[FOOTBALL] The EFL Trophy

[Reg]

This is part of the rebranding and restructuring of the Football League, formerly the Football League Trophy / Johnstone's Paint Trophy / Paint Pot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36902612


Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle have rejected the chance to play Under-21 teams in the EFL Trophy.

Sixteen Category One academies were invited to play against League One and League Two clubs as part of a one-season, 64-team competition trial.

Premier League champions Leicester and Chelsea have accepted the invitation.

We are one of the clubs to have accepted a place of the teams who rejected the chance to play.

What do you think? Good for Football League clubs to be playing some of the better youth teams?

[Shindig]

Its exposure for the youngsters but maybe not the fostering of new talent the FA hopes. We'd rather loan our kids out.

[Giggles]

Some flimsy 18 year old on 20,000 a week going up against a jealous mutton head from league 2 will end well.

[niko_cee]

The last thing any team in England's top 2 divisions needs is more games, really, even if it is for the reserves. Surprised Brighton would go for it, seeing as they haven't really bothered with the cups of late. As Frannie implies, what good is going to come of your (alleged) youth prodigies playing a bunch of shitkickers? They'd be better off having a coaching session with the first team.

[Reg]

No training session can truly replicate a real game. I reckon it's good for them to be playing fitter and more experienced players.

[niko_cee]

That's only true if the standard of opposition is any good. For all I know Northampton probably send their reserves out in this (as is the fashion for domestic cups these days). Nothing to be learned from that. It's also a dangerous precedent potentially aimed at undermining the fabric of the lower league system (which is so unique to England). Liverpool B team aren't needed (or wanted) within the proper structure of domestic football.

They'll be asking them to have a pop at the FA Vase next.

[Reg]

I do agree there are too many games for FL clubs. Hopefully some of the mid-table teams or something actually play their first XIs.

[Lee]

It's for academy teams only, isn't it? Anyway, shit idea for the reasons Niko Cee outlines.

[Reg]

It's for League 1 and League 2 and some of the best academies.

[mo]

No team in League One or Two needs more games, and adding academies to this only further devalues this competition. It is a cheap ploy to change things for changes sake.

The worst thing for me is that, currently there exists a rule where teams must field 6(?) of their regular starting eleven or face financial penalties. Is this rule still going to be in effect? If so, how will it be applied evenly? Or won't it?

I would predict pretty poor attendances at these matches, as many fans groups have already decided to boycott the competition.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This sounds like one of those things that would sound great on a Powerpoint presentation at Lancaster Gate (or wherever the FA are nowadays) to people who have never darkened the doors of a football league ground, and went on to share a bottle of Chateau Ferrande and a prostitute that evening.

[Sam]

I'm surprised but glad we joined as getting the kids some actual match experience is a positive from a purely selfish perspective. However, totally devalues an already crap competition.