Typical, isn’t it? I tune into Radio Bristol for the first time in many months to listen to commentary of Bristol Rovers v a Reading invitational XI and instead the station is broadcasting Yeovil Town v Someone. I say someone because I have absolutely no idea who they are playing and I can’t be bothered to check. I’ve reached for the off button instead.
Part of me wanted to know what sort of crowd the Gas would attract for this now meaningless competition. My guess is somewhere in the high hundreds – say 800 – but, quite frankly, who cares? But to be fair, isn’t just just Gasheads who are treating this tournament with the contempt it deserves. Here are some more examples:
Portsmouth have made 11 changes for their game against whoever it is they are playing.
Exeter supremo Paul Tisdale (43) has selected himself on the bench for their game.
The draw was made on Rupert Murdoch’s Soccer AM using playing cards.
On Luton’s bench tonight is a 15 year old kid who has had special permission from his head teacher to play. (I am guessing that if he had been denied permission to play, he’d have had to stay on the bench.)
There will be plenty more stories like this and it is no more than the English Football League (EFL) deserve. And the best thing about it? Many of the stories are genuinely funny. Sky’s playing card initiative seems crass enough, but how about the EFL’s half-arsed idea to bring in academy sides in the first place? Although Soccer AM’s best days are a decade behind it, they turned a farce into a fiasco. And humour is the best way to deal with idiotic ideas like this.
Being serious for one moment, I see the destruction of the former Paint Pot trophy as the thin end of the wedge. We already know that there has been a suggestion that Under 21 teams could compete in lower league football. This is the EFL flying their kite and here fans and clubs are shooting it down in flames.
I am hoping for more amusing stories tonight, hopefully on social networks. I quite understand how Gas manager Darrell Clarke wants to win tonight’s game because he wants to win every game, but I also understand why ordinary folk couldn’t give a toss.
Terrible crowds everywhere tonight would send a huge message to the EFL but a big five figure crowd at the final would undo much of that. Is the boycott just for tonight? Discuss…
