AFC Wimbledon Away in Checkatrade Trophy

[Thunder Bolt]

The competition will never grow if fans can't be arsed to support it. It is not perfect but it has good aspects to it.

No, it doesn't. Not one.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

The competition wasn't that well supported anyway in lower leagues (until final couple rounds) and this reserves rubbish has devalued it even more I think. Useful for the reserves but completely killed the struggling format

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The competition will never grow if fans can't be arsed to support it. It is not perfect but it has good aspects to it.

It doesn't deserve to grow. What used to be quite a healthy lower league cup competition has been destroyed by the inclusion of bigger clubs such as us.

If it was successful, the League could argue that PL 'B' teams should be included in the Football League. This must not be allowed to happen.

 

[spence]

It doesn't deserve to grow. What used to be quite a healthy lower league cup competition has been destroyed by the inclusion of bigger clubs such as us.

If it was successful, the League could argue that PL 'B' teams should be included in the Football League. This must not be allowed to happen.

It was never a healthy competition. People simply couldn't be bothered with this competition. Lower league managers would rather see it scrapped. All the time the Albion are in it whether that's wrong or wrong i'm looking forward to it. I quite like the idea as long as it is just the U21.

These are the clubs that couldn't be bothered to field enough senior players to meet requirements set out. You say it was healthy?

.The clubs penalised were:

· Luton Town - £15,000 (£5,000 per match)
· Portsmouth - £15,000 (£5,000 per match)
· Bradford City - £3,000
· Blackpool - £3,000
· Bristol Rovers - £3,000
· Milton Keynes Dons - £3,000
· Millwall - £3,000
· Charlton Athletic - £3,000
· Peterborough United - £3,000
· Sheffield United - £3,000
· Southend United - £3,000
· Fleetwood Town - £5,000

 

[GT49er]

It doesn't deserve to grow. What used to be quite a healthy lower league cup competition has been destroyed by the inclusion of bigger clubs such as us.

If it was successful, the League could argue that PL 'B' teams should be included in the Football League. This must not be allowed to happen.

Cup and league; nothing to do with each other. No call for 'B' teams in the league, and no sign that this is some kind of stalking horse. It isn't.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

This will be a great throwback to ancient football and I fully expect the 2 very vocal anti-Amex posters to be first in the queue at the turnstiles ( if the walk-up price isn't too high, of course ).

 

[Thunder Bolt]

How is a competition that drew terrible crowds and essentially reserve teams to begin with destroyed by some U23 teams?
Can't you see the positive of it being the only place young, developing players can actually play some sort of competitive match? Can you not see the attempt to try to help young players develop?

Luton have been fined £15,000 for playing their youngsters. It's one rule for Championship & Premier League clubs and another for Lg 1&2 clubs.

It's farcical and should either go back to it's original format when it was the Paint Pot or LDV vans trophy, or be abandoned completely.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

It was never a healthy competition. People simply couldn't be bothered with this competition. Lower league managers would rather see it scrapped. All the time the Albion are in it whether that's wrong or wrong i'm looking forward to it. I quite like the idea as long as it is just the U21.

These are the clubs that couldn't be bothered to field enough senior players to meet requirements set out. You say it was healthy?

.The clubs penalised were:

· Luton Town - £15,000 (£5,000 per match)
· Portsmouth - £15,000 (£5,000 per match)
· Bradford City - £3,000
· Blackpool - £3,000
· Bristol Rovers - £3,000
· Milton Keynes Dons - £3,000
· Millwall - £3,000
· Charlton Athletic - £3,000
· Peterborough United - £3,000
· Sheffield United - £3,000
· Southend United - £3,000
· Fleetwood Town - £5,000

It's not a case of clubs 'couldn't be bothered'. Luton issued a statement yesterday, putting forward the case that they did exactly the same as we did., play their youngsters to give them experience. The statement is in post 16 in this thread.

http://www.northstandchat.com/showt...FA-refused-to-play-ball&p=7666905#post7666905

 

[Thunder Bolt]

It is not perfect but it is an attempt to give young players some competitive games. Why don't people and clubs try to suggest improvements instead of just having a go all the time?

Luton did exactly that and got fined for it. It is penalising the lower clubs.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

It is not perfect but it is an attempt to give young players some competitive games. Why don't people and clubs try to suggest improvements instead of just having a go all the time?

If it had been started when we were in League 1 or 2, Albion fans would have been up in arms, and rightly so. Why should lower league clubs have this foisted on them? The only beneficiaries are the larger clubs...as always.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Cup and league; nothing to do with each other. No call for 'B' teams in the league, and no sign that this is some kind of stalking horse. It isn't.

You haven't been listening. There have been loads of calls for B teams to be allowed to join the lower leagues. Greg Dyke was has been very vocal in trying to get this going.

NONE of the lower league clubs wanted this, and the fans have voted with their feet - they haven't turned up.

 

[GT49er]

You haven't been listening. There have been loads of calls for B teams to be allowed to join the lower leagues. Greg Dyke was has been very vocal in trying to get this going.

NONE of the lower league clubs wanted this, and the fans have voted with their feet - they haven't turned up.

Don't know about loads - I know it has been mentioned - and completely rejected out of hand every time. The opposition was and is overwhelming. I don't believe this cup competition is any kind of stalking horse.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

How is it penalising lower clubs? They still get to compete in a competition they were already in. It allows clubs with category one youth facilities to participate. If Luton want to play their youth players they could invest in the youth set-up?
It is not perfect and could do with alterations but why not try to help improve it instead of just dismissing it? What are your alternative way of getting young players game time in competitive competitions?

We should go all out to win it. Our youngsters would benefit from a run out at Wembley

 

[Thunder Bolt]

How is it penalising lower clubs? They still get to compete in a competition they were already in. It allows clubs with category one youth facilities to participate. If Luton want to play their youth players they could invest in the youth set-up?
It is not perfect and could do with alterations but why not try to help improve it instead of just dismissing it? What are your alternative way of getting young players game time in competitive competitions?

It was ok as it was. Adding Championship & Prem club youth teams have made it worse, not better. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

This year is a 1 year trial, and I can't see us being allowed in next year.

So, for now, we have a plum 'old football' tie at Wimbledon which I hope we win. I may go in fact.

After that, if we go through, the competition goes national with a totally free draw.

 

[GT49er]

It was ok as it was.

Really?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Really?

Yes, it was ok. Lower league clubs had a chance to go to Wembley. Please note, I didn't say it was good, just ok.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The competition was dead on its arse for decades. Attendances were low and nobody cared.
Also, how has giving young players the opportunity to play competitive football a bad thing!? People have been complaining development squads don't produce enough first team players, but when something is done to give those players some much needed experience they also complain. Madness.

You haven't explained why it's ok for us, but Luton have been penalised for doing exactly the same thing.

 

[GT49er]

Please note, I didn't say it was good, just ok.

Point taken.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The competition was dead on its arse for decades. Attendances were low and nobody cared.
Also, how has giving young players the opportunity to play competitive football a bad thing!? People have been complaining development squads don't produce enough first team players, but when something is done to give those players some much needed experience they also complain. Madness.

The whole premise of this is that lower League clubs are there for the convenience of the big boys. They are not, they have proper histories, proper fans, and they come from proper communities. They should not be forced to provide opposition for development squads - where is the benefit to them?