Thetownend.com

It seems a scheme to get Premier B teams included in the JPT is underway see link

http://thedonstrust.org/2015/02/23/february-dons-trust-board-meeting-summary/

There was also discussion about that day’s Football League (FL) meeting which was understood to have authorised the FL executive to finalise proposals to allow Premier League ‘B’ teams to enter the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, with AFC Wimbledon being the only League Two club to vote against. It was agreed that Kris Stewart would talk with other trusts to help us decide whether this is something for the Dons Trust to follow up.

Seems like the FL have quietly sneaked this one through.

Apparently only Wimbledon voted against it.

Slippery slope.

They just won't be bloody told will they? Always looking for a back door.

All it needs is for fans of other clubs to boycott any game involving a B team, and the idea dies on its arse.

What a joke this would be if it wen through, completely devaluing an already mickey mouse tournament. Just imagine Southampton B team versus Stoke B team in the final you would get 500 people tops.

This.

if this goes through the jpt well be dead to me.  Johnstone paint can go fuck themselves too.

I wouldn't hate this if it was absolutely the JPT and nothing else, but the chances of this not being a slippery slope would seem to be zero.

How will this work with the you must play x amount of first team players rule?

Let's do it, then. Or indeed, not.

Every club voted to accept this - except Wimbledon - hardly likely to rock the boat after

Yep agree, they have to be told. We have to boycott it or put up with it (condone it).

According to the quote above. And it doesn't matter if the clubs are likely to rock the boat or not. As ghanimah says, it's up to us whether or not we want to blindly go along with this or tell them to shove it up their arse

No doubt there was a nice little cash sweetener that clubs couldn't refuse.

Is there still enough life in "the fan movement" for any sort of collective action - or concerted inaction in this case - to stand a chance of happening?

I miss punk.  :cry:

I think Swindon fans are some of the more anti modern football in the game. Our particular distaste of drums (which other clubs seem perfectly ok with) and our hatred of MK (so much so they see us as some sort of rival).

How far do those traits spread beyond the TEF I wonder? Last outpost of Disorder.  :beers:

That's because they both suck big balls, nothing to do with being anti modern.

Lot's of our fans have been getting their boycott in early this season....the TEF should definitely make a stand, I was quite happy to go to Rodney Parade on a Tuesday night, but fucked if I'll go to Dean Court to watch Bormuff reserves.

Right...need to make a Geoffrey list....that's Johnstone's Paint, any sponsor of Qatar 2022, and any donor to the Tory party  :)

I'm not sure if that's true TBH, you probably see more of it on here because you spend more time on here. I think there is disillusionment across the lower leagues, hopefully this will lead to an organised boycott of JPT games.

The problem is, they aren't that well attended anyway, so if you get a load of prem obsessed kids into watch Arsenals second string, plus a cash incentive for clubs allowing the Prem B teams to compete in the first place, it won't actually make any difference if the usual fans don't turn up.

Except, perhaps, to the atmosphere, but let's face it, that's terrible at most home game these days anyway.

Yet another reason to bin off a pretty pointless tournament.

Not sure a boycott of the tournament would even be noticeable before the area final stage

Bunch of negative wankers. Its this kind of short sighted parochialism that will stop us winning the World Cup. Greg Dyke is a fucking martyr.

How the fuck is that supposed to work then? Are the 'B' sides all included en masse, thus forcing division 3&4 clubs to play even more games in season? Perhaps they'll make them have their own preliminary 'play-off' competition to whittle it down to 10 extra sides (I doubt it very much). Perhaps it will end up like the FA Cup where the 'B' teams don't put on a shirt in anger until the money making stages kick in and division 4 clubs have to play each other in a preliminary round? Fucking disgrace. I sure as hell will never go to a game in this competition ever again.

If this came in, I'll give it a miss.

The Premiership was set up to keep everything for themelves and fuck the rest of us off....that's why I chuckle at them getting the arsehole with FIFA setting up a winter World Cup. Bully getting a slap from a bigger one.

They set the stall out so fuck em.

And two threads!

Actually, there is 3.

FH posted it as well

Easyjet will be crying over the lost millions from their Nice route.

Point. Missed.

I've travelled with Sleazy a lot....and nothing is nice!

I agree. Did you happen to read and comprehend, let alone actually understand anything prior to my declaration of non-attendance? As if any sane mane would fly from one country to another for a football game at Wembley...

I repeat my questions: How is it going to work?

:bye:

Bon nuit...

I apologise, I should have said fuck off and die. Your welcome.

Bonne nuit.

You're welcome.

This is a joke. The idea of the JPT is to give the lower league teams a chance to win a trophy as well as a trip to Wembley. And whilst I agree that its a bit tinpot it would be a farce to let "b" teams take part. What is the point? And it will also help pave the way for a stronger argument for a league 3. Dyke will be happy.

Exactly, I would actually be less pissed off if it were the league cup, then it wouldn't just be the lower league clubs getting pissed on.

Good question. First thing I thought when I heard this, was "but why"? Genuinely baffled.

 A lot of premier league teams have already embraced the "B Team" theory in the FA cup and the Capital One cup  so not really a step into the unknown.The best way to get young premier league players such as Turnbull,Stephens and Swift competitive games is to loan them out to football league teams.This already works so why can't Dyke just do one.

I see the BBC have reported this.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31702424

Lazy journalism though, saying that Wimbledon were the only team of the 48 lower division teams not to back it. We don't actually know who backed it from League 1.

disagree. Considering these games already generally attract the die hards that would go to any game where their team is playing, I can't see the few that do go to jpt games boycotting.
A bigger concern is that only Wimbledon opposed this. It is for the club's to reject it.

Surely lower league clubs pitching themselves in a cup competition with top flight youth and reserve teams is already alive and well in the League Cup (pre Semi Final stages).

So assuming Power supported this, would Sam like to ask him to enlighten us unwashed ignoramuses as to why?

Why are we assuming he supported this?

Is it wrong that only Wimbledon opposed? Or did loads of clubs abstain?

@official_stfc didn't reply to my tweet asking if its a reporting error. Perhaps some journalists can so some journalism and find  out.

Abser-fucking-lutely

Another thread set up without consultation with the fans

I'm boycotting it

I vaguely remember the radio asking Power in an interview previously about something that was supposed to have been decided by FL chairmen and Power basically said he knew nothing, so not sure if STFC have a rep at these if power does not attend.

As you say maybe something for Sam to investigate though.

Don't see what the PL teams think they'll gain from it, will their young starlets having the shit kicked out of them on dodgy pitches chasing a trophy that even FL clubs put out weakened teams for really benefit them?

I watched what I guess was a youth team match between Liverpool and Chelsea last night, it was awful. Think they'd both have been trounced by Championship and League One teams, they just weren't good enough. Also seems to be a requirement that they all have stupid hair cuts and have passed their diving exams before they can play.

What we really need is a revamp of the loan system, stuff like; more loan players under the age of 23 if they're on season long loans with no call back and tie ups between clubs to improve lower league training facilities and quality of coaching. As long as lower league clubs have the option of not participating, don't see the problem with more loan players. The FL is already a feeder system, everyone needs to accept it and get on with it.

Didn't the original story state that Wimbledon were the only league 2 club that voted against, it didn't mention league 1 - or have I missed a subsequent story?

I think you are right, all the reports I can find say only league 2 club. I could have sworn....

oh well, would still like to know our position on this.

I find it funny how no one gives a shit about the JPT until the Prem tries to fuck with it.

It's because people can see that this is the thin end of the wedge.

I go to the home jpt games, so your post isn't accurate ;)

It seems that the PFA have confirmed this  -

@PFA
A majority of L1 & L2 clubs are backing a proposal to allow EPL B teams to partcipate in the Johnstones Paint Trophy

I don't normally go for the notion that some plans are ' the thin edge of the wedge', I tend to find such suggestions a tad paranoid and conspiratorial.

Not this time though, it couldn't be more obvious.

So now it's a proposal rather than a fait accompli. There seems to have been a very odd lack of warning of this happening, or even much comment or clarity about it since it was announced. Almost like it's being pushed through on the quiet. Well like my mate Ironside, Easyjet will be having no more of my euromillions for this competition if this goes through.

Makes the paint pot trophy marginally less shit I suppose. :zipped:

Pretty certain the idea came from the Football League in response to the Dyke proposal for B teams in the league.

Haven't read anything linking it to the Premier League, don't even remember a response to the proposal at the time.

Will it only be the 'top 6' or will all Prem teams have the option of entering a B team

Asked Power about this yesterday, he seemed surprised at the mere notion of it. That's not to say it isn't happening or hasn't happened but it's usually Steve Anderson who goes to Football League meetings.

That was about a vote on artificial pitches.

He basically said he wasn't intersted in these kind of votes as he believed the Football League will ultimately do whatever they want anyway. Probably a fair bit of truth to that reasoning.

Thanks.

Quick update on this. Asked the manager today what he thought of the idea. He approved.

His words: “Great idea. I think it will help develop players. It gives the younger players an actual feel for a matchday. The result matters, they’ll get to play in front of crowds – which they wouldn’t do with their under 21s – and it gives lower league clubs the opportunity to play against the bigger clubs as well."

He didn't know where the proposal was at, or whether or not it had actually been proposed to Football League clubs officially.

Would he/did he approve of B teams in the league? Perhaps he can't see the 'thin end of the wedge' angle?

bad news if that's how the football fraternity think

  Presiding over our heaviest home defeat v The Pikeys and now support for Dyke's madness  :hmmm:

It's tempting to sign Reg up to a load of annoying mailing lists also.

I suspect most players / ex players / managers would have a very different perspective to us mere fans. Danny Mills' enthusiastic support for Prem League B Teams in the Football League being a recent prime example.

Are there any pro footballers out there who openly dislike the Premier League and Champions League?

In front of crowds ?

JPT crowds are low enough as it is and surely the introduction of Prem U21 teams fans will lose interest even more

Not many pro footballers have ever supported a team passionately or watched them on a Saturday, which means most fall into the sky sports (TM) way of thinking.

B teams are a shit idea full stop. If this is allowed they will be in the FL by 2020. Probably sooner

I'd guess if you were an armchair Chelsea fan the likes of seeing Chelsea B in a competitive match on your doorstep (be it Swindon or Carlisle) will appeal.. Unfortunately.

Who the fuck is gonna support these B teams in their matches? Can you imagine Man Utd against Swindon at OT on a Tuesday night and the sort of crowd that would attract in such a huge stadium???

Manure dont play their Premier development league games ( u21 ) at OT
They play at The J. Davidson Stadium in Altrincham, Capacity 6085

So you wouldnt even get to watch them in their own stadium  :clap:


http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/walsall-fc/2015/03/04/football-league-to-re-visit-jpt-b-team-idea/

There are currently 24 clubs with Cat 1 academies

Division 1
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Leicester City
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Norwich City
Southampton
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United

Division 2
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion
Derby County
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Reading
Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Development_League#League_1

Take your pick who the 16 will be but no doubt will be drawn from the current 16 prem league teams ( relegation/promotion dependant of course )

Wonder what backhanders the FL are getting in exchange for allowing this?