B teams.

This week a Spanish footballer (cant remember which) said they think that Premier League teams not having B teams like Spanish teams do is lessening our youth development. In Spain, Barcalona and Real Madrid (and probably more teams) have B teams in the lower league who their youth players can play for to gain experience and develop. They also mentioned an alternative, feeder clubs, where you loan your young players.


David Moyes has also said he has tried to register an Everton B team in the conference to help develop youth, but unsuccessfully.


So what is your opinion on this? Would a B team help our developing youth, the next generation of our club?


I can certainly see the profit of regular competitive games for youth players, which come at a pace they can handle. It can get them used to the feel of a real game, being part of a team, building fitness and gaining experience. But those can be achieved by a loan deal.

What a B team does that a loan deal cant do is get the player used to player with each other, the other youth players at the club, and playing for their own club as opposed to a temporary placement.

 

I think it would be a great idea, but how could it be implemented? Teams will have to be pushed out of the lower leagues to make space for the B teams of the large and rich.

 

Think it was AVB who said it?

 

Just another way to try and keep the big, rich clubs at the top...it's just not cricket IMO can't see it happening personally.

 

Could have been actually.

 

I would prefer premiership teams to sponsor lower league teams. pay them a sponsorship fee, loan them their youngsters and in return they get first dibs on the feeder teams youth prospects (which will be plenty as the feeder clubs wont need to invest in players so will invest in youth development) I'd rather a lower league system full of teams from around the country instead of Liverpool B, Man Utd B, etc

 

Good point, would be good to see this sort of thing happen to teams like Darlington etc who struggle financially.

 

I also agree with Bozz, proper links with lower league teams is the way forward. This would also help the financial stability of lower teams.

 

Yeah great thinking. Would be good with a team not far away to, so players can stay settled in the local area.