My view on it differs a great deal from most. I see the inclusion of Under 23's as a useful tool for youngsters to gain expereince from playing against hardened pros. As there is no Reserve League as such, these days, it is the only opportunity they will get. I doubt that Academy sides will ever feature in any finals, that isn't why they are in it. As for the League sides, they don't lose anything by putting out a decent side against them, it depends on how much they want to win it. Pompey have made the effort and have succeeded in getting to a Final. It's time for their fans to drop their prejudices and get themselves to Wembley and enjoy the chance of a Trophy. The JPT was one of the best days ever, don't waste the opportinity to enjoy one of the best days of your life.
No idea, don't watch the youth teams. All B teams should start at the same level though, ie right at the bottom or have some kind of seperate league where they get promoted out of it and into the football pyramid
I get that but there must be a reason for it, i'm guessing the reason is money, which is hard to come by in the lower leagues.
I understand that people feel the cup should be kept for lower league teams, but it's not been forced on them. It must be putting money into the lower leagues and probably gives a bit more spice to the competition...the lower league teams must be up for beating PL Academy lads. If they gained nothing from it, they wouldn't have voted for it.
I expect when they voted for it they did so under the assumption that all the big clubs would take part which hasn't happened. Bet they didn't see post war records for low crowds being set either.
I have nothing against the loan system because it is mutually beneficial for both clubs and it doesn't imply that the a League 1 or 2 club is on an equal level to a Premier League academy.
1. If they all start at the same level, then just have a reserve team (B) league like they used to years ago. 2. What level do they start at? The football pyramid has some good quality and teams wanting to progress below leave 2, so the injection of another entire league somewhere above another league, causes problems. That would mean a non-league club being promoted from say level 7 and going into a league that has all U’21 teams with the exception of the promoted and relegated team. That wouldn’t be good for them. For me, there should be a same level B team league, i.e. a Premier League B level that mirrors the actual premier league. The teams gonup and down based on the actual first team season. That means competitive football for the B squad or youngsters and also gives youngsters a chance to test themselves. Look at us debating how Sims, Gallagher, etc will do in the first team. They could be playing “reserve team” football against Premier league level players, which would actually give the club a better idea. I played against some big names at reserve team level and it certainly gives you an idea if you can be good enough or not. I wasn’t.
Why did they ditch the whole Reserve leagues in the first place? Didn't that work in basically the way you describe? Seems like a good system to me.
The U23s are more an Academy team now....it is rare to get a first teamer playing. Not like the old reserve teams which were full of fringe first teamers and those coming back from injury.
We do have the issue where players like Marcus Barnes and Slattery e.t.c are with the first team Squad but aren't getting any on field playing time. The U23's are missing the ones that have got them to the top and like on Friday they were beaten, when they should have at least got a draw.
At the risk of jinxing the result and the score turning around...ex Saint Ben Reeves has just assisted Chalton's secong goal to put them 2-1 up with half an hour to play...
