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Post by sarge on Jan 11, 2017 18:00:55 GMT
We all hate the current format of this cup, but our team are in the last eight, so surely, SURELY, every OUFC fan has to get behind the boys? The club didn't set the rules, are people really saying they would boycott a Wembley date? Come on guys, this is our club doing well, and if we don't ALL support them, then no-one else will. the board voted against supporting the inclusion of prem b teams into the FL trophy, yet the person sent to represent OUFC at the vote at the football league hq, chose to go against the OUFC boards wishes and voted in favour of including prem b teams!!!! ...maybe the club didnt set the rules however someone representing OUFC at the vote chose to vote in favour, so by default, the club, in the shape of a club representative, voted FOR the stupid inclusion, so the club were contributory and complicit Id say. Perhaps IF said representative had stuck to the boards mandate and voted against including b teams there may just have been less OUFC supporters boycotting the matches, as OUFC fans and club wouldve been together in opposing including b teams! Instead the opposite happened! maybe if and when swansea b team go out of the competition then some may feel differently? Its been a shambles right from inception , WHY include PREMIERSHIP b teams in a FOOTBALL LEAGUE competition aimed at lower league clubs, when it was the greedy Premiership who broke away from the football league to maximise income for top tier clubs to the financial detriment of lower league clubs? the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Premiership? f*ck EM
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Post by highlandyellow on Jan 11, 2017 18:03:59 GMT
I know Sarge but ........ let's support the boys.
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Post by sideshowrob on Jan 11, 2017 18:07:40 GMT
Why would people who attend EFL Trophy games this season have blood on their hands if U21 teams are allowed back next year? The objection is about the possibility of introducing Premier League B team in the EFL. The EFL cannot intoduce this without majority support from it's 72 member clubs in a vote. Presently all of the 72 are against (according to DE) and the EFL hace categorically ruled it out. The fact that PL U21 teams have been allowed to enter the EFL Trophy does not make it more likely that they will be allowed to participate in the EFL in the slightest.
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Post by highlandyellow on Jan 11, 2017 18:12:26 GMT
Seriously guys, forget how this thing happened, don't own the problem, and get behind the boys. Two ties before Wembley! It's a big deal, who do you love? COYY!
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Post by arthurturner on Jan 11, 2017 18:39:20 GMT
Seriously guys, forget how this thing happened, don't own the problem, and get behind the boys. Two ties before Wembley! It's a big deal, who do you love? COYY! It is a big deal. It's a big deal that the EFL and PL are in a conspiracy to undermine the existing football league pyramid structure and this competition, which OUFC voted for, is the thin end of the wedge. As a supporter and season ticket holder for over 50 years OUFC has been and remains an important part of my life and I am truly in awe and gratitude of what Mr Eales has done and his commitment to our club. However, just because Wembley is looming will not change my decision of not attending any game in this competition, including a Wembley final. Indeed, I hope the protest will continue to the bitter end and that Wembley will be virtually empty. If it's full for the final, the conspiritors will consider themselves justified and will move to find other ways to get what they want. I say that for the long term good of the game at our level, the fans have no choice but to see this protest through.
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Post by tonyw on Jan 11, 2017 18:41:14 GMT
However I will never partake in any part of this trophy this year. Even a Wembely Final. The risk to our club are too great from B team football. For me if the EFL judge this to be a success and repeat again next year then people who attended this have Blood on their hands. They will say well it was going to be introduced anyway say it was an EFL decision however for me those are supporting both the club and the EFL in their decision. Yes it will hurt missing my team who'm I spent so much money following (I travel from Cambridge each game) going to Wembely but for me it is a point of principle about growing some backbone and not doing what's right for the short term and what is right for the long term. At the end of the day the club voted for this change so like smaking a child who has been bad for it's own good I have no issue about withdrawing my support for this trophy (and the club when they are playing in it). FFS it isn't even a fair competition. How can Chelsea rest first team under 23 players and not get fined but the EFL clubs do?! I know that the EFL are fairly oblivious to....well....everything. But how could anyone judge the competition to be a success? Five of the six biggest teams in the land couldn't be bothered to enter; Of the sixteen U23 teams that did enter, only one has even made it to the quarter-finals (and even they haven't yet beaten a lower league club in the knockout stages); reception has been hostile; a dozen or so lower league clubs have been fined for breaking the rules - even when it's had absolutely no effect of their competitiveness (hello Luton). It's been an absolute shambles, everybody knows this. Even the EFL Chief Executive has acknowledged it, and said it might not be back next year. And, barring possibly the next game(s) for whoever plays Swansea, the crowds for the final stages of the competition are not going to change any of that in any way whatsoever.
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Post by 38yearsofpain on Jan 11, 2017 18:43:19 GMT
Seriously guys, forget how this thing happened, don't own the problem, and get behind the boys. Two ties before Wembley! It's a big deal, who do you love? COYY! The EFL teams are still paranoid about maintaining their FL status, they still resist anything other than 2 up from the Conference when all logic says 4 up is the sane solution. Their is no way on gods earth they are going to vote for B teams, unless the Premiership pays millions. End of story. Boycotting some tinpot competition on the belief it will affect the outcome is akin to believing that abstaining from voting in an election has any influence on future elections. It feels morally right but actually is irrelevant. If the Premiership offered something like £50m per year for 10 years to the FL that and only that will change FL clubs opinions. The real question is would the likes of Accrington vote in favour if they received £500k per annum to allow Mau U reserves to start in tier 4 or on restructuring tier 5.
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Post by gobbledgook on Jan 11, 2017 19:05:48 GMT
As I said earlier, instead of boycotting the final and being a silent protest why not whoever gets thete goes and instigate a huge visual and noisy protest in front of the media and potential sponsors e.g. both sets of fans turn their backs on the game on 23 minutes and together sing an anti Premiership song. Most if not all fans would go for it I recon as I've never come across a fan who agrees with it.
We'd get far more attention.
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Post by kidintheriot on Jan 11, 2017 19:36:53 GMT
The thought that we may play Swanseas youth team in a competitive fixture, given we have recently shown we can more than compete with their first team, is quite frankly an embarrassment.
I'll have no part in a competition that disrespects lower league clubs and places them in parity with youth teams.
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Post by concretebob on Jan 11, 2017 19:38:08 GMT
Seriously guys, forget how this thing happened, don't own the problem, and get behind the boys. Two ties before Wembley! It's a big deal, who do you love? COYY! Oh right so it's ok to undermine the future of lower league football, let B teams in the league structure and see OUFC suffer as long as we get a day out at Wembley?
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Post by highlandyellow on Jan 11, 2017 19:52:50 GMT
And if you turn your back, how is that good for OUFC?
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 11, 2017 20:06:51 GMT
And if you turn your back, how is that good for OUFC? Long term stability in a viable league competition is more important than looking at a short term day out which will be forgotten by the summer. I won't ever knock people for turning up in this competition to back the team, but to criticise people for taking a stand for the longer term good of OUFC - and lower league football in general - isn't on really.
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Post by Common Villager on Jan 11, 2017 20:08:51 GMT
And if you turn your back, how is that good for OUFC? By preserving the status and integrity of the very league that it plays in.
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 11, 2017 20:13:43 GMT
If our top attendance this season has been, for instance, against Chelsea U21s and it had been repeated across the lower league clubs, do people REALLY think that it wouldn't then have been pushed by the PL teams to have them in the League Cup next? Or even on the FA Cup? Then the league?
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Post by concretebob on Jan 11, 2017 20:18:39 GMT
And if you turn your back, how is that good for OUFC? I'm only turning my back on games in the EFL Trophy. It's for the greater good.
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Post by Common Villager on Jan 11, 2017 20:24:33 GMT
Some people really can't grasp it, can they?
'You should support your team!' - I cringe every time I read a statement like this. Not least because I do support my team. I rarely miss a game these days in all competitions. But I will not 'support' them in this competition, because I want a future for the club and all of the other clubs that make up the lower leagues.
The introduction of B Teams into the lower leagues has been on the agenda of FA bigwigs and the PL Chiefs for years now. It's not something that they will give up on because a few matches at the start of the season were boycotted. The resistance from us fans needs to be sustained and relentless. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been told that there are already murmurings of softening stances and increasing acceptance of B Teams.
So no, for the remainder of this season and in any future tournament that includes B Teams, I will not be supporting 'my club', for the simple reason that I want to preserve the one bit about football in this country that we actually can be proud of: the lower leagues. By not supporting this utter joke of a competition, I believe I am helping to protect the long term future of the club; something much more important than success in a competition that saw us progress after losing a penalty shootout.
I dread the day that I might see us lose to Stoke B team in a half empty stadium. I'm willing to miss a match at Wembley so that I never have to experience that.
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Post by mickyd on Jan 11, 2017 20:41:13 GMT
How about buying a ticket for the final if we get there but not enter the stadium?
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Post by holdsteady on Jan 11, 2017 20:42:58 GMT
Why does it matter so much to some people on here if other people don't attend in the checkatrade? No one ever mentioned letting the lads down and getting behind the club when it was the JPT, and hardly anyone went then.
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Post by highlandyellow on Jan 11, 2017 20:44:53 GMT
Come on guys. We have the chance to support our team, and two ties from Wembley. Come ON!
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Post by sideshowrob on Jan 11, 2017 20:46:59 GMT
Some people really can't grasp it, can they? 'You should support your team!' - I cringe every time I read a statement like this. Not least because I do support my team. I rarely miss a game these days in all competitions. But I will not 'support' them in this competition, because I want a future for the club and all of the other clubs that make up the lower leagues. The introduction of B Teams into the lower leagues has been on the agenda of FA bigwigs and the PL Chiefs for years now. It's not something that they will give up on because a few matches at the start of the season were boycotted. The resistance from us fans needs to be sustained and relentless. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been told that there are already murmurings of softening stances and increasing acceptance of B Teams. So no, for the remainder of this season and in any future tournament that includes B Teams, I will not be supporting 'my club', for the simple reason that I want to preserve the one bit about football in this country that we actually can be proud of: the lower leagues. By not supporting this utter joke of a competition, I believe I am helping to protect the long term future of the club; something much more important than success in a competition that saw us progress after losing a penalty shootout. I dread the day that I might see us lose to Stoke B team in a half empty stadium. I'm willing to miss a match at Wembley so that I never have to experience that. It would have to be voted in by a majority of EFL clubs for it to happen so it won't happen. It can't be forced on us by the FA/PL as you imply. The PL youth teams are only in the competion year because the PL stepped in to sponsor the competion when there was no one else and there was a danger that there would be no competition. Maybe it would have been better to drop the competition this year but we have gained £40,000 and have a reasonable chance of a Wembly final again.
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 11, 2017 20:53:10 GMT
Some people really can't grasp it, can they? 'You should support your team!' - I cringe every time I read a statement like this. Not least because I do support my team. I rarely miss a game these days in all competitions. But I will not 'support' them in this competition, because I want a future for the club and all of the other clubs that make up the lower leagues. The introduction of B Teams into the lower leagues has been on the agenda of FA bigwigs and the PL Chiefs for years now. It's not something that they will give up on because a few matches at the start of the season were boycotted. The resistance from us fans needs to be sustained and relentless. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been told that there are already murmurings of softening stances and increasing acceptance of B Teams. So no, for the remainder of this season and in any future tournament that includes B Teams, I will not be supporting 'my club', for the simple reason that I want to preserve the one bit about football in this country that we actually can be proud of: the lower leagues. By not supporting this utter joke of a competition, I believe I am helping to protect the long term future of the club; something much more important than success in a competition that saw us progress after losing a penalty shootout. I dread the day that I might see us lose to Stoke B team in a half empty stadium. I'm willing to miss a match at Wembley so that I never have to experience that. It would have to be voted in by a majority of EFL clubs for it to happen so it won't happen. It can't be forced on us by the FA/PL as you imply. The PL youth teams are only in the competion year because the PL stepped in to sponsor the competion when there was no one else and there was a danger that there would be no competition. Maybe it would have been better to drop the competition this year but we have gained £40,000 and have a reasonable chance of a Wembly final again. The formation of the premier league in the early 90s WASN'T approved by the majority of clubs, it was driven by a few clubs with money as a motive. There is nothing to say that if this hadn't been a resounding success that chairmen in the lower leagues wouldn't vote for it to be allowed in the league.
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Post by concretebob on Jan 11, 2017 21:05:34 GMT
Come on guys. We have the chance to support our team, and two ties from Wembley. Come ON! Already supporting our team mate, at Rotherham, at Wimbledon, at Rochdale, but not in the EFL Trophy.
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Post by concretebob on Jan 11, 2017 21:07:20 GMT
How about buying a ticket for the final if we get there but not enter the stadium? Money still goes to 'them' though.
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Post by sox on Jan 11, 2017 21:08:08 GMT
Loving this thread, some genuinely delusional forum members running around telling me the sky is going to fall in. Great value last night against a decent Scunny team. Have to say I'm loving the parking, was in and out of the car park in 5 mins. When's the draw for the next round?
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Post by saddletramp on Jan 11, 2017 21:08:36 GMT
Kept quiet until now but blood is starting to boil! "You weren't at (read any league away game) so your not a real fan" "I'd go to Wembley, but none of the other games" "Checkatrade not important, I won't go to a game" So here's how I see it. OUFC didn't make the rules! It doesn't really matter what any of us think, the FA will always do its own thing. Not going to watch your team because of something out of its control is frankly pathetic. Personally I am proud to have watched 'my team' .... Whatever the competition and whatever the crowd ..... 2017 is no different to 2016 ..... I had a 10 hour round journey to watch 2016 quarter final at Dagenham and joined the 256 (if memory serves correct) ..... How we got to 33k at Wembley is beyond me......was there a boycott then? Did I miss something? Stop ******* bitching and get behind the U's ....... Still a long way to go but if and when we do 'go back' to Wembley I doubt it'll be against the last U21 team (Swansea) ...... Cos let's face it the other 15 have been pretty shite. A good old L1/L2 clash is more likely and I suspect the FA have already decided to revert the format anyway ......... For reference I have only missed 3 games all season and that includes Wimbledon (H) where I took advantage of the TV and saved a 400 mile round trip so please don't throw the "we're you at?" Card at me COYY ....... In any tournament 😉 For me the preservation of the status and success of the lower leagues is more important than the success of Oxford - in any competition. It's so shortsighted to say we have 'no control'. Yes, the PL will always try to impose their will regardless of public opinion. They do it to fans of their own clubs let alone fans of lower league teams. However, the Football League does not have to accept it. If they are shown that the implications of their decision to roll over for the PL can be huge, they will think twice about doing so. By attending these games, you're telling the EFL that you're okay with their decision. In a few years time, when we end up missing out on promotion because a B team filled with young foreign internationals gets there ahead of us, I'll look back to this competition and shake my head at anyone that attended a match. "For me the preservation of the status and success of the lower leagues is more important than the success of Oxford - in any competition" WTF. I dont give a shit about the lower leagues if Oxford aren't in them,as i dont give a shit about the Conference now we are out of it. Are you saying that if Swansea B got to the final against the scum you would cheer on the scum ? So Oxford get relegated,"ah well no B teams so this season is a success" Lose a play off final to the Scum,"ah well no B teams,so thats more important than Oxford losing to the scum" Oxford in the conference,the FL stop promotion and relegation to preserve the success of the lower leagues,"ah well no B teams so who cares if Oxford are in non league football forever,the success of the lower leagues is more important than the team i've followed all my life" " By attending these games, you're telling the EFL that you're okay with their decision" And what decision would that be ? That the experiment failed and wont be repeated ? That "B"teams will never be allowed in the football league ? If Newcastle play a "B team" in the FA cup as will likely happen,will you boycott the game ? "In a few years time, when we end up missing out on promotion because a B team filled with young foreign internationals gets there ahead of us, I'll look back to this competition and shake my head at anyone that attended a match". Does that mean if we miss out on promotion to a "B team" filled with promising young English players,you will be OK with that ? What part of the PL statement "B teams will NEVER play in the FL" dont you understand ?
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Post by Common Villager on Jan 11, 2017 21:08:47 GMT
Some people really can't grasp it, can they? 'You should support your team!' - I cringe every time I read a statement like this. Not least because I do support my team. I rarely miss a game these days in all competitions. But I will not 'support' them in this competition, because I want a future for the club and all of the other clubs that make up the lower leagues. The introduction of B Teams into the lower leagues has been on the agenda of FA bigwigs and the PL Chiefs for years now. It's not something that they will give up on because a few matches at the start of the season were boycotted. The resistance from us fans needs to be sustained and relentless. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been told that there are already murmurings of softening stances and increasing acceptance of B Teams. So no, for the remainder of this season and in any future tournament that includes B Teams, I will not be supporting 'my club', for the simple reason that I want to preserve the one bit about football in this country that we actually can be proud of: the lower leagues. By not supporting this utter joke of a competition, I believe I am helping to protect the long term future of the club; something much more important than success in a competition that saw us progress after losing a penalty shootout. I dread the day that I might see us lose to Stoke B team in a half empty stadium. I'm willing to miss a match at Wembley so that I never have to experience that. It would have to be voted in by a majority of EFL clubs for it to happen so it won't happen. It can't be forced on us by the FA/PL as you imply. The PL youth teams are only in the competion year because the PL stepped in to sponsor the competion when there was no one else and there was a danger that there would be no competition. Maybe it would have been better to drop the competition this year but we have gained £40,000 and have a reasonable chance of a Wembly final again. What the PL wants it so very often gets. How set in stone is that 'majority of football league clubs rule'? I'm sure it could be got around if the desire was there from the PL, EFL and FA. What's to say the club's wouldn't vote for it, anyway? Like you say we could stand to make a decent amount of money from this year's competition. A promise of cash injection from the PL and a feeling that the fans aren't as opposed to the concept as it may have initially seemed may do the trick.
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Post by bashamwonderland on Jan 11, 2017 21:10:07 GMT
Loving this thread, some genuinely delusional forum members running around telling me the sky is going to fall in. Great value last night against a decent Scunny team. Have to say I'm loving the parking, was in and out of the car park in 5 mins. When's the draw for the next round? I got better value. I paid £0 and didn't go. Draw is tomorrow at some point. How was the atmosphere?
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Post by saddletramp on Jan 11, 2017 21:22:51 GMT
Lowest ever attendance at the Kassam last night, lowest ever crowd in a game vs Swindon last year. Shows what a lot of the crowd thinks of the competition and good for them. No doubt we'd take a few to Wembley but I'd expect far fewer than last year, which would be a disappointment. But unfortunately the club and the league have made their bed and they'll have to lie in it. The fans staying away won't be the main influence on the final decision but I'm proud of those who've said what they think of it by staying away. Im baffled. The game against Scunny was in a competition that some people are boycotting. The scum game wasn't. The attendance against Swindon (9,013) was larger than the attendance in 2012 (7,745) And in fact was larger than the last 5 LEAGUE games against them at The Manor. We played them at home in the Anglo Italian cup in 92 in front of 4,069. So where do you get the "lowest ever crowd against Swindon" from ?
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Post by SteMerritt on Jan 11, 2017 21:25:43 GMT
I think it is being conveniently ignored that the reason this experiment is being seen as a one-off and no chance of being expanded is PRECISELY because of the low crowds, and for anyone to suggest that if crowds had been big that it wouldn't be expanded is naive in the least.
But each to their own.
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Post by scotters on Jan 11, 2017 21:26:39 GMT
Lowest ever attendance at the Kassam last night, lowest ever crowd in a game vs Swindon last year. Shows what a lot of the crowd thinks of the competition and good for them. No doubt we'd take a few to Wembley but I'd expect far fewer than last year, which would be a disappointment. But unfortunately the club and the league have made their bed and they'll have to lie in it. The fans staying away won't be the main influence on the final decision but I'm proud of those who've said what they think of it by staying away. Im baffled. The game against Scunny was in a competition that some people are boycotting. The scum game wasn't. The attendance against Swindon (9,013) was larger than the attendance in 2012 (7,745) And in fact was larger than the last 5 LEAGUE games against them at The Manor. We played them at home in the Anglo Italian cup in 92 in front of 4,069. So where do you get the "lowest ever crowd against Swindon" from ? www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14781701.Swindon_Town_0__Oxford_United_0__Swindon_win_extra_point_on_pens_/Attendance: 2,698. Not surprised you forgot that one, I think most people had forgotten it while it was happening
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