Reading the other thread about East and Bradley going to Portsmouth it made me wonder how HCAFC benefitted by their time here? Then I wondered how we benefit from having a reserve team at all? When was the last time a reserve team player made the leap to becoming a first team regular? Cairney?... He blows hot and cold and is only a regular on the bench. There's much less chance of any of our reserves breaking through in the Prem so do we need a reserve team and wouldn't the expense of running one be better spent on signing a few decent first team players?
Ive had this argument before. The Ressies used to be a tool for keeping every single player - no matter who they were - reasonably match fit if they werent playing. It's particularly useful for someone coming back from injury or just struggling ie Prosser. Nowadays though it seems to be purely used as a development squad and I dont think we're making the most of it. If we get a large squad next season it could be hugely useful for those not playing.
instead of the idea of scraping it, how about we improve it? our youth setup/facilities are a joke for a championship club let alone premership!!! its an area thats needed sorting for years i just hope now we have decent owners and the money we do something about it. our first team facilities need vast improvements also but the youth set up needs more attention. its diabolical!!!
but thats how it works now.... and how it should work. the youth team play all reserve games they can with first teamers needing match fitness coming in as they please. its how its works now.
It seems in the EPL teams seem to be concentrating on the Under 21's, which is probable the way to go.
It's really not. It was the exception rather than the rule that first teamers not playing featured in the ressies. Mclean, Prosser, Rosie etc should have been playing EVERY week. Wasnt there a story that Rosie had to ask to play? I seem to recall that from this season and that shouldnt be the case.
We've got some talent coming through the under 17's I expect a few will step up to the reserves next season.
the problem is we don't even have academy status.. which is a joke considering we are now premier league
