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Post by mehewmagic on Sept 6, 2016 20:45:52 GMT
The 1st Leg of my latest Rovers article is now available. Pasted in below.
Living On A Thin Line (1st Leg)
Now the dust has settled and we’ve seen what the changes to the EFL Trophy mean in reality, I find myself even more exasperated than before the opening round of fixtures.
Unlike some football supporters I did actually care about the Football League Trophy in its many sponsorship guises. I’ve always wanted Rovers to win it and have genuinely looked forward to doing well in it. Last Autumn I even wrote two long paeans to the Trophy and gave the five reasons behind my burning desire for Rovers to win it.
I have some good memories of the Trophy, and not just the two times we were taken on a long road of discovery to a sunny afternoon at the final, sadly ending with defeats to Tranmere Rovers in 1990 and Doncaster Rovers in 2007. The latter journey included that magic moment when Sir Rickie of Lambert almost broke the net whilst Adriano Basso prayed to his errant god and Gasheads celebrated all day and all of the night.
Other golden moments include my idol David Mehew’s goal at Twerton Park in March 1990 which effectively put us into the final at the expense of our then arch rivals Notts County, led by an uncouth apeman, and being one of less than 2,000 at a freezing Brisbane Road in January 2005 when none of us wanted the looming extra-time on a work day, only to be sent unexpectedly wild by Lewis Haldane’s last minute ‘come from behind’ winner in the Southern Semi-Final.
Yet on Tuesday night instead of getting ready to drink in my weekly gallon of gas, I really didn’t have any passion for the match at all, and therefore for my own team, Bristol Rovers F.C.. That was an intensely strange feeling and one I haven’t had for a very long time. For a few lonely hours it felt like my beloved team were only a tantalising 25 mile drive away, but were just playing a reserve match, a pre-season friendly, or even engaging in a training session of mild intensity.
All my enthusiasm had been stripped away by the rotten decision of 67% of the Football League clubs, and judging from the online highlights it had filtered through to the match itself which looked more like an episode of come dancing than a rough and tumble football bout, whilst the backdrop of a new record low attendance presented a passing resemblance to a meeting of the local village green preservation society.
There is an old episode of ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ where our pompous but loveable hero, Anthony Aloysius St. John Hancock, presumes he can become the star of the local Poetry Society. Naturally it all goes pear shaped and as he is being thrown out of his own house he reels off some terrible poems in a desperate attempt to be recognised as a genius, including the classic, “It’s a funny old world we live in, But the world’s not entirely to blame, It’s the rich what gets the pleasure, And the poor what gets the blame.”
57 years later and whilst the abysmal prose may not have improved with age, Hancock’s point still holds true. Whilst the 48 lowest Football League clubs can be fined up to £5,000 for playing anything less than a “full available strength” team, there is no such sanction for the big clubs sending in their Academy teams. In fact you’ll never know what team you’ll be playing, and with a month between each group game and a transfer window that has just closed, there is a strong likelihood the Academy teams of August could be very different from the teams we’ll see in early October. As an example Reading’s Tarique Fosu had hardly taken his boots off at the Mem before he was being sent out on loan to Colchester United.
Thankfully only three Academy teams won their first encounters, but one stood out as an extreme example of opponents being a lucky dip. Norwich City U23’s 6-1 on the road demolition of Peterborough United saw a hat-trick from 28 year old Tony Andreu, who was signed for £1m, a brace from rising starlet Josh Murphy, who has nine Premier League and 63 Championship appearances to his name, and the single goal from James Maddison, reputedly signed for £6m. Andreu, Maddison and Harry Toffolo have since gone out on loan so next opponents Barnet will rather unjustly be facing a very different flock of Canaries in October. Those four players have over 160 Football League appearances under their belt, and Andreu has almost 200 more in the high end of the Swiss and Scottish leagues (if that last sentence isn‘t an instant oxymoron).
The 2nd Leg of this article will be played (weather permitting) later this week.
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topman
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 187 
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Post by topman on Sept 8, 2016 9:08:57 GMT
I have made a decision NOT to attend ANY matches for either cup competitions - both are rigged to a greater or lesser degree - no interest
Anyone who attends games against 'normal' are still adding credibility to the competition imo - I prefer to stay away from the 'Animal Farm' cups!!
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,334
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Post by kingswood Polak on Sept 9, 2016 13:49:07 GMT
The 1st Leg of my latest Rovers article is now available. Pasted in below. Living On A Thin Line (1st Leg)Now the dust has settled and we’ve seen what the changes to the EFL Trophy mean in reality, I find myself even more exasperated than before the opening round of fixtures. Unlike some football supporters I did actually care about the Football League Trophy in its many sponsorship guises. I’ve always wanted Rovers to win it and have genuinely looked forward to doing well in it. Last Autumn I even wrote two long paeans to the Trophy and gave the five reasons behind my burning desire for Rovers to win it. I have some good memories of the Trophy, and not just the two times we were taken on a long road of discovery to a sunny afternoon at the final, sadly ending with defeats to Tranmere Rovers in 1990 and Doncaster Rovers in 2007. The latter journey included that magic moment when Sir Rickie of Lambert almost broke the net whilst Adriano Basso prayed to his errant god and Gasheads celebrated all day and all of the night. Other golden moments include my idol David Mehew’s goal at Twerton Park in March 1990 which effectively put us into the final at the expense of our then arch rivals Notts County, led by an uncouth apeman, and being one of less than 2,000 at a freezing Brisbane Road in January 2005 when none of us wanted the looming extra-time on a work day, only to be sent unexpectedly wild by Lewis Haldane’s last minute ‘come from behind’ winner in the Southern Semi-Final. Yet on Tuesday night instead of getting ready to drink in my weekly gallon of gas, I really didn’t have any passion for the match at all, and therefore for my own team, Bristol Rovers F.C.. That was an intensely strange feeling and one I haven’t had for a very long time. For a few lonely hours it felt like my beloved team were only a tantalising 25 mile drive away, but were just playing a reserve match, a pre-season friendly, or even engaging in a training session of mild intensity. All my enthusiasm had been stripped away by the rotten decision of 67% of the Football League clubs, and judging from the online highlights it had filtered through to the match itself which looked more like an episode of come dancing than a rough and tumble football bout, whilst the backdrop of a new record low attendance presented a passing resemblance to a meeting of the local village green preservation society. There is an old episode of ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ where our pompous but loveable hero, Anthony Aloysius St. John Hancock, presumes he can become the star of the local Poetry Society. Naturally it all goes pear shaped and as he is being thrown out of his own house he reels off some terrible poems in a desperate attempt to be recognised as a genius, including the classic, “It’s a funny old world we live in, But the world’s not entirely to blame, It’s the rich what gets the pleasure, And the poor what gets the blame.” 57 years later and whilst the abysmal prose may not have improved with age, Hancock’s point still holds true. Whilst the 48 lowest Football League clubs can be fined up to £5,000 for playing anything less than a “full available strength” team, there is no such sanction for the big clubs sending in their Academy teams. In fact you’ll never know what team you’ll be playing, and with a month between each group game and a transfer window that has just closed, there is a strong likelihood the Academy teams of August could be very different from the teams we’ll see in early October. As an example Reading’s Tarique Fosu had hardly taken his boots off at the Mem before he was being sent out on loan to Colchester United. Thankfully only three Academy teams won their first encounters, but one stood out as an extreme example of opponents being a lucky dip. Norwich City U23’s 6-1 on the road demolition of Peterborough United saw a hat-trick from 28 year old Tony Andreu, who was signed for £1m, a brace from rising starlet Josh Murphy, who has nine Premier League and 63 Championship appearances to his name, and the single goal from James Maddison, reputedly signed for £6m. Andreu, Maddison and Harry Toffolo have since gone out on loan so next opponents Barnet will rather unjustly be facing a very different flock of Canaries in October. Those four players have over 160 Football League appearances under their belt, and Andreu has almost 200 more in the high end of the Swiss and Scottish leagues (if that last sentence isn‘t an instant oxymoron). The 2nd Leg of this article will be played (weather permitting) later this week.
I am really very surprised that you attended Martyn but I don't have any argument with those that did |
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Post by mehewmagic on Oct 3, 2016 13:53:57 GMT
I am really very surprised that you attended Martyn but I don't have any argument with those that did sorry for very very late answer. I didn't go mate. No way was I going to that. I was trying to get across how I actually like the competition and want us to win it, but the U23 thing has sucked all the interest out of it for me. I sat at home, 25 miles away, thinking I could be there...but don;t want to be. And frankly I felt like the game was dead to me. Very weird feeling. |
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,440
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Post by harrybuckle on Oct 3, 2016 16:57:55 GMT
Many would NOT have attended anyway even before the u23s were being added ....Just compare recent season early rounds of this tournament for actual proof Wycombe Wanderers against us drew under 1,000 fans
As Tony Hancock said "Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain? Brave Hungarian peasant girl who forced King John to sign the pledge at Runnymede and close the boozers at half past ten! Is all this to be forgotten?"
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2016 18:04:12 GMT
Yes Mike, and many others would've done, including myself.
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irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
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Post by irishrover on Oct 3, 2016 22:38:52 GMT
Many would NOT have attended anyway even before the u23s were being added ....Just compare recent season early rounds of this tournament for actual proof Wycombe Wanderers against us drew under 1,000 fans As Tony Hancock said "Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain? Brave Hungarian peasant girl who forced King John to sign the pledge at Runnymede and close the boozers at half past ten! Is all this to be forgotten?" Well I have to say I thoroughly admire your continued efforts to defend the value of this tournament as having been anything other than a complete catastrophe against all rational judgements and empirical evidence to the contrary - you've dug out a deep position on that hill and you are damn well prepared to die on it...... |
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Post by richmace on Oct 4, 2016 7:20:25 GMT
I too agree there is a place for the Football League Trophy, to give it its formal name.
The competition was a perfect one for lower league clubs to win some silverware, enjoy a cup run, and possibly a big day out at Wembley. Nothing wrong with that in my eyes.
The North / South format made sense in reducing travelling times.
Yes, the early rounds had poor attendance, but the later rounds were well supported enough.
I quite like going to the home early rounds, it is in the evening which is convenient for me, and the prices were often lower. Tonight's game is one that I would normally go to, especially given we are playing Yeovil, but I'm not sure if I can bring myself to do it.
I don't like the changes to the tournament personally. It should be League 1 and 2 clubs only and I'm not sold on the league format either. The "Cup Tie" atmosphere was another reason that drew me to the cold Autumn / Winter evenings.
I know things have to change sometimes, but this feels like a backward step, and I would hate for the competition to simply be dropped as a result.
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,440
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Post by harrybuckle on Oct 4, 2016 7:52:35 GMT
Just to clarify to Irish I am not defending and never have done the actual current tournament.
Justas an example I never liked the tail end of the Glos Senior cup Final tournament late 1980s when just Rovers and City played each other when Gerry Francis starting playing our RESERVE team it devalued it massively. But I still went to the games. It was disrespectful to the tournament after a 100 years.Cant recall fans boycotting it.
Tonight I am just supporting my club I have been supporting since 1967.
Well this time next year we wont have to worry about the FLT as we will be in the Championship
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c4h10
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 476
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Post by c4h10 on Oct 4, 2016 8:42:15 GMT
Just to clarify to Irish I am not defending and never have done the actual current tournament. Justas an example I never liked the tail end of the Glos Senior cup Final tournament late 1980s when just Rovers and City played each other when Gerry Francis starting playing our RESERVE team it devalued it massively. But I still went to the games. It was disrespectful to the tournament after a 100 years.Cant recall fans boycotting it. Tonight I am just supporting my club I have been supporting since 1967. Well this time next year we wont have to worry about the FLT as we will be in the Championship You could've fooled me, then! |
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Post by stevek192 on Oct 4, 2016 9:42:55 GMT
I really can't go along with ruining my watching of my club with boycotting this or boycotting that under the guise of being the "goodies" against the "baddies" or even hiding it as having good morals. The problem with football is as it has always been in the last thirty years - Money. In all honesty the EFL cup under all its guises was never going to make huge amounts of money UNLESS the bigger clubs ie ourselves or our neighbours for example got to the final stages. The concept to give smaller clubs the chance to get to play a match at Wembley is brilliant but the FA are ALWAYS going to be looking at ways of making money from it and unfortunately they have the money to throw at the lower clubs to get any plans they have put through.
It is not the integrity of the fans that will change things but the integrity of the lower clubs. I understand that our club did NOT vote in favour of it therefore why are we penalising our club by boycotting it?
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Post by matealotblue on Oct 4, 2016 10:20:59 GMT
I really can't go along with ruining my watching of my club with boycotting this or boycotting that under the guise of being the "goodies" against the "baddies" or even hiding it as having good morals. The problem with football is as it has always been in the last thirty years - Money. In all honesty the EFL cup under all its guises was never going to make huge amounts of money UNLESS the bigger clubs ie ourselves or our neighbours for example got to the final stages. The concept to give smaller clubs the chance to get to play a match at Wembley is brilliant but the FA are ALWAYS going to be looking at ways of making money from it and unfortunately they have the money to throw at the lower clubs to get any plans they have put through. It is not the integrity of the fans that will change things but the integrity of the lower clubs. I understand that our club did NOT vote in favour of it therefore why are we penalising our club by boycotting it?I don't think it is about penalising our club in that sense but they are, like other clubs caught up in what is now a cess pit of a competition, just the collateral damage in a bigger picture. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the "M" word so beloved of the powers that be. If they don't listen to the clubs, or the vote is not how we would like it, then those who put money in - eg the fans - have to protest in a democratic fashion and vote with their feet. Probably not quite so much money riding on this competition but there is the embarrassment of seeing low turn outs that gets the message home to them. The clubs have to abide by the rules even if they do not like it and play whatever. Fans have a choice and it is being heard loud and clear I think. May be a bit melodramatic bit in any struggle there are casualties, the calculation is as always whether or not the end result is worth the casualties. Personally I think it is. This club and others will survive this boycott such as it is. Some may disagree and wish to carry on watching this farce, that is their prerogative which I respect. |
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Post by falsenumber9 on Oct 4, 2016 11:41:33 GMT
I really can't go along with ruining my watching of my club with boycotting this or boycotting that under the guise of being the "goodies" against the "baddies" or even hiding it as having good morals. But you can go along with watching Rovers take on Bristol City U23 in competitive fixtures in the future? This boycott is about the bigger picture and sending a very clear and loud message to the authorities that real football fans will not tolerate the lower league and associated competitions being tampered with and surrendered to the financially bloated Premier League. Realistically voting with feet is the only way the message can be sent and we've already seen an impact made in the change to the Whole Game Solution proposal. I love rocking up at the Mem and enjoying my club play football but I'm prepared to sit this and future EFL Trophy games out to help maintain lower league football as we know and love it. |
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Post by optogas1976 on Oct 4, 2016 11:41:59 GMT
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Post by Gas Since 1957 on Oct 4, 2016 11:45:01 GMT
Just to clarify to Irish I am not defending and never have done the actual current tournament. Justas an example I never liked the tail end of the Glos Senior cup Final tournament late 1980s when just Rovers and City played each other when Gerry Francis starting playing our RESERVE team it devalued it massively. But I still went to the games. It was disrespectful to the tournament after a 100 years.Cant recall fans boycotting it. Tonight I am just supporting my club I have been supporting since 1967. Well this time next year we wont have to worry about the FLT as we will be in the Championship Part-Timer!!  I'll be there this evening but couldn't bring myself to watch the Reading juniors. The reason so many clubs voted in favour was the massive increase in the prize fund paid by the Premier League. I can understand the attraction of the increased money but still hate the whole thing! |
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,440
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Post by harrybuckle on Oct 4, 2016 15:02:47 GMT
Just to clarify to Irish I am not defending and never have done the actual current tournament. Justas an example I never liked the tail end of the Glos Senior cup Final tournament late 1980s when just Rovers and City played each other when Gerry Francis starting playing our RESERVE team it devalued it massively. But I still went to the games. It was disrespectful to the tournament after a 100 years.Cant recall fans boycotting it. Tonight I am just supporting my club I have been supporting since 1967. Well this time next year we wont have to worry about the FLT as we will be in the Championship You could've fooled me, then! As AB Lincoln famously said ....BETTER TO REMAIN SILENT AND BE THOUGHT A FOOL, THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT you be foolish to believe anything I say !
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Alveston Gas
Brucie Bannister
Once a Gashead always a Gashead
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 746
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Post by Alveston Gas on Oct 4, 2016 16:03:31 GMT
I won't be there, supported through thick & thin & thinner since 1961 but I will not show my face at a competition manufactured to potentially allow EPL clubs to slip their u21/3/B teams into competitive football at the same level as my club who have been basically struggling to hold their place in this organisation since before I can recall. My support is undying & best shown in my opinion by boycotting this horrendously concocted competition which despite being advertised as a one year experiment - if successful could cause the demotion potentially of my club or similar to make way for other supposedly bigger and more "important" clubs in the eyes of the footballing heirarchy.
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Post by matealotblue on Oct 4, 2016 18:24:05 GMT
I won't be there, supported through thick & thin & thinner since 1961 but I will not show my face at a competition manufactured to potentially allow EPL clubs to slip their u21/3/B teams into competitive football at the same level as my club who have been basically struggling to hold their place in this organisation since before I can recall. My support is undying & best shown in my opinion by boycotting this horrendously concocted competition which despite being advertised as a one year experiment - if successful could cause the demotion potentially of my club or similar to make way for other supposedly bigger and more "important" clubs in the eyes of the footballing heirarchy. Seems the Chairman is in sympathy. |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,334
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Post by kingswood Polak on Oct 8, 2016 7:24:30 GMT
Many would NOT have attended anyway even before the u23s were being added ....Just compare recent season early rounds of this tournament for actual proof Wycombe Wanderers against us drew under 1,000 fans As Tony Hancock said "Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain? Brave Hungarian peasant girl who forced King John to sign the pledge at Runnymede and close the boozers at half past ten! Is all this to be forgotten?" Well I have to say I thoroughly admire your continued efforts to defend the value of this tournament as having been anything other than a complete catastrophe against all rational judgements and empirical evidence to the contrary - you've dug out a deep position on that hill and you are damn well prepared to die on it...... Isn't that just what being a gasheads is ? You describe is so well |
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irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
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Post by irishrover on Oct 10, 2016 12:18:58 GMT
Just to clarify to Irish I am not defending and never have done the actual current tournament. Justas an example I never liked the tail end of the Glos Senior cup Final tournament late 1980s when just Rovers and City played each other when Gerry Francis starting playing our RESERVE team it devalued it massively. But I still went to the games. It was disrespectful to the tournament after a 100 years.Cant recall fans boycotting it. Tonight I am just supporting my club I have been supporting since 1967. Well this time next year we wont have to worry about the FLT as we will be in the Championship Well first of all I think people very much did stop going to the Glos Senior cup Final tournament which is one of the reason it slowly drifted into irrelevance as did most tournaments of that type around that time.
But, I also think this is the flaw in your argument. You want to go and watch the game - that's fine, no one should have a problem with that. But people who are boycotting the game are also supporting their club by standing up against what they perceive to be the thin of the wedge. Namely, the attempt to dilute the football league with 'B Teams' of varying descriptions. In the long run 'supporting your club' could equally well mean doing everything within your power to destroy this abomination of a contest. If Rovers (along with other clubs) feedback to the league that this has been a commercial and sporting disaster that has pissed off their core fanbase then it will surely provoke a rethink. Bradford City came as close as they probably could to endorsing this approach last week...
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I'll be there this evening but couldn't bring myself to watch the Reading juniors. The reason so many clubs voted in favour was the massive increase in the prize fund paid by the Premier League. I can understand the attraction of the increased money but still hate the whole thing!