EFL Trophy. Newport, Wimbledon, Swansea

[HC Green]

Two major changes.
16 teams from category 1 Academies will be invited to join the competition making 64 teams.
Instead of starting with a knockout round there will be 16 regional groups of 4 teams with 1 Academy team in each group. If the groups are truly local it doesn't give us much choice of opposition! I assume the nearest Cat 1 academy would be Southampton.

Link to petition added below - Admin

Abandon the 2016/17 EFL Trophy Proposals

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Awful decision. Imagine a final of Chelsea u21's vs Arsenal u21's at Wembley?

 

[PL2 3DQ]

16 under-21/academy teams from the Premier League. The B team format by stealth. :thumbdown:

 

[Ed]

No B teams in any of our competitions under any circumstances. The entire competition should be boycotted, even if we got to the final I wouldn't go, it's no longer a competition worth winning.

 

[SWTT]

Gutted, I always enjoyed this competition and was disappointed that it was often degraded by fans. But to be degraded by the football league is a true disgrace. I will ignore everything to do with it.

 

[SWTT]

Fans showed strong feelings against this when it was previously suggested, but they have gone ahead anyway. If fan consensus remains negative towards the move then the fans trust should be looking to get together with other fans trusts to organise a protest against the move.

 

[Ham Green]

If there's a format that involves our non-participation, we should have gone for that.

 

[HC Green]

Looks like as there currently isn't a sponsor for the Trophy this year the FL were offered some money by the PL to adopt this format.
I understand not all teams were happy and voted against it, I hope Argyle were one of them.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

First thing that should be done in response to this is to boycott the competition all together.

 

[Keepitgreen]

The full story:

The Guardian

I'd fully support a boycott.

 

[Joe Totale]

Horrendous idea.

I just don't understand what's in it for the Under 21's teams, surely getting kicked around by League 2 reserves won't really enhance their learning much?

 

[djg145]

:furious: NO THANK YOU - I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS :furious:

 

[Greenford]

Another reason why people prefer the football league compared to the farce that is the premier league. It wouldnt suprise me if Dyke bullied people in the football league for this to go ahead even though most clubs probably voted against this. Everything has to revolve around the premier league and thats sad for the football league its a shame how the premier leagues bully tactics continue year after year but is anyone surprised with Dyke at the helm.

 

[Cobi Budge.]

Easy solution.

All League 1 and 2 fans should simply boycott any games involving 'B teams'.

 

[Ed]

Easy solution.

All League 1 and 2 fans should simply boycott any games involving 'B teams'.

Better to boycott the entire competition, make the point that any competition with B teams involved has no value.