| With Englands inability to be able deal with two inches | | | | The new ties for the Carling Cup are likely to be |
| of snow the repercussions are already being noticed. | | | | played from January 15th through to the 17th |
| The fact games are sometimes re-arranged usually | | | | January with the second legs being played a week |
| leads to the game being replayed a week or two | | | | later. The dates are only provisional of course and |
| later but with two legs to be played the | | | | depends very much on the UK weather. |
| complications are much higher. | | | | Some may see the delay as an added break but |
| Manchester United in particular will not be very happy | | | | postponements rarely make anyone feel better and |
| as they bid to win the Premiership and Champions | | | | United would rather have the games out of the way |
| League, the latter of which has games coming up | | | | sooner that allow the competition drag on. |
| versus the Italian giants AC Milan both home and | | | | Manchester City on the other hand who have found |
| away. Manchester City, Blackbrun Rovers and Aston | | | | some decent form under new manager Roberto |
| Villa do not have any European respoinisbility and will | | | | Mancini will be happy to play later as Uniteds fixtures |
| therefore be slightly better off depsite United likely | | | | pile up and City can concentrate on the Premier |
| to field a very young eleven to face the new | | | | League with a fourth spot still not beyond them. |
| billionaires of football. | | | | |