for 2016/2017.
http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/premier-league-trial-for-the-trophy-3140598.aspx
EFL Clubs have agreed, at their 2016 summer conference, to pilot a new format for the EFL Trophy as part of their ongoing commitment to creating more and better home grown players.
The one season trial for season 2016/17 will include 64 teams made up of EFL League One and Two clubs, plus an additional 16 category 1 Premier League academy/under-21 sides.
Central to the competition will be the introduction of a new group stage format with 16 regional groups of four teams. The top two teams will progress to the knockout stages of the competition with the final staged at Wembley Stadium in April 2017.
(EFL ie English Football League is just the new name for the Football League. EFL trophy = JPT trophy)
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It is an interesting idea. So best 16 U21 sides in PL can submit, if they want to, their U21 side into Johnstone's Paint Trophy basically, which was usually just league 1 and 2 sides. Also interesting that it's actually the PL clubs themselves that may not be for the idea as it stands, as opposed to the league 1 and 2 clubs. Here's some reasons why Liverpool may not be for it:
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2016/06/football-league-trophy-feature-premier-league-21-teams-201617/
What do you guys think? Seen people on Twitter lamenting the move, saying that the FA is just catering to the top of the football pyramid and trivialising lower league competition, others think it's a good idea that'll help bridge the quality/atmosphere gap between English youth football and professional football that has existed for a while and that the FA have been trying to sort out for a while. Even those that think it's a good idea however also worry it will be the gateway to full on B sides present throughout the Football League leagues eventually. I myself like the idea, implemented correctly, with less flaws like the ones pointed out in the This Is Anfield article.
PL U21 sides in the Johnstone Paint Trophy
posted on 14/6/16
The correct name for the Johnstones Paint Trophy is the FOOTBALL LEAGUE Trophy.
So called because it's for teams from the FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Teams from the PREMIER LEAGUE can f-ck off. They don't mind sharing silverware but I don't see them offering to split their mega TV deal money with us clubs not at the top table.
So to recap, f-ck off
posted on 14/6/16
tricky one Champers.
I understand what they are trying to achieve, and the Chelsea side, for instance, is full of English lads so the "foreigners" argument is invalid.
However;
Peterboro won it couple seasons back, I went, had a cracking day out. but if it had been- say- Chelsea U21 vs Arsenal U21's in the final what would have been the point ??
posted on 14/6/16
I've nothing against this because of any heritage issues or anything like that. My beef is with the Premier League, who just think they can do whatever they want.
The gap between the Premier League and the rest is just stupid, and it got made even more stupid when those who get relegated got given a kings ransom to come down to the Championship and Lord it over the rest of us in the transfer market.
But that's not enough. Now they want PL teams to come down and take over the minute bit of silverware that gives League One and Two teams a realistic hope of minor success, and a place at the most majestic stadium in the country, that some of these guys spend their whole career in sh-t stadiums and playing on sh-t pitches to try and reach.
The big clubs don't even have the good decency to put out full strength sides in the other cup competitions the smaller clubs enter. A third round trip to Old Trafford or Anfield once meant a day out watching your boys try and match the international superstars of today. Now it involves paying a small fortune to see the possible stars of tomorrow, i.e. Some Welsh under 18 international you've not heard of unless you spend 10 hours a day playing Football Manager.
If the Premier League want the Football League to accommodate their teams then they should pay for the privilege. Not some peanuts amount either. You want to compete in our trophies? Then let's have some of that unbelievable TV deal you're getting. Give each club in the Football League the chance to build the kind of facilities that attract these 'stars of tomorrow'...level playing field n that.
Otherwise.....f-ck off.
posted on 14/6/16
comment by Champers - Pow! Right in the kisser (U6859)
posted 18 minutes ago
I've nothing against this because of any heritage issues or anything like that. My beef is with the Premier League, who just think they can do whatever they want.
The gap between the Premier League and the rest is just stupid, and it got made even more stupid when those who get relegated got given a kings ransom to come down to the Championship and Lord it over the rest of us in the transfer market.
But that's not enough. Now they want PL teams to come down and take over the minute bit of silverware that gives League One and Two teams a realistic hope of minor success, and a place at the most majestic stadium in the country, that some of these guys spend their whole career in sh-t stadiums and playing on sh-t pitches to try and reach.
The big clubs don't even have the good decency to put out full strength sides in the other cup competitions the smaller clubs enter. A third round trip to Old Trafford or Anfield once meant a day out watching your boys try and match the international superstars of today. Now it involves paying a small fortune to see the possible stars of tomorrow, i.e. Some Welsh under 18 international you've not heard of unless you spend 10 hours a day playing Football Manager.
If the Premier League want the Football League to accommodate their teams then they should pay for the privilege. Not some peanuts amount either. You want to compete in our trophies? Then let's have some of that unbelievable TV deal you're getting. Give each club in the Football League the chance to build the kind of facilities that attract these 'stars of tomorrow'...level playing field n that.
Otherwise.....f-ck off.
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And that's what the FA and Football League should be fighting for tooth and nail.
Scores of professional, semi-professional and amateur clubs are on the verge of going out of business, which is sickening and inexcusable considering the incredible wealth at the top of the game.
(Bit like British society really...)
posted on 15/6/16
Quality posts champers(as asual) , even for a tired new Dad
I'll never forget that day out at Wembley all those years ago (Huddersfield Town Vs Bristol Rovers) when we were languishing in the lower leagues.
The jpt softens the blow of being in the crap leagues, and like many have said, a chance of actually getting to Wembley,for players and fans.
It's apisstake
posted on 15/6/16
It was Swansea, Hydy, when it was the Autoglass Trophy. Richard Logan scored for us i think, and whilst it was a blow to lose that day, we went back to the twin towers a year later (Bristol Rovers that time) and had the day of our lives
posted on 15/6/16
so memorable
posted on 15/6/16
Apologies, I'm off work this week and I'm poo faced
posted on 20/6/16
The crap is someone has had another brain storm and thought up another idea for football to drag a few more pennies out off the old working man!..
Can't do owt these days without someone getting paid to think out new idea's to rob a few more pennies for one off the richest machines on the planet!..
The football harvester rumbles on!.
posted on 7/7/16
So Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea & United have all declined option to submit their U21 team into competition..
However Everton Swansea & WBA have