Looking at it objectively, all top 6 Premier League clubs now participate and the clubs see the benefits for their young players. I know fans hate the concept but it's here to stay. It could attract a whole new generation of fans to Brunton Park. Kids might come to their first ever football match in their Liverpool or Man U shirts and enjoy the experience. They won't get the chance every fortnight to watch these teams so they could end up regularly supporting Carlisle as well.

As long as proper lower league clubs get to the final I can see some positives to look forward to.

Judas...

Well i certainly will not be attending.... went to 45 league games & all cup games ( apart from this nonentity) last season

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Me neither it's a farce

I won’t attend another game in this competition until the B teams are gone.

For all those Man United and Liverpool supporting kids the draw for the first round will take place in July. (I wonder if the shop will be open on that date).

The first round is the first week in September (excepting U21 teams who can pick their own date).

I also will not attend another game in this competition as long as it is being stolen from us by the EFL and Premiership teams

I'll be there if I'm in the country. Don't hate man u reserves any more or less than I hate Mansfield or Cheltenham. See someone different. All the predictions of us being replaced in the league by Stoke reserves have proved to be hot air. Would be good if we could win a game

Liverpool and Man Utd to play teams:

https://twitter.com/efl/status/1139502747227529217?s=21

Where do they play their home games these days .

For all those, like me, who hate what they have done and boycott, where do we go from here ? They will continue to ignore us and walk all over us and the competition will continue... and probably attract the next generation of kids who have no concern for history or lower division clubs.

I'm not afraid of change or progress but this is morally wrong.
When I was young, relegation and promotion, club size, history, status, potential... they all mattered. Not now. Without exaggeration, the children I have taught for years, know little to nothing about any club outside the top 6 in the PL. Crazy.
Sad too. In their eyes, there isn't a 92. There is a 20. Maybe even a 10 at best. That's football in 2019 I'm afraid.

For all those, like me, who hate what they have done and boycott, where do we go from here ? They will continue to ignore us and walk all over us and the competition will continue... and probably attract the next generation of kids who have no concern for history or lower division clubs.

Stand firm. They ruined the Trophy. [censored] them...

For those interested:

https://twitter.com/efl_trophy/status/1147173295529373702?s=21

It's still not got a sponsor. Embarrassing for the EFL.

Did I read that the club have been asked for a fan to represent the club at the cup launch? I really hope we don't get one. That would send a message again.
Typical thay man United and liverpool have decided to join. It will soon just be a premier league reserve competition.

I too will be boycotting this ridiculous trophy....

Until at least area final..

They've ripped the heart out of the trophy and to think that Nixon(against the wishes of 90pct plus of his own fans) voted for the changes. The man's got no morals

Thats another thing they messed up - no area final now unless they have brought it back?

If you are gonna boycott it just do it..but anyone who goes to the final after boycotting is a 2 faced [censored]...fact.

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I’m boycotting but I’d definitely go to the final if we got there, couldn’t miss out on that.

Would you go to the final if it was against Man city or Chelsea under 23's though?

Would you go to the final if it was against Man city or Chelsea under 23's though?

I wouldn't open patio doors if they were playing it on my back lawn!

Would you go to the final if it was against Man city or Chelsea under 23's though?

Yeah, definitely if it was Chelsea they’re my second team.

Would you go to the final if it was against Man city or Chelsea under 23's though?

Yeah, definitely if it was Chelsea they’re my second team.

Thought it was Liverpool?

It was until deeksme fell out with me.

It was until deeksme fell out with me.

To "fall out" with someone, don't you have to like/respect them at some point first?

You said not enough people died at Hillsborough, that I should have been one of them, and you called me "wireface". Feel free to apologise at any point.

I’m sorry.

If you are gonna boycott it just do it..but anyone who goes to the final after boycotting is a 2 faced [censored]...fact.

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I was of the same opinion.

I wouldn’t go but you can’t begrudge someone if they maybe have a kid wanting to go and end up going.

Yeah, it’s 2 faced and these are the things the EFL prey upon and can get away with their crazy ways but it ain’t going to stop.

I doubt an u23 side will get to the final but if/when they do will be interesting what happens crowd wise.

Just teach the kid principles of football.. sod it like..they will soon learn

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If you are gonna boycott it just do it..but anyone who goes to the final after boycotting is a 2 faced [censored]...fact.

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I was of the same opinion.

I wouldn’t go but you can’t begrudge someone if they maybe have a kid wanting to go and end up going.

Yeah, it’s 2 faced and these are the things the EFL prey upon and can get away with their crazy ways but it ain’t going to stop.

I doubt an u23 side will get to the final but if/when they do will be interesting what happens crowd wise.

If I had a kid and it went to an EFL Trophy under 23 match i’d ground it for a month.

Id probably go.

The invited teams get their own broadcasted draw, but the originals get told their Group. Absolutely pathetic...

https://twitter.com/officialcufc/status/1148577995067678725?s=21

Shows who the competition is really for now, doesnt it.

Hope we get United.

Hope we get United.

Only one United...

Hope we get United.

Only one United...

Wasn’t expecting you to take the first nibble

I think it'll be one of the two bin-dipping teams la.

Its a completely fixed draw with closest teams all playing each other - that's why it's not broadcast!

You would think with our geography we'd be in a group on our own. :-)

How many years on the trot have we been in the same group as Morecambe?

How many years on the trot have we been in the same group as Morecambe?

Not as many times as I would have liked, a great home or away fixture.

Plus at the back of your mind you always think that you might get something out of the game - they now probably feel the same about us

How many years on the trot have we been in the same group as Morecambe?

Third Season in a row, mainly because the EFL ‘group’ together teams that are close by each other for the Group Stages now.

We also played Morecambe in 13/14, when it was a proper Draw.

Is that when we played in the Estonia strip at the Carwash?

I remember Kavanagh creating divots by spinning round on one leg looking for a pass. Mind he did that every game.

Shows you how far this competition has deteriorated when sponsors won't now touch it with a barge pole.
It has made Checkatrade look like a second rate outfit.

https://twitter.com/officialcufc/status/1149645225469415424?s=21

I might have known we'd get the least attractive U23 team. It just rubs it in that not so long ago we were playing Wolves in League 1. Not much football fortune from the Trophy then this season.

Looks like a fixed draw to me keeping Sunderland/Newcastle apart and also Portsmouth/Southampton but when you think about it they might have shot themselves in the foot given that if there were ever to be a decent attendance in this competition it would likely come from these two.

The sooner this goes back to Tier 3&4 clubs only the better.

since when has wolverhampton been in the north unless their geography is as bad as Taiwos ie I want to move nearer home and ends up in Scotland

We should get in touch with all fans groups of D3/4 and the top 16 of the conference and organise our own fans club competitions to be played on the same evening as these piddly little games and then as fans we can all go and watch each other and show the EFL what they are missing out on and how to organise draws fairly and properly and OPENLY

since when has wolverhampton been in the north unless their geography is as bad as Taiwos ie I want to move nearer home and ends up in Scotland

There’s non league teams a lot further south than Wolves playing in the Northern structure. Think Oxford City were at one point. Dunno if the still are.

Are Sutton United and Boreham Wood not playing in the Scottish Cup?