Reserve team/u23s

There’s been times over the years where I’ve enjoyed watching our reserves more than the first team - it’d be a ‘yes’ from me.

 

It should be left to the manager to decide

 

Personally, I’d rather put all our resources into a smaller, high quality first team.

 

Until injuries hit

 

Unless we could afford to run it effectively, then a no from me. Maybe something to consider if we get further up the pyramid.

 

I’d take that risk.

I look at what we have now. I think we need a better left back, better option than bruenker and probably another 3 first team ready players. For those 3 extras, I’d happily lose Wright, Jones, Reeves, Clare, Gibson, Isherwood, Devine, Hawkes.If we had injuries, you include the likes of Goldthorp and Maltby on the bench. But so be it - I’d rather have 3 quality first team players rather than 6 or 7 youngesters who have generally low levels of potential. I actually think having so many reduces their individual chances of success. You’re better off having 3 or 4 in a strong squad, with experience and leaders, to give them the best environment to develop in.

Our first team squad has 36 players. Way too many. Reduce it to 25 - 2 for each position and 3 ‘academy graduates’. Improve the quality.

I’d doubt that reserve team football is more competitive than practice matches or friendlies anyway. And they can always be arranged ad hoc if fringe players need a game

 

I counted up at over 40 but that was last week.

As for getting rid of 6/7 to fund 3/4 I think 6/7 of the kids might just fund 1 or 2 at a push for first team players

 

Possibly so. Similar principle though.

We have our biggest budget for 15 years and at least 10-12 players who aren’t first team ready. It’s madness. To have a development team, you need to do it seriously. Put real money into recruitment, scouting, coaching. You can’t just take random punts which is what we seemed to do. The difference between vision and reality in that space was the biggest failing of he who must not be named.

 

We should just concentrate on a good first team squad and get rid of everything else, In the past we have made good money selling kids but now that has changed and little to be made and because very few youngsters come through to the first team over the years when you take Academy and youth and reserve costs in to account each player that makes it costs a fortune maybe up to £250k or more with all the costs of development
We could buy good players with that and get one every year

 

The club has to make a decision to either bring a reserve team back or the young players have to go get game time on loan, they need minutes regardless. Can't keep players and not give them game time its only detrimental e.g. Devine

 

I heard that defenders were awful in the air as u23s was all tippy tippy. They need first team footy to toughen them up but also get used to other styles of play

 

I'd think Stefan will be running anything we could do to save money passed Julian,I agree we need to cut costs where possible but if the lads who are not making the bench can't get game time even at reserve level it won't be easy to step up into league one football.

 

I think it’s a good idea. Kai can play in it. It suit him.

 

Kind of agree Broncs on the players not playing needing game time, Maybe something like Brentford may be the answer as they have come out of reserve leagues and just play regular arranged friendlies with other clubs, Recently they have played Spurs, Palace, Arsenal etc clubs they would never get near in reserve leagues. We have plenty of good clubs nearish to do the same playing squad players and those returning from injury

 

What are the rules for the PL under 23 matches? I thought they were allowed a number of over age players.

Edit they can field upto 4 over age players per game