Exciting news for Football League fans with the announcement that next year the Football League will be known as the EFL. There’s also a fancy new logo that no doubt many a boffin, marketing graduate, and white leather shoed fool has come up with in the world’s largest ideas shower. A golden shower no doubt.
The general consensus that I’ve read amongst fans so far is who gives a rat arse, the logo a shining beacon for how important the commercial side of the sport has become.
Maybe they could spend some more time on making going to the games more affordable for the fans.
Maybe they could somehow create an environment of less pressure so a manager can last more than the current average of just over a year.
Maybe they could have spent more time in explaining why the 2nd, 3rd and 4th division are called what they are now. Don’t get me wrong, as a follower of a side that is destined to stay in the 2nd tier for decades we love to have a name as prestigious as The Championship. But it’s a hard sell for those who don’t know or care. The (Insert Sponsor Here) English Football Leagues 1,2,3 could be an alternative.
A fancy new logo won’t help the fans that already go, and I can’t see it doing much for those who don’t. But there’ll be a feel good factor at Football League HQ and that’s all that matters.
Onto the field we go now and, the League returns after all the excitement of the First Round of the FA Cup, which saw four Football League Teams eliminated at the hands of some non League sides – Barnsley, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe, Notts County. Those sides will look to the League for redemption this weekend. There could be four more joining them if the replays go the wrong way.
Those that made it through will have one eye on the next round of the FA Cup as a win in Round 2 could set up a big clash with a footballing giant in Round 3 when the EPL and Championship sides join in.
MANAGER CHECK
New Managers in at York City (Jackie McNamara) and Cambridge Utd (Shaun Derry) – whilst Fulham and Blackburn are looking to fill a recently new void in the manager position. QPR and Huddersfield Town also filled their vacancies in the last fortnight. In all 13 Managers have moved on out of the 72 Football League teams since October.
HIGHLIGHTS
L1 – GILLINGHAM v BURY
L2 – OXFORD v CAMBRIDGE
Plus – Another chance to see the Soccer Saturday pundits trying in vain to be interested in lower leagues sides they don’t normally care about. You know Jeff Stelling does.
BETS
SWINDON to beat Scunthorpe
COVENTRY to beat Colchester
PETERBORO to beat Fleetwood
DRAW – Chesterfield v Oldham
BRADFORD to beat Crewe
$1 for $86
LUTON to beat Barnet
LEYTON ORIENT to beat Hartlepool
OVER 2.5 GOALS – Portsmouth v AFC Wimb’don
CAMBRIDGE to beat Oxford
$1 for $42
[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’table’ style=’green_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’table’ style=’red_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ /]
[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’fixtures’ style=’green_light’ title=’LEAGUE 1 GAMES’ limit=’12’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’fixtures’ style=’red_dark’ title=’LEAGUE 2 GAMES’ limit=’12’ /]
