EFL Trophy format has really annoyed the South Coast morons

[Paul Reids Sock]

Does that not make you nearly as bad as the rest of them? I was quite glad we didn't make it to Wembley in a way as it wouldn't have been the full experience.

I wouldn't say that - I didn't support it and say changes were a good idea until they weren't the exact changes that I wanted.

I thought it was a bit of a waste of time but still went to matches and traveled to mid week games such as the Millwall one away that we won on penalties (Jake Robinson going mental at the end was funny) I just wasn't overly upset when we went out each year. That is of course, apart from the nearly year when it would have been nice to see it through!

 

[mxs_harrow]

That's unfair on Portsmouth who voted against the proposals from the outset.



Colchester is the League cup. (Leyton Orient is the JPT thing).

Although you'd still be a bit naïve to expect a full squad for the Colchester game...

EFL Trophy ( no sponsor) and EFL Cup ( also no sponsor). Our Under-23s get to play because Tony Bloom had the foresight to spend 30 million on the Category 1 Academy and the U23 teams are effectively funding the competition.

Whereas Portsmouth gave all their money ( and other peoples) to Harry Redknapp to hold onto the FA Cup for a year......

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

Portsmouth are indeed "morons" however I'm 100% behind them, this is bollocks

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I wouldn't say that - I didn't support it and say changes were a good idea until they weren't the exact changes that I wanted.

I thought it was a bit of a waste of time but still went to matches and traveled to mid week games such as the Millwall one away that we won on penalties (Jake Robinson going mental at the end was funny) I just wasn't overly upset when we went out each year. That is of course, apart from the nearly year when it would have been nice to see it through!

They were a laugh the JPT games. The very fact that they were NOT important, made them easy to relax and enjoy. And that night at Millwall is to this day one of my all time top Albion games. Down to ten men after a few minutes, behind most of the game, to nick an equalizer in injury time, and win on pens. The 600 or so Albion fans there that night were magnificent all evening.

 

[AZ Gull]

Whilst I can understand where they're coming from, I don't recall much in the way of complaint when it was thought that PL teams would be taking part (as already mentioned).

It's almost like Pompey fans are labouring under the illusion that anyone gives the tiniest of tosses about them, barring opportunities to point and laugh.

There has been concerted opposition against the idea of B teams taking part in this competition since the idea was mooted. A petition was launched back at the end of June, which was weeks before it was known which clubs would or would not be entering their academies:-

[TWEET]749010468673613824[/TWEET]

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Awkward when the final will be two Premier League teams' kids facing off... are many of their fans realistically gonna be willing to shell out for a trip to Wembley to watch that?

I think it would be more awkward if it was two championship clubs

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I agree with them. It's League 3 by stealth.

As I said elsewhere, I very much doubt this was not done without one eye on B teams entering the league.

I hope that the because the bigger clubs declined it may put them off the idea.

Having Spurs B in the league is bad enough, but Reading B?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Exactly. the hypocrisy is astounding.

'Of course the kids can play...what we can't get money from advertising Cambridge v Man Utd (U23) on half and half scarves etc. In that case we are out'

I think it is a horrible way of treating that cup, and remember when we were in it and thinking it was a bit of a waste of time (apart from when we nearly made Wembley!)

I can understand the general opposition to this idea but the EFL Trophy is not really a cup steeped in history. Also, I'm not sure that it is hypocritical for Cambridge to be keen on playing Man U kids but less keen on eg Reading kids. Marketing opportunities like these can sustain a club for months and can be the difference between survival and going bust.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I can understand the general opposition to this idea but the EFL Trophy is not really a cup steeped in history. Also, I'm not sure that it is hypocritical for Cambridge to be keen on playing Man U kids but less keen on eg Reading kids. Marketing opportunities like these can sustain a club for months and can be the difference between survival and going bust.

Do you really think that a large crowd will turn up to watch Man Utd kids? Besides, there is the FA Youth Cup for that sort of crowd like our kids did in 2006.
A League 1 or League 2 team going to Wembley is a marketing opportunity, not playing on a Tuesday night in Lancing.

 

[Saladpack Seagull]

As I said elsewhere, I very much doubt this was not done without one eye on B teams entering the league.

I hope that the because the bigger clubs declined it may put them off the idea.

Having Spurs B in the league is bad enough, but Reading B?

The Reading B Team are only in the B Team because they haven't got a C Team.

 

[Driver8]

Anything that upsets Portsmouth supporters is fine by me #twats

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Do you really think that a large crowd will turn up to watch Man Utd kids? Besides, there is the FA Youth Cup for that sort of crowd like our kids did in 2006.
A League 1 or League 2 team going to Wembley is a marketing opportunity, not playing on a Tuesday night in Lancing.

You may be right although the likes of MK Dons seemed pretty excited to see James Wilson last season. My point though was intended to argue against it being hypocricy. If the Cambridge chairman believes he will draw a big crowd then that's a view worth listening to. Its easy for us nouveau riche types in our shiny new stadium watching wonderful footballers to forget that a lot of clubs live on the poverty line.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

You may be right although the likes of MK Dons seemed pretty excited to see James Wilson last season. My point though was intended to argue against it being hypocricy. If the Cambridge chairman believes he will draw a big crowd then that's a view worth listening to. Its easy for us nouveau riche types in our shiny new stadium watching wonderful footballers to forget that a lot of clubs live on the poverty line.

It's because I remember the poverty line, that I think the Academy teams shouldn't be in this. The richer clubs will be taking money away from the poorer clubs.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I don't understand why everyone has suddenly got all protective over this competition. No one took it seriously anyway. Everyone played the reserves in it. At least now some young players get a run out. If we wanted to protect it maybe we should have treated it with more respect to begin with.

There was a rule that 7 first team players had to be in the team, so your statement is incorrect. Our youngster have their own league, and cup competition so why do they need another one?

 

[mxs_harrow]

Do you really think that a large crowd will turn up to watch Man Utd kids? Besides, there is the FA Youth Cup for that sort of crowd like our kids did in 2006.
A League 1 or League 2 team going to Wembley is a marketing opportunity, not playing on a Tuesday night in Lancing.

If a League 1 or League 2 team going to Wembley was regarded as a marketing opportunity, maybe the cup format would still have had a sponsor this year.....

Maybe the two EFL Trophy threads could be merged as this debate is going to run for a long time - until the format changes again next year with National League teams invited, maybe.

Despite the angst about the invitations, if one more U23 category 1 team had dropped out, they would have had to go to the National League to make the numbers up

 

[Thunder Bolt]

If a League 1 or League 2 team going to Wembley was regarded as a marketing opportunity, maybe the cup format would still have had a sponsor this year.....

Maybe the two EFL Trophy threads could be merged as this debate is going to run for a long time - until the format changes again next year with National League teams invited, maybe.

Despite the angst about the invitations, if one more U23 category 1 team had dropped out, they would have had to go to the National League to make the numbers up

It would have been a better option to go to the National League.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Anything that upsets Portsmouth supporters is fine by me #twats

Ha ha, poor best fans in the world gutted for them.

 

[mxs_harrow]

It's because I remember the poverty line, that I think the Academy teams shouldn't be in this. The richer clubs will be taking money away from the poorer clubs.

The way this competition is organised, the U23 Category 1 Academy clubs are effectively funding it, especially in the absence of a sponsor.

Apart from another chance to knock out a higher-ranking club - which lower league clubs relish in the League Cup - League 1 and 2 teams will get the chance to run the rule over academy players they might want on a half season loan later.

Phil Brown moved for Glen Rea after his performance in the League Cup at Southend last season.

The main benefit for Brighton is that our Under-23 players get real games against proper teams.

If the players go out on half season loans, they can't be available for the bench or first team as there isn't an emergency loan option this year.

Sir Alec Ferguson has stated that players need 30 proper games in a season to be able to make the transition from reserve to first team football and the first Group stage of the EFL Trophy will give them an extra three plus hopefully at least a couple of rounds in the League Cup as well.

The Premier League 2 format got changed from U21 to U23 this season as the transition from reserve to first team football in the Premiership was happening at the higher age.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The way this competition is organised, the U23 Category 1 Academy clubs are effectively funding it, especially in the absence of a sponsor.

Apart from another chance to knock out a higher-ranking club - which lower league clubs relish in the League Cup - League 1 and 2 teams will get the chance to run the rule over academy players they might want on a half season loan later.

Phil Brown moved for Glen Rea after his performance in the League Cup at Southend last season.

The main benefit for Brighton is that our Under-23 players get real games against proper teams.

If the players go out on half season loans, they can't be available for the bench or first team as there isn't an emergency loan option this year.

Sir Alec Ferguson has stated that players need 30 proper games in a season to be able to make the transition from reserve to first team football and the first Group stage of the EFL Trophy will give them an extra three plus hopefully at least a couple of rounds in the League Cup as well.

The Premier League 2 format got changed from U21 to U23 this season as the transition from reserve to first team football in the Premiership was happening at the higher age.

You're saying our U23s will get proper games against proper teams whereas everyone else is saying the lower league teams will also field their reserves.

Why do you think the FL cannot get a sponsor for the Trophy or the League cup?

 

[mxs_harrow]

You're saying our U23s will get proper games against proper teams whereas everyone else is saying the lower league teams will also field their reserves.

Why do you think the FL cannot get a sponsor for the Trophy or the League cup?

Stevenage and Southend away will be good tests for them and I'll probably go to either or both of them as easily drivable from London..

The lower league teams all have to put out a certain number of first-team squad players - except Portsmouth, of course, who are trying to crowd-fund the fine they say they will be hit with when they defy the regulations in protest.