U23's... should we stop it? (1 Viewer)

Pusb1 said:

exactly. Our U23's got battered by Nuneaton. Who with all due respect lost 7-0 last game. Haven't won a game all season albeit it's only 3 games in. And are in the lowest league (aside from their demotions for admin) for some time.

We are literally employing Sunday League footballers

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That doesn’t mean an awful lot really. No PL U21 team has reached the Checkatrade final in the five years or so they’ve entered (against second string League 1/2 sides), the gulf been a U21 team and a team full of men is massive at any level

chiefdave said:

10p to buy a 'program' aka a photocopy of the line ups

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Brings back lots of memories of the early 80s.

Every other Saturday afternoon at HR watching the reserves. Hoping to see one of our younger players who would go on to be a star break through into the first team.

Shouldn't sack it off completely, but we need to be more discerning about who we bring in. Far too many seem to be a punt we hope goes well.

Could do with it being a 'B' team that an have out of favour first teamers. Makes it harder and more competitive for the young players but can also learn from the experienced players, it'd likely be slightly more intense than just an age-group and it'd keep the first team squad players fitter.

SlowerThanPlatt said:

That doesn’t mean an awful lot really. No PL U21 team has reached the Checkatrade final in the five years or so they’ve entered (against second string League 1/2 sides), the gulf been a U21 team and a team full of men is massive at any level

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Isn't that setup basically a cash bribe if I'm not mistaken? Ostensibly to give these players "competitive" games?

I soured at the idea of U21s in that competition, it Isn't right, the instant I heard of it. There honestly cannot be any joy watching a proper club play a basic B team. Fans deserve better frankly those players deserve better. The U21s deserve to never move out of the first group stage, on principle. The PL teams need to just stop buying up too much young talent because clearly don't have capacity to do these young men justice in their development. Let a young player develop a competitive talent with a proper club with history, whether on loan or permanent, there should be nothing to feel embarrassed about playing on a lower league or even non league club. I'dda bit someone for a chance like that 20 odd years ago. I cannot quite articulate best at the moment. I typed up considerable more paragraphs a few minutes ago, then deleted, because it went in too many jarring directions. Broad discussion of employee/employer rights and expectations and justice, blah blah blah. But basically any player, As a man and also as a working professional, deserves a job commiserate with their skills and value as a person and not just filling out ranks on teams with no real purpose. But also now this post lacks a bit and just appears rambling sorry.

Personal opinions rant only, nothing intended to be perceived as hostility towards you personally honorable SlowerThanPlatt in any way.. just using your mention of the U21s in the trophy as a springboard

My frame of mind is also jolted/angry when it was pointed out to me that it's the anniversary of Pluto being demoted to a non planet. I grew up knowing Pluto was the 9th planet, read any school book pre-2000. Cheers. I also think back to original topic there's no point in U23s.

Pusb1 said:

exactly. Our U23's got battered by Nuneaton. Who with all due respect lost 7-0 last game. Haven't won a game all season albeit it's only 3 games in. And are in the lowest league (aside from their demotions for admin) for some time.

We are literally employing Sunday League footballers

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Probably paying them Sunday League wages too…

Anyone watch Boot Dreams on IPlayer recently?


It’s worth a look, basically it features the players released by top clubs trying to get a contract. It gives a different perspective.

Latterly, the big club academies produce literally hundreds of players that are coached and trained to a high level. Only a few get kept on and many get released and end up in the lower and non-leagues.

There are many that get a quick drink of reality and would jump at the chance of playing in our set up for not a lot of money with the hope of kicking on.

I think the 9 man bench changes things. Essentially we can have a like-for like stand in for pretty much every position and the need for u23 / reserve set up is increased.

Balli001 said:

Im sure i read once that we receive a certain amount of money for having a certain level academy side

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You do but I think you have to match it with your own investment in the academy

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ajsccfc said:

I used to love the reserves at HR. You used to get in for next to nothing, sit in the main stand like a fancypants and there were so few people there you could hear Willie Boland swear up an absolute storm before being sent off

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Me too. Was my first introduction to live football at Cov.

I remember us all giving Sealey loads of grief when he was playing (for West Ham I think) and as he walked down to tunnel he stuck his middle finger up at us

Think it cost a £1 to get in back in the early/mid 90’s.

Saddlebrains said:

I mean there literally isnt is there.

Statistically over the last 7 years or so we've got 1 Hyam for every 80 plus Cashmans

Its not viable, none of them will make it and we may aswell sack it off, focus on hoovering up the best U18 talent

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Hyam had already played league 2 football so he was never really a development player

Saddlebrains said:

Statistically over the last 7 years or so we've got 1 Hyam for every 80 plus Cashmans

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It would be hard to measure exactly, but getting 150+ games and a seven-figure transfer fee from Hyam probably pays/makes up for all the ones who didn’t make it.

SBT said:

It would be hard to measure exactly, but getting 150+ games and a seven-figure transfer fee from Hyam probably pays/makes up for all the ones who didn’t make it.

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He wasn’t really a development player

I think we have to separate the performance of the U23 squad under SISU, and the new U23 set up under Doug King.
Time will be needed for changes to manifest into better results on the pitch, but I feel big improvements will be coming.