http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27289819 "A new competition for Premier League and Championship clubs to field B teams will be considered by the Football Association on Wednesday. It has been proposed that the teams could play in a league sandwiched between League Two and the Conference. Another option is to merge League Two and the Conference with the B teams to form two regional leagues. The proposals are part of FA chairman Greg Dyke's commission on the future of the national team. " I wouldn't want to be a lower league club and read this. Will make compelling analysis as it unfolds.
I think having the reserve teams in the league could be a good idea but I worry that some of the big and rich clubs B teams will rise to the same division as their A teams which would be wrong.
This is the situation in many other countries - which allows the top clubs to maintain large squads and keep them all match fit. In Germany B squads are allowed up to the 3rd level of the German league - but are not allowed to be promoted above that level, which leads to a lack of competition there as some clubs can be promoted and others not. A squads and B squads are announced before the commencement of the league and are not interchangeable in mid season. A 3rd division match between e.g. Preussen Munster (a real club) and Hamburg SV B team is a classic non event with no away fans and little real interest.
Wjy not just go back to the Football Combination? Dedicated reserve team leagues that would provide regular competitve football. OK, not much in the way of crowds, but it was tried and tested for years. One positive of the FA's plan is that it would hopefully relegate the Tramps back down to where they belong!
This is really all about: 1) replacing reserve team football with B squads 2) Protecting the interests of those clubs at the top Implications: Further marginalising lower league football by: making it harder for smaller clubs to compete against such better paid and more skilful B squads devaluing lower leagues as part of the football pyramid etc etc etc What is good about this proposal for the game as a whole?
I presume the FA would have to make sure these "B" teams are full of young English/British talent rather than just another bunch of overseas squad members getting a game otherwise its pointless.
