EFL Trophy rules changed again....quietly!

[StuartD]

You may have missed this bit of news yesterday but apparrently the still unsponsored EFL Trophy will allow U23's now and also 3 over-aged players and goalkeeper.

So basically it will be for "B" teams which we all knew would happen, but again the EFL try and get this news through quietly and it is only that the Press Association have seen a letter to League 1 & League 2 clubs that it has been reported, albeit very quietly still.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/john...happy-over-under-23-team-plans-for-efl-trophy

What do we think of this?

I know Wimbledon voted against it and I am hoping that we arrange a controlled boycott of any fixtures and use the gate money fans would of payed towards something else.

What is other fans stances on this because lets be fair the EFL are setting up the "B" team angle and don't be surprised if this is used in a heavier way following our national teams surrender in France?

 

[Gassy]

A double kick in the balls then.

Just in case there was a chance where you thought they wanted the Prem B teams to win it, now they've put the nail in the coffin. It means the likes of first team players returning from injury can play in the games, which is a joke.

The FA have sadly conned the entire football league. And now, they will try and use Iceland against us as the reason why they've made the change. Pathetic, im genuinely furious.

 

[markwwfc1992]

Sad state of football in our country for this to go ahead. Ashamed that my club wants to be named as one of the 'B teams' to take part in this competition.

Stoke B vs Sunderland B at Wembley for the final? Cannot wait...

 

[BetterCallSaul]

Does this mean we are also allowed to put our kids out? In that case, just play the kids. I'm sure they would be unhappy about that as they want them playing fully grown proffesionals.

So play the kids and just don't go, best thing to do really.

 

[Wombling Kiwi]

Does this mean we are also allowed to put our kids out? In that case, just play the kids. I'm sure they would be unhappy about that as they want them playing fully grown proffesionals.

So play the kids and just don't go, best thing to do really.

Cant quite believe that I am agreeing with you, but if all of the L1 and L2 clubs played their U18 sides if MAY just get the football leagues attention...but that is if they have the eyes open and are not just wondering when there next gin and tonic is arriving

 

[Gassy]

Also what are they going to do for fixtures, I assume the FL club is always at home?

 

[valefan16]

Also what are they going to do for fixtures, I assume the FL club is always at home?

Groups of 4, play each other once with the Reserve Side playing 1 home game and us proper FL clubs playing twice at home.

 

[valefan16]

If clubs themselves are that against it why not decline to enter though? I would back Port Vale not choosing to enter this season.

 

[Gassy]

Can we refuse?

So chances are we'll have to play an away game at bloody training ground?

 

[dedwardp]

So chances are we'll have to play an away game at bloody training ground?

No, it was said in one of the articles somewhere along the lines that the away games would be at the first team ground. I would have thought the three outfield overage players were always included as well, as per the usual development matches, albeit they would have been over 21s rather than over 23s.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

It's okay, doing this will produce more Sterlings and Wilshires for the national team.

 

[hodge]

It's okay, doing this will produce more Sterlings and Wilshires for the national team.

Instant reason for scrapping it

 

[Gassy]

No, it was said in one of the articles somewhere along the lines that the away games would be at the first team ground. I would have thought the three outfield overage players were always included as well, as per the usual development matches, albeit they would have been over 21s rather than over 23s.

Well at least there's an opportunity for clubs to outnumber Manchester United at home

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Instant reason for scrapping it

I'm not sure I made the sarcasm of that post clear enough.

 

[hodge]

To be fair, having more English players similar Wilshere's quality who stay fit wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

But he's not really any good either. How many top international sides would he get in?

 

[hodge]

Considering the potential he showed when he was younger, if you get more people coming through who had similar reputations you would assume you'd start seeing more actually living up to the potential. Even if not you have a larger selection pool to pick from which would increase competition for places and could see people up their games as a result.

 

[GFCSludge]

I'm not sure I made the sarcasm of that post clear enough.

You did.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Asi said in L2 thread the big key here is fans need to boycott the NORMAL trophy games and not think on the B team games.

The prem teams have this for their own agenda (Not england's however the FA try and cover it up) and won't give a crap if 2 people and a dog watched the game......financially it means nowt to them and they will give a wee bit to cover the rest as long as they get the games played.

but the other games suddenly go from 2-3,000 down to 100-200 fans................all our clubs start to make enormous losses on this competition....from all accounts they make losses on the 3,000 gates so the losses will be very large.

competition dies by end of season, B teams die with it.

sadly though that 2-3,000 die-hards are also the most spineless fans in english football.....the same fans who will say 'not going if so and so signed for us' as he plays elsewhere who suddenly says 'give him another chance' as he signs for them......the same fans who were boycotting MK Dons in the first few seasons then came up with the 'have to support your club' line when turning up.

them types of fans couldn't boycott a game if it meant their club survived so expect this plan to succeed.

 

[Shrimper92]

Sign the boycott list guys.

 

[StuartD]

I am quite happy to boycott our EFL Trophy and this is coming from someone who looks forward to this competition as it is a change to see some fringe players.

I am hoping our club use this also as a development game and play our kids. Its difficult in this part of the season to arrange Development games anyway so this is a must.

I would like to club to arrange an event at the ground on the same night that they charge for that means fans attend the ground to show the boycott, but the club makes money out of the potential loss of income, however as we have such a large volunteer base for matchdays I can't see us losing loads of money.

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

No, it was said in one of the articles somewhere along the lines that the away games would be at the first team ground.

Cant wait to watch Vale play Stoke reserves in front of 300 at the Bet 365 Community Stadium That Provides No Services To The Community Wind Tunnel Arena.



I think the most shocking thing about this whole farce is the complete absence of any coverage in the mainstream media.

 

[ccfctommy]

Does this mean we are also allowed to put our kids out? In that case, just play the kids. I'm sure they would be unhappy about that as they want them playing fully grown proffesionals.

So play the kids and just don't go, best thing to do really.

This. Play our U21 team. Last year if you made more than 4 or 5 changes to your previous league fixture you got fined. Ludicrous.

 

[bantamigo]

Does this mean we are also allowed to put our kids out? In that case, just play the kids. I'm sure they would be unhappy about that as they want them playing fully grown proffesionals.

So play the kids and just don't go, best thing to do really.

Or play your first team and smash them 6-0 and get some horrible bastard like Tony McMahon to kick as many of their precious snowflakes as possible. That would probably make me more keen to go than normal JPT games.

 

[PDS]

So much about this angers me. It undermines the competition, it disrespects football league clubs with years of history and proud tradition, it devalues the trophy and worst of all, it shows how spineless the Football League are again when dealing with the Premier League (Just like EPPP).

Hope the boycotts come off, or the B teams just get pasted by Doncaster reserves

 

[Meadow]

Sign the boycott list guys.

I've not seen it listed in this thread.

http://www.againstleague3.co.uk/bteamboycott-signup/

 

[DarkSithLord]

Leaked details of how the EFL Trophy is going to work -

http://www.againstleague3.co.uk/leaked-efl-trophy-details/

It sounds absolutely ridiculous.

 

[T.A]

Manchester United have pulled out of this... Apparently a few others are going to pull out too.

Good start of true.

 

[Agombar stool]

Sounds like Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Man U and Liverpool going to reject their invitations

 

[BetterCallSaul]

Good, let's hope more follow!