League 1 General Chat Thread

[masi51]

Some people really don't realise how important the League Cup is for their football clubs.

The reason the EFL gets a fat broadcasting contract from Sky is because of the League Cup. It's why they're staunchly opposed to scrapping the League Cup because it's their only avenue of selling games featuring the biggest clubs in the country to the World.

I read that the League Cup equates to two-thirds of the value of the entire EFL broadcasting deal because of this. The current contract is just a touch under £120 million per year, so if we're going off that £80 million a year comes from the League Cup rights. That's a sizable part of the money that funds the EFL Basic Award that each member club is awarded at the start of the season.

Sure, a minority of people might get giddy over £10K a win in the shittest competition going. But it's 30 pieces of silver compared to the £2.3 million each Championship club receives, the £680K each League One club receives and the £470K each League Two club receives all from EFL basic award income which is funded largely by the League Cup. If the League Cup was to be scrapped tomorrow, that's a huge hole in a lot of budgets whereas if the EFL Trophy was to be scrapped tomorrow, the bean counters wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

Yes the EFL Trophy was fun pre-2016 and a day out at Wembley and I really loved winning it in 2013 as it was a memorable run, but now I despise everything that shitshow of a competition stands for. Ruined by none other than Shaun Harvey of course, who is somehow still in football despite his reign of abysmal failure at the top of the EFL. It needs to be scrapped but no, the Premier League want us to play more pointless group matches in exchange for a further pittance from them.

League cup really??????

Is this the 1st of April??

 

[Marked Ox]

The trophy was great for us last season - I'd argue that if it wasn't for the u21/u23 sides it would be better and more important than the League Cup. It's a chance for a day out at Wembley and it's a nice diversion from the league.

It's also definitely more lucrative than the League Cup.

As a traditionalist though, the FA Cup trumps all.

I went to our final with Bristol City, admittedly we lost but it felt like a really well attended friendly. I didn't go to the final the following season with the B teams joining the competition.

 

[shoddycollins]

The club want to change our badge, this is the proposed new one.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1702689726518403481

https://twitter.com/x/status/1702691559609696351

Going to be a survey to find out what the fans think, but whilst a large number of supporters are open to a potential change no one at all seems to like the one they've put forward.

seems to suggest a connection with the university which I'm sure most Cambridge fans wouldn't agree with. Town v Gown and all that.

 

[Laker]

seems to suggest a connection with the university which I'm sure most Cambridge fans wouldn't agree with. Town v Gown and all that.

Yeah the book can be taken to symbolise either the university or the Cambridge Rules, neither of which have anything to do with Cambridge United. Our only link is to Clare College (one of the colleges of the university, it’s where our training ground is) but, although technically part of the university, each of the colleges are really separate entities in their own right so not really a uni link for us. In all honesty, the university have given us somewhere between very little to nowt across our history so we shouldn’t recognise them on our badge.

There is an argument to include one of the many bridges on our badge (since that’s where our name comes from) and possibly the patron of the Abbey (St Andrew) in the ward of the city where the club was formed and which obviously links back to the name of the ground. But otherwise we don’t have suitable symbols - I’d personally love a moose eating a coconut but apparently that’s not ok…..

But yeah as you say the club represents the “town” and Abbey is one of the most deprived wards in the city so couldn’t be further removed from the “gown”.

 

[Laker]

Re the Trophy, it’s not about the money. It’s about being in a poxy tournament to serve B teams of the elite. It’s embarrassing that people are accepting this as ok.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Re the Trophy, it’s not about the money. It’s about being in a poxy tournament to serve B teams of the elite. It’s embarrassing that people are accepting this as ok.

I've noticed there's a correlation between those clubs already in L1 and L2 when the B teams were brought in in 2016 (Staunchly opposed to it) and those who were in the Championship or Non League at the time (seem to embrace it for some weird reason).

If you're embracing the EFL Trophy then you're giving the ammunition for the PL to introduce B teams at a later date which will ruin the greatest football pyramid in the World.

 

[Laker]

I've noticed there's a correlation between those clubs already in L1 and L2 when the B teams were brought in in 2016 (Staunchly opposed to it) and those who were in the Championship or Non League at the time (seem to embrace it for some weird reason).

If you're embracing the EFL Trophy then you're giving the ammunition for the PL to introduce B teams at a later date which will ruin the greatest football pyramid in the World.

They’re already angling for more games for B teams in future. The bit that does my head in is some fans say “it’ll never happen”. But it is happening. They’re gradually getting B teams in and there’s a massive chunk of lower league fans just sleep walking into it. It’s absolutely mental.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

They’re already angling for more games for B teams in future. The bit that does my head in is some fans say “it’ll never happen”. But it is happening. They’re gradually getting B teams in and there’s a massive chunk of lower league fans just sleep walking into it. It’s absolutely mental.

Problem with some fans of the bigger clubs is that they're more concerned about being ripped on social media for not taking a big following to Wembley for the EFL Trophy final than actively campaigning against B teams in English football.

English football fans get mocked by the Germans for their obsession with money and their lack of fan solidarity and we absolutely deserve to be. The regular simping for foreign investment in the modern day from fans of clubs in the lower leagues is just absurd at a time when even top flight teams across Continental Europe are massively opposed to it. And that's how we have situations we're seeing at the likes of Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and the like.

Whatever happened to having sustainable ambition through growing football clubs organically?

 

[denzel ecfc]

Best players so far according to whoscored

Masi look away now..

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/the-best-players-in-league-one-this-season-featuring-portsmouth-oxford-united-derby-county-and-barnsley-favourites-4352635

 

[denzel ecfc]

I've noticed there's a correlation between those clubs already in L1 and L2 when the B teams were brought in in 2016 (Staunchly opposed to it) and those who were in the Championship or Non League at the time (seem to embrace it for some weird reason).

If you're embracing the EFL Trophy then you're giving the ammunition for the PL to introduce B teams at a later date which will ruin the greatest football pyramid in the World.

Exactly, used to love the Trophy. I remember being gutted when we lost in the semi to Port Vale in the 90s. When we lost to Pompey in 2020 I couldn't give a toss.
Even when they invited non league teams it was better.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Best players so far according to whoscored

Masi look away now..

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/the-best-players-in-league-one-this-season-featuring-portsmouth-oxford-united-derby-county-and-barnsley-favourites-4352635

Arblaster comfortably should be in the top 5. He's probably one of the best players in the league. Maybe Ojo too.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Arblaster comfortably should be in the top 5. He's probably one of the best players in the league. Maybe Ojo too.

Yes of course, you've seen every opposition player at every game..

 

[bigfatron]

I’m quite happy Cambridge have no players in that list - we have no stand-out performers but few, if any, weak links and strong teamwork.
That way one injury doesn’t disable the season…

 

[bigfatron]

Re ‘B’ teams, I see that the lates proposal is official ‘B’ teams from all Euro participant clubs (so top seven) in the League Cup.
What does that do to the TV value of League Cup rights when it is officially Liverpool/Man City/Arsenal ‘B’ v Cambridge? Not to mention what crowd will turn up at Old Trafford for Man U ‘B’ v Port Vale?

 

[masi51]

I've noticed there's a correlation between those clubs already in L1 and L2 when the B teams were brought in in 2016 (Staunchly opposed to it) and those who were in the Championship or Non League at the time (seem to embrace it for some weird reason).

If you're embracing the EFL Trophy then you're giving the ammunition for the PL to introduce B teams at a later date which will ruin the greatest football pyramid in the World.

That is the first time i have sat up and thought about this.....The one saving grace is where do they start???

Like the old Celtic, Rangers debate..... How far down the pyramid would a B team come in at???

But a great answer!!

 

[masi51]

Best players so far according to whoscored

Masi look away now..

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/the-best-players-in-league-one-this-season-featuring-portsmouth-oxford-united-derby-county-and-barnsley-favourites-4352635

I dont know if your fishing or is this because i stated that Santos was the best defender in lge 1

Any of those players mentioned been in the PFA team of the season three seasons running??

Thought not
We are eight games in!!

 

[The Evil Dead]

Yes of course, you've seen every opposition player at every game..

Don't need to.

Oli Arblaster is the best midfielder in this league and it's not even close.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I dont know if your fishing or is this because i stated that Santos was the best defender in lge 1

Any of those players mentioned been in the PFA team of the season three seasons running??

Thought not
We are eight games in!!

I was hoping to get a comment on Will Aimson but never mind

 

[BRFC_Gas]

The two wigan players in that list Wyke and Humphrys were both donkeys last weekend. If we had one on there it should be Luke Thomas

 

[valefan16]

I’d love to see what rating they have on Arblaster!

 

[masi51]

I was hoping to get a comment on Will Aimson but never mind

No problem....Never let us down

 

[saddler78]

Lincoln fans young Freddie Draper outstanding again today you have a real player on your hands with him only just turned 19 as well.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Lincoln fans young Freddie Draper outstanding again today you have a real player on your hands with him only just turned 19 as well.

Brilliant to hear. Wonder if we'll ever get to see him, as no doubt vultures are circling to nick him off us.

With our current strikers out, its a shame hes not here, but sounds as though the loan in Ireland, now at Walsall, is doing him the world of good.

How many goals is that now?

 

[saddler78]

Brilliant to hear. Wonder if we'll ever get to see him, as no doubt vultures are circling to nick him off us.

With our current strikers out, its a shame hes not here, but sounds as though the loan in Ireland, now at Walsall, is doing him the world of good.

How many goals is that now?

4 mate I think his overall contribution is brilliant though he's a constant menace to the opposition defence a Bradford fan I spoke to said he's never seen Stubbs given such a hard time as today only 19 as well some prospect

 

[Bar Carousel]

What is going on with Derby?

Just reading their forum and the majority seem to have given up on Warne.

Surprised what an impact losing McGoldrick seems to have had on them. If they can’t excel in what is a very ordinary league this year, you can see them getting stuck here for a number of seasons.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Just realised, if our Burton home game is postponed due to international callups a week Saturday, by the time of our next home game (Charlton 24/10), we'll have played 4 home games and 8 away games. Some good fixture planning that!

 

[valefan16]

Just realised, if our Burton home game is postponed due to international callups a week Saturday, by the time of our next home game (Charlton 24/10), we'll have played 4 home games and 8 away games. Some good fixture planning that!

It’s worked out poorly because all three international weekends this half of the season are home games for us, so Burton was off, expect Fleetwood will be next week and I think Orient is the one in November.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Even though we have 2 loans potentially on international duty, I dont think they should be counted in the 3 required to call the games off.
It's down to the clubs to play of course, but you know full well none of them will play with players missing for fear of backlash from the fans if they lose

 

[valefan16]

Even though we have 2 loans potentially on international duty, I dont think they should be counted in the 3 required to call the games off.
It's down to the clubs to play of course, but you know full well none of them will play with players missing for fear of backlash from the fans if they lose

Its a tricky one, we'd lose Arblaster and Devine so would be bonkers to play without them! Plus Thomas is our only fit out and out striker.

 

[The Terminator]

Not sure where else to put this, but the supporter who was taken ill last night at our game has sadly passed away.

Leyton Orient fan dies after medical episode at ground

Tributes have flooded in for a Leyton Orient fan who tragically died on the side of the pitch as his team were 1-0 up.

www.independent.co.uk

RIP. The most horrific thing I have ever seen at a football match and the officials didn't even stop the game and for me handled the situation very poorly.