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NEED A RANT AT EFL TROPHY
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zpmswn



Joined: 02 Jun 2015
Posts: 62

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:02 pm 
Post subject: NEED A RANT AT EFL TROPHY
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Just for fun guys, I needed to vent my frustration in a productive way at the shoddy organisers of our beloved sport and EFL trophy.

Bored at work for an hour and may have quashed a little OCD tendencies Very Happy But surely these numpties could have made the EFL Trophy something to remember and help clubs!

Anyway, here's my proposal for what could have been. Have a read and comment if you have some spare time.

It's turned into a dossier!



THE ANGLO BRITISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE TROPHY


1.0 OBJECTIVES OF TOURNAMENT:

1.1 Emphasis based on developing British talent.
1.2 Increase the sports popularity across the UK.
1.3 Generate competition interest through UK country regional rivalry.
1.4 Increase attendances for lower level clubs.
1.5 Increase revenue for lower level clubs.
1.6 Increase exposure for lower level clubs.
1.7 Increase sponsorship and media avenues for the competition across the whole of the UK.
1.8 Increase the competitions value and identity to benefit developing and lower league clubs.


2.0 ENTRY:

2.1 PARTICIPTING TEAMS
- Entering teams must be from UK leagues Only. There are 9 participating leagues over the 4 UK countries.
- Teams entering the trophy are determined to be of a competitive level with each other and consist of the following pyramid levels within each regions' structure:
- English level 2 and 3.
- Northern Irish level 1 and 2.
- Scottish level 2, 3 and 4.
- Welsh level 1 and 2.

2.2 PARTICIPATING LEAGUES AND ENTRANT NUMBERS
- The following clubs playing and placed within the leagues and qualifying positions stated below are eligible to compete in the trophy:
- x24 English League 1
- x24 English League 2
- x12 Northern Irish Football League Premier
- x12 Northern Irish Football League Championship
- x10 Scottish Championship
- x10 Scottish League 1
- x10 Scottish League 2
- x12 Welsh Premier League
- x7 Cymru Alliance (Top 7 of league from previous season)
- x7 Welsh Football League Division 1 (Top 7 of league from previous season)

2.3 RULES FOR ENTRANT CLUBS
- Clubs are only permitted to field 5 non UK players from the playing staff at any time during a game. Failure to do so at any stage will result in disqualification from the tournament.
- Clubs are only permitted to name a maximum of 7 non UK players within a matchday squad including substitutes. Failure to do so at any stage will result in disqualification from the tournament.
- Entrants must not field 'B' teams, Under age teams or development squads.
- Entrants will be classed as full 1st teams but selection of the team personnel is at the discretion of the current manager ONLY.
- All players must have a squad number within the clubs 1st team.
- Players used must have a playing contract with the club.No trialists may participate.

2.4 FAIR PLAY
- Should a league's pyramid or level be altered or restructured by it's nation, or develop to a standard that is of a much higher competitive level, putting teams at a very difficult standard advantage then there would be a process to determine the which level and league would be suitable.


3.0 FORMAT:

3.1 - PARTICIPTING NUMBERS
- 128 participating clubs based on relative league stature and league position from the 4 UK league pyramid structures.

3.2 - STAGE 1 GROUP STAGE
- 34 Groups of 4 teams (128 in total).
- Each team to play a home and away tie against each team within the group resulting in 6 games in total (3 home and 3 away).
- Each group to consist of 1 team from each region of the UK until all teams of that region are placed. Only Scottish and English teams can be placed in the same group due to participating numbers.
- When 2 teams from the same region are placed into a group together they must not play in the same domestic league level. e.g. if an English League 1 side is placed, then the 2nd English representative in that same group must come from English League 2.
- Group winners and runners up advance through to next stage.
- Group winners to have home advantage in the next stage.

3.3 - STAGE 2 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 64
- Each group winner and runner up from Stage 1 advancing through to this stage.
- 32 matches to be played over a 2 legged basis of home and away.
- No away goal rule.
- Teams level on goals after both ties will progress via extra time and then a penalty shoot out to determine a winner.
- Group winners from the previous stage will be seeded with a home advantage in the 2nd leg and cannot be drawn against each other
- Group runners up from the previous stage will be drawn at random to each seeded group winner tie.
- No regional separation from this stage on and teams from the same region and domestic level can be drawn to face one and other.
- Winners of the two legged ties progress to Stage 3.

3.4 - STAGE 3 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 32
- Each winner of the two legged ties from the previous stage are drawn at random to face one and other.
- No seeding system from previous stage.
- No regional separation.
- 16 matches to be played over a 2 legged basis of home and away.
- No away goal rule.
- Winners of the two legged ties progress to Stage 4.

3.5 - STAGE 4 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 16
- Each winner of the two legged ties from the previous stage are drawn at random to face one and other.
- No seeding system from previous stage.
- No regional separation.
- 8 matches to be played over a 2 legged basis of home and away.
- No away goal rule.
- Winners of the two legged ties progress to Stage 5.

3.6 - STAGE 5 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 8 - QUARTER FINALS
- Each winner of the two legged ties from the previous stage are drawn at random to face one and other.
- No seeding system from previous stage.
- No regional separation.
- 4 matches to be played over a 2 legged basis of home and away.
- No away goal rule.
- Winners of the two legged ties progress to Stage 6.

3.7 - STAGE 6 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 4 - SEMI FINALS
- Each winner of the two legged ties from the previous stage are drawn at random to face one and other.
- No seeding system from previous stage.
- No regional separation.
- 2 matches to be played over a 2 legged basis of home and away.
- No away goal rule.
- Winners of the two legged ties progress to Stage 7.

3.8 - STAGE 7 KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 2 - FINAL
- Each winner of the two legged ties from the previous stage to face one and other.
- Tie to be played at a neutral venue in a one off winner lifts the trophy match.
- Tie to be played in usual style of a cup final via extra time and penalties should the scores be level at full time.

3.9 - VENUE OF FINAL
- 4 participating regions to nominate a venue, likely to be home grounds of:
Millennium Stadium WALES
Wembley Stadium ENGLAND
Hampden Park SCOTLAND
Windsor Park Northern Ireland
- Each country will host a final in turn until it has gone around each region, where the order will start again.
- On conception of 1st year of the tournament a draw will take place to determine the order of hosting the final.


4.0 THE DRAW:

4.1 STAGE 1 OF 32 GROUPS
- The draw will consist of 5 pots from the 4 UK regions.
- Pot order.
e.g.
Pot 1 SCOTLAND x30 teams
Pot 2 WALES X26 teams
Pot 3 N IRELAND X24 teams
Pot 4 ENGLAND L1 X24 teams
Pot 5 ENGLAND L2 X24 teams
- 1st draw: The draw will start with Pot 1 and the 30 clubs will be drawn into each group numerically starting from Group 1 - Group 30.
- 2nd draw: The 2nd draw will be drawn from Pot 2 and the 26 teams will be drawn into each group numerically starting from Group 31 - Group 24. (Once the last group 32 is reached we loop back around from group 1).
- 3rd draw: The 3rd draw will be drawn from Pot 3 and the 24 teams will be drawn into each group numerically starting from Group 25 - Group 16. (Once again when group 32 is reached reverting back in a loop to group 1).
- 4th draw: The 4th draw will be drawn from Pot 4 and the 24 teams will be drawn into each group numerically starting from Group 17 - Group 8. (Once again when group 32 is reached reverting back in a loop to group 1).
- 5th draw: The 5th draw will be drawn from Pot 5 and the 24 teams will be drawn into each group numerically starting from Group 9 - Group 32. Thus filling all the groups with four teams.
- Each group will firstly consist of a team from each country in the UK, then when that is not possible due to entrant numbers, the 2 pots of English league teams will fill the remaining places in a format that ensures that English teams from the same domestic leagues cannot be drawn in the same group.

4.2 STAGE 2 OF 16 WINNERS AND 16 RUNNERS UP
- Each group winner will become seeded in this next round and cannot be drawn against another group winner at this stage.
- Each group winner will have earned the right of being seeded and thus having a home advantage in the 2nd leg ties.
- The winner of each group will carry the number of its group from the previous stage.
- Runners up will be drawn at random and drawn against the group winners in order of their group number 1-32 until all ties have been drawn.
- Clubs from the same leagues and countries will not be kept apart from this stage.

4.3 STAGE 3,4,5,6 AND 7.
- Draws for Stage 3,4,5 and 6 will be made at random with no seeding or home advantages.
- Stage 7 will not be drawn and will be determined by the winning teams of both matches in Stage 6.
- Clubs from the same leagues and countries will not be kept apart from Stage 2.


5.0 GOONS AT THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND FOOTBALL LEAGUE TAKE NOTE (COPYRIGHT:)):

5.1 IF THE POWERS THAT RUN FOOTBALL HAD HALF A BRAIN THIS COULD BE GREAT FOR SLOWER CLUBS AND THE UK.

5.2 THE UK CLUBS I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD JUMP AT IT!

5.3 TV AND SPONSORSHIP WOULD JUMP AT IT!

5.4 PLAYERS WOULD RELISH IT!

5.5 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... FANS WOULD LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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seand



Joined: 07 Jan 2009
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 3:12 pm 
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Whatever about the rest of your plan of it I fear you're vastly overestimating the ability of the lower leagues in NI, Wales and Scotland. The Wales and NI top level would barely be on a par with the Conference (or whatever the fifith level in England is called these days), never mind the second levels!
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zpmswn



Joined: 02 Jun 2015
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 3:24 pm 
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I agree to the levels seand.

But wouldn't this be great for all the clubs and fans invovled?

The good clubs would eventually rise to the top in the knockout rounds and potentially have more games.
Younger British players at all clubs would have a chance to be seen and scouted.
Younger kids at English clubs may get the chance in the groups to pit against full adult teams, bulking them up.
The clubs would benefit all around with sponsor money.
The English clubs would earn more cash revenue in games and tv rights.
The rest of the UK levels would also be slowly dragged up a notch.
And if any of the weaker teams made it through to knockout, how good of a day out would that be for them.
I'd imagine half of them would have to switch home ground if they ever drew someone like Coventry or Sheffield UTD.
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pompeypete
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 3:51 pm 
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Tickets went on sale yesterday for the Pompey v Reading U23,s

or whatever they are called........

37 tickets sold.........That tell ya a story !!

Expecting the lowest ever gate at Fratton Park.......
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pompeypete
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 3:55 pm 
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Great post "zpmswn", but I think you need a proper job !!!!!

But to comment on your post how about leaving the competition

as it was before the Premiership poked their noses in.......

Sherlock Sherlock
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DySporting



Joined: 20 May 2015
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:05 pm 
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The new format competition is more financially viable than the old for the clubs, the 10k for a win makes it attractive to some of the lower league clubs. The old format early rounds had clubs losing money.

I’m not saying this new format is good far from it. I don’t like the U23’s being involved at all.

Personally I’d scrap the whole thing and go with a revamped League Cup format like Scotland have done.

Split the league clubs into groups of 4 and then add the non European clubs in the first knockout - then rest in 2nd knockout
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zpmswn



Joined: 02 Jun 2015
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:12 pm 
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I fully support the boycott, well done you Pompey fans. Thumbs Up

Am disgusted that my premier league team backed it Confused

You're right 'pompeypete', it wasn't broken to begin with, just needed tweaking to get the crowds watching and money filtering to the smaller clubs.

It was reported that over 400 were at the last Wimbledon game but people who went tell me it was more like 150!

Very Happy slow day today, but i'll take that as i don't get many!
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Benno Spire



Joined: 29 Mar 2015
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:40 pm 
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This format would mean a lot of extra games and with modern players getting tired easily it wouldn't get voted in, however if there were one off games it could work and add in the potential biggest incentive.
The winners go into the Europa league. This would be the only way my team Chesterfield would ever compete in Europe.

The old Anglo Scottish cup worked well
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GreatBarrWolf



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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:19 pm 
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I read yesterday that the Premier League 2 Cup (yes - the reserve division for Under 23's) has changed its format. Last season is was a straight knock-out, this term it is starts with group stages. Taking a quick look at the blurb for the competition it described it as 'the new competition is a UEFA Champions League style' WHAT THE F*@K.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/58756
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Last edited by GreatBarrWolf on Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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pompeypete
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:40 pm 
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GreatBarrWolf wrote:
I read yesterday that the Premier League 2 (yes - the reserve division for Under 23's) has changed its format. Last season is was a straight knock-out, this term it is starts with group stages. Taking a quick look at the blurb for the competition it described it as 'the new competition is a UEFA Champions League style' WHAT THE F*@K.

https://www.premierleague.com/news/58756


And how will this help the english team.........

The poor lads will be worn out playing this and the checkatrade cup.....
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DySporting



Joined: 20 May 2015
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:48 pm 
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The thing that has changed is the Premier League Cup not the League.

The league is following the same format.
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derby1884
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:32 pm 
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pompeypete wrote:


The poor lads will be worn out playing this and the checkatrade cup.....


I can't keep up with modern life - just what IS Checkatrade?

Is it a glorified pawnbrokers like Cash Converters?
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Sir Moses Hill



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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:27 am 
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Worth noting that the Scottish Challenge Cup this season includes Welsh and Northern Irish representatives. The draw for the fourth round, when these interlopers enter, has just taken place:

Ayr United v Falkirk

Bala Town v Alloa Athletic

Crusaders v Livingston

Dunfermline Athletic v Queen's Park

Forfar Athletic v The New Saints

Hibernian v St Mirren

Queen of the South v Linfield

Stranraer v Dundee United
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pompeypete
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:18 am 
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derby1884 wrote:
pompeypete wrote:


The poor lads will be worn out playing this and the checkatrade cup.....


I can't keep up with modern life - just what IS Checkatrade?

Is it a glorified pawnbrokers like Cash Converters?


Steve

Its the EFL trophy sponsored by checkatrade or Johnstones Paint trophy
in old money.........
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zpmswn



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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:59 am 
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That is very interesting 'Sir Moses Hill'. I did not know that.

Had a little look over and there are indeed 2 sides from NI and Wales. Brilliant to at least try something like this, it's just a shame the the SPL had to enter U20 teams - devalues the competition, though they have all gone out at the 3rd round stage Laughing

I will definitely be hoping to watch some of these on ALBA or S4C!
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derby1884
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 11:04 pm 
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Disappointed in myself.

Idly thumbing thru EBay found the Port Vale v Derby one on there at a reasonable price.

"It doesn't count" said principled left half of brain.

"It's a Derby away" said pragmatic right side of brain, "and a limited issue, too"

Bugger. When it arrives, I won't open it up. That'll teach me.
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littlewiggy



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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:45 pm 
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derby1884 wrote:
Disappointed in myself.

Idly thumbing thru EBay found the Port Vale v Derby one on there at a reasonable price.

"It doesn't count" said principled left half of brain.

"It's a Derby away" said pragmatic right side of brain, "and a limited issue, too"

Bugger. When it arrives, I won't open it up. That'll teach me.



I guess I too am a bit of a hypocrite, as I've bought the ticket from our Trophy game at Plymouth on eBay for my ticket collection.

No worries, I shall scowl disapprovingly at it whilst placing it inside my ticket album.

Thereafter I will always refer to it as the runt of my 2016/17 litter.

Nod
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derby1884
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:39 pm 
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littlewiggy wrote:


Thereafter I will always refer to it as the runt of my 2016/17 litter.

Nod


Good thinking!

Funny old world, isn't it - the word "runt" I haven't encountered in years....then, today, I use it in conversation and, 3 hours later, read it in your post.

Is that serendipity?
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derby1884
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:44 pm 
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I see our young 'uns are playing the home game against Mansfield at the training ground at Moor Farm.

Are other PL/Championship clubs treating their opponents with similar disrespect when it comes to their home tie?
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smk06



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PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:34 am 
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derby1884 wrote:
littlewiggy wrote:


Thereafter I will always refer to it as the runt of my 2016/17 litter.

Nod


Good thinking!

Funny old world, isn't it - the word "runt" I haven't encountered in years....then, today, I use it in conversation and, 3 hours later, read it in your post.

Is that serendipity?


That's the frequency illusion / Baader Meinhof phenomenon...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases#Frequency_illusion
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