2017/18 Checkatrade Trophy thread

[AdamStag]

Some people think b teams will never be allowed into the league, while some think it's only a matter of time.

But that's all irrelevant. What matters is that people do not go to any game in this competition, be it against a fellow L2 side or some side masquerading as 'Spurs u/23', because at the end if the day, our dear Shaun will not separate the games involving the proper league sides and the u'23's when working out the average attendance.

Sure, it could well be that b teams are let in, irrespective of how many of us do or do not go to theses games, but by staying away and not watching the game on iFollow (the clubs get 80% of that fiver you pay to stream the match), one is doing his part and sending a clear message to the FA that he or she fears for the future of the beautiful game. It's just like when the government enacts some controversial law and people take to the streets in protest - there's no guarantee the law makers will listen, but you'e doing your part and that's what ultimately counts.

One last thing. I absolutely detest the pish - just like any U's fan after all - but tempting as it was, it never crossed my mind to go watch the game when the two sides were drawn together in the same group. I so wanted to be there but staying away was far more important to me and many others.

To me, if you attend a game in this competition in the current format, you know nothing about football or the ramifications of it.

It's pleasing to see that the VAST MAJORITY of fans subscribe to this and don't bother with it. I don't even look out for the scores when we play.

We had Notts County away - and whereas we took 405 - this is about 1/10th of what we'd normally take. If fans still wish to go, then it's ultimately a free world but it's short sighted and naive.

 

[TomImp]

To me, if you attend a game in this competition in the current format, you know nothing about football or the ramifications of it.

Why does attending a game mean I know nothing about football? Not meaning to come across as argumentative genuinely interested

 

[denzel ecfc]

Lincoln v Chelsea and Shrews v Fleetwood/Yeovil in the other.

I'm hoping for a Chelsea v Fleetwood final to kill it off

 

[Luke Imp]

Even with boycotts, Clubs are still not taking any notice of their supporters. Notts County voted against and the Board did the opposite. Likewise Grimsby. Were Northampton another one? Carlisle as well?

I understand why people are boycotting, I'm not disputing that but it's incredibly naïve to think it'll sway decisions IMO. As above, Clubs have already shown that it doesn't matter how many turn up, they'll still vote how they want. If they're not willing to take notice of supporter votes and opinions yet *still* vote the other way, it's not doing what people want it to.

EDIT - I completely disagree with U21 and B sides, btw. I suspect we'll sell-out against Chelsea and I hope there are plenty of banners around the place seen as we're on TV as well.

 

[Richard Cranium]

That’s my argument. People were saying it’s hitting our own club where’s it hurts but mine can’t even be arsed to come out and say which way we’ve voted so fuck them. Surely we as fans deserve to know!

 

[Nat Brown's Foil Coat]

EFL's gonna tell Chelsea U21 to throw the game to avoid Wembley embarrassment. I can feel it in my bones.

OR Matt Rhead is going to ruin some promising starlet's career with some robust and totally fair centre forward play and we win.

OR we lose and it'll be fucking awful, a dark dark day in the history of English football.

We're defending the honour of lower league football when we really shouldn't have to.

 

[Forza Imps]

If we win, then great, we're off to Wembley. If we lose then we're the moral victors and the EFL are embarrassed by a 10,000 attended Fleetwood vs Chelsea B final.

Sorted.

 

[denzel ecfc]

How can you claim a moral victory if you sell out the ground?

 

[Forza Imps]

How can you claim a moral victory if you sell out the ground?

It is stupid to expect people to stay away from a cup semi final when that team has never been to Wembley in their entire history.

All you clubs with a luxury of success over the past few years are probably bored of Wembley. Been there, done that.

We're only in our second year of coming out of a lost decade. It's not our fault we're playing Chelsea B.

 

[Waluigi]

Extremely easy to talk about boycotting this competition when you go out in the early rounds isn't it.

Out of interest, do the hardliners here think Coventry fans should have boycotted Wembley last year, literally the only good thing that has happened to their club in...I dunno 30 years?

And should Lincoln fans turn down our first ever trip to Wembley because Shaun Harvey is awful and can't stop thinking of ways to sell out his members to big corporate football?

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Yes and yes, absolutely, 100%.

The future and integrity of our football clubs and the English football league structure is far more important than succeeding in a competition funded by the Premier League for entirely their own benefit and endorsed by Shaun Harvey, a proven football mercenary, for the benefit of his career prospects.

For the record in supporter engagement meetings the EFL have been harping on about "improved attendances" this season, not just against B teams, not when B teams went out of the competition, but in total. It genuinely baffles me that two years on people are still having the wool pulled over their eyes by these bastards.

It would've been a very, very hard sell to keep this competition going this year until the final last season, but the 75k crowd absolutely fucked it. Lincoln are doing their best again, we can only pray it's a Chelsea vs Fleetwood final in front of less than 10k, for the good of all of us.

 

[Vanni]

Out of interest, do the hardliners here think Coventry fans should have boycotted Wembley last year, literally the only good thing that has happened to their club in...I dunno 30 years?

 

[Super_horns]

We might be in this I guess as we are created a "B" team team using fringe first teamers and youngsters.

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...-young-players-in-hornets-first-team/?ref=rss

Luton must be hoping we do - probably beat us!

​

 

[GTFCfish]

Extremely easy to talk about boycotting this competition when you go out in the early rounds isn't it.

Out of interest, do the hardliners here think Coventry fans should have boycotted Wembley last year, literally the only good thing that has happened to their club in...I dunno 30 years?

And should Lincoln fans turn down our first ever trip to Wembley because Shaun Harvey is awful and can't stop thinking of ways to sell out his members to big corporate football?

What a complete load of shite. We played away at Scunny after drawing our first game and were very much still in this competition.
Away at Scunny would always be a sell out for us no matter which competition we face them in, and we took less than 200 in this, that's how you do a boycott.
But please don't let facts get in the way of your very blinkered opinion.

Oh and the answer to your questions about Coventry and Lincoln fans, should they not go to Wembley:

Yes and Yes.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Yes and yes, absolutely, 100%.

The future and integrity of our football clubs and the English football league structure is far more important than succeeding in a competition funded by the Premier League for entirely their own benefit and endorsed by Shaun Harvey, a proven football mercenary, for the benefit of his career prospects.

For the record in supporter engagement meetings the EFL have been harping on about "improved attendances" this season, not just against B teams, not when B teams went out of the competition, but in total. It genuinely baffles me that two years on people are still having the wool pulled over their eyes by these bastards.

It would've been a very, very hard sell to keep this competition going this year until the final last season, but the 75k crowd absolutely fucked it. Lincoln are doing their best again, we can only pray it's a Chelsea vs Fleetwood final in front of less than 10k, for the good of all of us.

If Chelsea B get there, it won’t be a 10k final I’m afraid.

 

[Waluigi]

Look, there'll never be B teams in the league. Turkeys won't vote for Christmas.
Plus this competition has proved that they're not a draw. Lincoln are getting big crowds in this because people like watching Lincoln. Nothing to do with the allure of Everton or Chelsea u21s. We sold out SB in the semi of the FA Trophy last season for York, will probably do the same for this. Who the opposition are is immaterial.

Oh and the answer to your questions about Coventry and Lincoln fans, should they not go to Wembley:

Yes and Yes.

Here's the thing, I'm sure you're absolutely sincere in saying you'd boycott Wembley if it happened. Because Grimsby have done Wembley god knows how many times. It's as boring to you as it is to Tottenham fans.

It just bothers me that you can't get into the mindset of a Lincoln or a Coventry fan. Why the hell should we sacrifice extremely rare big days out because Shaun Harvey is a wanker?

I was wrestling with what I'd do if we got to Wembley and played Chelsea u21s and was pretty sure I wouldn't go because it's not a real game, but for Fleetwood/Shrews/Yeovil, of course I'll be there.

 

[Luke Imp]

It would've been a very, very hard sell to keep this competition going this year until the final last season, but the 75k crowd absolutely fucked it. Lincoln are doing their best again, we can only pray it's a Chelsea vs Fleetwood final in front of less than 10k, for the good of all of us.

No it wouldn't. There's been talk of dropping this competition for years as far back as your decade out of the league.

The real problem are the Club's putting money before their supporters wishes. Most Chairman/Boards were swung by a slightly increased entrance fee of the competition this season.

The only thing that'll stop U21 sides in this competition is by Club's voting against it. Until they do, nothing will change regardless of attendances.

 

[denzel ecfc]

No it wouldn't. There's been talk of dropping this competition for years as far back as your decade out of the league.

The real problem are the Club's putting money before their supporters wishes. Most Chairman/Boards were swung by a slightly increased entrance fee of the competition this season.

The only thing that'll stop U21 sides in this competition is by Club's voting against it. Until they do, nothing will change regardless of attendances.

The result of the 'vote' was never made public. We were told that two thirds voted for but it was never announced how many clubs that was, or who they were.

I will never go to a game in this competition until B teams are dropped.

 

[dedwardp]

The EFL are literally taking the piss themselves now haha: https://twitter.com/EFL/status/958836713333444608

 

[Richard Cranium]

I bet they’re gutted.

 

[Kenneth E End]

The EFL are literally taking the piss themselves now haha: https://twitter.com/EFL/status/958836713333444608

It’s probably some 21yo recently graduated from a media studies course at a tinpot Northern ex-Poly earning £7.50/hour doing the tweeting.

 

[Chris FGR]

EDIT - I completely disagree with U21 and B sides, btw. I suspect we'll sell-out against Chelsea and I hope there are plenty of banners around the place seen as we're on TV as well.

Lincoln "selling out" eh? How apt.

Tbf if you're going to get a big crowd then at least make sure you make it into a fucking big protest, banners, anti-Harvey chants the lot.

Basically embarrass them as much as you can in front of the Sky Cameras. And if you're losing towards the end invade the pitch and get it abandoned.

 

[AdamStag]

Tbh there shouldn't even be a thread about this cup (hypocritical positing I appreciate).

 

[Chris FGR]

Tbh there shouldn't even be a thread about this cup (hypocritical positing I appreciate).

Tbf a thread containing mainly posts encouraging people to boycott games and ignoring the actual results is hardly showing support for the cup is it?

 

[AdamStag]

Tbf a thread containing mainly posts encouraging people to boycott games and ignoring the actual results is hardly showing support for the cup is it?

Supoose.

 

[Indian Dan]

Can’t believe a Lincoln fan said he couldn’t care less if they had lost yesterday as long as they beat Chelsea kids.

What’s in the water in them there parts?

 

[Davidimp]

Can’t believe a Lincoln fan said he couldn’t care less if they had lost yesterday as long as they beat Chelsea kids.

What’s in the water in them there parts?

Desperation to get to Wembley I think.
I'm greedy and wanted to win yesterday and the upcoming game but I want to every game as I'm old school.

 

[Nat Brown's Foil Coat]

Can’t believe a Lincoln fan said he couldn’t care less if they had lost yesterday as long as they beat Chelsea kids.

What’s in the water in them there parts?

the embarrasment of losing to swindon < the embarrassment of being denied wembley by a team of overpaid children financed by the stolen wealth of the russian people

 

[Waluigi]

Us being denied Wembley by a team of overpaid children and, like Olivier Giroud, would actually be genuinely funny. And very Lincoln.

And surely it'd end B-teams in this competition.

I'm quite sanguine about it, it really is win win.

 

[MrGloverLover]

We've reduced admission to £6 for our game against Fleetwood tonight. It's because it's our 8th home game in 5 weeks and the fans have forked out enough lately.