I don't disagree with you that we should have converted some of those quarters and semis into actual wins, never mind just reaching the final. I think a prime example is this year - Had we won a shootout, we would have been playing Chelsea where anything could have happened and gone on to reach a major european final. We also conceded 2 late goals in the last 5 mins against Norwich in the League Cup - If we win 0-1 as should have happened, it is more than likely we would have gone on to win the competition as Norwich got Villa at home and lost, they in turn lost to Bradford who in turn lost to Swansea in the final. It is incredibly frustrating that we haven't got it over the line a few more times.
But I can also say that we are battling against ever changing variables and just when we felt we were in a position to maybe look at being a top 6 club again in the early 2000s, Chelsea change the game with the influx of money they get. That makes Top 4 and winning things almost unobtainable at that time for us without a mass overhaul. So we go back to square one and take another 4-5seasons before looking like we are going to be a regular threat for the Top 4 and honours - Emirates Marketing Project get a massive influx of cash and again change the game.
I also have to say that the old line of "other clubs dont care about the League cup" as false. Apart from the last 3 finals which have been a little mismatched in differing aspects, the previous 10 before that were very good finals in terms of the teams that reached them, mainly comprising of Spurs, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Once Chelsea got rich then most other clubs with the exception of Arsenal saw it as a realistic chance to win some silverware.
Of course, some decisions we as a club have taken, may have prevented us from crossing the line on those cup runs but generally speaking I think we have done well to have those runs when you consider what we are up against and trying to balance it with a need/desire to finish in the top 4. I also take the point that we should have posted some stronger results during those runs like the FA Cup Semi in 2010, like the finals against Blackburn and Man Utd in 2002 and 2009 plus the Semi against Arsenal in 2007.
If those results had gone in our favour then our trophy haul and finals appearances would look alot healthier but its fine margins and we have also been quite unlucky at times.
Poyet hitting the bar at 1-1 in Cardiff?
Dawson slipping in extra time to allow Piquionne a tap in and then Crouch having a goal disallowed in 2010?
Ghost goal from Mata in 2012? Losing on pens to Man U?
Kanoute's freak handball from nowhere in the last minute of extra time against Liverpool in 2005?
We just seem to never have that little slice of luck. I know every team can point to individual things but for the amount of times in big games we have been "unlucky", it is definitely more than other teams can point to and that was case even before ENIC - Dabizas, FA Cup Semi Final 1999 - Handball, blatant as you like not given at 0-0. Goes to extra time, Campbell does something equally as blatant, penalty given, 0-1 down and chasing the game. There are more and more the further I go back.
I think basically, we are inherently an unlucky team who also are liable to bottle things probably because of the soft mentality associated with Spurs over the years and it has seeped into the support and club. Even when we are 3-0 up we can't relax because a goal for the opponent leaves our entire support wondering if this is yet another bottlejob in the offing. I think we need to move away from that mentality as much as the players to get over the line more often but there is no easy answer as to how to change all these things.
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