2024-25 B(D)SM Trophy

[JJ1990]

I know this is of little interest to most fans in L2, but I thought it was worth creating a thread for.

The initial groupings have been made for this years EFL Trophy competition. Some frankly hilarious choices.

We've got easily the worst group in the Northern Section. Distances of 75 and 100 miles between us and Blackpool/Harrogate. Notts County being in the Southern Section yet Notts Forest U21s being in the Northern is very funny. As is Cheltenham, Newport and...Reading. So, excited to see which U21s teams we'll all be getting and which games we won't be going to then?

 

[Meadow]

Meh! Couldn't give a Monkey's.

 

[kieran_vale]

Given I thought they regionalised it I’m not quite sure why Salford are in our group when would have thought it’d make sense to swap them with Crewe. I’m guessing with us being in a group with Salford and Wrexham Sky will probably be showing at least one of those games, either way likely won’t be watching.

 

[valefan16]

Given I thought they regionalised it I’m not quite sure why Salford are in our group when would have thought it’d make sense to swap them with Crewe. I’m guessing with us being in a group with Salford and Wrexham Sky will probably be showing at least one of those games, either way likely won’t be watching.

Sky are showing every game in this believe it or not!

 

[BlackHaddock]

I just hope Chesterfield and Lincoln fans don't turn up, cos we wont!

 

[GTFCfish]

#bteamboycott

 

[masi51]

#bteamboycott

off you sprout your shite again...........It is the only trophy your tinpot club can win yet you boycott it

 

[GTFCfish]

off you sprout your shite again...........It is the only trophy your tinpot club can win yet you boycott it

Thanks for your input.

 

[Son of Cod]

Decent group for us that, shame we don't give a flying fuck. Boycott.

off you sprout your shite again...........It is the only trophy your tinpot club can win yet you boycott it

It's called having values, pal.

 

[masi51]

Decent group for us that, shame we don't give a flying fuck. Boycott.

It's called having values, pal.

you/we cannot survive without Premiership money, the EFL trophy is the price we have to pay for taking there meagre offerings.
Over the years that u21 teams have been allowed to enter they have done Zilch, Zero nothing.
No it is not ideal but you get nowhere with narrow thoughts/minds.

 

[Son of Cod]

you/we cannot survive without Premiership money, the EFL trophy is the price we have to pay for taking there meagre offerings.
Over the years that u21 teams have been allowed to enter they have done Zilch, Zero nothing.
No it is not ideal but you get nowhere with narrow thoughts/minds.

It's not narrow minded to not want to be shafted by the big boys. There are ways forward for lower league clubs to run sustainably without agreeing to things like u21s in our competitions, eradication of cup replays and B teams in the league but we need independent regulation to come in and the EFL clubs need to be united.

 

[masi51]

It's not narrow minded to not want to be shafted by the big boys. There are ways forward for lower league clubs to run sustainably without agreeing to things like u21s in our competitions, eradication of cup replays and B teams in the league but we need independent regulation to come in and the EFL clubs need to be united.

I can never see the day B teams are allowed into the EFL.............Football outside the Premiership would die overnight.
The Premier league have enough on there plates with the FFP

 

[EnglishRed]

When do they stick the U21 teams in this?

 

[DippyDon]

When do they stick the U21 teams in this?

Now

 

[EnglishRed]

Now

Wolves U21. How boring.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Man Utd yoof for us

 

[Son of Cod]

I can never see the day B teams are allowed into the EFL.............Football outside the Premiership would die overnight.
The Premier league have enough on there plates with the FFP

It's naive to think B teams in the EFL isn't a realistic proposition though if you look at the way things have gone in recent years. The Prem are slowly but surely wringing more and more out of the small clubs with this threat of pulling the plug on the scraps that are begrudgingly handed down. It's not just what is happening too, it's the manner in which it is done that is particularly worrying. FA Cup replays scrapped with so many affected parties bypassed and seemingly no way of contesting the decision.

I accept that boycotting this tournament might seem like quite small fry in the grand scheme of things but personally, I think any "fuck you" that can be given to the powers that be should be given to them.

 

[masi51]

It's naive to think B teams in the EFL isn't a realistic proposition though if you look at the way things have gone in recent years. The Prem are slowly but surely wringing more and more out of the small clubs with this threat of pulling the plug on the scraps that are begrudgingly handed down. It's not just what is happening too, it's the manner in which it is done that is particularly worrying. FA Cup replays scrapped with so many affected parties bypassed and seemingly no way of contesting the decision.

I accept that boycotting this tournament might seem like quite small fry in the grand scheme of things but personally, I think any "fuck you" that can be given to the powers that be should be given to them.

I think that would kill Football in the lower leagues instantly. The only way they could do it would be to create a Div 3 Throw in Celtic, and Rangers.
Court cases would drag on for years

On the flip side i can see teams like Man City, Villa, Everton and Newcastle joining a new European super league
One where they can waste money to there hearts content
The European super league is coming sooner than later and only then will changes be made to the format of the EFL.

 

[CFC91]

I’m guessing nobody gives a shit about this still then?

On paper our group would be decent in normal circumstances

 

[Son of Cod]

I think that would kill Football in the lower leagues instantly. The only way they could do it would be to create a Div 3 Throw in Celtic, and Rangers.
Court cases would drag on for years

On the flip side i can see teams like Man City, Villa, Everton and Newcastle joining a new European super league
One where they can waste money to there hearts content
The European super league is coming sooner than later and only then will changes be made to the format of the EFL.

Yep, The Super League coming back is something I certainly agree with you on!

 

[Si Robin]

West Ham u21s for the 3rd year in a row.

I don't think I can control the excitement

 

[kieran_vale]

Gone a lot stronger than I was thinking we would for this tonight. Good to see Byers make his debut for us though. Just hope for no injuries more than anything. At least with them all being on Sky Sports+ not costing me anything to watch it tonight.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1825940880869699701

 

[valefan16]

Odd one, it’s far stronger than we put out for the Carabao and on paper probably stronger than the XI that beat them in the league ten days ago!

 

[spireite]

I’m guessing nobody gives a shit about this still then?

On paper our group would be decent in normal circumstances

No one can get up for your team playing some u21 squad. I doubt a single player in this starting 11 will play on Saturday

 

[valefan16]

2 good goals chalked off which is frustrating, but more worrying is Hall going off with a shoulder injury. Silly risk to play in this.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Drew 1-1 with City u21s but then won on pens.
Very useful game actually for the amount of players we have that needed minutes. Beauty of a free kick by Oldaker to get us the draw, which I saw on Twitter here

https://twitter.com/x/status/1825980666712138029

 

[kieran_vale]

Pretty routine win for Vale. If the commentator Sky had put for this game was to be believed you'd think it was 1970 Brazil we were playing first half not that they ever really looked like scoring. Once we stepped it up second half Salford really didn't handle it well. Twice have seen them play now and I'll be honest I think they are in for a season of struggle.

Not ideal Connor Hall and Baylee Dipepa picking up knocks so just got to hope they're ok. On the positive side George Byers came through it ok and should be good to play Saturday now.

 

[CFC91]

No one can get up for your team playing some u21 squad. I doubt a single player in this starting 11 will play on Saturday

I went tonight purely as I had nothing better to do and it was a nice evening.

As you say, 11 changes then brought some other non first teamers on including Paul Cooks son. The game was poor, City were poor, we were poor. I won’t go to any of the other group games on the basis of this.

DJs free kick was good though, as was there’s. 2500 there is more than I thought and more than the trophy really deserves. 0 “away fans”

 

[spireite]

I went tonight purely as I had nothing better to do and it was a nice evening.

As you say, 11 changes then brought some other non first teamers on including Paul Cooks son. The game was poor, City were poor, we were poor. I won’t go to any of the other group games on the basis of this.

DJs free kick was good though, as was there’s. 2500 there is more than I thought and more than the trophy really deserves. 0 “away fans”

Yea soulless shite. Fair play for going though!

 

[valefan16]

Decent win, similar to the win in the league the other day against these, Salford very poor as an attacking threat, lots of balls into the channel and managed 2 shots in 2 games at home against us.

Great to get an hour into Stockley and Byers who should really add to our squad as they come back into fitness, Paton came on and was excellent again, looks so far to be a really good signing.

Diamond Edwards with a dream debut coming on and scoring within 2 minutes and really impressed with Kyle John tonight. Just frustrating to lose Hall and Dipepa to injury and especially in Hall’s case I hope it was precaution.

Depth we seem to have in bonkers. Ojo, Grant, Smith, Tolaj, Croasdale all out tonight.

Another clean sheet and game where we don’t really look like conceding is pleasing after last season.