[Salopbaggie]

Not sure if I have I totally missed something here or misread the article but it appears that our Under 21's will play against League One and League Two teams in the EFL Trophy this season (Johnstone's Paint Trophy), along with 15 other Category One academies.

If right what a great bit of experience for them.

[Lord Snooty]

I dare you to go on the Chesterfield forum and say that.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Premiership sides are not going to be welcome at a lot of clubs but, yes, dare you to tell the Spireites! I'm afraid I do see it as the Premiership stealing a trophy that I am quite fond of.

[Lord Snooty]

The FA have some deluded notion that by including Premier League reserves in this competition that it will improve the long term interests of the England football team.
On the face of it, utter bollocks. Or is it? I bet most of the Welsh team, semi finalists at Euro 16, had played in the JPT in their careers.

[Salopbaggie]

Whooh slow down guys I don't expect the U21's to beat these teams I just meant it will be great experience for them to play  a real competitive game against seasoned professionals.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

[St Charles Owl]

59,000 fans turned up at Wembley to watch Barnsley win this trophy last season, how many will turn up to watch Man City U21 v Chelsea U21?? I get the need for the U21 teams to play competitive games but why "steal" the only trophy that smaller teams get a chance to play at Wembley to do that?? Why can't they create an U21 league for the academies to take part in and spend some of the billions the PL has to make it competitive??

[Salopbaggie]

59,000 fans turned up at Wembley to watch Barnsley win this trophy last season, how many will turn up to watch Man City U21 v Chelsea U21??  I get the need for the U21 teams to play competitive games but why "steal" the only trophy that smaller teams get a chance to play at Wembley to do that??  Why can't they create an U21 league for the academies to take part in and spend some of the billions the PL has to make it competitive??

I understand your concern and if it proved to be the case that the U21's were dominating, it should be stopped. I think you may be overestimating the levels of the U21's a little, of course there will always be the odd up and coming star amongst them, but I do not think it will be that easy for any U21 team to compete with established professional D1 side. You only have to think of how few U21's even get the chance to go on loan and get in to a D1 teaam

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Talking of U21s, apparently ours are playing yours in a pre-season friendly on the 30th.

[WakeyTerrier]

You could also look at it the other way.

Lower league teams get to host clubs like Arsenal,Chelsea,Man City or Man Ud. It'd be one of the better crowds of the season.

Just imagine, Oldham v City/United
Shrewsbury v West Brom
Crawley v Chelsea
Southend v Arsenal