MUFC & LFC will enter u21 Sides in EFL Cup

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by The Lambeau Leap (U21050)
posted 38 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 23 seconds ago
Should point out attendances for Academies at lower league clubs are really low. Fans are boycotting.
That would be an issue with introducing B teams, would take time for fans of clubs in lower leagues to accept it.
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Boycotting their own academies?
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Sorry, meant attendances for games involving Lower League clubs versus academies.
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Ahhh. Away games only, or all games? I mean, I can sympathise to an extent, but there's financial gain to having the academies included, so hopefully the fans see the benefit in the long run and get on board.

comment by Adam 'The interview' Lallana (U20650)
posted 34 seconds ago
the crowds in the lower league can be really abusive(compared to the prem), hope some of the kids are ready for that
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Yea, I've seen that for myself. Goes back to what I said earlier though, about the cream rising to the top. Those with the desire will handle it. Look what Beckham went through; they aren't being exposed to that.

Academies only play away in the group games, so it is mainly home games.

Sunderland did get 16k for Newcastle and 14k for Man City in the knockouts though - far higher than their group games.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 6 seconds ago
Academies only play away in the group games, so it is mainly home games.

Sunderland did get 16k for Newcastle and 14k for Man City in the knockouts though - far higher than their group games.
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Bet the sunderland fans enjoyed whooping the Newcastle kids. Small victories and all that.

We have since 2013 the youth teams of Ajax, PSV and AZ in the dutch second division.

The big talents like De Jong, De Ligt, Bergwijn and Stengs had great time there to develop and play against more physical players which has improved them before they played first team football.

The dutch FA had to do something after they had missed a few tournaments.

They should just introduce a B team system.

The problem is selling it to EFL clubs. Would take a brilliant salesman to convince them to allow clubs in who could block their own progress.

I think that Nicky Butt does a good job with the younger lads and I get the feeling he will turn out to be a cracking coach.

Good opportunity for the boys. Although id say a lot of the more talented ones will be pulled up to the first team under Ole which may cause a problem for the u21's?

"The recent feedback from clubs and coaches has been very positive, with the current format continuing to offer greater revenue for our clubs and competitive first-team football for young talent," English Football League executive chair Debbie Jevans said.
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Not sure about that tbh, the fans of lower league club's appeared to like the fact it was their own competition, away from the PL. Bringing in the U21s has seen attendances in some rounds in the hundreds rather than the thousands, which is till low even for League 1 and 2 clubs.

Of course, if their team gets to Wembley for the first time in years they'll attend but it's been seen as another move to benefit PL sides with not much thought given to the football league.

comment by The Lambeau Leap (U21050)
posted 6 hours, 36 minutes ago
It could be the first step toward B teams in the lower leagues like you see abroad.

Agree that it's good experience for them. Would be interested to get the opinion of lower league fans as to how they feel about this; whether it devalues the tournament. The fact that Chelsea made the last 4 suggests it doesn't diminish the quality, but imagine a scenario where the last 8 are all PL academies...


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Can't imagine that ever happening, the fact that only once has an academy side made the semi's since it's interception shows how tought it is for kids facing mens teams.