Checkatrade Trophy 2018/19 Thread

[Plumbob]

To be fair I thought they were poor comments from DC. Seemed to be speaking on emotion which he rarely does.

Over 4,000 there as well which I was genuinely embarrassed at when I saw it. I thought we'd get somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 which, while still not great, can be excused given we usually pull in 8/9,000 for home matches.

Why are you embarrassed? I get it if you don't agree with the competition, but why embarrassed because 4000 others disagree with you?
Each to their own. I didn't go by the way, simply because a 2.5 hour round trip to see a "reserve" team game doesn't appeal.

 

[jacobncfc]

The ban is from 'all forms of football' and was received from the senior competition. The ban is effective for the period until the ban has been completed in that competition (2 or 3 games). The fact that there are 'lesser' competition matches during that period is immaterial, he is still banned from 'all forms of football' and they do not count against that ban.
It prevents players from swerving/reducing the length of a ban in an important competition by the club counting their lesser in-between matches when they probably weren't going to play in them anyway.

Just not counting those other matches towards the suspension would make a lot more sense, surely?

 

[Boz]

Disappointing performance from Rovers from 3-1 up to lose 3-4 to Crewe. Shows how crucial rested Scott Davies and Steve McNulty are to the team.

 

[Gladders]

Only around 50 U's fans made the short trip to Roots Hall, which is great news afaic. I see Mansfield had over 200, but what about the other sides?

700 odd at BP with 59 from County I believe.

 

[Son of Cod]

Just not counting those other matches towards the suspension would make a lot more sense, surely?

Was Jones definitely suspended for this one, then? And 3 league matches?

 

[RLC]

Disappointing performance from Rovers from 3-1 up to lose 3-4 to Crewe. Shows how crucial rested Scott Davies and Steve McNulty are to the team.

It was still an encouraging performance from us with a complete second string, barring a kamikaze final twenty minutes. However, I doubt Shamal George will play for us again after that showing.

A reasonable gate as well, unfortunately, although it will be interesting to see what we get for the Man City game if it is a dead rubber.

 

[Mr Gloverman]

Another clean sheet for us which 5 on the spin now and another unified team performance by all accounts. Lost on pens but not a big deal. More important was the continuation of our good form and consistency. Decent crowd too (bearing in mind it's the chickenfeed trophy) but that may be more to do with the fact that we have no game this weekend as our game vs MK Dons has been re-arranged due to our international call ups of all things.

 

[The_Boss]

Death, taxes, macc penalty shoot out wins.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I read that we gained 25k from our penalty win last night.
This is how they are bribing clubs. We probably had a better side out last night than our League Cup game at Fulham. But the Carabao has no prize money so clubs can't be bothered.
Something is very wrong with all this.

 

[AdamStag]

I read that we gained 25k from our penalty win last night.
This is how they are bribing clubs. We probably had a better side out last night than our League Cup game at Fulham. But the Carabao has no prize money so clubs can't be bothered.
Something is very wrong with all this.

Which is why it must be boycotted, it’s trying to buy fans.

Basically if you’ve won this in the last 2 years you’ve not won anything official or anything useful for the long run of lower league clubs.

 

[Davidimp]

You get 10k for winning a game and 20k just for being in the trophy.

 

[Mr Gloverman]

Yes but how much does it cost clubs to stage these games in the first place. Reduced ticket prices and vastly reduced attendances surely can't see many clubs turn a profit. If they lose all 3 games then they aren't really that much better off even with a 20k payment. Of course i'm a little unsure and could be all wrong but that's the view i have.

 

[Son of Cod]

Yes but how much does it cost clubs to stage these games in the first place. Reduced ticket prices and vastly reduced attendances surely can't see many clubs turn a profit. If they lose all 3 games then they aren't really that much better off even with a 20k payment. Of course i'm a little unsure and could be all wrong but that's the view i have.

I could be wrong but I think losses in revenue/cost of staging matches are covered as well? Someone might be able to correct me on that, though.

 

[Mr Gloverman]

I could be wrong but I think losses in revenue/cost of staging matches are covered as well? Someone might be able to correct me on that, though.

In that case every club should let everyone in for a quid. and they'd still not lose out. . In all seriousness i haven't a clue either what the facts are regarding the competition but you could be right.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

At Sixfields, 156 from Wycombe in a crowd of 1,053 (897 home supporters) that's over 400 less home fans than the corresponding competition fixtures in the last three seasons (against Wycombe, Colchester and Cambridge).

 

[Chris FGR]

I read that we gained 25k from our penalty win last night.
This is how they are bribing clubs. We probably had a better side out last night than our League Cup game at Fulham. But the Carabao has no prize money so clubs can't be bothered.
Something is very wrong with all this.

It's almost as if they have an ulterior motive that relies on this competition being a success.....

 

[shoddycollins]

Disappointing performance from Rovers from 3-1 up to lose 3-4 to Crewe. Shows how crucial rested Scott Davies and Steve McNulty are to the team.

Seen Shamal George come in for a lot of stick from the Tranmere fans. Did any of you see the highlights from our game against Stevenage last season?

Was actually pretty decent in the other games he played mind.

 

[GodsGift]

Why are you embarrassed? I get it if you don't agree with the competition, but why embarrassed because 4000 others disagree with you?
Each to their own. I didn't go by the way, simply because a 2.5 hour round trip to see a "reserve" team game doesn't appeal.

You don't need me to tell you why I was embarrassed, the argument has been done to death on here and elsewhere and it's well publicised why the vast majority of supporters in L1 and L2 believe this competition to be a joke. I could just about excuse the high crowds last year - we made our intent clear to get to Wembley for the first time and everyone was on a high about being back in L2, but to get over 4,000 when DC has pretty much said we're not really going to bother with it this season? That's poor. Do you not find it a bit weird that everyone else is getting low crowds, while we're bringing in gates that are nearly double what we were managing while we were in the Conference?! Of the 22 games played on Tuesday, five had crowds less than 1,000, 16 were less than 1,500, a number of clubs beat their record for lowest every attendance. Yet we continue to be the odd one out for some reason.

 

[Clarkey_GTFC]

Wasn't sure if watching the game on iFollow breaks the idea of a boycott but I did it anyway. Notts looked really good first half, absolutely nothing like a team that should be anywhere near the bottom, mind you we were atrocious. Roles reversed in the second half and we were excellent, especially once Hessenthaler came on. Wes Thomas looks like he could be a very important player for us and Ahkeem Rose didn't look his age at all, played very comfortably. A much needed win for us regardless of the competition, just need to translate it into points in the league now.

 

[Chris FGR]

If ever you needed an example as to why this competition is a joke, on Tuesday Sunderland were at home to Stoke U21's. In a competitive game. It was even live on TalkSport ffs. Never thought I'd see that happen in this country. What an embarrassment.

 

[Davidimp]

Yes but how much does it cost clubs to stage these games in the first place. Reduced ticket prices and vastly reduced attendances surely can't see many clubs turn a profit. If they lose all 3 games then they aren't really that much better off even with a 20k payment. Of course i'm a little unsure and could be all wrong but that's the view i have.

Not a clue but as has been mentioned the clubs are compensated.
We made over 500k from getting to the final and winning it and that money almost paid for Akinde

 

[Gladders]

In that case every club should let everyone in for a quid. and they'd still not lose out. . In all seriousness i haven't a clue either what the facts are regarding the competition but you could be right.

Yes the clubs are compensated by the EFL for any loss in revenue, which makes the competition even more of a joke and the only reason clubs keep voting for it because regardless of numbers they still make money from it.

We offered £5 entry for our game and still had less than 700 home fans. Even if it was free entry I doubt there would be many more.

 

[Plumbob]

You don't need me to tell you why I was embarrassed, the argument has been done to death on here and elsewhere and it's well publicised why the vast majority of supporters in L1 and L2 believe this competition to be a joke. I could just about excuse the high crowds last year - we made our intent clear to get to Wembley for the first time and everyone was on a high about being back in L2, but to get over 4,000 when DC has pretty much said we're not really going to bother with it this season? That's poor. Do you not find it a bit weird that everyone else is getting low crowds, while we're bringing in gates that are nearly double what we were managing while we were in the Conference?! Of the 22 games played on Tuesday, five had crowds less than 1,000, 16 were less than 1,500, a number of clubs beat their record for lowest every attendance. Yet we continue to be the odd one out for some reason.

All it says to me, is that more Lincoln City supporters don't give a hoot about any boycott or whatever, and they are happy to go to the game in the knowledge that they will see an "under-strength" side.
As to why that is different elsewhere, who knows! It is a curious thing, as you say. I also choose not go, which is nothing to do with what anyone does or thinks, but I don't find it personally embarrassing that others do. All I see is their freedom of choice.

 

[Boz]

Seen Shamal George come in for a lot of stick from the Tranmere fans. Did any of you see the highlights from our game against Stevenage last season?

Was actually pretty decent in the other games he played mind.

Think the Stevenage game was raised at the time he signed on loan to us. He hasn’t shown any evidence of being significantly better than either of our own young keepers to date, although there were other defensive issues which led to our demise.

 

[shoddycollins]

All it says to me, is that more Lincoln City supporters don't give a hoot about any boycott or whatever, and they are happy to go to the game in the knowledge that they will see an "under-strength" side.
As to why that is different elsewhere, who knows! It is a curious thing, as you say. I also choose not go, which is nothing to do with what anyone does or thinks, but I don't find it personally embarrassing that others do. All I see is their freedom of choice.

I think it fits the perception most have of Lincoln fans being gloryhunters.

 

[JJ1532]

Disappointing performance from Rovers from 3-1 up to lose 3-4 to Crewe. Shows how crucial rested Scott Davies and Steve McNulty are to the team.

This game was a calamity for the goalies. Garratt had a shocker for the 2nd and didn't do great with the 3rd. As for George, jeez. Terrible for the first and third, not great on the 2nd either.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Darren Way shows he isn't the brightest of chaps by suggesting we will be getting a fine
http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/features/interview.asp?InterviewId=2192

No Darren, it wasn't weak, we just know how to interpret the new rules.

 

[Luke Imp]

To be fair I thought they were poor comments from DC. Seemed to be speaking on emotion which he rarely does.

Over 4,000 there as well which I was genuinely embarrassed at when I saw it. I thought we'd get somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 which, while still not great, can be excused given we usually pull in 8/9,000 for home matches.

I was surprised, too. Not because it was the Checkatrade but because DC's been quite open by saying the Checkatrade and Carabao were of no importance this season and he'd be fielding weakened sides. He's repeated that quite a bit since pre-season so I'm not sure why some have been so shocked when they've turned up.

Likewise so many going to Blackburn. People were coming back from there feeling 'cheated' that he'd made so many changes despite warning everyone what he would be doing!

Not a clue but as has been mentioned the clubs are compensated.
We made over 500k from getting to the final and winning it and that money almost paid for Akinde

I think with all sponsorship and everything else thrown in, we were around £800k for winning it.

All it says to me, is that more Lincoln City supporters don't give a hoot about any boycott or whatever, and they are happy to go to the game in the knowledge that they will see an "under-strength" side.
As to why that is different elsewhere, who knows! It is a curious thing, as you say. I also choose not go, which is nothing to do with what anyone does or thinks, but I don't find it personally embarrassing that others do. All I see is their freedom of choice.

There's that they just want to watch a game but there must be a few who care about the boycott, or at least not making an effort to get to the game, because the attendance was 50% down on league games.

 

[Plumbob]

I think it fits the perception most have of Lincoln fans being gloryhunters.

I don't doubt that.
I'd guess we probably have something like 3000 regular supporters through thin and thinner, and maybe another 1000 that are occasional visitors. That leaves around 4000 "glory hunters", plastics, call them whatever you like.
Out of interest, which category would you think the bulk of those that went on Tuesday fell into? I have no clue myself, other than my mate (S/T holder of over 20 years) went simply because he wanted to see a game.

 

[Conker]

I don’t understand why Cowley suddenly does not want to take the cups seriously, Lincoln have more strength in depth and better quality from last season.

He should go for it on fronts really.

To be fair we made seven changes ourselves but it was still a strong squad, probably made stronger due to our Saturday game being postponed.