The Trophy formerly known as the Pizza Cup 2023/24

[Luke Imp]

What made me laugh was the way Reading bigged-up the result failing to mention they were playing a team of quite literally kids. Just shows how desperate things are for them at the moment. I guess it passes the time till the next points deduction.

I'm not sure if it was accurate or not, but there was a post saying Exeter's side actually had a higher average age than Reading's.

 

[Trapdoor]

I'm not sure if it was accurate or not, but there was a post saying Exeter's side actually had a higher average age than Reading's.

It's mainly because we played a very old keeper and 1 older CB (who scored an own goal.) If we had played our youth goalie we would have been younger than them.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'm not sure if it was accurate or not, but there was a post saying Exeter's side actually had a higher average age than Reading's.

I think it was more a case that their Academy is much better than ours, at least currently. It is a Cat A whereas we are Cat C

 

[masi51]

Strong team out against utd kids despite injuries and suspensions Saturday v Vale

 

[LancashireTrotters]

Put 8 (eight) past Man Utd youth, pointless training game.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Sadly we have already sold 2300 tickets for our game on Tuesday against Arsenal kids.
I'm pretty sure most will be Arsenal fans, I can't believe people will be so keen to see us get hammered again.

 

[Luke Imp]

Home to Wolves U21's for us.

Similar to the Derby game, we'll probably have to throw it and play the kids because of lack of options in the squad at the minute. But with four losses in the last six (albeit one was said Derby game, on top of West Ham and away games at Posh and Pompey), I wouldn't be hugely surprised if Kennedy goes slightly stronger and tries to get a win under our belts.

 

[valefan16]

We have Newcastle kids for the third time since it began, last time they gave us a better game than most U21's do but they did have Elliott Anderson then!

I expect we will actually start 1 maybe 2 strikers and be stronger up top than the last two league games, hopefully get minutes into Uche Ikpeazu.

Would use this to test tweaking the formation to get more goals in us. Win this we are through and with no game for a while should see the likes of Debrah, Thomas, Lowe, Leutwiller and Cass get minutes plus the youngsters like Walter's who look another big talent we have coming through.

Need to really experiment on how we can score more goals as its killing us.

 

[valefan16]

We look stronger as an attacking unit tonight than we did at the weekend in the league!

Wilson, Chislett, Plant, Clarke and Garrity!

 

[valefan16]

1-0 up but a disaster in terms of looks as though James Wilson has done a bad injury so now down to one young loanee striker fit with Uche not close and Loft injured, add in the news Connor Grant is likely out long term after injury Saturday and Chislett limping through the half after being kicked to bits and it doesn’t feel positive!

 

[HutchECFC]

Glad we’ve shown this competition the respect it deserves. A 9-0 defeat followed by a 5-0 defeat. Sorted.

 

[valefan16]

Frustrating to draw with their only chance and the injuries are a huge blow but great to have our youth side attack out for the last 20 minutes with another debut for the lively Andrew Buah and Dipepa and Brazier joining Walter’s and Shorrock on the pitch.

Won the shootout which puts us through as we really need more games with the injuries we have.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Not sure why you are writing chapter and verse about this. And writing words like “frustrating “
Nobody gives a shit about this competition so please give it the contempt it deserves.

On the other side, that Swindon fan has made me laugh. What a hero. Totally wound up the reading fans. That is all this trophy is good for. Running on the pitch and shouting at the other fans.

 

[Marked Ox]

Not sure why you are writing chapter and verse about this. And writing words like “frustrating “
Nobody gives a shit about this competition so please give it the contempt it deserves.

On the other side, that Swindon fan has made me laugh. What a hero. Totally wound up the reading fans. That is all this trophy is good for. Running on the pitch and shouting at the other fans.

Reading appear to give a shit but sack off the league which is amusing.

Imagine being that Swindon fan though, getting a ban and fine for going on the pitch for an Abomination Trophy group stage game.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Our game at Swindon next month might set a record for lowest ever crowd. Both teams out and likely to play kids

 

[Si Robin]

We lost to Newport - DC has given the comp the short shrift it deserves by making 9 changes from Saturday and playing two wing-backs at centre-back.

To be honest, we actually played quite well, but two pathetic goals and wastefulness by our own attackers sees us going out of the comp in the group stage.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Reading appear to give a shit but sack off the league which is amusing.

Imagine being that Swindon fan though, getting a ban and fine for going on the pitch for an Abomination Trophy group stage game.

I doubt he cares. Perhaps been paraded through the streets of Swindon today as a hero.
Was funny though. Although I’m sure you don’t think so as it’s that lot.

 

[nelsonpfc]

Put Gills to the sword yesterday after a ponderous first half that was 1-1. 5 different goalscorers, hit the crossbar, GK made some good saves. Could have been more of a rout. Good that the lads who came in kept up their work rate etc.. Sparkes another masterclass in crossing and Yengi continues his good start thats 5 for the season in about 150 mins

 

[valefan16]

I doubt he cares. Perhaps been paraded through the streets of Swindon today as a hero.
Was funny though. Although I’m sure you don’t think so as it’s that lot.

Swindon fans don't things like that!

 

[BRFC_Gas]

1-0 up but a disaster in terms of looks as though James Wilson has done a bad injury so now down to one young loanee striker fit with Uche not close and Loft injured, add in the news Connor Grant is likely out long term after injury Saturday and Chislett limping through the half after being kicked to bits and it doesn’t feel positive!

This is the problem I have with this comp as these U21 sides seem intent on kicking the seasoned pros trying to make a name for themselves. Crystal Palace were the worst for this.
Jordan Rossiter got injured in this comp last December and hasnt been seen since. More trouble than its worth

 

[BRFC_Gas]

We lost to Newport - DC has given the comp the short shrift it deserves by making 9 changes from Saturday and playing two wing-backs at centre-back.

To be honest, we actually played quite well, but two pathetic goals and wastefulness by our own attackers sees us going out of the comp in the group stage.

He really doesnt like this comp. I remember he subbed our keeper after a few mins down at Portsmouth just to take the piss and we ended up getting fined

 

[thewwfc]

Woo.

We’re through to the next round.

I know it’s a terrible competition made worse by the presence of the Prem kids’ teams, but I still think it’s a good opportunity for the fringe players, in the absence of us having a full reserve side (we’ve got a “development squad” but it’s not quite the same thing) and reserve league for them to play in.

It’s also a novelty for us to take cup games seriously since Bloomfield took over.

Ainsworth’s promotion record was good enough that you could argue that it was worth it (esp. in seasons where we had little strength in depth), but always going out of cups with a whimper was not great.

We even played our weakest team v Man City in the League Cup ffs, I mean I wasn’t expecting a cupset, but at least give it a go…

 

[valefan16]

This is the problem I have with this comp as these U21 sides seems intent on kicking the seasoned pros trying to make a name for themselves. Crystal Palace were the worst for this. Jordan Rossiter got injured in this comp last December and hasnt been seen since

To be fair I don't mind them being a bit physical as its rare with the U21's who are all taught to pass pass pass like Man City these days but some of the challenges they made were reckless, Chislett was booted and he lost his rag in the end, they had a little winger called Diallo who was kicking us and flying in.

Just frustrating as Wilson looked in a lot of pain and likely out for a long time which limits our options even further up front.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

To be fair I don't mind them being a bit physical as its rare with the U21's who are all taught to pass pass pass like Man City these days but some of the challenges they made were reckless, Chislett was booted and he lost his rag in the end, they had a little winger called Diallo who was kicking us and flying in.

Just frustrating as Wilson looked in a lot of pain and likely out for a long time which limits our options even further up front.

Yeah there is a big difference between physical and downright dirty. Surprised you risked Wilson though, as was I when we played Rossiter, as they both have long injury records.
I was impressed with West ham U21's , who played the right way and were a decent team (hope we make some enquiries for loans in the future), but all the others have just been shooting practice.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I see there is the real prospect of four London u21 sides being in the next round. Area semis of Spurs v Arsenal and Chelsea v West Ham would really put a nail in the coffin on this.

Or maybe not, it would be hailed as a success...

 

[BRFC_Gas]

All i see from this is kids getting spanked every round. What do they learn from that?

 

[HutchECFC]

Go back to the old days where instead of Premier League kids, they throw in the top X amount of teams from the National League

 

[Luke Imp]

7 changes for us and a comfortable 2-0 win. Apparently Wolves played more passes out for throw-ins than completed ones.

 

[Marked Ox]

I doubt he cares. Perhaps been paraded through the streets of Swindon today as a hero.
Was funny though. Although I’m sure you don’t think so as it’s that lot.

I laughed when I saw it. From what I've briefly read Swindon got run after the game, so him being a hero would be classic straw clutching.

 

[Marked Ox]

To be fair I don't mind them being a bit physical as its rare with the U21's who are all taught to pass pass pass like Man City these days but some of the challenges they made were reckless, Chislett was booted and he lost his rag in the end, they had a little winger called Diallo who was kicking us and flying in.

Just frustrating as Wilson looked in a lot of pain and likely out for a long time which limits our options even further up front.

The obvious solution to somebody like Diallo is use your experience and boot them back better/harder but more subtly. Suspensions only count towards this competition after all so worth the risk if they are that bad.