The Capital One Cup 2012/13 Thread

[Thrilla]

RW says if I get 100 +1's then he'll ban Baddar.

Pssh... You never even got that tattoo you promised to >_>

[Lineker]

League Cup finalists Bradford City have received an unexpected boost ahead of their Wembley showdown - a message of support from the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was made aware of the Bantams when he received a club shirt at a conference last year.

Now his representative has sent the League Two club a letter hailing their "tremendous achievement".

The writer, Thubten Samdup, also wished the team "every success in the big match" from "his holiness".

Last month Phil Parkinson's side became the first team from the fourth tier of English football to reach a League Cup final in more than 50 years.

Their route to Wembley saw them cast aside a trio of Premier League teams: Arsenal, Aston Villa and Wigan.

Mark Neal, of fundraising group Friends of Bradford City, explained that the group had been looking for a high-profile supporter when the Dalai Lama visited Leeds for a business convention last June.

The group was struck by the similarities between the claret and amber colours of Bradford City and the traditional robes of Tibetan Buddhist monks.

The group managed to present him with a personalised number 14 club shirt - he is the 14th Dalai Lama - and also appointed the spiritual leader as its honorary president.

Mr Neale said: "We thought we'd never hear another thing."

But he has now received the letter from the Office of Tibet sending good wishes to the team.

The letter says: "He remembers his time in Yorkshire with great affection and wishes you every success in the big match."

The group will be sending Bradford City scarves and programmes to the Dalai Lama, Mr Neal said.

The League Cup final between Bradford and Swansea City is on 24 February.

[Dan]

Really looking forward to the game today. A final which nobody could have predicted, should be fun.

[Pesci]

For the first time I can remember I'll be happy if either team wins. I'll be "cheering on" Bradford for the underdog factor but if Swansea win it's still fantastic. I think ties like this in the final prove the League Cup still has its place in modern football. If you don't want to participate, play a weakened team and let the teams who actually want the silverware play it out.

[Summers]

What channel is this on? And what time?

[Dan]

Sky Sports 1 at 3.30.

[Crybaby Bunting]

Knowing that this isn't on terrestrial television has sucked half of the fun away already :/

[Baddar]

It used to be on both. :/

Oh well, Sky it is.

[Dan]

Sky coverage is better anyway.

[Baddar]

Sky coverage is better anyway.

Especially if Bill Leslie is commentating. Doubt it though.

[Lineker]

It would be real fairytale stuff if Bradford could pull this off.

[Lineker]

Why is Ki starting in defence for Swansea? Are they that short of cover for Chico?

[Colly]

At least Sky will have Peter Beagrie or Don Goodman who've actually watched non Premiership football this year, can you imagine how patronising Lawro would be?

[Gazz]

[Matt]

Peter Beagrie is awful, though.

[Dan]

Isn't it amazing seeing a League 2 side in a cup final.

[Lineker]

Dyer!

1-0 Swansea. The way he managed to turn his shirt round was quite impressive actually!

[Hobo]

Nathan Dyer puts Swansea 1-0 up.

[Liam]

Could turn into a bit of a beating......can see Bradford pressing, but getting undone on the break.

[Cymbols]

Game over.