City approach FA about B team

[Falastur]

I just don't get it. Let's take out the damage it will do to those lower league clubs who will be pushed out of the League and into the conference from the equation. Just how is playing in league 2 going to help promote youth into our first team? How many League 1/2 players are being bought by EPL clubs? I can't think of any. I don't see any EPL clubs loaning players to league 2 sides. If they thought that playing games in League 2 would be beneficial then they'd be doing that already. I just don't see how playing in the lower leagues is going to develop them into a EPL player. Too many living int he past where players from lower leagues would make the jump. Those days are gone. The problem is coaching not playing time. If they were good enough they'd be playing. The reason Scott Sinclaire isn't good enough isn't a lack of playing time. If he was good enough he'd be playing.

The point is that everyone knows that League Three football wouldn't be good enough for prospective PL youths, but League One football just might - a fair few PL youths do get loaned to L1. However, the FA knows they could never get away with putting B-teams right in L1, or even L2, so they're trying to compromise by agreeing to let them start at a level below L2 and have to earn their spurs - which most B-teams worth their salt would surely do in under 3-4 seasons. Yes, you're somewhat sacrificing a few players who have to play at a lower level but it's considered a worthwhile exchange for promoting a B-team "fairly" to the right level for development.

N.B. I'm not defending the idea, just answering your question.

All that has to be done is make the reserve league more prestigious (which I think is being worked on anyway). And that basically just means money.

Disagree. Although I don't agree with damaging the FL just to promote youths, I just cannot see any way to make a reserve league "prestigious" enough that it would provide a level of competition which actually gives the kids the experience they need to develop properly. It just can't be done. You could make the prize money £100m, it would still be a competition full of kids who didn't take it seriously. You could get them to play in the JTP as a cup competition, it would still be a competition full of kids who didn't take it seriously. You could have the winning team enter the CL Group Stage and it would still be a competition full of kids who didn't take it seriously. Simply put, kids don't get the experience they need unless they play senior-level football against serious sides with serious fans in serious competitions.

That doesn't necessarily mean we need B-teams in the league structure, but it does mean that reserve competitions are a waste of time, at least when there are alternatives to consider. Even the loan system is a better option.

This idea keeps coming up but its even worse than b teams, why would bury fans want to be basically Manchester City b team?

This, and utterly this. I've been on a couple of forums where fans were reacting to the suggestion that they could be turned into a "strategic" farm team for a PL club. There was not a word of support for the idea to be found. If you did this, it would be less than a season before you saw a fan-created A.F.C. Bury apply for entry into the Northern Premier League, and the "real" Bury would suddenly be pulling attendances of 100 a week, most of them wearing City shirts come to see the youths.

 

[capiloton]

great plan. England should implement B team long time ago. no point to send youngsters on loan to another clubs. with B team, they can play with the same system and philosophy just like the 1st team.

 

[117 M34]

great plan. England should implement B team long time ago. no point to send youngsters on loan to another clubs. with B team, they can play with the same system and philosophy just like the 1st team.

For the teams who have a B team it is a great idea.
If you are a 'proper' team who have a B team in your league it would be shit.

 

[citytilidie85]

great plan. England should implement B team long time ago. no point to send youngsters on loan to another clubs. with B team, they can play with the same system and philosophy just like the 1st team.

But you're missing the point, this is to supposedly to benefit the England team, not the club teams. What does it matter that youth players will be playing the same philosophy as the 1st team? If/When they go to play for England they wont necessarily play the same way their club team plays? This is why lower league clubs/fans/etc... don't want this. Your attitude is immediately "this will benefit our club". Not this is what is good for English football.

 

[Manchester33]

I don't understand what it's for though? If it's to get better youth players coming through, then surely these B-teams will be full of 25 year old Africans with a passport saying they are 12?

Just reduce the price of EUFA coaching badges and get more young players trained in how to play good football. Then change the loan rules to make it easier for lower division clubs to loan players and play them frequently.