FA Trophy 2019/20

[Monkey Tennis]

IMO, the Trophy started losing importance for National League teams when the second promotion place and play-offs to the Football League was introduced in 2002/03.

You're probably right, at least in regards to the promotion contenders. As a perennial bottom half team/relegation fodder, it seemed to still hold some weight with us until much more recently.
It seems like it's just about dead now - though how come FC United got a bigger attendance than every club bar Yeovil and Stockport? Are they planning on winning it?

 

[Paddy]

Comfortable 3-1 win over Woking. I was fearing that we'd reached our limit going out of the FA Cup to a National League side a couple of weeks ago but looks like we can now add Woking to the list of higher ranked teams we've beaten this season.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Hmm, I dunno Soup. Now I don't know if your defenders/goalie are decent or not but blaming the side's (any football side for that matter) back line does seem to me to be the easiest way out. It's a also unfair in many cases, 'cos one is only pointing fingers at 4/5 players and forgetting that footy's a team sport.

Sure, could well be you need better CBs, fullbacks and a decent goalie but it could also be the other players out there on the pitch not doing their bit when the team's on the back foot. Like it was with the U's all throughout last season.

A lot of the points we’ve chucked away this season have been individual errors from keeper or defenders. But one thing the whole team is culpable for, familiar pattern is strong first half or first hour, go 2 up then foot right off the gas. We’ve been really poor in second halves lately. Just coasting games then the oppo pulls one back and then we all know the end game. Defensively weak but the whole team lacks conviction and leadership on the park. Ryan Donaldson as captain is prime example. He’s grown up a bit but he’s very quiet and doesn’t come across as skipper material.

 

[doveranddover]

Barrow are not through yet

Barrow away is on the 7th January
Dover v Hartlepool would be just put back 1 Saturday

 

[Chief Rocka]

A lot of the points we’ve chucked away this season have been individual errors from keeper or defenders. But one thing the whole team is culpable for, familiar pattern is strong first half or first hour, go 2 up then foot right off the gas. We’ve been really poor in second halves lately. Just coasting games then the oppo pulls one back and then we all know the end game. Defensively weak but the whole team lacks conviction and leadership on the park. Ryan Donaldson as captain is prime example. He’s grown up a bit but he’s very quiet and doesn’t come across as skipper material.

Kitching can't defend for his life, Kerr is a horror show, Killip had so much positive press (despite being an ever present in a side relegated with circa 80 goals conceded) and has been a massive let down, Cunningham is a talent but is made of glass, Raynes is getting on and isn't beating anyone in a foot race but him and Kioso for me are the only two to have any credit in the defence.

Rest of this season is a free hit for Challinor, he needs to rebuild the team he wants for next season and go from there, we're not challenging anything this year with a squad bloated with midfielders and sick notes.

 

[GTFCfish]

When was it last considered good, do you reckon? It still felt important to us when we won it in 2010, but I don't think we've ever really tried in the Trophy since then.

In our six years in non league we got to one semi and two finals and from my own perspective I didn’t give a shit when we lost them all, never went to a single game in it in those six years either and the fact that it takes precedent over league fixtures is a complete joke.
Saying that though, it’s still better than the EFL tinpot B team Trophy.

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

For us teams at step 3 (or even 4) it's great. An opportunity to meet and possibly beat some bigger teams. And a very outside chance of a once in a lifetime trip to Wemberley. So don't knock it. One of our best away days in recent years was up at Grimsby - for whom it was a routine win and long forgotten - but we had a ball. We're looking forward to a trip to Notts County next!

It's a bit like the FAC for you big boys. We ain't gonna win the thing, but hey, let's give it a go.

 

[jacobncfc]

Can we draw you? Is it still regionalised? I kind of hope it isn’t cos there are far more interesting draws possible in the south.

I hope we win it, for what it’s worth!

 

[DontBringBertie]

We got to the QF and lost to Grimsby back in the 15/16 season. Haven’t got past the First Round since.

Was definitely happy to sack it off last season as we’re going for promotion and in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Shame we’ve been shit in it for years though it would be nice to have a chance of Wembley though.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Can we draw you? Is it still regionalised? I kind of hope it isn’t cos there are far more interesting draws possible in the south.

I hope we win it, for what it’s worth!

The draw goes National from the 2nd Round

 

[simonfromsurrey]

Still fuming from yesterdays non effort all over the pitch.

K's were miles better than us, it was embarrassing and our squad is too small to put a weak team out.

A real chance missed

 

[chipmunx]

IF our reserves get through tomorrow Notts at home would be a good draw.... watching the same players beat Notts would be funny

 

[chipmunx]

We only win the trophy in years ending with a "0" - 1990 and 2010 so must have some chance in 2020 (if our reserves play well) and were the 1st team to win it at the old and new Wembley stadiums.

 

[John Still]

Dread what our attendance will be for tomorrows replay, lucky if it’s 300. People have had enough, I don’t know one person going. Had Sutton not charged me £17 Saturday I might of gone at the £10 replay price but not spending £27 on two entrance Trophy games in space of 3 days, other costs excluded.

 

[jacobncfc]

Can’t even get an interesting draw in this thing, hopeless.

 

[chipmunx]

we got FC United at home - IF our reserves win tomorrow

 

[BeeArmy]

Are barrow playing their reserves tomorrow?

 

[chipmunx]

Are barrow playing their reserves tomorrow?

i doubt there will be more than 2/3 regular starters in the squad - and maybe none in the starting 11

 

[AJS]

Our luck with cup draws is terrible. Torquay will be fairly pleased with that I imagine

 

[Paddy]

AFC Telford or Leamington at home in R2... I'll take that! Good chance to add to our giant kill list for the season which already includes Dartford, Macclesfield Town under 5's C team & Woking.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Can’t even get an interesting draw in this thing, hopeless.

What you classing as interesting? I can't think of any interesting teams.
I see there were less than 1k there Saturday, reminds me of that premier B team Cup.

 

[GTFCfish]

We got to the QF and lost to Grimsby.

Just for a change

 

[GTFCfish]

For us teams at step 3 (or even 4) it's great. An opportunity to meet and possibly beat some bigger teams. And a very outside chance of a once in a lifetime trip to Wemberley. So don't knock it. One of our best away days in recent years was up at Grimsby - for whom it was a routine win and long forgotten - but we had a ball. We're looking forward to a trip to Notts County next!

It's a bit like the FAC for you big boys. We ain't gonna win the thing, but hey, let's give it a go.

Yeah I do get your point, I guess if we’d got out of non league after 2 or 3 seasons I wouldn’t remember the Trophy as being so bad but with season after season of bottling the play offs I got to the point of being so desperate to get back in the Football League that it was all I cared about football wise.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Are barrow playing their reserves tomorrow?

Not sure anyone’s heard the rumour that they might be on a good run of form in the league so this match is less important.

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

For us teams at step 3 (or even 4) it's great. An opportunity to meet and possibly beat some bigger teams. And a very outside chance of a once in a lifetime trip to Wemberley. So don't knock it. One of our best away days in recent years was up at Grimsby - for whom it was a routine win and long forgotten - but we had a ball. We're looking forward to a trip to Notts County next!

It's a bit like the FAC for you big boys. We ain't gonna win the thing, but hey, let's give it a go.

Well that went well. Carshalton or Aveley at home. Basically one team from the same division and the other one is literally 5 miles down the road. We only play them like 5 times a season - or so it seems.

Hey ho at least we have a chance of a bigger fish in the Last 16 (there's misplaced confidence for you).

 

[jacobncfc]

What you classing as interesting? I can't think of any interesting teams.
I see there were less than 1k there Saturday, reminds me of that premier B team Cup.

Away at literally anyone not in this league would've been great.

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

Away at literally anyone not in this league would've been great.

Tell you what - I'll write to the FA and propose a swap. You can come to us and Carshalton can play Sutton - that's always a tasty one.

 

[B2TF]

I already decided I'm never doing Torquay again, although i did enjoy teasing the locals with "see you next season" after they beat us late in 2017/18 season, to give themselves a glimmer of hope in avoiding the drop- they couldn't quite work out if I was trying to be positive on their behalf or just plain old taking the piss.

 

[sadgull]

Was wanting anyone at home but can understand both sides thinking it could have been better. Unfortunately Halifax now have a long trip down to the Riviera

 

[Master D]

Unfortunately Halifax now have a long trip down to the Riviera

I feel even better than after the final whistle Saturday now. Fully vindicated decision to throw it.