Article: Should Premiership reserve's compete in the Football League? | Football Southampton

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saintgreg10

saintgreg10

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2011
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Southampton
This of course is already in place in Spain and has been for many years. Most of La Liga sides have their reserve teams compete in the Spanish football pyramid. The reserve sides of Barcelona and Villarreal compete in the 2ND tier of the Spanish league system (equivalent of the English FL Championship) and there is a whole host of other reserve sides competing in the 3rd tier also; Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to name just two. Other reserve sides play non-league football, but still at a competitive level.

Of course, none of these reserve sides are allowed to compete in the same league as their senior parent club. So if they are ever in a position to get promoted to the same division, they simply can't go up. Also, if their senior parent club is relegated down into their reserve side's division, the reserve side unfortunately must be relegated as-well. In addition only under-23 players, or under-25 players with a professional contract can switch between senior and reserve teams.

This whole thing got me on to thinking. What if the FA implemented the same system into the English football league pyramid. Wouldn't this give a fantastic opportunity for young 'home-grown' players to play regular competitive football against some top quality opposition instead of playing friendlies and matches in meaningless reserve leagues. Wouldn't it help develop younger English players even better and ultimately give some much needed help to the future of our national team. After All, much of Spain's current crop of talent came through the ranks from playing reserve team football at a competitive level before making the step up to their respected senior sides - look where they are now!

Thoughts?
 
Interesting idea but which Football League sides would have to make way for the PL reserve sides? Or would the leagues be expanded to accommodate them? Then there'd be more fixture congestion or a longer season.
 
I don't like the idea, purely because they're there in place of other teams. Reserve sides will have none or next to no support, so supporters of actual teams have to miss out so players who don't make the grade for full teams can stretch their legs. Real teams > reserve teams for me.
 
-Dan said:
I don't like the idea, purely because they're there in place of other teams. Reserve sides will have none or next to no support, so supporters of actual teams have to miss out so players who don't make the grade for full teams can stretch their legs. Real teams > reserve teams for me.
Click to expand...

Agreed. A totally new league for all reserve teams on the other hand......
 
If it was only £5-£10 would you? I appreciate that those who travel a long way wouldn't go but for those in the city, it's got to be better than Eastenders hasn't it? I remember going to see the reserves at the Dell when Hassan Kachloul and A N Other (Berkovic?) were playing as part of their trials and there was a very healthy gate.
 
Another 20...30...40...teams in the league structure??

The PL stopped the reserve combination league as they wanted it the preserve of Premier league clubs: it wouldn't look good that League 1 Saints' reserve team were dicking Chelsea's. So we now have development squad/youngsters league which on the whole is a good idea to help fast track youth development.
 
Crap idea, if you extenuate it you could have a few wealthy clubs dominating Premier and First Div, swapping players to suit fixtures etc and the likes of Saints languishing in the Third Division (South) ...with, God forbid, Wigan in Third Division (North)
 
Tier 1 Academies should. Then players that are on the verge of the first team can get some proper experience.
 
No, it would ruin the competitive nature of League football. All league teams are independent clubs trying to climb the leagues, not there to give practice to Premiership sides. The Premier League has too much influence as it is.
 
Stupid article. No one would go and watch them. The players wouldn't be able to swap teams throughout the season. So our reserves would be full of youth players and I wouldn't go and pay to see our youth team play teams like Mansfield.
 
I really do not see a problem if it is solely a reserve team league. It used to be used to help injured players to get back to full fitness as well as giving youngsters a game to bring them on. I wouldn't agree for it to be integrated into the full football league as that would mean most of Div 3 teams being pushed out of the league unless they added a league or two of course. I think all Premiership teams compete in the premiership reserve league don't they? I some how cannot see the standard increasing because they join the football league. So by the looks of the way the original Poster was suggesting perhaps ....then no !
 
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