions, has certainly eased the pressure a little bit. We look competitive in every game we play in, and the mentality is certainly dragging us over the line in games.

For me, that now means a cup run almost feels like a perfect opportunity to build momentum and really create a sense of harmony amongst the squad and fanbase. It feels like something Everton, as an entire club, needs to really galvanise everyone.

We've been starved of success in cup competitions, not winning one since Paul Rideout's goal in 1995 secured our last FA Cup. That's an entire generation of Evertonians who've never seen success, me included!

I'm not saying Moyes should start exactly how he did against Tottenham , but Everton certainly have some quality to bring into the side: Jake O'Brien, Tyler Dibling, even Jack Grealish to make his full debut on his return . For me, last year's trip to Molineux felt way more than rotation by Moyes. It felt like a decision to not take the cup seriously, and if we got through, we got through. Personally, I think those days are gone. At some stage, progress has to be measured by more than simply where we finish in the league each year.

Cup competitions nowadays represent the perfect opportunity to kick on as a football club, securing European football through winning silverware and attracting better talent in the process. A club like Crystal Palace is a prime example.

This is why, ultimately, I feel Everton cannot afford to rest ten or eleven players this time around. This feels like a massive opportunity to really put some momentum together, and even with a paper-thin squad, show a defiant squad mentality.

No doubt about it, this week is huge. An okay start could turn into a fantastic one with two wins under our belt going into the international break. Let's hope we can string a couple of results together.

What would you do? Would you focus on the league over the cup because of our squad? Let me know your thoughts!