EFL Do we miss the “tinpot trophy”?

[MarkG]

If it reverted to no EPL U-21 teams, then fans would be a lot more supportive, even though it's not a major trophy.
For many clubs in L1 and L2, outside of the play-offs it's a chance to play at Wembley, and nobody really cares if you win or lose. There are a few teams for instance Wigan who have won the FA Cup in 2013, but almost everyone else play-offs are the only route. Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

We've been privileged to win two play-offs, lose one that we couldn't attend, lose two Trophy finals that we don't really care, and win one league cup.

 

[Osei Yaw]

I liked it in the 2015/16 season as it was an opportunity to see some of the fringe players in what was a very good squad. We were so good that season that it was always enjoyable to go and watch us play.

I also liked that there was a trophy that would see a League 1/League 2 team go to Wembley, but I haven't been to a single match since the under 21s have been invited in as that removed the charm of what the competition was supposed to be.

 

[Eric Blair]

If it reverted to no EPL U-21 teams, then fans would be a lot more supportive, even though it's not a major trophy.
For many clubs in L1 and L2, outside of the play-offs it's a chance to play at Wembley, and nobody really cares if you win or lose. There are a few teams for instance Wigan who have won the FA Cup in 2013, but almost everyone else play-offs are the only route. Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

We've been privileged to win two play-offs, lose one that we couldn't attend, lose two Trophy finals that we don't really care, and win one league cup.

The EPL U-21 thing is an issue for me. I know I am being sensitive but it feels like Premier League arrogance - "oh you small clubs can play our U21s if you like". Jog on.

 

[Marked Ox]

If it reverted to no EPL U-21 teams, then fans would be a lot more supportive, even though it's not a major trophy.
For many clubs in L1 and L2, outside of the play-offs it's a chance to play at Wembley, and nobody really cares if you win or lose. There are a few teams for instance Wigan who have won the FA Cup in 2013, but almost everyone else play-offs are the only route. Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

We've been privileged to win two play-offs, lose one that we couldn't attend, lose two Trophy finals that we don't really care, and win one league cup.

Stevenage and Barrow have but I can't recall if it falls out of the 20 years.

 

[unification]

If it reverted to no EPL U-21 teams, then fans would be a lot more supportive, even though it's not a major trophy.
For many clubs in L1 and L2, outside of the play-offs it's a chance to play at Wembley, and nobody really cares if you win or lose. There are a few teams for instance Wigan who have won the FA Cup in 2013, but almost everyone else play-offs are the only route. Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

We've been privileged to win two play-offs, lose one that we couldn't attend, lose two Trophy finals that we don't really care, and win one league cup.

Not current L1 or L2 (but who knows for next season ...) but Swansea lifted the EFL Trophy in 2006 and then the EFL Cup as a PL side in 2013 - seven seasons between the two. For the reverse for winning a major trophy and the Paint Pot, Portsmouth also won the EFL Trophy in 2019 which came 11 years after their FA Cup in 2008.

Some post-2000 winners have been finalists in other major cup finals in recent years (Sunderland, Bolton, Southampton) and others have their EFL Trophy/EFL Cup and FA Cup wins going back a lot further (eg, Blackpool FA Cup winners in 1953 and EFL Trophy winners in 2002).

 

[Eric Blair]

I still remember the glory days of the Zenith Data Systems Cup. Now there was a first class competition and silverware that was coveted from all ends of the country.

 

[Matt W]

I clicked purely for the lack of challenging games for fringe players now we are in the Championship. It is also good to have a cup competition for League 1 and 2 clubs to be able to play the final a wembley. Premier league meddling did take the gloss off of it though

 

[Belgium Yellow]

Can't believe this has had so many replies.
Oops.

 

[battman]

I do think we are missing something to give some of the fringe players a run out - like a trophy game or two could be exactly what Tyler needs right now, and could help confidence players like MHarris find their touch again.

That said, with our lack of midfield depth, current injuries in defence, and intensity of the Championship tiring the regular starters; on balance it’s something we’re better off not being in

 

[Village-Yellow]

Do I fcuk.

 

[Stranger]

If it reverted to no EPL U-21 teams, then fans would be a lot more supportive, even though it's not a major trophy.
For many clubs in L1 and L2, outside of the play-offs it's a chance to play at Wembley, and nobody really cares if you win or lose. There are a few teams for instance Wigan who have won the FA Cup in 2013, but almost everyone else play-offs are the only route. Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

We've been privileged to win two play-offs, lose one that we couldn't attend, lose two Trophy finals that we don't really care, and win one league cup.

You might not really care, but I can assure you that the players and coaching staff were absolutely gutted to lose the two finals (especially the Coventry one where we were favourites). At least after losing the Barnsley final we still had the aim of promotion. The players took the competition very seriously, that's for sure.

 

[Essexyellows]

#bteamboycott **


**Wembley is exempt.

We all have a price and seeing us play at Wembley is mine.

 

[tonyw]

Has any current L1 or L2 team played an FA Trophy final or other cup final in the last 20 years. Excluding Blackpool as their FA Cup win was in 1953.

Yep - Stevenage played in the FA Trophy final in 07, 09 & 10. Barrow beat them in 10. Mansfield lost the final in 11, and Newport County did as well in 12 as did Grimsby in 13 and 16. Cambridge won it in 14. Bromley lost the final in 18, but won it in 22. Orient lost the final in 19, but Harrogate won it in 20.

So that's nine lower league teams by my reckoning that have played an FA Trophy final at Wembley in the past two decades.

(plus Wrexham, though no longer lower league, played in three finals themselves).

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

Yes . Chance of Wembley, more money. Chance to run out more players

 

[Wallop]

JPT was good but Papa whatsit - no. Premier B teams by stealth which has to be resisted.

 

[unification]

#bteamboycott **


**Wembley is exempt.

We all have a price and seeing us play at Wembley is mine.

It helped that we played Coventry.

If it has been Chelsea U21s, I wouldn’t have been there for it.

 

[Emilio]

Went to Wembley for the Barnsley one, but was in Hong Kong for the Coventry one. Went all over the city trying to find a bar that would show it, and after some serious begging I got one to agree to it. Given the time difference, however, they were desperate to shut up and go home, so I had to leave half-way through the 2nd half. Thankfully, by this time the game was practically over anyway, so no great disaster.

 

[Common Villager]

"We're gunna win all three..."

I liked the JPT. It provided a good opportunity to see some fringe players and also set up a couple of fixtures vs Swindon which were no less spicy than the league matches.

I was really pissed off when the B Teams were introduced and boycotted until the final (like most). Really thought we were going to win the final against Coventry and couldn't miss the opportunity to see us lift a trophy at Wembley.

 

[Emilio]

Was that the first season the B Teams got introduced? Our 2nd final?

 

[Common Villager]

Was that the first season the B Teams got introduced? Our 2nd final?

Yes, iirc.

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

I don't get the under 21s dislike as most get beaten. Also chance for younger supporters to see stars of tomorrow

 

[SteMerritt]

I don't get the under 21s dislike as most get beaten. Also chance for younger supporters to see stars of tomorrow

I really think you should change your forum name.

 

[Emilio]

I don't get the under 21s dislike as most get beaten. Also chance for younger supporters to see stars of tomorrow

It's the first step on a slippery slope of the EFL accepting Premier League B teams as equal in value to the other clubs. Some larger Series A and La Liga clubs have their "B" teams playing in lower divisions of their respective pyramids, and I'd say the majority of us wouldn't want to see the same thing here. It would allow for big club player hoarding, and also diminish the chance of us being able to get players like Will Lankshear on loan because he would be playing regular "men's football" for Spurs B.

 

[Kamal]

I don't get the under 21s dislike as most get beaten. Also chance for younger supporters to see stars of tomorrow

Couldn't give a toss about seeing the "stars" of tomorrow. Also, seeing how the competition has been in it's current format for nearly 10 years now. How many "stars" have either played in it or been developed from it?

 

[SSO]

The old Football Combination league was great back in the day. Free entry with season ticket and a chance to see the odd one or two stars on the opposing side from time to time.

Bearing in mind this was late 70’s early 80’s even before we had 3 subs per game. It was quite a regular thing to see the number 2 keeper of a First Division London club getting the Danny La Rue chant from 20 fans at the London Road end.

But this was a great way of getting players returning from injury back into competitive matches as well as introducing young players into the men’s game.

 

[BrockBuster]

I know we all hated playing in it when we were in L1, but do you think we are missing out playing in the Vertue Trophy (or whatever it’s called)?

Perfect chance to get some of non starter and even non benchers playing come competitive matches.

Would rather we just had more regular U21 matches and streamed them through OUTV.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

How many "stars" have either played in it or been developed from it?

This peaked my curiosity so I had a look at that first season when they entered in 2016-17.

There were 16 academies entered (Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Reading, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers)

A look at the line-ups in the first round came up with the following players of note:

Everton: Antonee Robinson
Wolves: Morgan Gibbs-White
Middlesbrough: Marcus Tavernier
Leicester: Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes
Swansea: Joe Rodon
Chelsea: Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James
Norwich: James Maddison
Brighton: Ben White, Robert Sanchez

 

[SSO]

This peaked my curiosity so I had a look at that first season when they entered in 2016-17.

There were 16 academies entered (Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Derby County, Everton, Leicester City, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Reading, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers)

A look at the line-ups in the first round came up with the following players of note:

Everton: Antonee Robinson
Wolves: Morgan Gibbs-White
Middlesbrough: Marcus Tavernier
Leicester: Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes
Swansea: Joe Rodon
Chelsea: Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James
Norwich: James Maddison
Brighton: Ben White, Robert Sanchez

Not many really is it ?
But then again a lot of these teams are putting in their u17 or u18 players under the u21 banner.

Most decent players u21 are already in the first team squads and ahead of this so called development.

 

[Left Wing Cross]

Not many really is it ?

There's a couple of minor PL players and a few Championship players (like Josh Murphy) that I left out but it depends on where you'd draw the line.

 

[SSO]

There's a couple of minor PL players and a few Championship players (like Josh Murphy) that I left out but it depends on where you'd draw the line.

It is pretty worthless tournament for the PL clubs who just send out cannon fodder against seasoned pros every year.

You would expect a genuine u21 team from any of the top PL teams to be absolutely rinsing L1 and L2 teams.