I'm surprised that Brighton didn't offer to switch the tie we would have had at least 600-700 there

5 tidy pens then Brighton lad goes for 3 points.

Havent seen the game , only brief highlights on you tube so wont comment much only to say they seemed to play ok and I was shocked by the result....

Trevor Thompson my MOM

Don't get why some dislike this competition.It gives academy kids the chance to play first team football,be it half paced non aggressive games,how else could Jeffries stake his claim to become a professional footballer.Woodiwiss has come in and looked good,five other kids now have extra experience and incentive to improve.Squad players get the chance to show what they are about,Flynny can see how many should stay or go.£20k just to beat Brighton kids,that pays a good chunk of the players wages this week or,fills Flynny's pockets for the next 8 weeks.What is there to dislike about the competition.

I like the competition.
It was a great night last night.

Amberexile wrote:I like the competition.
It was a great night last night.

Here Here

Got to say that I am liking the positive comments on here and am obviously glad we won. We could do with the money and as someone else said, it gives the youngsters a chance. However, I will say that last night, and before the game, I wasn't too bothered. The league and the FACup is the main thing for me.

Percy plunkett wrote:Don't get why some dislike this competition.It gives academy kids the chance to play first team football,be it half paced non aggressive games,how else could Jeffries stake his claim to become a professional footballer.Woodiwiss has come in and looked good,five other kids now have extra experience and incentive to improve.Squad players get the chance to show what they are about,Flynny can see how many should stay or go.

All of that is fine. The problem is that by allowing Premiership sides to enter their B Teams it devalues the competition. The old Johnstone's Paint Trophy and its predecessors still allowed all of the above to happen but we got to play proper sides with actual fanbases who'd turn up and watch games - not in huge numbers, it's true, but in better numbers than the new format gets. No-one is a fan of Brighton & Hove Albion B Team which is why they had virtually zero home fans in attendance. Likewise when we played West Ham B the away end was virtually empty whereas a few weeks earlier it had a good turnout for our League Cup game against their main team.

The only reason clubs continue to accede to the Football League's craven kow-towing to the Premiership is because their mouths have been stuffed with gold. Div 3 and Div 4 sides have been told that the Football League will cover our losses in the competition (ie, if the costs of hosting games are not covered by the 200 people turning up to attend) provided we "positively promote the competition" - hence all the fawning club coverage of games against sides like the one we played the other night.

Kairdiff Exile wrote:

Percy plunkett wrote:Don't get why some dislike this competition.It gives academy kids the chance to play first team football,be it half paced non aggressive games,how else could Jeffries stake his claim to become a professional footballer.Woodiwiss has come in and looked good,five other kids now have extra experience and incentive to improve.Squad players get the chance to show what they are about,Flynny can see how many should stay or go.

All of that is fine. The problem is that by allowing Premiership sides to enter their B Teams it devalues the competition. The old Johnstone's Paint Trophy and its predecessors still allowed all of the above to happen but we got to play proper sides with actual fanbases who'd turn up and watch games - not in huge numbers, it's true, but in better numbers than the new format gets. No-one is a fan of Brighton & Hove Albion B Team which is why they had virtually zero home fans in attendance. Likewise when we played West Ham B the away end was virtually empty whereas a few weeks earlier it had a good turnout for our League Cup game against their main team.

The only reason clubs continue to accede to the Football League's craven kow-towing to the Premiership is because their mouths have been stuffed with gold. Div 3 and Div 4 sides have been told that the Football League will cover our losses in the competition (ie, if the costs of hosting games are not covered by the 200 people turning up to attend) provided we "positively promote the competition" - hence all the fawning club coverage of games against sides like the one we played the other night.

Also the start of a slippery slope towards U21s / B teams in EFL.

They don't seem to mind in Spain having B teams

Thing is, Jim, the Spanish only have two fully professional leagues. Go to watch the Spanish fourth tier and you’re watching a pretty low standard in front of small crowds. Whereas in the English league structure in which we play, there are clubs even in the fifth and sixth tier who can attract four-figure crowds.

That’s the difference. Our lower league and non-league setup is the envy of the world. Dozens of proper clubs with proud histories and devoted local support. Why dilute that by allowing everything to be dominated by the Premiership and its ubiquitous marketing guff? Allowing B Teams into the Football League Trophy is the thin end of the wedge, mark my words.

Ugo. wrote:

rodneyboy wrote:

Beechwood Boy wrote:When's the draw for the next round? Anyone know?

I believe it's Thursday afternoon at 2 live on Sky.

19:15 Thursday

As Bristol Rovers have just made it through to the next round; believe that would be the best draw for us due to their close proximity .home or away.
.

So it’s either Brizzle Roverzzz, Exeter or Ipswich then

Exile 1976 wrote:So it’s either Brizzle Roverzzz, Exeter or Ipswich then

Portsmouth, MK Dons, Stevenage, Walsall ?