OK, so I'll word it differently again. With out top six teams, the competition is hugely downgraded in quality, interest tails off and, yes, the final itself becomes a damp squib because there is less interest in the competition and way fewer viewers. And then the crowds go down.
Isn’t that just adding one more league to the competition that was the Sherpa Van Trophy years ago (championship) Which doesn’t sell out most years - which sort of proves Chief’s point ftr I don’t think they should be giving the big 6 preference Keep the draw as normal and tell them they have to put a squad in Up to them how serious they take it
well given the choice of CL or LC i have an inkling most managers would prioritise the CL and considering half at least of our U21 squad has been sold / on loan christ knows who would be left for the LC squad .
I don't disagree with you that the overall quality of the competition would be lessened by not including anyone in Europe that year. I don't think that the European sides should excluded, but they should be made to fit into the competition as it is. They're getting the benefits of extra European gates and TV revenues. They should have to field whatever side they feel fit to compete in all the competitions they've qualified for. If there were exclusions, to suggest the final would be a damp squib just because sides competing in Europe aren't in it is fairly ignorant and wouldn't reflect the views of any fans of any clubs making it that far. Crowds going down? Not sure I get the correlation there - the majority of clubs and their supporters could't give flying **** about the European sides in any given year (can't be top 6, as it doesn't work like that). Fans support their team in droves, whoever they're playing. TV viewers, yes the point stands that it's likely figures would be less throughout the competition due to European sides followings... Again all boils down to money vs sporting integrity of the competition structure. The seeding / splitting of European cubs and the pre-weighted favour of a home tie is a joke.
Come on be realistic, having a trophy without any sides that qualified for Europe the previous season would massively affect the prestige of the competition (as it is, most sides play weakened teams anyway) I don’t like the new format of keeping teams apart because they’re in Europe but the only other viable solution is to scrap it completely and I don’t think most clubs want that.
You say that as fan of a bigger club though. **** the prestige the more chance of us winning something the better. I'd have rather beaten Hull in the final in 2017 than most to United.
Interested in how you felt about it last season BTW? But, what I'm saying is the novelty would wear off. Not necessarily immediately, but over a few years. Yeah, the first few years without the top six the finals would be great, but as it becomes apparent it's a diluted cup competition, the interest would subside. Even by the fans of clubs reaching the final, because the comp would be just that little bit meh eventually.
So SKY Sports claim there is no extra charge for EFL matches, hmmm, but what they don't advertise is they've put an end to offers for those that subscribe through NOW TV. I've been paying £17.99 a month for 6 months, and only about just over £20 for the previous six months. Anyway, my offer finally ends at the end of September when they want me to take a £34.99 per month subscription lol....and they are not offering reductions for long term customer cancellations. Although the terms have always been 6 months, it's always been cancel at anytime. However, they have got an alternative, 12 months FIXED at £26 per month. So hang on let's work this out, the two options are £26 at a fixed 12 months even though the football season is only 9 months long, well 8 by the end of next month or £34.99 a month cancel when you want...go on, I'll let you do the sums... please log in to view this image
Spurs might be a ‘big’ club but they don’t win trophies so I can relate to wanting to win anything. A league cup without the best sides though would end up akin to winning the championship and wouldn’t even be classed as a major trophy.
Every league title is a trophy to be proud of if your a small to medium sized club and you work your way through the leagues winning titles on the way then you are the best in that league at that time
But you'd get a day out winning a final at Wembley which is a pipe dream for most clubs. The paint pot wasn't a major trophy but I'd wager most of the 48k Saints fans who were there for ours would rank it among their best days following the club. Though admittedly no doubt amplified by the fact it came 9 months after administration and relegation to the third tier for the first time in over half a century. Isn't that what football is about for most fans, creating memories? And how many better are there than winning a Wembley final? I know our win there in May is up there with my favourite games ever and I didn't even want the 'prize'.
Yeah it's all about perspective init. Winning the 4th division is a great achievement if you support a Wrexham/Gillingham/Swindon type club. Nobody won more Southern League titles than us. And I bet you and Fosse can even remember them
I support onme of the "big 6" "the cartel" "the elite" but i and all the other reds i know were buzzing after our LC win last season ,admittedly mainly because of the way it happened , but any cup win matters
