Match Day Thread Crawley Town v Pompey - EFL Trophy

Disappointing, I saw the word slotted and hoped it was Crawley equalising...

 

Get us out as quickly as possible, don't want any injuries for any actually important matches. I'm just glad Curtis isn't around so Kenny isn't tempted to play him.

 

I don't agree with you that the competition is demeaning Lapras. It may not be an important cup but a competition is just that. And we're either good enough or we're not. Being champions of England before I was even born is hardly a reason for us to rest on our laurels and judge all other clubs as minnows. We aren't so grand any more.

Pissing off the PL, EFL and the FA is worth it though. And it isn't just a training opportunity for overbloated academies - they're still intent on bringing in a B Clubs system, through the back door if necessary. They won't win that one I'm sure.

 

I heard that Kenny Jackett is quite serious about this competition - don't know how true that is though.

But it's another win

 

I'm not saying it's demeaning because we were champions of England 70 years ago, it is demeaning to us, Accrington, Oxford, etc... It is demeaning to every single league one and league 2 clubs because it sees us as training opposition for PL kids, it says that the problems created by the PL with bloated academies and a refusal to give young players a chance is our problem and our responsibility to sort out.

 

It's hard to disagree with your sentiments Lapras.

Although you can look at it another way - the PL has had to demean itself by bribing its way into a cup run that has little worth to get itself out of trouble, which is the bloated training bit of your sentiments. The dangerous element here is that the football authorities think it can bore the fans into accepting the kids as worthwhile opposition while they get their B teams past the EFL clubs, by doing it long enough to get accepted. Can't see it happening personally. Can see heads rolling eventually though.

 

Get rid of the Prem/Championship academies and open it up to National League Clubs instead!

 

How about also making it into a worth while competition and encourage side to play strong teams by rewarding the winner a bye to the third round of the following season's FA Cup!

 

Interesting view point, and certainly one I had never considered before. You're right though, it's pretty demeaning to the PL as well now that you mention it.