LDV / Sherpa Vans was fine. An opportunity for lower league teams like us to have a day at Wembley. The introduction of Premier League youth teams to play in a 1st team tournament was obnoxious and patronising to every club in the competition.
I think the damage is done to be honest. But if its reinvented, sack off u21 teams (horrible elitist idea), ditch the group stage and just have a straight up knock out cup comp for leagues 1 and 2. All games over 1 leg. That way start to finish is only a maximum of 5/6 games and every team has a decent shot.
The problem with the competition, and indeed the other cups, is that in L1 and L2 you're playing most these games in autumn when you have no idea how your season would progress in the league, leading to weakened teams and no interest from the fans.
If our games were played now, then we would put out a strong team as we're going nowhere in the league and a Wembley final would be an attractive consolation.
We took 235 for a midweek Quarter Final at Hartlepool just over a year ago and 101 to Plymouth in November.
Why would de-regionalising the group stages be of any benefit? Just needs the Premier League U21 teams to be removed from the competition and it's fine as it is if there's no restrictions on us playing a team of kids.
I disagree. Remove the U21 teams and revert it to be what it was before, a chance to win some silverware and have a day out at Wembley.
Looking at the previous winners of the trophy, plenty of clubs there which are in a higher division than us now, including PL teams such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves, and several current Championship sides. I'm sure their fans enjoyed winning the trophy.
Just get a team together to get out of this division and then be competitive in the championship and it is removed from the equation. Simple (we can but dream).
I disagree. Remove the U21 teams and revert it to be what it was before, a chance to win some silverware and have a day out at Wembley.
Looking at the previous winners of the trophy, plenty of clubs there which are in a higher division than us now, including PL teams such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves, and several current Championship sides. I'm sure their fans enjoyed winning the trophy.
I wouldn't. I think winning it is an embarrassing reminder that we are only quarter members.
Let the Premier League sponsor it... they're so desperate for it to include their U21 sides
If the sponsorship is only £1 Million surely the Premier league could sponsor it. With the winner gaining automatic entry to the Premier…. Just to incentivise the entries.
Simple fix… ditch the PL reserve sides and have a 48 team competition.
Top 16 of L1 from previous season get a first round bye, and play straight knock out football. Five/six rounds of knockout football with a nice day out at Wembley for a couple of clubs. Simple.
Just get a team together to get out of this division and then be competitive in the championship and it is removed from the equation. Simple (we can but dream).
Bolton stuff (crust) Plymouth 4-0 in the final. I wonder how it effects Plymouth's season.
Looking at the games they have left i'd say they have to still be favourites to win the league.
They have a game in hand on Sheff Weds (whose form has nose dived) and in their remaining 8 games they don't have to play any of the sides in the top 9.
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If our games were played now, then we would put out a strong team as we're going nowhere in the league and a Wembley final would be an attractive consolation.
Why would de-regionalising the group stages be of any benefit? Just needs the Premier League U21 teams to be removed from the competition and it's fine as it is if there's no restrictions on us playing a team of kids.
Looking at the previous winners of the trophy, plenty of clubs there which are in a higher division than us now, including PL teams such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Wolves, and several current Championship sides. I'm sure their fans enjoyed winning the trophy.
Simple (we can but dream).
Top 16 of L1 from previous season get a first round bye, and play straight knock out football. Five/six rounds of knockout football with a nice day out at Wembley for a couple of clubs. Simple.
I wonder how it effects Plymouth's season.
They have a game in hand on Sheff Weds (whose form has nose dived) and in their remaining 8 games they don't have to play any of the sides in the top 9.