Reserve League

Asked the question at the fans forum at Record Cafe tonight. GB doesn’t think it’s a problem & seemed to prefer to arrange on a game by game basis to develop the youth players or give game time to those out of the squad, coming back from injury. This way he can match the opposition with the needs of the players, rather than dropping 16 year olds into a reserve league due to injuries just to cover a ‘reserve league fixture’ & get beat 8 0.

 

Any other tit-bits from tonight?

News of more signings or players leaving?

Colville?

 

I have the same thoughts as Bowyer seems to. Always questioned the point in the reserve league as they nearly always turn into extra youth team matches, Huddersfield have entered the central league this year but it will be an u19 squad and you get told when to play them so you have matches when you don't want them and don't have them when you want them. You only play 14 matches so big chunks of the season you are left without games unless you do what we'd be doing anyway and arranging friendlies.
2 seasons ago we played the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd U23's which are surely just as good on the pitch as the likes of Mansfield reserves and also can be used to develop relationships between the clubs so no reason why we can't do things like that again.

 

Still looking at the trialists still at the club & will again look over the weekend, sounded like decision will be made next week.

Nothing on Colville, nobody asked

Review of Priority Away Membership to be reviewed next season, possible loyalty points based or enhanced season ticket. Too late to review or this year. Nothing discounted at this stage.

Robinson...couldn’t comment as police investigation still not concluded.

Additional signings...still looking GB would like another 1-2 but need to be the right characters for the squad & club.

Reeves.. improvement in fitness & desperate to get going this season, but need to be careful given the time he has been out. Slow return by the sounds of it.

Favourite band Stereophonics, he bought a LP vinyl.

GB had no comment on the Terriers new kit

Ryan Sparks confirmed the huge difference in the back room staff atmosphere at the club. Folk are trusted to do their jobs. Rupp trusts the staff to run the club & is letting them get on with the job.JR already has plans in place for next season & beyond.

GB thinks the training facilities are excellent, Woodhouse Grove great partner.

Can’t remember the other questions..blame the beer. The forum will be on Radio Leeds on Saturday 1-2pm

Oh yes, just remembered, Radio Leeds will be airing every City game, home & away next season.

 

This is nothing new, I'm surprised you didn't know this?

 

Which is a b0ll0cks attitude to squad and confidence building IMO.
And there I was ...... THINKING we'd got got it right ...... shakes head ......
Reap what you sow, etc ............ I hope GB doesn't use this as an excuse later in the season, as WE fail !!

 

Bowyer isn't the first and won't be the last to think the reserve league isn't worth it.

Unless you have a proper set up with dedicated coaches and staff, it's just another headache to fulfill.

Game time is important, however, but I'm sure the players will get it.

 

Brentford don’t bother with shoddily organised reserve league and have an immense production line of talent.

It’s not an issue.

On another note, funny isn’t it, that only Warnock and Grayson have complained about our facilities. Everyone else likes them and gets on with it

 

Something about workmen and tools comes to mind with their comments. If they were good enough for Parkinson for them 5 years, that’s fine by me.

 

NO complaints about the facilities from me.
But that was never my point.
A matchday squad is 18 at best, with a maximum of 14 getting any game time.
Training, no matter how good will not compensate for being 'switched on' in a competitive match. An' you know what ? CITY fans will be the the FIRST to say such and such player player played really CRAP on his first appearance, following a period away from the 1st eleven. There is absolutely NO substitute for minutes on the pitch to reaching your peak.

I was unfortunately away from work for about 6 weeks, some years back ............ It almost felt like a NEW job, upon my return. You can't possibly remember that which you have missed !! I was hoping the 'new broom' would include a structured plan of game game time for fringe and recovering players, obviously not.

 

They do get game time though. As has been mentioned, we organise lots of games against other clubs that also feel the reserve leagues are not fit for purpose.

 

You say "LOTS", Northern ........... But how many is 'lots', and are they timely or structured ? I'm only aware of about 8 last season, most of which were behind closed doors.
As a fringe player, with a maximum game time of 8 over the year ....... I'm gonna say feck off, an' go elsewhere .....

 

We won’t fail with Bowyer, this guy is the real deal. If he thinks the reserves are a waste of time thats good enough for me.

 

I'll have to take your word for it but I'm not sure we can read anything into last year's debacle. The club is currently rebuilding and if GB is happy that he can get enough game time into his fringe players whilst being more flexible then surely it's a win win?

Either way we just have to trust the set up I suppose.

 

I know you didn’t. That’s why I said “on another note....”