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Grimnir
I know this doesn't usually warrant its own thread, but given the format shake up and the surrounding controversy I thought it might be worth it.
The group stage has been drawn, one of the changes, with teams from Leagues 1 and 2 being drawn in groups alongside Premier League and Championship U-21 sides.
Northern Group A:
Everton
Bolton Wanderers
Cheltenham Town
Blackpool
Northern Group B:
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chesterfield
Crewe Alexandra
Accrington Stanley
Northern Group C:
Stoke City
Bradford City
Morecambe
Bury
Northern Group D:
Blackburn Rovers
Fleetwood Town
Carlisle United
Oldham Athletic
Northern Group E:
Derby County
Port Vale
Doncaster Rovers
Mansfield Town
Northern Group F:
Sunderland
Rochdale
Hartlepool United
Notts County
Northern Group G:
Middlesbrough
Scunthorpe United
Cambridge United
Shrewsbury Town
Northern Group H:
Leicester City
Sheffield United
Grimsby Town
Walsall
Southern Group A:
Reading
Bristol Rovers
Portsmouth
Yeovil Town
Southern Group B:
Swansea City
AFC Wimbledon
Newport County
Plymouth Argyle
Southern Group C:
Chelsea
Swindon Town
Exeter City
Oxford United
Southern Group D:
West Ham United
Coventry City
Wycombe Wanderers
Northampton Town
Southern Group E:
Southampton
Charlton Athletic
Colchester United
Crawley Town
Southern Group F:
Norwich City
Peterborough United
Barnet
Milton Keynes Dons
Southern Group G:
Brighton & Hove Albion
Southend United
Stevenage
Leyton Orient
Southern Group H:
West Bromwich Albion
Millwall
Luton Town
Gillingham
Crowds are usually small for the fixtures in this competition, even relative to their clubs. Surely a match against an U-21 side is not going to make the fixtures any more appealing? They are certainly not going to bring a big following, would be surprised if there were more than 100 away fans following their U-21 side anywhere. Also, imagine an U-21 side reaching the final, or worse two of them making it. Everton U-21s versus Chelsea U-21s in the EFL Trophy final, what a farce. I almost hope it happens so the organisers really how much they have destroyed an already ailing competition.
gfnx25
Also drawn alongside Massif Bradfut and Morecambe.
Shedender
Vercoe
Edit: I also find it amusing that it's the English Football League trophy and yet we're playing Newport and Swansea U23s (I know that isn't their clubs' faults).
Grimnir
(Sorry for mobile link, but I'm on my phone!)
This is good to see. I hope more clubs plan similar to demonstrate to the efl what a joke they have made of this competition. I would say it'd be the same at Bloomfield, but the only people in the stadium will be scabs anyway.
Number 1