Reserves

[UTT2011]

I know I do. Send them to League One or Two for a couple of months, and if they impress, try and get them to a better side for a while.

Certainly don't leave them there for 12 months of they prove their quality, and certainly don't just leave them out of the squad and make them play in a poor-quality reserve league.

yeah but clubs have to want the players - and with few games available for the reserves how do we manage this? Apparently some lower league clubs have shown interest - but i have to agree with you - i think the reserve players should aim for league 1 or 2

 

[UTT2011]

I ask one question. What the hell is the purpose of having a youth team and spending money on an acadamy if the players are not being given a chance to elevate to the first team. When we had a reserve team in a proper league, going back a few years now, we used to develope players from the youth team into the reserves and then into the first team. If you really are serious about developing players that is the way forward. We havnt hardly developed any players who have got into the first team and stayed there for years. The way it is you may as well get rid of the youth and acadamy set up and revert to just a first team squad because most of the youngsters never get a sniff at the first team and those that do generally have failed. Look how many are out on loan. You could argue about Cairney but he was brought up at another club before he came here.

I agree that the purpose of having a youth team is a bit vague - considering that there a few local lads who actually make the first team. i think the system is a bit backward to be honest. I used to think the setup used to be youth team, to reserve team to first team. this is obviousy not the way - if the youth players are taken on in the first place - then surely they should progress to the first team? if they are not good enough - should they be taken on at all?- i understand the idea is for development - but who is this development for - because it sure isnt for the best interest of our club - becuase we never use them....poor kids!!

 

[mussiesredhat]

mussiesredhat - your absolutely right about the lack of senior players in the crowd at reserve games - its funny how the youth/reserve have to watch the 1st team play - yet not vice versa. Adebola had a huge impact the other night at scunny game and he played a huge part in the goals scored - its just a shame his attitude after the match proved he didnt want to be there - inequality in the squad i think so. What do u think to our current lads in the reserve squad - i.e. Bradley, Emerton, Holohan, East, Townsend? - do u think any should be put out on loan this season?

in fear of repeating myself, i think Emerton, Bradley and Townsend are the nearest to the first team, and that is a long way away. In terms of loans, I d say it doesnt work as so many come back worse players than they were. At the moment I fear for Mark Cullen, who instead of playing and learning his trade alongside the likes of Dele Adebola or Nick Barmby, he is spending his formative years learning from Andy Bishop (who?) for instance. Like wise, I d also sooner see Gavan Holohan learning from James Harper in a competitive City Reserves squad than from Nicky Featherstone at Hereford. I would guess the whole situation has more to do the contracts and finances of senior pros than anything. Once again thanks Gordon Taylor!

 

[AndrewM]

I have to disagree. The problem is we don´t have a competitive reserve league and they play too few matches. They would be better off in my view at a club where they would be playing competive games week in and week out. They would learn the tricks of the trade playing against more experienced pro´s in Leagues one or two rather than against young players in what is virtually a youth league. Cullen was sent out last season and it was perhaps too early for him this season has been ruined so far by injuries. Devitt came back a more confident after being on loan a couple of years ago. Manchester United as we know like to send their young players out on loan and monitor their progress closely. I think also they are selective as to where they send them because it appears that the same clubs manage to acquire their players both Chester and Dudgeon for example had been on loan at Carlisle before us. If these young players are going to make it they need to be tested as soon as possible against better players than they will come across playing for our Reserves.