Absolutely right. Just need to work on pathways to first team football and perhaps they may be able to attract / keep some decent talent.
See I love the idea. But I watched our not quite first team tear Aston Villa’s u23s a new arsehole. And then tear them another one!! The u23 level is nowhere near third division. It’s not even 4th division (league 1 and 2 in new money). Ivecc BC watched Benji play well at that level then be nowhere near fir the first team. This isn’t he looking fir an argument or anything. Just looking at it from a different perspective. Someone playing well at u23 May be miles from first team quality
Absolutely agree mate. Don't think the problem is so much the quality but the fact the games tend not to be very competitive But I think by bringing in some more mature hungry lads to the set up. Young lads who have been rejected by top clubs or have learned their trade in the lower leagues. Like Josh Hawkes you can benefit the younger academy lads and give the team more of an edge and move it closer to being an old fashioned reserve team This is the reason Brentford binned their academy in favor of a B team that play very competitive friendlies with teams from all over this country and Europe. Helps the step up to the first team and also benefits squad players who aren't getting a first team game. Long way to go but much better noises coming out of the academy teams.
The authorities ballsed everything up disbanding the reserve league. Reserve games were competitive. Kept players which were out of the team on their toes. You’d often get first teamers playing fir the reserves. It kept the reserves and youngsters at a decent level. Playing kids against kids, as you say, leaves youngsters learning little. Making the players find it extremely difficult to get to the first team level.
If I remember right, at the beginning of the season they said they wanted to use the u23 more like a reserve team this season. Hopefully it's beginning to pay off.
