The Trophy formerly known as the Pizza Cup 2023/24

[Bar Carousel]

Apologies all but we're nearing 7,000 pre sold tickets for tonight.

It seems that a combination of kids for a quid, fans normally struggling to purchase tickets having a chance to watch the team, and just the general feel good factor around the club, have obliterated any chance of a low turn out. I don't think we got much more for a semi-final against Exeter.

 

[thewwfc]

MASSIVE

 

[Don Tonberry]

Our second string got battered 5-2 by AFC Wimbledon last night. Ryan Schofield with arguably the worst goalkeeping performance I've ever seen.

I really couldn't care less. No more distractions and hopefully next season we won't have to play in this shitty competition.

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

only shitty cos we lost.. I was looking forward to a visit to wembley..

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Dont worry you will still be there, I think the Wembley pitch must have some jizz left on it from the Sunderland game

 

[thewwfc]

fixtures this week and next.

Are we excited?

No?

oh. As you were then...

 

[Bartonyellow]

Not remotely interested. If we lose 5-0 or win, it’s not really important. Derby away Monday is all I’m focused on.

 

[thewwfc]

To ever-dwindling interest from everyone who isn't left in it (and probably even some of those that are), here's the QF draw:

Northern Section

Bradford City v Doncaster Rovers or Wigan Athletic
Blackpool v Bolton Wanderers

Southern Section

Peterborough United or Crawley Town v AFC Wimbledon
Wycombe Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion U21

 

[thewwfc]

This week's MASSIVE fixtures, then:

You'd have to say, either Posh or the winner of the Blackpool v Bolton game would be the favourite to win the overall thing as things stand.

For our game, Brighton kids have done pretty well (and thumped the Franchise 4-0 en route, though I can't be arsed to check whether that was a First XI or the Franchise stiffs).

But I imagine we'll want to give a few fringe players a run-out. Would be good to boost morale with a win though however crap the competition.

 

[Super_horns]

Posh seem keen.

2-0 up inside 5 minutes.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Disappointing that no under 21 sides will be at Wembley. Looks like Brighton went out with a whimper.

 

[thewwfc]

Disappointing that no under 21 sides will be at Wembley. Looks like Brighton went out with a whimper.

I didn’t see the game, but yes, given how shite we’ve been in the league, and that BHAFC U21s had previously dicked a Franchise XI 4-0, I was not expecting that result to say the least.

We did make 5 changes but still put out a strong side and were obviously taking it seriously.

Fingers crossed to face the other crap side left in it (Bradford) before we lose the final to Blackpool or Posh, but we can’t take *any* game for granted right now.

 

[Super_horns]

Peterborough off to Wembley .

How many will actually go ..

 

[thewwfc]

Well the last time that PUFC played in the Tinpot final v Chesterfield, the total audience was 35,000, not sure how that was split between the two clubs but I’d think 20,000ish was doable for a club of Peterborough’s size.

*If*, and I’m absolutely taking nothing for granted, we can get past Bradford tomorrow, then we should be able to muster a similar amount of daytrippers.

Bradford are currently in the middle of the L2 form table though - just as we are mid-tableish on L1 form.

We have beaten them already once in a cup game this season, but that means nothing on the night.

 

[valefan16]

Well the last time that PUFC played in the Tinpot final v Chesterfield, the total audience was 35,000, not sure how that was split between the two clubs but I’d think 20,000ish was doable for a club of Peterborough’s size.

*If*, and I’m absolutely taking nothing for granted, we can get past Bradford tomorrow, then we should be able to muster a similar amount of daytrippers.

Bradford are currently in the middle of the L2 form table though - just as we are mid-tableish on L1 form.

We have beaten them already once in a cup game this season, but that means nothing on the night.

Tricky with it being at Bradford, are they expecting a huge crowd for it.

Good chance for both sides to make the final, shame the U21's diluted it as we've had some great times winning it as the LDV and Autoglass (beating the Stokies away both times in the Area Semi Final!)

 

[thewwfc]

Well woo - we face Posh on April 7 in the final.

We're far from done and dusted when it comes to ensuring our L1 safety, so I can only hope that we can at least continue to tread the path of acceptable mediocrity that we've been on lately league-wise, as it is in no way acceptable to take our eye off the ball for the league bread and butter, in favour of focusing on the big shiny Tinpot.

We've drawn with Posh away and thumped them 5-2 at home this season, so they're not a bad team for us to have ended up with - but as ever, all past results go out of the window in a one-off cup tie.

I guess my main hope right now is that at least we fucking well show up, which we absolutely failed to do last time we were at Wembley (play-off final v Sunderland) - it's just unbelievably disappointing to have come so far and then put in a limp, nothing-y performance on the day.

 

[kieran_vale]

Flicked between this and the United-Liverpool game seems like Wycombe putting in a good defensive rearguard against Peterborough. Guess the issue for them is on that Wembley pitch fatigue could be a factor as the game goes on.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Flicked between this and the United-Liverpool game seems like Wycombe putting in a good defensive rearguard against Peterborough. Guess the issue for them is on that Wembley pitch fatigue could be a factor as the game goes on.

Let's hope Posh are absolutely knackered and it goes to penalties!

 

[White horse]

Watched it from the start, slow burner really but not the most exciting. Peterborough United have sold 22,636 tickets while Wycombe have sold 15,395. No doubt a few more in corporate along with some neutrals.

 

[kieran_vale]

Got to be worth Peterborough bringing on JCH unless he’s just been bomb-squadded by bacon face junior. Fair play to Wycombe though, they’ve repelled everything that’s been thrown at them.

Edit - until then, great hit.

 

[White horse]

Yes, small deflection did the goalkeeper who got a hand to it but good strike.

 

[White horse]

Wow, 1-1, told you it was a slow burner.

 

[kieran_vale]

What a ridiculous last five minutes. Kept everyone waiting for the entertainment. Keeper seemed like he lost track of it but good delivery regardless. Should win it for Peterborough now you’d think.

 

[White horse]

Yes, very lucky but glad it's not going to extra time (well i don't think so), did want Wycombe to win , they will do well to take something off Derby after that now though.

 

[kieran_vale]

Congrats to Peterborough. Now if they want a 3 day bender to celebrate winning this prestigious competition they absolutely should…

Impressed with how organised Wycombe were for the majority. Do seem a team trending the right way now.

 

[Super_horns]

Bet Barry Fry enjoyed it all .

Was his birthday apparently!

 

[thewwfc]

Just back.

I have to say (begrudgingly) that the better team won today, we were a bit too negative for my liking and allowed PUFC to dictate the majority of the play.

We had marginally the better of play in the first 20 minutes, but as time wore on they found more of a groove and were pinging it about quite comfortably whilst slowly pressing further and further up the pitch, a pattern that would be repeated for most of the game.

It certainly wasn't one for the neutral though, and was pretty cagey stuff for the most part.

We did look decent defensively, but Posh were cutting through us on occasion and we had far more work to do to keep them out than they did for us.

But yeah, very odd that it took till 85 minutes for a goal (theirs), then we equalised 4 mins later...then they got a freak winner just over a minute later, which I think our goalie misjudged somewhat, but can't be too harsh on him as he put in some great saves also.

So.

Certainly deflating - I've seen us play at Wembley 4 times:

2 playoff defeats (v Sarfend and Sunderland),
1 playoff win (v Oxford)
and today's game...

but of course the only one we actually won was in the sodding COVID season where fans couldn't actually go.

I will say though that it's far less depressing to lose a Tinpot final (which is a one-off game for which you get a cup) vs a play-off final (which determines a key part of your next season).

And in fairness, even though it's a shite competition, this has been really the only point of interest for us in what has been a seriously transitional season, where we've been shit in the league for a huge chunk of it.

Anyway - and now - the beach.

 

[thewwfc]

Posh fans beating the shit out of one another and missing their goal…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1777060464838525370

Enjoy the banning orders lads, hope the headaches aren’t too bad this morning.

 

[The Terminator]

Just back.

I have to say (begrudgingly) that the better team won today, we were a bit too negative for my liking and allowed PUFC to dictate the majority of the play.

We had marginally the better of play in the first 20 minutes, but as time wore on they found more of a groove and were pinging it about quite comfortably whilst slowly pressing further and further up the pitch, a pattern that would be repeated for most of the game.

It certainly wasn't one for the neutral though, and was pretty cagey stuff for the most part.

We did look decent defensively, but Posh were cutting through us on occasion and we had far more work to do to keep them out than they did for us.

But yeah, very odd that it took till 85 minutes for a goal (theirs), then we equalised 4 mins later...then they got a freak winner just over a minute later, which I think our goalie misjudged somewhat, but can't be too harsh on him as he put in some great saves also.

So.

Certainly deflating - I've seen us play at Wembley 4 times:

2 playoff defeats (v Sarfend and Sunderland),
1 playoff win (v Oxford)
and today's game...

but of course the only one we actually won was in the sodding COVID season where fans couldn't actually go.

I will say though that it's far less depressing to lose a Tinpot final (which is a one-off game for which you get a cup) vs a play-off final (which determines a key part of your next season).

And in fairness, even though it's a shite competition, this has been really the only point of interest for us in what has been a seriously transitional season, where we've been shit in the league for a huge chunk of it.

Anyway - and now - the beach.

How many of the boycott brigade became hypocrites and went to the final?

 

[thewwfc]

How many of the boycott brigade became hypocrites and went to the final?

Personally I never had any kind of boycott (not that you said I did), I think my view is pretty mainstream in that it’s a very dull competition unless you get to a very advanced stage.

But I’ve even watched group games (on iFollow, mind), mainly because it’s a chance to see what our development squad kids are like.

I completely get the caution around “is this the thin end of the wedge to allowing EPL B-teams into actual league football”, but I don’t think that’s realistic and I think there would be a huge outcry if this went any further.

I think at most I saw one or two on our forum virtue-signalling that their boycott would remain in place for the final, but each to their own.

In the interests of fairness, I have to say I’ve broken my own boycott in the past - I had never watched (in person or on stream) a single game involving the Franchise until a couple of seasons ago, when we were angling for the playoffs. I didn’t watch our home playoff semi (1st leg) against them, but couldn’t quite stand not to see the 2nd leg (on iFollow). So there’s my hypocrisy bubble burst.