Checkatrade Trophy 2018/19 Thread

[valefan16]

Lardies sold out all 4000 away tickets for the reserve derby.

Nuts... sadly a lot of Vale fans feel the need to go to save face and the boycott won’t be successful giving the EFL just what they want from this fixture.

 

[kieran_vale]

They are utterly laughable, they're taking more to us in basically a reserve team game than they took to Old Trafford last year. This is going to create a nightmare for Vale though with the police bill and segregation if we end up having to open up more stands in the ground. Just hope the majority of Vale fans stand their ground on this, apparently we've barely shifted a couple of hundred so far.

 

[valefan16]

They are utterly laughable, they're taking more to us in basically a reserve team game than they took to Old Trafford last year. This is going to create a nightmare for Vale though with the police bill and segregation if we end up having to open up more stands in the ground. Just hope the majority of Vale fans stand their ground on this, apparently we've barely shifted a couple of hundred so far.

Most will buy today I guess when at the ground.

 

[valefan16]

Chairman been on radio and suggested he will give Stoke another stand... they sold 4000 in 24 hours we’ve sold 300... fair play to us there at least

 

[The Alex]

Heard Smurf on the radio, sounded quite articulate surprisingly and I agree with his decision. I'm tempted to go just to watch Stoke take the absolute piss.

 

[valefan16]

Heard Smurf on the radio, sounded quite articulate surprisingly and I agree with his decision. I'm tempted to go just to watch Stoke take the absolute piss.

They won’t be taking the piss though, they’ll be looking absolutely stupid! That desperate to try and get one on us they are turning up en masse to a game were not even fussed about as it’s a second string against U21s!

Nice to know they still care so much though...

 

[The Alex]

They're playing your first team though, this was always going to happen. Anybody who's not an idiot will know it's meaningless but you can't blame them, your lot would do the same.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

They are utterly laughable, they're taking more to us in basically a reserve team game than they took to Old Trafford last year. This is going to create a nightmare for Vale though with the police bill and segregation if we end up having to open up more stands in the ground. Just hope the majority of Vale fans stand their ground on this, apparently we've barely shifted a couple of hundred so far.

You've just given the Railway Terrace to Stoke- that will make it 9,000 Stoke fans I think.

When was the last time Vale played Stoke? 2002?

I think Vale are vastly underestimating (ie by trying to play it down) what this means to a Stoke fan- Potteries derby, in a competitive game, for the first time in 16 years? There is a whole generation of Stoke fans who have never been to a Potteries derby...now's their chance!

 

[valefan16]

You've just given the Railway Terrace to Stoke- that will make it 9,000 Stoke fans I think.

When was the last time Vale played Stoke? 2002?

I think Vale are vastly underestimating (ie by trying to play it down) what this means to a Stoke fan- Potteries derby, in a competitive game, for the first time in 16 years? There is a whole generation of Stoke fans who have never been to a Potteries derby...now's their chance!

It’s not a potteries derby.... it’s their U21 against a mainly second string Vale. If it was we’d be filling the home ends and not giving them away to help Smurf get his new Tesla.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It’s not a potteries derby.... it’s their U21 against a mainly second string Vale. If it was we’d be filling the home ends and not giving them away to help Smurf get his new Tesla.

You've really made my point for me- doesn't matter what you think, this is the first time (competitively) Vale and Stoke have met for 16 years and Stoke fans aren't letting that fact pass by. If you chose to put a second string out then that's your choice. It's a cup competition with a trophy at the end of it and a Wembley appearance.

You can call it what you want- it isn't pre season. It's a cup competition. You can call it tin-pot, you can call it whatever. It's a derby game between Stoke and Vale and that hasn't happened for 16 years.

 

[valefan16]

You've really made my point for me- doesn't matter what you think, this is the first time (competitively) Vale and Stoke have met for 16 years and Stoke fans aren't letting that fact pass by. If you chose to put a second string out then that's your choice. It's a cup competition with a trophy at the end of it and a Wembley appearance.

You can call it what you want- it isn't pre season. It's a cup competition. You can call it tin-pot, you can call it whatever. It's a derby game between Stoke and Vale and that hasn't happened for 16 years.

Which in turn is why it is an embarrassment for Stoke... their fans desperate for it... ours not. It’s their biggest game of the season in terms of their fans turning up...

The competition is a farce and this situation has shown the total lack of respect for the EFL member clubs that teams like Vale (or to a lesser degree Crewe) are forced to play the U21 of Stoke City, similar for say Coventry/Leicester U21 Sunderland/Newcastle U21.

The bigger picture is avoiding reserve teams in the EFL and Vale fans like most have rightfully boycotted it. It’s caused a rift between the Vale fans as to how to approach this situation but sales show the boycott is right.

Whatever happens on December 4th afterwards it will still be the case that Michael Cummins header was the last winning goal in a Potteries Derby.

Treat the competition with the disdain it deserves.

The irony is both ourselves and Stoke City have had a glorious past when this was a proper tournament, them in 1992 and 2000 on both occasions then passing the trophy to Vale in 1993 and 2001 when as holders they were beaten in proper Derbies.

Win this or beat Yeovil on Tuesday? Yeovil every time.

 

[Andy Proctor]

It doesnt matter If stoke have 100000 or 5000 there it doesn't matter I don't think there will be any more than 1200 vale fans there

 

[Andy Proctor]

If what I've posted doesn't make sense it's cos I've drank 20 pints today

 

[Waluigi]

You've really made my point for me- doesn't matter what you think, this is the first time (competitively) Vale and Stoke have met for 16 years and Stoke fans aren't letting that fact pass by. If you chose to put a second string out then that's your choice. It's a cup competition with a trophy at the end of it and a Wembley appearance.

You can call it what you want- it isn't pre season. It's a cup competition. You can call it tin-pot, you can call it whatever. It's a derby game between Stoke and Vale and that hasn't happened for 16 years.

It's not though is it. Because the Stoke City first team isn't playing

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It's not though is it. Because the Stoke City first team isn't playing

I think I'll have to give up at this point- the reason almost 900 Imps fans travelled to Scunthorpe in the Checkatrade is because it was a local game- local rivalry- local bragging rights.

And our local "rivalry" is nothing compared to Vale and Stoke- this could be Stoke U7s vs Vale U7s. It is (to my knowledge) the first competitive game between the 2 clubs since 2002.

Doesn't disagree with Valefan16 regarding how Vale fans may see it BUT Stoke fans see it differently and haven't had chance to play against Vale since 2002. Vale may choose to put out a team bereft of first team players but that's their choice.

Same as if Newcastle U21s played Sunderland in Checktrade - or Everton U21s played Tranmere.

The rivalry is bigger than the competition itself.

 

[Waluigi]

It's all fun and games sure, but it's not an actual game between the two clubs and doesn't count. It definitely doesn't for Stoke.

Maybe it'll be a footnote in the wiki article about the derby or something, but it doesn't count in the tally.

 

[valefan16]

I think I'll have to give up at this point- the reason almost 900 Imps fans travelled to Scunthorpe in the Checkatrade is because it was a local game- local rivalry- local bragging rights.

And our local "rivalry" is nothing compared to Vale and Stoke- this could be Stoke U7s vs Vale U7s. It is (to my knowledge) the first competitive game between the 2 clubs since 2002.

Doesn't disagree with Valefan16 regarding how Vale fans may see it BUT Stoke fans see it differently and haven't had chance to play against Vale since 2002. Vale may choose to put out a team bereft of first team players but that's their choice.

Same as if Newcastle U21s played Sunderland in Checktrade - or Everton U21s played Tranmere.

The rivalry is bigger than the competition itself.

But the difference there is Lincoln and Scunthorpe we’re both playing as their first team not an U21 fixture... how can it be a competitive derby when it’s their kids? That’s almost the same as the Staffordshire Senior Cup ties...

 

[Waluigi]

In the Lincoln/Mansfield thread there's a question of wether our Checkatrade win over them last season "counts" or not, because if it doesn't it means we've not beaten them since 2008 or something and I'm inclined to think it doesn't count.

To be honest, I don't think early round LDV/Johnstones Paint games really counted either. Too many variables, too many rested players. Only when you guarantee that both teams really care does it really count.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

But the difference there is Lincoln and Scunthorpe we’re both playing as their first team not an U21 fixture... how can it be a competitive derby when it’s their kids? That’s almost the same as the Staffordshire Senior Cup ties...

I understand all that but, if I understand anything about the Potteries rivalry, it is bigger than any competition. Like the Steel City rivalry- it doesn't matter what the game is, if the game is against the arch enemy, the game is "on".

Vale fans really are in a catch 22. Lose and Stoke kids beat you, win and you only beat Stoke kids....and either way, Stoke take over Vale park for the night.

This is a national cup competition (for all it's detractors) with the final at Wembley.

As said, you are in a no-win situation.

 

[valefan16]

In the Lincoln/Mansfield thread there's a question of wether our Checkatrade win over them last season "counts" or not, because if it doesn't it means we've not beaten them since 2008 or something and I'm inclined to think it doesn't count.

To be honest, I don't think early round LDV/Johnstones Paint games really counted either. Too many variables, too many rested players. Only when you guarantee that both teams really care does it really count.

It was a decent competition once and I enjoyed the LDV Vans glory and the fans who went in 93 still talk about it and rave about the achievement as it was our first trip to Wembley and a trophy ahead of the best years in our history over the rest of the decade after.

Both wins involved beating Stoke (the holders also both times) in the area semis ahead of victories against Exeter and Lincoln to make the final and both occassions were great as it meant a lot then. Actually won on golden goal in 2001!

The earlier rounds though were lower attended but we are talking about 2000 fans, since the EFL have collasally lost touch with the fans with the U21s we’ve broken our record for lowest crowd at Vale Park three times in two seasons. It’s a hard watch.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

It's officially a reserve team competition, because red cards don't carry from league games, so it's not counted as a competitive match.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It's officially a reserve team competition, because red cards don't carry from league games, so it's not counted as a competitive match.

Oh- so Carabao and FA Cup are only reserve team competitions this season....because those cards issued only count for those competitions as well!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It was a decent competition once and I enjoyed the LDV Vans glory and the fans who went in 93 still talk about it and rave about the achievement as it was our first trip to Wembley and a trophy ahead of the best years in our history over the rest of the decade after.

Both wins involved beating Stoke (the holders also both times) in the area semis ahead of victories against Exeter and Lincoln to make the final and both occassions were great as it meant a lot then. Actually won on golden goal in 2001!

The earlier rounds though were lower attended but we are talking about 2000 fans, since the EFL have collasally lost touch with the fans with the U21s we’ve broken our record for lowest crowd at Vale Park three times in two seasons. It’s a hard watch.

I don't disagree with the views of the Checkatrade at all - interestingly FA Cup attendances are not far behind Checkatrade for some clubs either

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Fair enough, I didn't realise that had changed this year.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Fair enough, I didn't realise that had changed this year.

I completely agree that almost all clubs (including LCFC) have devalued the Checkatrade by putting out almost a reserve team with a couple of first team players and the ridiculous situation (new this season) that red and yellow cards don't carry into the league hasn't helped either.

I'll leave it. Think we've had enough of Checkatrade for one night

 

[Buxton Vale]

It's a tinpot competition, and it speaks volumes about Stoke's poor season if they think that this is a glory game.

 

[Waluigi]

It's fair to say that fanbases whose club first teams weren't in it the first season don't really "get" it and why it's bad.

My club included.

 

[valefan16]

It's fair to say that fanbases whose club first teams weren't in it the first season don't really "get" it and why it's bad.

My club included.

It’s the bigger picture of the league three argument really. I caught on a stream Vale v Boro U21s for example and it was a hard watch, our second string mainly barely got out of first gear and it was a training match level, scary to think that could be a league tie one day.

This game has caused massive divides in our fan base, your a scab if you go, your not a true fan if you don’t, Smurfs a disgrace and this will be the end for him giving them the Paddock, Smurf has no choice or they’ll be in with our fans.

Interestingly some fans are planning to buy tickets in the Paddock with the Sjoke fans to adamantly sit in their seat so either way it’s a complete mess.

My view is I won’t be going, I hate missing big games and although now I have kids and am not native so live 70 miles away I have to pick and choose these days but even though Sunderland was on TV I had to be there... this one I have no temptation at all and will continue my boycott of the trophy... some fans argue with me, some agree.

It’s created a complete mess. Has been some talk of Vale fans turning up to stay outside and protest the competition which wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Vale fans can’t even decide if it’s an embarrassment for us or hilarious that the lardies are turning up in 1000s!

The EFL will be rubbing their hands together as they will just see the overall attendance and not the reality of the split in fan base so this is a massive carrot for them.

 

[Vale on Trent]

This tie has become farcical for us and has just created problems. The only way we can save face is by not turning up.

This is not a real potteries derby even Stoke fans will admit this. They’re turning up to take the piss as the big fish. It’s patronising that we are forced to play their under 21’s.

I hate Stoke with a passion but I can’t drag myself to go to this. Imagine sitting there watching Stoke fans taking the piss in OUR stand after winning the game?

Football is becoming a joke and I’m afraid our once great club is too.

 

[Dan_Macclad]

Forget the potteries.

We are going to win this trophy, as holders we'll discard of the trophy somewhere in Barrow next season.

Do you all a solid.. (can we join the brotherhood then?)