pj
Youth team star
Posts: 1,616
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Post by pj on Oct 7, 2019 12:07:08 GMT
Tuesday night sees us begin our EFL Trophy (now known as the Leasing.com Trophy) campaign at home to Northampton Town. Previously, United fans have stayed away from this competition in their droves. But is there really any point in boycotting?
1) United have to play in this completion, the club has no choice 2) Not turning up costs the club money 3) It is disheartening for the players to play in front of such low crowds, so shouldn't supporters turn up and give them our support? 4) The EFL are seemingly not going to change their minds despite the extremely low attendances
Obviously, people can go or not go to any matches as they choose. But is boycotting going to achieve anything? It hasn't seemed to make any difference so far.
Personally, I am totally against the inclusion of B Teams. But is staying away really going to make any difference?
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themightycambridge
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,565
Favourite CUFC player: Brad Halliday
Favourite CUFC match: Cambridge 0-0 Manchester United
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Post by themightycambridge on Oct 7, 2019 12:08:33 GMT
Yes. Obviously.
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Post by ChrisVessey on Oct 7, 2019 12:15:00 GMT
Yes, yes, yes. Boycott.
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Post by roberts76 on Oct 7, 2019 12:29:57 GMT
No, B-teams aren't going to be added to the League structure any time soon. I expect the competition to revert to it's usual format (which was pretty much a dead duck anyway) or be done away with in favour of some hybrid U23-led competition some time soon.
There's no real support for this competition in any format from fans so I can see it becoming something to test new innovations within the game and to bed in U23s and players returning from injury, much like the old reserve team competitions we used to play in.
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Post by Jerry1971 on Oct 7, 2019 13:31:48 GMT
What was that U23 competition we played in a couple of weeks ago and lost against Exeter? Didn't we then play Southend in some similarly unheralded afternoon game last week and beat them? There seems to be more of these games than I can remember for a while, and it is probably a good thing too for those in squads not getting regular first team match time, and the reality of the EFL Trophy is that I'd guess a lot of clubs see it in the same way too, a chance to blood younger players, bring others back from injuries etc. In fact, the only real change I'd make to it just now is to cease the pretence of it being of any importance to supporters and play it as a midweek afternoon competition letting those available or interested enough to go to it in for a couple of quid.
Am I going to Boro? Nope. Will I bother with tomorrow or Arsenal? Also nope.
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rozza1
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,230
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Post by rozza1 on Oct 7, 2019 13:52:27 GMT
If we give up boycotting now then we are saying to the EFL that they can bully us around because we will always give in eventually.
I like the uniqueness of the group format, but not under any circumstances should U23 teams be playing in it. And until they are expelled from the competition I will not attend a single game, no matter if it is against Pish or at Wembley in the final.
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Post by HelterSkelter on Oct 7, 2019 13:52:51 GMT
Of course it should be boycotted - it remains the most dangerous competition in English football. The FA are just dying to get those B teams into the league structure, so anything that indicates the fans are willing to accept them into a competition is simply ammunition for them.
The biggest issue remains is that people refuse to boycott the final. So we get all the pictures of Wembley and as far as the suits are concerned, the competition is a success. Although quite if two U23 teams made it to the final we would see the same turn out I don't know. If people followed through - so being all vocally anti-competition all season and then refuse to go to the final, then 5k at Wembley should be the final nail in the coffin.
I will not go to a group game, I would not go to a semi-final and I certainly would not go to a final. This competition needs killing, those attendees keep it alive.
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Post by haptogob on Oct 7, 2019 14:14:47 GMT
if we support it, then it's only a matter of time before premier league B teams are playing in our league then the likes of Bury, Bolton, Macclesfield and ourselves find we have nowhere to play against teams of similar ability to ourselves, i.e we will have sold out the the PL as far as I'm concerned they can naff orf!
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Post by jamiecufc on Oct 7, 2019 15:46:02 GMT
No, B-teams aren't going to be added to the League structure any time soon. Are you sure? They say it won't happen, but 5 years ago B teams in any competition were unthinkable. But they waved their money at us and got their teams in. If the PL offered teams enough money to enter their B teams into the league, I genuinely fear clubs would agree to it. That's one of the reasons why I feel the need to boycott.
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Post by Andrewlang on Oct 7, 2019 15:47:48 GMT
"Personally, I am totally against the inclusion of B Teams. But is staying away really going to make any difference?"
Maybe, maybe not, but going might make a difference. If our support of this competition in any small way risks giving tacit approval for the overhaul of our league structure some premier League clubs still covet then it's a very easy choice for me to boycott. It's easy for some to dismiss it and say it will never happen but for me the most logical choice is to be b-team 'agnostic' and make it clear we are opposed by maintaining our boycott.
To each their own of course. A few will go because it's how they best interpret support for their football club and I respect that even if I completely disagree with the disregard of the potential bigger picture.
Andrew
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Post by ilovechadders on Oct 7, 2019 15:56:29 GMT
Tuesday night sees us begin our EFL Trophy (now known as the Leasing.com Trophy) campaign at home to Northampton Town. Previously, United fans have stayed away from this competition in their droves. But is there really any point in boycotting? 1) United have to play in this completion, the club has no choice 2) Not turning up costs the club money 3) It is disheartening for the players to play in front of such low crowds, so shouldn't supporters turn up and give them our support? 4) The EFL are seemingly not going to change their minds despite the extremely low attendances Obviously, people can go or not go to any matches as they choose. But is boycotting going to achieve anything? It hasn't seemed to make any difference so far. Personally, I am totally against the inclusion of B Teams. But is staying away really going to make any difference? Are you going then?
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renard
Youth team substitute
Posts: 430
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Post by renard on Oct 7, 2019 17:15:37 GMT
There seemed to be a lot of people boycotting the game on Saturday in readiness for tomorrow night's boycott. Good on them.
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lionel
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,223
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Post by lionel on Oct 7, 2019 21:54:36 GMT
The competition must be boycotted. It's completely disrespectful to lower league clubs and planting a seed that an U23 premier league team could hold a place in the league structure.
I understand the arguement about giving more playing time to young players rotting in premier league reserve teams. However, this probably says more about the premier league not enabling young players to come through.
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Post by Andrewlang on Oct 8, 2019 9:56:54 GMT
I understand the arguement about giving more playing time to young players rotting in premier league reserve teams. However, this probably says more about the premier league not enabling young players to come through.
Definitely is a point to be made there, but I don't think inviting under 23 teams to participate in the FL Cup really addresses that. It's insulting to us and seems like quite a lazy attempt at solving a problem that should be addressed by the clubs offering opportunities (as Chelsea are showing this year) and through the FA having tougher measures on the 'stock piling' of young players (Chelsea again) and perhaps even limitations on the number of non-British players you can have in the side.
I think these are all valid conversations to have before BTeams in FL tournaments
Andrew
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Post by kentishu on Oct 8, 2019 10:18:50 GMT
Why don't the premiership/championship teams just set up a proper competitive B team league with no restrictions on who can play? That would seem the obvious way to solve the issue.
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