⚽ Match Thread vs. Northampton Town FC 08.10.24 [EFLT]

[durhampie]

Its an ideal opportunity for our younger players to get experience of senior football. Without this type of competition, there is no other way that these lads can get that experience... As for letting people in for free, well that is not going to happen. The club still have to pay Staff and stewards, Also the floodlights need to be on, which no doubt cost quite a lot of money..

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Its an ideal opportunity for our younger players to get experience of senior football. Without this type of competition, there is no other way that these lads can get that experience... As for letting people in for free, well that is not going to happen. The club still have to pay Staff and stewards, Also the floodlights need to be on, which no doubt cost quite a lot of money..

No floodlights needed for daytime games
You're right about having to pay stewards but clubs must already make a loss on the games in the early rounds
Perhaps it might make the competition more attractive to future sponsors if daytime free entry leads to bigger crowds?
Sky would still show the games even if they're in the afternoons - they might even get more viewers

[Elite_Pie]

Get rid of the Premiership U21 teams and I’ll attend again. Keep them in and I wouldn’t watch even if it was free and a chauffeur drove me to the games.

[Boomerangpie]

It gives the youngsters an evening to remember, it gives returning players much needed competitive minutes and it reminds the fans that there is a big difference between youth team football and first team football for the traditional demand of youth players getting a chance in league games

[Elite_Pie]

It gives the youngsters an evening to remember, it gives returning players much needed competitive minutes and it reminds the fans that there is a big difference between youth team football and first team football for the traditional demand of youth players getting a chance in league games

But how ‘competitive’ are these games? Crowds are very small, almost every club plays the weakest team the rules permit, and many are happy to go out early. You would get just as much competition in a behind closed doors friendly. Any Premiership U21 team should batter the side we put out yesterday, it was made up almost entirely of kids and second string players.

[matt_magpie]

Get rid of the Premiership U21 teams and I’ll attend again. Keep them in and I wouldn’t watch even if it was free and a chauffeur drove me to the games.

I didn’t realise 'til looking at the fixtures today that the national league cup has Prem Academy teams in it??
They're taking the pi55, still no resolution on their funding deal to the EFL which should have been sorted a long time ago.

[Boomerangpie]

But how ‘competitive’ are these games? Crowds are very small, almost every club plays the weakest team the rules permit, and many are happy to go out early. You would get just as much competition in a behind closed doors friendly. Any Premiership U21 team should batter the side we put out yesterday, it was made up almost entirely of kids and second string players.

More competitive than quickly arranged friendlies behind closed doors with no crowds and next to no incentive to win.

The U21 team is just one out of the four teams in each group right? If the other three sides all do the same as us kids and second string then it is likely to be competitive.

I’ve never been to a game like this even before U21 involvement. Many fans are boycotting because of their inclusion but that is completely separate to the benefit to the club and individual players as mentioned by many.

[nw6pie]

Last evening showed up the depth, or lack of it. of our squad. Its the 3rd home defeat in a row at "fortress Meadow Lane", as SM descibed us a few weeks back. This will have demoralising effect on us and the players. This is a follow on from Port Vale which was a follow on from Gillingham, before that we had fortunate draws. I do not think that we have recruited very well pre season, with a couple of exceptions, it feels like we are unprepared, this may be a blip which i really hope it is but there is just a niggle that tells me we are a mid table side, at best.

Would i swap for any other club?, no i would not, we are a top club with a ground that puts most league 1 grounds in the shade and some Championships as well, our owners invested wisely on the infrastructure, a big thanks, it is now time to concentrate on the playing side.

I do hope the rumour i heard last night is not true, well maybe, i heard that NFFC have had a large input into the pitch update ready for a ground share in 25/26 when the City Ground is being developed, anyone else heard anything?.

Huge if true, but I’d be very surprised if Forest weren’t looking at a bigger ground for a season, even if it involves more travel for the fans. Derby would be a nonstarter, obviously, but what about Sheffield Wednesday?

Also, have they now got planning permission to redevelop the ground? The last I heard, the owner was talking up a 50,000 stadium there.

[NottsNotCounty]

I heard the rumour at the first home game this season. I can’t see that it would take a whole season for them to redevelop one stand, however, it would lead to us having to upgrade ML to meet PL requirements (tv studio etc) which could be good. For a start would we finally get the full 20k capacity with the required safety needs etc carried out.

[Elite_Pie]

More competitive than quickly arranged friendlies behind closed doors with no crowds and next to no incentive to win.

The U21 team is just one out of the four teams in each group right? If the other three sides all do the same as us kids and second string then it is likely to be competitive.

The games I played in many years ago on a Sunday morning were competitive. The point I’m making is that the level these games are played at is miles away from the real thing. Something to remember for the kids, but it would do next to nothing to prepare them for Chesterfield on Saturday.