EFL Trophy 2018-19 Group Stage

[Kenneth E End]

Northern Section

Group A
Carlisle United
Morecambe
Sunderland

Group B
Bury
Fleetwood Town
Rochdale

Group C
Accrington Stanley
Blackpool
Macclesfield Town

Group D
Crewe Alexandra
Shrewsbury Town
Tranmere Rovers

Group E
Burton Albion
Port Vale
Walsall

Group F
Barnsley
Bradford City
Oldham Athletic

Group G
Doncaster Rovers
Grimsby Town
Notts County

Group H
Lincoln City
Mansfield Town
Scunthorpe United

Invited Clubs
Everton, Leicester City, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Southern Section

Group A
Crawley Town
Gillingham
Portsmouth

Group B
Cambridge United
Colchester United
Southend United

Group C
Newport County AFC
Plymouth Argyle
Swindon Town

Group D
Bristol Rovers
Exeter City
Yeovil Town

Group E
Cheltenham Town
Coventry City
Forest Green Rovers

Group F
Northampton Town
Oxford United
Wycombe Wanderers

Group G
AFC Wimbledon
Charlton Athletic
Stevenage

Group H
Luton Town
Milton Keynes Dons
Peterborough United

Invited Clubs
Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Fulham, Southampton, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United

 

[GTFCfish]

What a mad coincidence that nearly all groups have local derbies in them, it’s almost as if they’ve been fixed to try and get better crowds to try and paint this sham of a competition in a better light.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

What a mad coincidence that nearly all groups have local derbies in them, it’s almost as if they’ve been fixed to try and get better crowds to try and paint this sham of a competition in a better light.

You are right, though Bristol, Exeter and Yeovil are closer to us than Newport and Swindon. That said, you are 100% right that this is a sham of a competition.

 

[mowgli]

I want us to not go through from the group stage as i despise this joke cup,hopefully a Premier League Under 23 team win it to kill it off.

 

[Kenneth E End]

What a mad coincidence that nearly all groups have local derbies in them, it’s almost as if they’ve been fixed to try and get better crowds to try and paint this sham of a competition in a better light.

This is probably a whoosh, but its no secret.

As for the U23 team winning it, after this summer and the progression of the England team with a number of ex-FL players part of it, I don't think there's much chance of opinion in the upper echelons taking an opposite direction.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I hope we all find new and inventive ways to mug this tournament off but I'm always disappointed

 

[Bosox]

This is probably a whoosh, but its no secret.

As for the U23 team winning it, after this summer and the progression of the England team with a number of ex-FL players part of it, I don't think there's much chance of opinion in the upper echelons taking an opposite direction.

The England team in this World Cup was the ultimate rebuke to the whole B-Team nonsense that Danny Mills and his panel of idiots came up with. It showed that players can reach the top through loans (Kane, Pickford etc) or just by starting at lower league clubs (Maguire, Alli etc).

An all U23 final in front of a few thousand at Wembley would be a fantastic disaster for the EFL so I hope that's what they get.

 

[djs]

The 48 EFL clubs have been placed into pre-determined groups, with consideration given to ensure travel time is minimised for supporters and recovery time is maximised for players.

In addition, if there is a situation where two teams meet in the Group Stages for a second successive season, then the club who was at home in 2017/18 will play away in 2018/19. All EFL clubs will play two of their three matches at home in the Group Stages.

Southampton U21s will be prevented from being drawn with Portsmouth, and Newcastle United U21s will avoid Sunderland in Round One, as the EFL has committed to work in conjunction with the police to avoid high-profile clashes in the Group Stages.

Copied and pasted from the EFL site. So yes, the groups have been fixed in a number of ways.

 

[Gassy]

I have no problem with the groups being fixed, for those that do wish to travel, its a short trip on a Tuesday night.

Although it's a bit harsh not to give Plymouth Exeter...

 

[Fedora Dale]

Don't know about the other groups, but Dale/Bury/Fleetwood have Leicester's kids in their group. Not that interesting, but not Stoke again...

 

[Gassy]

Think I saw on our forum we got the West Ham U-21's (again)

 

[Marked Ox]

We got the giants of Fulham u21s in our group. The queues for that are going to be MASSIVE, I hope no stewards have holidays booked!

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

We got the giants of Fulham u21s in our group. The queues for that are going to be MASSIVE, I hope no stewards have holidays booked!

Great point. this isn't just a chance to ensure we win the world cup in the US. We should remember it was also sold as an exciting chance for us lower league fans to enjoy a big day out.

Hope we are selling autograph books etc.

 

[PuB]

My word I hope there are some half and half scarfs this season.

 

[Arthur]

I am becoming more and more confident that random draws are not random.
I've been interested in football for many years, no matter how big a party, whether it's a World Cup or a match in our league. With a random chance, the draws look just like they have optimal ticket sales. I recently read an interview like an important personality (I have poor memory for names) admitted that in 98 they used "a few tricks" to make France play with the Germans.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I am becoming more and more confident that random draws are not random.
I've been interested in football for many years, no matter how big a party, whether it's a World Cup or a match in our league. With a random chance, the draws look just like they have optimal ticket sales. I recently read an interview like an important personality (I have poor memory for names) admitted that in 98 they used "a few tricks" to make France play with the Germans.

All well and good for the world cup, but this is big business and the risk of scandal if word ever got out is just too big.

Obviously Oxford vs Fulham u21 is going to sell tickets, but imagine the reaction of Gillingham fans if they heard that it wasn't a total lottery, and they never even had a chance of seeing Fulham u21. Would probably end L1 if people found out

 

[joethegill]

Don't even joke about things like that.

 

[bantamigo]

Looking forward to playing Everton’s youth team with our own youths who will probably have far more football league experience and who will probably win before we get fined for playing our youths.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So first major matchday this evening - we're playing Brighton U23/U21/U18 whomever age group they choose this year.

And opportunity to give a run out to a few of our fringe players:

Marek Stech, James Justin, Alan Sheehan, Lloyd Jones, Jack Senior, Alan McCormack, Eunan O'Kane, Arthur Read, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick, Danny Hylton (if fit) or Elliot Lee
Subs: James Shea, Sonny Bradley, Andrew Shinnie, Pelly Ruddock, Jorge Grant, Aaron Jarvis, Connor Tomlinson

 

[GFCSludge]

We will be losing (probably) to Portsmouth. Woo.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Can't wait to watch Scunthorpe vs Wolves u21's...

 

[Craig]

Oldham away. Hopefully play a load of fringe players and be done with it. Sooner we’re out of it the better and I say that as someone who used to like this competition before they introduced top flight youth teams.

 

[mowgli]

Northampton away tonight.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Routine win against Bury, who at least scored this time, thanks to Kaolin Lavatory's dodgy penalty.

 

[Kenneth E End]

We won 2-1 against a very young Brighton U21 side bar Jason Steele who made some terrific saves. A fairer reflection genuinely would’ve been 6-1 Luton were that dominant.

 

[Bartonyellow]

We won 2-1 against a very young Brighton U21 side bar Jason Steele who made some terrific saves. A fairer reflection genuinely would’ve been 6-1 Luton were that dominant.

You almost sound jubilant that you beat Brighton youth in the most farcical competition ever created.
Nobody is interested in this joke of a cup.
All I hope is we have no injuries or suspensions and get knocked out.
I see Charlie Adam played for stoke last night in the “under 21” team, even though he is about 33 and looks like he is pushing 45.

 

[BelizeHatter]

This tournament has been really popular with our Management for blooding youngsters who have done really well with several stepping up into the first team picture off the back of it. Not so popular with the fans obv.

 

[Fedora Dale]

This tournament has been really popular with our Management for blooding youngsters who have done really well with several stepping up into the first team picture off the back of it. Not so popular with the fans obv.

Same with us - since we have to enter, we may as well make use of it.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

It’s a joke of a competition that has been hijacked by the Greedy League.
Anyone that supports it any way, shape or form should hang their heads in shame and should be dragged round the streets of Bermondsey with a Hammers shirt on!!

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Just a quick note for the stealth four match bans that some of our clubs had because players would remain suspended for this game, but it wouldn't count as a game served. They're taking the piss out of your clubs with this tournament and you shouldn't support it.

Don't know what our score was and don't give a toss.