Taking away the big guns of today will decrease media attention worldwide to make this competition even less interesing. And I´m sure the smaller clubs would love to draw one of the big guns i.e. Bristol City will easily sell out the game vs the rags, with their fans looking foreward for what is to them a really big occassion. They will take it for granted playing a Mourinho-boring side .
Furthermore we and many like us have a big squad that is or should be able to compete in 4 competitions. It's what the owner and chairman state as well. And there is no obligation to any of the teams with European fixtures to deal with, to send out their best players.
Finally I enjoyed and forever will enjoy my League Cup final day at Wembley. It's than that you realize it is indeed still a competition worth getting in to the final. Than again I am of a generation City fans that feels we have some catching up to do after all these years of knowing there was no silverware to be won.