Matches Pizza Trophy 22/23

[CaptainOx]

The club are that excited about the tournament this year, that they've not mentioned of the first part of the draw that was released a bit earlier.
Perhaps they've caught up with the general feeling of the fanbase towards the tournament.

We're into Group G alongside:
Leyton Orient
Sutton United
U21 Team (to be drawn Thursday)

U21 side will be any of the following: Arsenal U21, Aston Villa U21, Brighton & Hove Albion U21, Chelsea U21, Crystal Palace U21, Southampton U21, Tottenham Hotspur U21, West Ham United U21.

How exciting....

Homepage - The English Football League

The Official home of the English Football League

www.efl.com

 

[Sarge]

The club are that excited about the tournament this year, that they've no mentioned of the first part of the draw that was released a bit earlier.
Perhaps they've caught up with the general feeling of the fanbase towards the tournament.

We're into Group G alongside:
Leyton Orient
Sutton United
U21 Team (to be drawn Thursday)

U21 side will be any of the following: Arsenal U21, Aston Villa U21, Brighton & Hove Albion U21, Chelsea U21, Crystal Palace U21, Southampton U21, Tottenham Hotspur U21, West Ham United U21.

How exciting....

Homepage - The English Football League

The Official home of the English Football League

www.efl.com

about time they picked up on that

 

[Wallop]

At least we haven’t got the distraction of Swindon in our group.

 

[Oxford1996]

It’s a shame they still persist with u21 sides meaning the boycott still taking place.

Sutton would be a new ground for many.

 

[EastStandKieran]

Leyton Orient should be fun just don't let Mick brown give them any tickets in the north stand

 

[Marked Ox]

Already watched a low level Cup game at Sutton, so been there and done that.

 

[MJB]

Leyton Orient should be fun just don't let Mick brown give them any tickets in the north stand

If we can sell out the North Stand for a group-stage game in this competition - home or away fans - the marketing team really will be firing on all cylinders!

 

[Oxymoron]

Papa John's Groups Take Shape

Oxford United will face Leyton Orient and Sutton United in the group stages of the Papa John’s Trophy.

www.oufc.co.uk

 

[werthersoriginal]

Meh x 100000000000000

 

[holdsteady]

Leyton Orient in a proper cup would of been fun but no real point in the tin pot (well group stages).

 

[Essexyellows]

Can I be the first to say.................











Are ST holders counted in the attendance?

 

[Marked Ox]

Can I be the first to say.................











Are ST holders counted in the attendance?

I bloody hope not!

 

[unification]

Is Sutton United home or away? I may consider the schlep into the outer reaches of London if the latter.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Still boycotting this one

 

[Marked Ox]

Is Sutton United home or away? I may consider the schlep into the outer reaches of London if the latter.

That won't be decided yet. Iirc, it is done once the full group is known.

 

[CCYellow]

The fact that the U21 teams get their own draw, I assume to make it look like they're more important than the league teams, shows how much of a farce this competition has become.

 

[Sarge]

The fact that the U21 teams get their own draw, I assume to make it look like they're more important than the league teams, shows how much of a farce this competition has become.

exactly ... its f*****g nonsense

 

[Essexyellows]

Still boycotting this one

Me too.*





* unless we get to Wembley then my morals go AWOL.

 

[Leysboy]

Is Sutton United home or away? I may consider the schlep into the outer reaches of London if the latter.

I hope it’s away, I’ve not done Sutton yet, so I will chalk that one off.

 

[Northstandboy]

So they are making a big deal about the U21 teams zzzz

 

[CaptainOx]

So they are making a big deal about the U21 teams zzzz

As they do every year. It's always drawn like this.

 

[Scotchegg]

I know that I'm going to be in a very small minority, but I don't mind this competition. I won't cry myself to sleep if we lose, but I like the opportunity it gives to some of our younger players on those on the fringes.

I'd love to see Tyler Goodrham score a couple against Sutton then get a chance off the bench whilst his confidence is high. Equally, with it now becoming more about the strength of our squad rather than relying on the first choice 11, they're games to get fitness levels up and keep players ticking over.

However, I doubt that I'll have to queue overnight to get tickets so I'll keep my enthusiasm to myself!!

 

[beyondthefourth]

I know that I'm going to be in a very small minority, but I don't mind this competition. I won't cry myself to sleep if we lose, but I like the opportunity it gives to some of our younger players on those on the fringes.

I'd love to see Tyler Goodrham score a couple against Sutton then get a chance off the bench whilst his confidence is high. Equally, with it now becoming more about the strength of our squad rather than relying on the first choice 11, they're games to get fitness levels up and keep players ticking over.

However, I doubt that I'll have to queue overnight to get tickets so I'll keep my enthusiasm to myself!!

That hypothetical would be fantastic, and one every fan would enjoy.

If only we weren't part of a sideshow where we have to go up against Brighton and Hove U21s as part of it, then people could feel like they don't have to boycott the actually interesting fixtures.

 

[Scotchegg]

That hypothetical would be fantastic, and one every fan would enjoy.

If only we weren't part of a sideshow where we have to go up against Brighton and Hove U21s as part of it, then people could feel like they don't have to boycott the actually interesting fixtures.

I'd rather see a conference side in than a PL u21's team, but the reality is that our younger players would probably have lumps kicked out of them by some non-league clobber!

 

[beyondthefourth]

I'd rather see a conference side in than a PL u21's team, but the reality is that our younger players would probably have lumps kicked out of them by some non-league clobber!

Or just remove the PL teams and have fewer groups...

 

[Scotchegg]

Or just remove the PL teams and have fewer groups...

I wouldn't lose any sleep if they did, but (for me) it's not enough reason to miss these games.

 

[unification]

I'd rather see a conference side in than a PL u21's team, but the reality is that our younger players would probably have lumps kicked out of them by some non-league clobber!

From 2002 to 2006, 12 Conference sides were invited to take part each season. We - ahem - fell victim to one of them in 2005-05 when we lost to Exeter on penalties. I think Tom Winters may well have scored for us that day.

Whilst not FL, I too would prefer NL sides over big clubs U23s or whatever.

 

[mooro]

I don't mind this competition, even with the u21 element ( though like a few on here would prefer it to be NL teams instead.

I get the boycott, but I'm beginning to think it has reached that OCD stage now, where the beast that is feared is never coming, rendering the rituals useless and self damaging.

I get the sense that the big boys are happy with the status quo focusing on the loan system and these couple of games, and that the appetite for b-teams in the league structure just isn't there (if it ever really was).

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

I don't mind this competition, even with the u21 element ( though like a few on here would prefer it to be NL teams instead.

I get the boycott, but I'm beginning to think it has reached that OCD stage now, where the beast that is feared is never coming, rendering the rituals useless and self damaging.

I get the sense that the big boys are happy with the status quo focusing on the loan system and these couple of games, and that the appetite for b-teams in the league structure just isn't there (if it ever really was).

Boiling frog?

 

[WuTang]

My view has not changed and never will. As long as there are U21 teams in this competition it holds absolutely 0 value, they are glorified friendlies as far as I'm concerned.

I'll boycott until the U21 teams are removed, as this is simply a competition to improve the big clubs at the expense of the small clubs.

Or simply make it a full U21 competition, then it'll be a level playing field.