EFL Trophy News

[wing commander]

Nope we can't....we have to play by a different set of rules

[Drover]

Not surprised,the ref let Newcastle play with a different set of rules than us in the 'Not so' Friendly.

[The Red Baron]

In terms of travelling we haven't done too badly. I feel for Cheltenham who have been drawn in a group with Blackpool, Bolton and Everton B.

[RoversAlias]

Unsurprisingly a great load of rubbish. I'm not going to any of these games.

[DonnyOsmond]

The Cambridge/Peterborough thing is because they want at least 1 L1 and 1 L2 team in each group.

[Sammy Chung was King]

It's an insult that the bigger sides, whether it will work or not, decide they aren't going to take part, if you ever wondered about who is in charge of the game, this tells you everything.

[The Red Baron]

With our injury situation as it is, its a competition we could do without.

Can we play alot of youth too?or is it not allowed?If they make it a farce,then why should we be able to treat it like a farce back to them.

Also,theres a 5 week gap inbetween each game,is it just me who find that strange?15 weeks to complete a 3 game group?

The competition rules state that L1 and L2 clubs must field full strength sides or face a fine of £5000. Of course there are ways of getting round this (a sudden crop of injuries) but I think the FL will be watching out for any club that fields their under 21s or youth team.

Have to say I like the idea I've seen from Oxford and Portsmouth fans that those boycotting the games should offer to donate the ticket price to cover any fines!

As for the dates, they are exactly the same as they would have been for the usual first three rounds. I agree it is a bit of a nonsense for a group format though.

[idler]

A few seasons ago Gary Megson brought a couple of players off very early during a tie with Bradford City, laughing as he did so.
That didn't go down well with City fans either as a lack of respect.

[The Red Baron]

A few seasons ago Gary Megson brought a couple of players off very early during a tie with Bradford City, laughing as he did so.
That didn't go down well with City fans either as a lack of respect.

It was a proper competition in those days. Now it has been totally devalued I wouldn't blame any manager who decided to circumvent the rules.

[Muttley]

As for the dates, they are exactly the same as they would have been for the usual first three rounds.

Unless you're called Chelsea, in which case you can pick and choose dates to suit yourself.

[The Red Baron]

As for the dates, they are exactly the same as they would have been for the usual first three rounds.

Unless you're called Chelsea, in which case you can pick and choose dates to suit yourself.

True, but that illustrates one of the problems with the competition. The first few rounds are scheduled to coincide with international breaks. Most of the biggest clubs lose their U-21 players to international duty.

You'd think someone in the EFL might have thought of this...

[The Red Baron]

AFC Wimbledon boss isn't a fan.

http://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/2435/dons-boss-efl-trophy-changes-slapdash/

[drfchound]

How is it decided which venue games are at?. As each team plays each other just once, its entirely possible DRFC could be at home to Derby, but away at the other 2, losing the away games, but drawing with derby ( assuming a positive result is not required in group stage), so one point for DRFC and competition at an end. Conversely DRFC may be away at Derby and home to other 2, winning home games and going through to KO stage. Strange way of doing things.

Or..... Rovers could win all three games and go through....or win one at home and one away and go through......or win one, draw two and win two penalty shoot outs and go through......or perhaps some other combination.

[Woodhead Passer]

Portsmouth fans planning on going to the EFL Trophy games, then walk out straight after the game kicks off.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36953689

[Mr1Croft]

Portsmouth fans planning on going to the EFL Trophy games, then walk out straight after the game kicks off.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36953689

Again, like a Boycott needs 100% buy in from all concerned. Pompey being fan owned probably means there is sufficient cause for the fans not to directly starve money from the club.

Personally I'd rather boycott, if all fans did the same then all clubs would suffer financially and therefore have no choice but to vote with their feet next year when asked if these changes should be permanent.

[silent majority]

Boycott or not this competition won't run in this format next year, and if they don't find a new sponsor there's every chance the competition will be shelved. Opposition to the changes are very strong from supporters and a growing number of clubs.

[arkseyrover]

am just not going. Won't buy any more of that EFL paint either. Feck em!

[Muttley]

I'll give the competition a chance - in principle, the idea of academy teams playing in a mens tournament isn't necessarily a bad thing,

It really, really is.

L1 & L2 clubs assemble their teams under strict financial rules and then compete on (relatively) equal terms. No such restriction on the multi-million pound youth squads at Chelsea et al.

The EFL Trophy rules only allow minor changes to the regular "first team" for L1 & L2 clubs, but place no such demands on the participating Premiership/Championship teams who are only restricted by age conditions.

The rationale for the Premiership/Championship teams joining the EFLT is to aid their players improvement which will in turn impove the England national squad!!! But there's no requirement for them to only play their English youth!

If the Premiership/Championship teams really want to play in the EFLT, they should try getting themselves relegated a couple of divisions. And if they want their precious youngsters to get a bit more competitive game time, then why don't they set up their own league or cup competition, rather than spoiling someone else's competition and chance of a day out at Wembley.

[Muttley]

They could play against "men" in their own Prem/Champ reserve/youth/old pro's league, without compromising the integrity of someone else's competition.

Or maybe the Prem teams can hold off from buying every Tom Dick and Harry at 7 years old before chucking them on the scrapheap and allow them to develop more naturally at lower league  clubs.

The only scope this idea has got is to destroy the whole integrity of the existing league system.

What next? International B teams in the World Cup?

[Sammy Chung was King]

So if they play in our cup, then why not let our club and others at league two level, play in the non league cups? See how it can get out of hand, and devalued?.
This is unneccesary meddling, because the national team failed. I'm all for trying to improve things for us to better at tournaments, but what was wrong with the loan system, as was?.

If they want to help england, give the national manager a training camp, once a month for 2-3 days. Have a midseason break around christmas.
Stop rewarding young lads far too early, giving them too much money, too soon, and taking away motivation to do better.
Instead of just loaning our english kids to local clubs lower down, loan them abroad as well, it would improve them in all sorts of ways. And get the coaching lower down improved, and make courses to become a top coach, affordable to the ordinary man!.

[The Red Baron]

They could play against "men" in their own Prem/Champ reserve/youth/old pro's league, without compromising the integrity of someone else's competition.

Or maybe the Prem teams can hold off from buying every Tom Dick and Harry at 7 years old before chucking them on the scrapheap and allow them to develop more naturally at lower league  clubs.

The only scope this idea has got is to destroy the whole integrity of the existing league system.

What next? International B teams in the World Cup?

High time that limits were placed on the numbers of professionals, particularly Development players, that big clubs can register. It would allow a greater spread of talent through the game and let players find their proper level.

It is the logical counterpart to the loan changes that have been brought in.

[idler]

The mid winter break will mean starting the season earlier or finishing later. This reduces time for lucrative pre-season tours so are they going to squeeze games in during the break. What about every two years when it's the World Cup or Euros?
They will be wanting to cut the Premier League down to get the games in next.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Or maybe the Prem teams can hold off from buying every Tom Dick and Harry at 7 years old before chucking them on the scrapheap and allow them to develop more naturally at lower league  clubs.

This is the key issue, clubs taking on hundreds of youngsters and keeping many in so called development teams etc when in reality they just aren't good enough.  The Whitehouse and Mckay transfers to Leeds prove that.  None of the three were anything like good enough but clubs like that have circa 40-50 players in first team/development teams.

A better model would be bigger clubs linking up with the smaller clubs to get the players out on loan or even sold with first purchase offers etc.  Put the funding in to better facilities at the lower levels and then everyone wins.

[The Red Baron]

The mid winter break will mean starting the season earlier or finishing later. This reduces time for lucrative pre-season tours so are they going to squeeze games in during the break. What about every two years when it's the World Cup or Euros?
They will be wanting to cut the Premier League down to get the games in next.

Idler,

The logic of the FL's Whole Game Solution would see the PL cut to 18 or even 16. It seems illogical to have Leagues 2 and 3 the same size as the PL. Fixture congestion is arguably a bigger problem for Man United than it is for Donny Rovers.

[RedJ]

Or maybe the Prem teams can hold off from buying every Tom Dick and Harry at 7 years old before chucking them on the scrapheap and allow them to develop more naturally at lower league  clubs.

This is the key issue, clubs taking on hundreds of youngsters and keeping many in so called development teams etc when in reality they just aren't good enough.  The Whitehouse and Mckay transfers to Leeds prove that.  None of the three were anything like good enough but clubs like that have circa 40-50 players in first team/development teams.

A better model would be bigger clubs linking up with the smaller clubs to get the players out on loan or even sold with first purchase offers etc.  Put the funding in to better facilities at the lower levels and then everyone wins.

Aye but that comes dangerously close to "feeder club" status, which I think is barred in England.

[idler]

The mid winter break will mean starting the season earlier or finishing later. This reduces time for lucrative pre-season tours so are they going to squeeze games in during the break. What about every two years when it's the World Cup or Euros?
They will be wanting to cut the Premier League down to get the games in next.

Idler,

The logic of the FL's Whole Game Solution would see the PL cut to 18 or even 16. It seems illogical to have Leagues 2 and 3 the same size as the PL. Fixture congestion is arguably a bigger problem for Man United than it is for Donny Rovers.

Man Unt. and the rest want the best of both worlds though. They want to be in every competition going as long as possible, have the best players possible so obviously internationals will cause problems. They also want to be going to every corner of the globe at every opportunity to promote the club brand.
When I started watching football there were 92 league clubs and fair enough bigger clubs got a bigger say. Now even the Premier League is more or less three divisions in one. Eventually it will implode because of greed, hypocrisy and the total abuse of the fans that are the life blood of the sport.

[The Red Baron]

Now the Checkatrade Trophy.

http://mobile.efl.com//news/article/2016/checkatrade-check-in-as-trophy-title-sponsor-3225432.aspx

[bobjimwilly]

this whole affair has just been a farce really.

[The Red Baron]

I didn't realise the same thing was happening in Scotland with the Irn-Bru Trophy.

http://spfl.co.uk/challenge-cup/results/

They have under 20s rather than under 23s.

[The Red Baron]

Now the Checkatrade Trophy.

http://mobile.efl.com//news/article/2016/checkatrade-check-in-as-trophy-title-sponsor-3225432.aspx

Best name I have heard for it is the "Chaka Khan Trophy."

Maybe because ain't nobody gonna watch it!

So, for Paint Pot read Chaka Khan.