[Albion] ******** Brighton U21s thread ********

[Whitechapel]

No it wouldn't. Winning it, on the other hand, would be brilliant.

No idea what that's all about.

It’s a tournament for L1 and L2 teams to give them a chance of a day out at Wembley. Most people don’t even want U-21s in at the first place.

Us sending out the likes of Baleba, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Minteh & Ferguson to duff up Bromley and Colchester so we can try and claim a trophy which wouldn’t even be awarded to the first team would genuinely make me ashamed of the club. It’s one of the most nonsensical ideas I’ve ever seen on this site.

Why not start Pedro in the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup so he can score 8 against Lancing whilst we’re at it?

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Peupion the only real threat?
Defensively all at sea

For both sides with that through ball for one of their goals

 

[Han Solo]

Yes, I do.................and I don't give a flying f cuk if no-one else wants us in it. I want to win this one day. TBH, I'd like to win any trophy, to display alongside the Community Shield.

So what kind of lineup would you have wanted?

 

[London Irish]

It’s a tournament for L1 and L2 teams to give them a chance of a day out at Wembley. Most people don’t even want U-21s in at the first place.

Us sending out the likes of Baleba, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Minteh & Ferguson to duff up Bromley and Colchester so we can try and claim a trophy which wouldn’t even be awarded to the first team would genuinely make me ashamed of the club. It’s one of the most nonsensical ideas I’ve ever seen on this site.

Why not start Pedro in the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup so he can score 8 against Lancing whilst we’re at it?

Brian Glover in Kes for you oldie film fans

 

[GT49er]

It’s a tournament for L1 and L2 teams to give them a chance of a day out at Wembley. Most people don’t even want U-21s in at the first place.

Us sending out the likes of Baleba, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Minteh & Ferguson to duff up Bromley and Colchester so we can try and claim a trophy which wouldn’t even be awarded to the first team would genuinely make me ashamed of the club. It’s one of the most nonsensical ideas I’ve ever seen on this site.

No it shouldn't.

Why not start Pedro in the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup so he can score 8 against Lancing whilst we’re at it?

That is just silly.

 

[GT49er]

So what kind of lineup would you have wanted?

One that won would have been acceptable.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

One that won would have been acceptable.

Would you genuinely have picked Enciso or Baleba, Ayari or Minteh, Hinshelwood or Ferguson?

 

[GT49er]

Would you genuinely have picked Enciso or Baleba, Ayari or Minteh, Hinshelwood or Ferguson?

It would depend who I'd earmarked for tomorrow night - I want to win the League Cup too. Others were also potentially available.

 

[Han Solo]

It would depend who I'd earmarked for tomorrow night - I want to win the League Cup too. Others were also potentially available.

The selection is quite limited. Only allowed to play 2 players above the age of 21 or with 40+ first team appearances.

While the team probably could have been a slight bit stronger without sacrificing much tomorrow, there's really very little wiggle room.

To be very clear, very straight forward: Brighton & Hove Albion U21 can't win this cup. Manchester City U21, Liverpool U21, Arsenal U21 and Chelsea U21 can't get anywhere near winning it either. Its not possible for a youth team to do it, which is why it has not been even close to happening since U21 teams started to get invited in 2016.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

For those saying we should play more of the first team in the EFL Trophy it’s going against the ethos of academy sides using the competition to help develop players. It’s a tin pot trophy we didn’t really give that much of a f*** about when we entered the first team judging by the piss poor attendances at Withdean for most games. Plus could you imagine losing Evan Ferguson or Jack Hinshelwood for months to an injury picked up against AFC Wimbledon.

There are also no guarantees that doing so would mean we’d win. Back before they restricted the number of overage players to just 2, we once started a game with Tim Krul, Ezequiel Schelotto, Uwe Hünemeier, Liam Rosenior, Izzy Brown (although he was an U21 by age) and Jamie Murphy. We lost that game 3-1 to f***ing Stevenage.

The selection is quite limited. Only allowed to play 2 players above the age of 21 or with 40+ first team appearances.

The selection criteria is limited but it’s slightly different to what you have put.

The rule is (as taken from the EFL handbook)

7.8.2
no more than two players who:
a) are aged 21 or over; and

b) have made 40 or more appearances in a First Team Fixture (either in the starting elven or as a playing substitute in each case as at the 30th June in the year in which the Season concerned, shall be named on the Team Sheet.

 

[Han Solo]

For those saying we should play more of the first team in the EFL Trophy it’s going against the ethos of academy sides using the competition to help develop players. It’s a tin pot trophy we didn’t really give that much of a f*** about when we entered the first team judging by the piss poor attendances at Withdean for most games. Plus could you imagine losing Evan Ferguson or Jack Hinshelwood for months to an injury picked up against AFC Wimbledon.

There are also no guarantees that doing so would mean we’d win. Back before they restricted it to a maximum of two players aged 21 and over with more than 40 appearances, we once started a game with Tim Krul, Ezequiel Schelotto, Uwe Hünemeier, Liam Rosenior, Izzy Brown (although he was an U21 by age) and Jamie Murphy. We lost that game 3-1 to f***ing Stevenage.



The selection criteria is limited but it’s slightly different to what you have put.

The rule is (as taken from the EFL handbook)

7.8.2
no more than two players who:
a) are aged 21 or over; and

b) have made 40 or more appearances in a First Team Fixture (either in the starting elven or as a playing substitute in each case as at the 30th June in the year in which the Season concerned, shall be named on the Team Sheet.

Ah yes.

Made a brave attempt on guessing the criteria based on what I read a year ago or two... not that far away!

 

[RM-Taylor]

Nobody's told the Albion about it then!

You what?

He's out with injury - he had surgery six days ago.

Hence the words "I think" - his social media in the summer time definitely suggested along the lines that he had left or been told he had no future here. He hasn’t been at training or even at any of the media days for club photos or videos.

Obviously I was wrong when I said I think he had left but with all the evidence that’s an easy mistake to make.

 

[Brovion]

It’s a tournament for L1 and L2 teams to give them a chance of a day out at Wembley. Most people don’t even want U-21s in at the first place.

Us sending out the likes of Baleba, Gruda, Hinshelwood, Minteh & Ferguson to duff up Bromley and Colchester so we can try and claim a trophy which wouldn’t even be awarded to the first team would genuinely make me ashamed of the club. It’s one of the most nonsensical ideas I’ve ever seen on this site.

Why not start Pedro in the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup so he can score 8 against Lancing whilst we’re at it?

Yes. Your point is correct, sensible and no sane football fan could argue against it. Obviously I agree with you.

However my heart is with @GT49er - I want to win something! This view is heightened by the fact that about an hour ago I woke up from a vivid dream where we beat Man U 5-1 to win the League Cup final. (Pedro got a hat-trick). All the while I was watching I had a nagging thought that something was 'wrong', and of course when I woke up I realised what it was.

 

[The Wookiee]

Reasonably strong, I think, short of lacing it with a few first squad players who are U21, Baleba or Enciso for exmple (or even a few who are over 21 I think we're allowed three or four over age players if we want).
McConville and Atom are injured, I think.

I’m guessing Mazilu is injured too ?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It would depend who I'd earmarked for tomorrow night - I want to win the League Cup too. Others were also potentially available.

There really are not many. Who are you thinking of?

After the annual loan exodus of youngsters, we are very light for a game like this (especially 24 hours before a league cup tie that we’ll need fringe players for).

If we could call on O’Mahony, Moran, Offiah, Nilsson, Baker Boaty, Cozier-Duberry and Doyle, then I dare say we’d have given Wycombe a tougher game.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yes, I do.................and I don't give a flying f cuk if no-one else wants us in it. I want to win this one day. TBH, I'd like to win any trophy, to display alongside the Community Shield.

Have you ever seen the trophy cabinet? Everything we’ve won has a replica. 3rd div champs 64, 4th div champs2001, 3rd div champs 2002, play off winners 2004, even a runners up cup Championship 2017, plus various replicas of the Sussex Senior Cup.
I doubt very much a Paint Pot trophy will stand out. The development of our youth is important.

 

[Brovion]

Have you ever seen the trophy cabinet? Everything we’ve won has a replica. 3rd div champs 64, 4th div champs2001, 3rd div champs 2002, play off winners 2004, even a runners up cup Championship 2017, plus various replicas of the Sussex Senior Cup.
I doubt very much a Paint Pot trophy will stand out. The development of our youth is important.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - but how many of those were at a Wembley final?

(I'm not really disagreeing with you, like Whitechapel you're correct, it's just that I'd love to see us win a cup at Wembley - any cup. I'm sick of seeing us lose there)

 

[PlayMoran]

The EFL Trophy shows how big a step up senior football is from PL2.

Most of the PL clubs lose regularly in it.

 

[Han Solo]

The EFL Trophy shows how big a step up senior football is from PL2.

Most of the PL clubs lose regularly in it.

Yup.

Obviously our boys, with the football education they have, could do things with the ball most League One/Two players could only dream of.

However the physical difference between an 18-19-year-old and someone in their mid-20s is a lot bigger than I think people realise.

 

[jackalbion]

I think the merits of our entrance into this competition can always be debated but its an interesting watch, as our Under 21s number one fan (at least according to futbology ) I do enjoy seeing how they get on in these games, hence my attendance last night. Some teams take this competition pretty seriously and some don't, last night Wycombe did the former, I saw AFC Wimbledon play in it a few years ago against Palace U21, and they literally played their U18 squad against them (as well as current Whitehawk keeper Zaki Oululah, FUN FACT). The issue with the U21 team is that so many go out on loan that you are kind of left with a load of left overs and U18s, the physicality last night is what out did us, I hope Lubala isn't on a big goal bonus, or that could have been the gate receipts wiped out. People hyper analyse the U21s and I lot of it is about trying different systems and techniques, I wouldn't be too disparaged, Cahill and Jacob Vickers quite frankly had a nightmare they'll learn a lot from that game, but some players looked promising, Harry Howell played some neat stuff, Zane Albarus came on and looked a bright spark. Tasker will go on to be a very good player albiet had a mixed game last night. As well Josh Duffus held the ball up well at times, but sadly didn't get on the teamsheet, I've been impressed with him this season. Ultimately I don't expect us to win it, and to get to the quarters last season was a fantastic achievement (and very funny knocking Reading out of it), will be at Wimbledon as I don't work a million miles away and quite a few mates are using it as an opportunity to tick off the ground. Do think the one VERY ANGRY man needs to lower his expectation with these games, they are young lads likely playing their first game of mens football, its a great test for them, much like I'm a big fan of the 18s/21s playing in the Senior Cup as it teaches them a lesson or two. To scream 'F*cking useless' and 'disgraceful' and 'you should all be ashamed' to 18 year old lads in a dead silent stadium must be a bit disparaging, ultimately the game means nothing, as well when you consider most of the crowd are players families, was particularly annoyed at the cheering of Duffus coming off (who IMO thought was one of the better players) was a shame. Turned out being a pretty exciting game in the end, so not all is lost.