Premier League academy teams to be added to EFL Trophy

This is an appalling idea cynically announced on eve of the Euros.
I hope it gets boycotted and the final is Watford reserves v Stoke reserves and nobody turns up.
It feels like the thin end of a wedge in which the EFL demonstrate yet more incompetence and pandering to Mammon and the PL
Summary: I do not like this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36503204

From the little I've seen on TV of academy football, these teams could be in for a bit of a reality check when facing lower league teams. It's all pass, pass, pass with physical contact just about outlawed.

sounds like Italian football

comrade powell wrote:From the little I've seen on TV of academy football, these teams could be in for a bit of a reality check when facing lower league teams. It's all pass, pass, pass with physical contact just about outlawed.

Don't forget that Swansea U-21s regularly beat us in friendlies.

A ridiculous decision that will demean that competition, and by extension English football in general.

It must be a real inconvenience to the mandarins running the English Football League to not have the big glamour teams in their ranks. Sure why not have some version of Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea etc in every one of the 4 senior leagues in England ? Put their Reserves in the Championship, the U19s in League 1 and the women's teams in League 2. Bingo.

Fair play to the 5 teams who came out to say they voted against it. Interesting to note the League's 2 fan-owned clubs were amongst them - no doubt more interested in what's right for football and their clubs long-term rather than more traditional Chairmen looking for a few quid extra in potential prize money, and gate money when playing the Man City kids team.

Down with this sort of thing.

BenE wrote:sounds like Italian football

The source of the most impressive display so far in the Euros!