Breaking News Changes agreed for the EFL Trophy

[Shrimper]

£10k prize money potentially a game.

Whoop de ****ing do.

 

[EastStandBlue]

How exactly does playing the same number of League matches as we have for the last 65 years suddenly become a "grossly congested fixture schedule" ?

Bowers' 13 games in a month was a grossly congested fixture schedule.

More often than not we mitigate this situation by leaving the cups early.

Circa 50 games a season - more if we do well - is, in my opinion, a grossly congested fixture schedule. Just because it's been that way for 65 years doesn't make it any less so.

 

[Mick]

Circa 50 games a season - more if we do well - is, in my opinion, a grossly congested fixture schedule. Just because it's been that way for 65 years doesn't make it any less so.

So 50 games a season or to put it another way less than 2 hours football a week over the season is too much, in fact grossly congested. Ridiculous statement, in my opinion.

How many games would we have to lose to make it merely congested rather than grossly congested?

How many more games would we have to lose to make it not congested at all ?

If you want to see an average of rather less than one hour a week of football at Roots Hall, I suggest you might be in a minority and maybe don't like football that much?

 

[southendkid]

Remember Nick Clegg's stance on students?!

After reading that statement I think I'd rather the competition was just left to 'die' as it was put by SK.

Last time I checked SK isn't trying to get elected, he doesn't need our approval and if he lied now it'd come back to bite him later on, there's not much reason for him to lie here he could have just omitted his stance from the statement if he felt that way.

 

[Supershrimper]

I'd like to know how much prize money was won if you got through 3 games in the old format. Plus if you lost in the 1st game in the old format you was out and no further costs were incurred. Now you would have to play a further 2 games incurring extra cost.

And would every group get an Under 21 team or could there be a situation where all the under 21s are drawn together.

I'm surprised a betting company hasn't gone for the sponsorship. Their competitors would then be advertising them on their betting platforms for the games being played in that competition.

Be interesting to see if it's named the Sponsorship Available Trophy or if they go with the EFL Trophy.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

The club's statement is clear and has good logic; with out change this competition will go the way of the Anglo/Italian Cup.
I don't think the evolving of the EFL Trophy is over with these changes and I guess the group stage will be excluded next season.

 

[TrueBlue]

Southend United....... SELLOUTS

we have just voted to become part of the problem with modern football

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

More money in my pocket. Southend vs West Ham u21s? No thanks.

 

[Beefy]

It's kinda sad that any attempt to change anything in our sport is met with such outrage and disgust. People are going to boycot the Trophy? People have been boycotting it for years - that's the whole point! It is a years trial for goodness sake

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

It's kinda sad that any attempt to change anything in our sport is met with such outrage and disgust. People are going to boycot the Trophy? People have been boycotting it for years - that's the whole point! It is a years trial for goodness sake

I do have a hope that if we make the knock out stages; AND we have a "gash" Saturday (FA Cup round 2 sadly etc) then if we are playing similar situation league club, or a NO game U21 outfit, then the FL Trophy game could be moved to a 3pm Saturday kick off.
Unlikely but it is a hope: and surely fans would rather get along to The Hall than go shopping?
Especially if the prices are kept low.l
But those who stay away will be watching prem stuff on sky maybe?

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

It's kinda sad that any attempt to change anything in our sport is met with such outrage and disgust. People are going to boycot the Trophy? People have been boycotting it for years - that's the whole point! It is a years trial for goodness sake

Each to their own. I agree the trophy needs a change, but this isn't the answer.

 

[south247]

In other news English League 1 teams are being invited into the 1st round stages of the Champions League. The decision comes following a consultation and recognition of the need to revamp the Champions League as it is at a risk of withering on the vine.

 

[united we stand]

It will be interesting to see if the U21's are 100% 'English Players' as the whole point of this from the Premiership perspective is to help the England team :winking:

interesting link herehttp://www.expressandstar.com/sport/walsall-fc/2016/06/14/walsall-vote-in-favour-to-efl-trophy-
changes/- points I found most interesting highlighted

• In its current format, the competition’s appeal is declining significantly in terms of interest from football fans, clubs and broadcast partners.On average, attendances have been dropping year-on-year for the last three years. Broadcast partners who are entitled to cover six games per season have only opted to showcase three fixtures in each of the last two seasons.
• The club viewed the change of format as an opportunity to trial a different format without committing to anything other than a one-year pilot.
• The club reserves the right to vote against U21 teams’ further involvement should clubs competing in EFL deem the new format not viable moving forward.
• The club raised concerns at the meeting about the impact it would have in terms of negative perception by supporters and police costs incurred should clubs draw local rivals.
The projected attendance would generate gate receipts lower than the costs associated with the fixture.
• The club also asked our divisional representative to ensure that EFL clubs were not bound to field their strongest team – as per current rules - and could field a side at the complete discretion of our first-team manager.
• Premier League category 1 sides that enter the competition are allowed to field three outfield players and a goalkeeper over the age of 21 in the same way they can for their league fixtures.
This presents an opportunity for supporters to see first team players of Premier League sides feature in the matches.

• Though the club believe this is not the long-term solution, it was the only option put forward and felt it should be explored strictly as part of a single-season pilot scheme.
• In addition to the above, Solidarity payments which EFL teams receive are intrinsically linked to broadcast rights from the Premier League.
This format change was a way of strengthening relationships with the Premier League and ensures the EFL have a strong bargaining position in future discussions with our Premier League peers.

from the Guardian
The Premier League is also understood to have provided £1m to create a total prize fund of £1.95m, with bonuses awarded for each win. The 16 elite academy sides will be evenly distributed throughout the groups with the 48 clubs from Leagues One and Two, with the whole competition running on a north/south basis until the final.

The below from Wimbeledon, who voted against is a decent read
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/spor...ws/six-reasons-adding-premier-league-11464181

 

[OldBlueLady]

It will be interesting to see if the U21's are 100% 'English Players' as the whole point of this from the Premiership perspective is to help the England team :winking:

That's certainly something we said in our email responses to Kavanagh the other day.

 

[southchurch]

They won't use the main stadiums for these games!

Nice one Ricey. You are wrong. They are using the main grounds. Apology accepted.

 

[londonblue]

The below from Wimbeledon, who voted against is a decent read
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/spor...ws/six-reasons-adding-premier-league-11464181


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That is indeed an interesting read.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Two quotes from the article mentioned by United We Stand (http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport...eague-11464181)

"First-team experience is crucial and it would be better to see players move up the pyramid, rather than be in the bubble of a Premier League academy."

"It encourages clubs to further stockpile young talent."

I have argued these 2 points on here for years ........... and argued for the loan system to be overhauled and substantially reduced - that is:- to return to how the game was before all these changes were introduced.
[h=2][/h]

 

[Ricey]

Nice one Ricey. You are wrong. They are using the main grounds. Apology accepted.

I will apologise when Southend play away at the Olympic Stadium.

 

[londonblue]

I will apologise when Southend play away at the HMRC Stadium.

Edited for accuracy

 

[Greebosan]

What annoys me most about these proposals is the patronising and cavalier attitude displayed by those in power. If there is a problem with the national team, then address it by mucking about with the premier league, not by picking on the ‘little’ clubs further down the chain, diluting and diminishing what we play for and turn up to watch week in, week out. It doesn’t matter what your feelings towards the JPT actually are, it’s the principle of the proposed changes that’s important. I don’t care if the prem ‘B’ teams may or may not be any good, that’s hardly the point – I fail to see why our level of football should be considered fair game for any random format tinkering that someone stuck in an office somewhere thinks may improve the national side’s chance in a lottery every four years. I support England when we play, and like to see the country do well, but it’s Southend I go to watch home and away, rain or snow.

Club or country for me? Not even close.

Wish the FA would just show some balls, and if the national side needs improving, then take steps at the appropriate level – start mucking about with the big money prem if you dare, and leave us alone.

Allowing this is the thin end of the wedge, and the years trial is clearly simply a palliative to ease our concerns before formal adoption no matter how well it’s deemed to have gone. Very disappointed that the club have supported this proposal.

I'm sure all this has been covered before, but I'm late to this party, and as this is one of the few things in my entire life that actually genuinely ****es me off, I'm venting about it anyway. As you were.