Everton coach says EFL must resist calls to scrap new-look TrophyDavid Unsworth issues strong case for revamped competition to remain despite heavy criticismEverton coach David Unsworth has urged the power brokers of English Football League to resist calls to ditch the revamped EFL Trophy.
The Football League Trophy underwent a major shake-up this season when 15 top flight clubs with Category One academies, and one from the Championship, were invited to take part.
But the expanded competition, usually reserved for sides in League One and Two, was beset by problems from the off with a number of Premier League clubs pulling out over the scheduling of fixtures during international breaks.
Low attendances have been used as another criticism of the new-look Trophy format and the inclusion of clubs, such as Everton, has angered many supporters of Football League teams who feel the format was ripped up to suit the needs of Premier League sides.
But Unsworth, who remains in favour of the EFL allowing Premier League B teams into the pyramid, says the new Trophy structure must be extended beyond this season’s trial.
The under-23s boss, however, says EFL chiefs must look into the timing of games after many of Everton’s leading young players were denied the chance to take part in a competition that was designed to help them.
The Blues bowed out of the competition at the group stage on Tuesday night after losing to Blackpool on penalties and Unsworth is eager for another crack at it next season.
“That’s a big disappointment, particularly when you see the likes of Chelsea of not playing in the international break because they have a lot of players away as well,” Unsworth said of the fixture scheduling.
“We’ve got away with it because we’ve got a new manager.
“If it was under normal circumstances, I don’t if we would have been able to field a team and that is a disappointment.
“This is something we were invited into, we grasped with two hands, taken it on and loved it, absolutely loved it.
“It is, for me, what it is all about.
“You know my feelings on B teams, there’s a real debate about that and you sit on either side of the fence and that’s fine, but it’s a different debate for a different day.
“But for our real young lads to play up against senior players who play in League football, it is how they improve, it’s how they improve quicker and I’m in a rush for them, I want them to improve yesterday.
“Pitting our wits against senior players has been the best thing for them because it’s real, it’s the reality of where they are going to end up.”
Everton youngsters such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kieran Dowell and Tom Davies played no part in the EFL Trophy as they were always away on international duty.
But Unsworth still relished the competition and wants to be able to field those emerging talents, and his other international players, in it next term.
“Why would you not carry this on?” he said.
“Why would you deny the best young players, up and down the country, the opportunity?
“You ask any of the Blackpool players on Tuesday night, when that penalty went in, that it didn’t mean anything to them.
“Coming to Goodison and beating an Everton team on penalties. At Cheltenham, I saw the delight in the manager - and the manager has been around forever - and he was made up to beat us.
“He even said in his post-match (interview) that everyone would remember the night they beat Everton.
“I just wish we could play all our players who play week in, week out. That’s the reality of where we’re at and our players have been penalised for being good players and going to play for their country, and that’s not right.”
David Unsworth, coach of Everton looks on during the Checkatrade Trophy group match at Bolton Wanderers in August
Asked if he felt the revamped Trophy needed a run of a few seasons before its success could be properly judged, Unsworth added: “Of course it does.
“But I have to say, it’s had amazing publicity. It might not been great publicity but any publicity is good publicity. Everyone will know what the Checkatrade Trophy is all about now so I’m sure they’re delighted.
“So why would you pilot it for one year and not give us the opportunity to make it better next year and the year after that? It has given us a great foundation to at least have the debate about B teams or young players playing against senior players.
“We’ve drawn on Tuesday night (before losing on penalties), we were top of the table, we’ve not gone through, some teams have, some haven’t, I’ve seen the results and it’s brilliant. None of the under-23 teams have embarrassed themselves.
“You are pitting your wits against a different type of footballer and I’m sure all the senior teams have improved because they played Everton. I’m just disappointed that the suggestion is that it is going to get thrown out, I don’t understand that.
“This is an opportunity for young players to develop and we’re always moaning about our national team not having enough players so we have to decide which side of the fence we want to sit on.”
Liv Echo
