Refund

That’s not on, I got a free pie and pint aswell, and a blow job off one of the birds in the ticket office, all you had to do was ask at the turnstile and mention the code : WeArEtAkInGtHePiSs.

I do find it odd that the club (I am assuming Cook and his staff didn’t do this without running it past the management) decided to do what they did last night. When you say the match was thrown are you suggesting the players were sent out under instructions to lose and to lose by more than two goals to ensure we didn’t go through. And if that was the case why turn out stronger teams in the previous matches and risk injury to first team players if it was always the intention not to progress any further. Finally, without a game this weekend it was an ideal opportunity to give a run out to some of the fringe players and keep them match fit.[/quote]
No, I don’t think they lost deliberately as I thought they looked the better team at times.

But I do suspect Cook put out the kids knowing there was a good chance they’d get turned over, and if they won, I expect the kids would have been given the next game too.

Not sure what the change of heart was from the previous games. Maybe his backroom staff have said the first teamers need a rest nd the extra games are taking a toll.

Whatever, I certainly don’t think he was overly bothered about winning last night – and him not being there pretty much confirmed that.[/quote]

I understand the logic in wanting out of this competition, I just find it strange the way they went about it.

I was told Cook was sat in the director’s box but I didn’t bother to look round and check.

Anyway, one good thing was the voucher I got which guarantees me a ticket for the Fylde cup game. A great gesture by the club to the loyal fans that turned up last night. They must have realised there would be some moaning and groaning going on so nice of them to soften the disappointment.[/quote]
Listening to Talk Sport this morning and Neil Lennon was talking to Sam Allardyce. Both said when it’s international week, the use it to give their players some time off to relax and recuperate. And by all accounts, it’s exactly what Cook has done.

So this made me think: if you have your first team squad training together as a one unit – ‘you’re all playing a big part in this season’ etc etc, you can’t then say ‘You’ve all got the week off. Go and enjoy it with your families, but not you, you, and you, as you’re playing on Tuesday, so I’ll see you at training in the morning’!

Sometimes people forget that these are real people, and people would soon get pissed off if their mates are given time off but they aren’t – even though they’ve put in just as much effort on the training ground as they have.

(PS. My ticket voucher is a gold one. I get free transport as well)

Ah, but there’s a difference here.

Keys was suggesting the City players didn’t try in that match and allowed Wigan to win.

Nobody is suggesting the Wigan players didn’t try on Tuesday. I’m sure they’d have loved to win and did everything they could – but were simply too young and not strong enough.

When I say they’d thrown the match (probably the wrong term in hindsight) I meant Cook had effectively written off the match by putting the kids in and wasn’t overly concerned if we progressed in the tournament.

I’m hoping the club have done their homework and they were given dispensation to allow their squad time off – maybe through a loophole caused by the international weekend. I don’t know and I’m only guessing.

Regarding the likes of Bruce etc. maybe he would want a game, or maybe he wouldn’t. He’s 33, trains hard all week, and plays the odd midweek game for Under 23s, and then you give him the choice of a few days off or turning out on a cold Tuesday night against Accrington in front of 1000 people. I suspect he might say, ‘You know what, I’ll give it a miss and play a bit of golf and spend time with my kids instead’!

Pretty much spot on.

The fact that THREE Sunderland fans travelled to watch their U23 side this week shows how little the competition means these days and whilst I wanted us to win it (I want to win every comp we are in) it is probably 4th/5th on our list of priorities and the team selections throughout proved that.

How can they use the excuse of resting the squad when we have no game on Saturday? .

I copied and pasted those rules from the Checkatrade Trophy official site. It said that the fine would be up to £5000.[/quote]

It remains to be seen if the club will be fined but they must have known the rules so will be aware of that and yet still determined to play the kids.[/quote]
That fine is pretty much half of the night’s takings!

Would you rather have a week off work or 2?[/quote]

Obviously I would have 2 but I wont have broken any rules to get them.