EFL Trophy groups

[BRFC_Gas]

If anyone cares...

Southern half seems a lot easier than the Northern

EFL Trophy groups and draw numbers confirmed

EFL Trophy Northern and Southern Groups for 2023/24 have been confirmed, as follows:

www.efl.com

 

[kieran_vale]

Wrexham and Crewe in ours not that I will be watching any of these games. My position on this tournament is the same as it’s been ever since B teams were let in - I won’t be there.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

I take it that even Papa Johns cant be arsed with this either

 

[Floreat Salopia]

I’m glad we’re in the Southern section for a change, this meaning that we avoid Wrexham. Would be crap after not playing them for 16 years and we meet in this shambolic competition. Save them for a meaningful fixture as it’ll be spicy. Hope their supporters and tourists understand that this is a boycott competition, they probably won’t realise that after being out the league for 15 years.

Walsall & Forest Green followed by a Prem B team. Hope we play the youth and lose all our games again.

 

[Strawberry_Jam]

once we get rid of B teams, I'm sure there must be a way of making the group stage a pre-season type thing. or even delay the league slightly. It will improve attendances with the good weather and interest over new signings, the quality of the first couple of league games, and allow people who are on holiday/doing other things over the summer to not miss the important stuff.

But what do I know, I'll trust the people in charge. It's a competition I really want to get behind. But they just make it impossible atm.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

once we get rid of B teams, I'm sure there must be a way of making the group stage a pre-season type thing. or even delay the league slightly. It will improve attendances with the good weather, the quality of the first couple of league games, and allow people who are on holiday/doing other things over the summer to not miss the important stuff

It was always known as a Mickey mouse competition even before the B sides were invited. Apart from a small chance of getting to Wembley its just another nothing competition.
I have no interest watching us beat kids 3 or 4 nil - Palace were a dirty bunch of little shits only intent on injuring our players. Obviously happy to sit on their tidy wage without trying to get out on loan...

 

[Luke Imp]

once we get rid of B teams, I'm sure there must be a way of making the group stage a pre-season type thing. or even delay the league slightly. It will improve attendances with the good weather and interest over new signings, the quality of the first couple of league games, and allow people who are on holiday/doing other things over the summer to not miss the important stuff.

But what do I know, I'll trust the people in charge. It's a competition I really want to get behind. But they just make it impossible atm.

From a sponsorship point of view, it'd probably lose value if that was done but I agree with it being an early season type competition. I think in the Covid season they played some of the games earlier than normal?

 

[valefan16]

It was always known as a Mickey mouse competition even before the B sides were invited. Apart from a small chance of getting to Wembley its just another nothing competition.
I have no interest watching us beat kids 3 or 4 nil - Palace were a dirty bunch of little shits only intent on injuring our players. Obviously happy to sit on their tidy wage without trying to get out on loan...

It used to be better in the early 90's, mind you both times we won it we beat Stoke in the Area Semi Finals so maybe pushed it up in our memories more than it would most!

 

[joethegill]

Should just be a straight knock out tournament like all the other domestic cups, no idea why we have to fanny around with 3 group games no-one wants when 1 will have the same effect and get rid of 50% of the teams involved.

 

[valefan16]

Should just be a straight knock out tournament like all the other domestic cups, no idea why we have to fanny around with 3 group games no-one wants when 1 will have the same effect and get rid of 50% of the teams involved.

imagine its to guarantee three games for the U21 sides as part of the deal. waste of time, pretty sure we've beaten every U21 side we've faced including smashing Liverpool 5-0 and 4-2 and are usually like training games where our reserves barely need to get out of first gear.

 

[hellogregory]

Get promoted and we still can’t get rid of fucking Harrogate!

 

[Andy Proctor]

If the Wrexham game is at vale park then there will be more Wrexham fans there than vale fans. They will see it as a big game and not realise it's a boycott competition whereas vale will have there normal around 1000 home fans at the game.

 

[Bartonyellow]

We shut 2 stands last season I think. Away fans seating only.
Nobody gives a fuck.
I wouldn’t go even if it was a quid.

 

[shoddycollins]

Get promoted and we still can’t get rid of fucking Harrogate!

What's the odds we suffer a season-changing injury against them?

 

[denzel ecfc]

once we get rid of B teams, I'm sure there must be a way of making the group stage a pre-season type thing. or even delay the league slightly. It will improve attendances with the good weather and interest over new signings, the quality of the first couple of league games, and allow people who are on holiday/doing other things over the summer to not miss the important stuff.

But what do I know, I'll trust the people in charge. It's a competition I really want to get behind. But they just make it impossible atm.

Put it on pre-Christmas, when nobody can be arsed.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Shock horror, Man U u21 in the same group as Salford and Bolton...

 

[hellogregory]

What's the odds we suffer a season-changing injury against them?

I’d play the kids. Take the fine.

 

[Luke Imp]

Lincoln, Derby, Notts County, Wolves U21.

 

[hellogregory]

What's the odds we suffer a season-changing injury against them?

Didn't you just know it that we'd get them in the Carabao Cup 1st Round as well

 

[Carver]

What's the odds we suffer a season-changing injury against them?

After the match has been called off and rescheduled after the 10th time.

 

[shoddycollins]

Didn't you just know it that we'd get them in the Carabao Cup 1st Round as well

outstanding work from the EFL!

 

[Carver]

Wrexham and Crewe in ours not that I will be watching any of these games. My position on this tournament is the same as it’s been ever since B teams were let in - I won’t be there.

I get that the B teams thing is stupid but it's not going away so just have to accept it now, however the good news is that the Premier league pump money into the football league for B teams to be in it and I'm sure the prize money for winning the EFL trophy is now something like 1 million or just over. Before B teams were in it the prize money was a pitiful £50,000.

So there is still something to play for plus a trip to Wembley.

 

[shoddycollins]

I get that the B teams thing is stupid but it's not going away so just have to accept it now, however the good news is that the Premier league pump money into the football league for B teams to be in it and I'm sure the prize money for winning the EFL trophy is now something like 1 million or just over. Before B teams were in it the prize money was a pitiful £50,000.

So there is still something to play for plus a trip to Wembley.

Fair, it's just that a lot of fans still worry that if the cup gets good crowds the EFL will see it as a sign that lower league fans like seeing their team play youth teams.

Be a good runout for the likes of Jayden Harris.

 

[Si Robin]

It's the, legitimate, fear that u21 success in this cup would see Premier League clubs insisting on u21/b teams in the Football League. That simply has to be avoided at all costs.

I'm a full on hypocrite though, I don't go to any of these games usually. but the bright lights of Wembley did catch my eyes last season and I ended up at Home Park in the semi-final against Plymouth.

We've ended up with West Ham, Bristol Rovers and Newport. I'm sure we've played all these teams in this comp a few times already.

 

[Luke Imp]

Thankfully some of the U21 sides have been absolutely bummed at times as well.

 

[Laker]

I get that the B teams thing is stupid but it's not going away so just have to accept it now, however the good news is that the Premier league pump money into the football league for B teams to be in it and I'm sure the prize money for winning the EFL trophy is now something like 1 million or just over. Before B teams were in it the prize money was a pitiful £50,000.

So there is still something to play for plus a trip to Wembley.

It’s blood money, clubs at our level should reject it. I’d rather we got fined £5k a match for fielding reserves than tried to win this thing for £50k.

 

[Carver]

It’s blood money, clubs at our level should reject it. I’d rather we got fined £5k a match for fielding reserves than tried to win this thing for £50k.

I said it used to be 50k prize money before the B teams were introduced, now the prize money is £1million at least.

Who do you support by the way?

 

[Grumpy Grecian]

On the other hand, perhaps some of us ex-bottom-feeders might prefer a return to that wonder that still is the FA Trophy...where we can enjoy mid-season distractions like Kings Lynn, Arlsley, Grays, Billericay etc
(Or for you more northern types Blythe Spartans, Frickley Colliery or Leigh RMI)?
Even better, you can even savour the excitement of that FAC 4th Qualifying Round draw....or, in the case of some like Torquay or Yeovil this season...the thrill of the 3rd Qual draw?

 

[denzel ecfc]

On the other hand, perhaps some of us ex-bottom-feeders might prefer a return to that wonder that still is the FA Trophy...where we can enjoy mid-season distractions like Kings Lynn, Arlsley, Grays, Billericay etc
(Or for you more northern types Blythe Spartans, Frickley Colliery or Leigh RMI)?
Even better, you can even savour the excitement of that FAC 4th Qualifying Round draw....or, in the case of some like Torquay or Yeovil this season...the thrill of the 3rd Qual draw?

I even preferred the Carthium Cup. Seeing us knocked out at Aldershot was a defining moment in our history

 

[Laker]

I said it used to be 50k prize money before the B teams were introduced, now the prize money is £1million at least.

Who do you support by the way?

Cambridge and I wouldn’t want us to win it for a million either.