Thought we might have, heard we wouldn't be playing at Ebbsfleet next season so it looked like we might be pulling out completely.
By the time the squad has been sorted out, it won't matter next season. The squad should be smaller, so all players are looking at being involved rather than being purely back up and reserve team regulars. Younger players will probably have time out on loan and some involved more often in the first team.
Shame for some of the players, some might not be seen as ready for time our on loan, but are too old for the u18s like Stavrinou and Clark. Although they might be able to play as overage players? Unless that's just an FA Youth Cup rule.
Brentford, Crawley and Eastbourne Borough also sought election to the Combination, while Charlton, Cheltenham, Lewes and Yeovil withdrew.
Does this mean they didn't get a place? Would have liked to have seen us play Eastbourne or Crawley reserves away :-( Eastbourne not far at all for me. Went to our Lewes games this season (Brighton also played at Lewes), shame one was called off as the floodlights failed.
I was wondering about this as they hadn't announced any pre-season friendlies for the ressies,it's not good news for the youngsters as there is no stepping stone now. So what happens to the development of our future youngsters if there is no reserve football? Maybe they will field a reserve team somewhere.
I don't think I have ever know it to be the case that we have not had reserves playing matches. Seen quite a few reserve games over the years, enjoyed plenty of them. Does it mean that players will only get sorted via 'behind closed doors friendlies'? Really shocking if we abandon our reserves.
For years the local team down here Plymouth Argyle, didn't participate in a reserve league.
Didn't stop them playing plenty of 2nd string friendly matches though.
Be prepared for playing a number of non-league sides, and these will be far more physical games than reserve league.
Seth is probably bang on when he says we'll play a number of closed door friendlies instead.
Probably costs no more to put on than paying the other team's expenses.
not too bothered by this. I mean Lewes reserves would contain players worse thean Aswad Thomas who was in their first team but we have released without anyone being bothered. I agree that with a smaller squad and some youngun's out on loan hastily arranged games against Arsenal or Chelsea reserves to get a player fit or to retain match sharpness is probably the way to go. Also, I would assume that they have weighed up the benefit against the costs involved and that has been factored into the decision too. A couple of years ago I would have been annoyed as I used to go to Welling for every reserve game. Once moved to The Valley it became more problematical and my attendance dipped and once moved to Gravesend it became non-existant.
I heard about this a while back, been talk around the training ground amongst the u18s. I know a few of the lads, they aren't to happy as it means playing U18 football for most of next season with the next step-up being first team.
Gritt might go back to being manager of the academy as a whole, with Matthew back in charge of the u18s. Remember Matthew was only promoted when Pardew went and Kinsella went from reserve team manager to assistant. Gritt was never the manager on match day until Matthew was promoted.
[cite]Posted By: LargeAddick[/cite]not too bothered by this. I mean Lewes reserves would contain players worse thean Aswad Thomas who was in their first team but we have released without anyone being bothered. I agree that with a smaller squad and some youngun's out on loan hastily arranged games against Arsenal or Chelsea reserves to get a player fit or to retain match sharpness is probably the way to go. Also, I would assume that they have weighed up the benefit against the costs involved and that has been factored into the decision too. A couple of years ago I would have been annoyed as I used to go to Welling for every reserve game. Once moved to The Valley it became more problematical and my attendance dipped and once moved to Gravesend it became non-existant.
They certainly did. I went to the Brighton v Lewes reserve game, they had players who probably will never make it in their first team, never mind give our reserves a decent game.
They competed well against Brighton, even went 1-0 up, but that was only because Brighton's team was made up of a few young pros, u18s and a handful of schoolboys.
To be fair they were the only team in the league well below the standard, I saw us against Brighton and eventually we took control, but only Jonjo stood out, players like Wright, Mambo and Solly did well enough but weren't clearly a class above.
[cite]Posted By: tom_cafc[/cite]I heard about this a while back, been talk around the training ground amongst the u18s. I know a few of the lads, they aren't to happy as it means playing U18 football for most of next season with the next step-up being first team.
Can imagine, shame for the 2nd years who were becoming reserve team regulars. Mambo was almost always in the reserve team, and Tuna, Perkins, Pell etc were playing a few games as did some of the schoolboys.
Could see some of those I mentioned going out on loan, even if it's only Isthmian or Blue Square South, like Godfrey, Christie and a lot of the others did.
even so Mambo would benefit more playing for a team in the Blue Square South than he would for the reserves. More regular games against men as opposed to boys playing for Ipswich reserves etc. Ipswich reserves might be technically better but in the BSS he'd come up against blokes who have been around a bit and it'll toughen em up psyhically and mentally.
I agree though it's just players don't often go out on long loan spells, 1-3 months is much more common. A few reserve games before/after going out on loan is still useful.
Can see Mambo going on loan for one, he's already good in the air and strong, playing against physical and experienced BSS strikers would probably do him a lot of good. See just how strong he really is.
someone at the club please who reads this please tell me what the heck is happening to Damien Matthews is he going back into youth football or what please do not let this man go
[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]someone at the club please who reads this please tell me what the heck is happening to Damien Matthews is he going back into youth football or what please do not let this man go
you'd imagine that he'd go back to the U18's or wherever he came from and Gritty would likewise take a step back into his previous role. Or they'd out him but from what I have heard he is very highly respected and very highly thought of in the Boardroom. Problem is that applied with Mark Robson too and look what happened to him.
I take time out from watching cricket for my weekly log-in to CL to check out the news : comings, goings, both mangerial and playing squad; takeover developments; new sponsors or anything at all that might foster a little bit of excitement or enthusiasm towards the new season.
And all that's happened is that we have abandoned reserve team football.
That's not cost-cutting. That's throwing in the towel and admitting that we are no longer a serious football club. From premier league side competing with Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal to impecunious non-entities joining Cheltenham/ Lewes/ Yeovil in not being able to afford to enter a reserve league? And all in the space of three years...
Totally shocked by this. Would Shelvey or Elliot have been ready to step up so boldly to the first XI without a decent reserve XI set-up ? Would we have developed players of the calibre of Lee, Bowyer, Konchesky, Parker etc ?
It seems to me we are now in a WORSE position than we first joined the old Third Division (S) in 1922 ...
Desperate times at The Valley, folks. Truly desperate.
[cite]Posted By: nigel w[/cite]From premier league side competing with Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal to impecunious non-entities joining Cheltenham/ Lewes/ Yeovil
yeah but remember we have more chance of beating (shit) teams now and i think that'll make some happy cos facing man utd, chelsea and co was too depressing for some.........................
[cite]Posted By: floydandharvey[/cite]I mentioned this over a month back (that we were scrapping our reserve team as we had cancelled our deal with Ebbsfleet) and people mocked me. Ebbsfleet's acting CEO confirmed it in an official statement two weeks ago (his exact wording: "Charlton have informed us that they will be operating without a reserve team next season"), but I didn't post it on here as you would have mocked me again. Where are you now, you mockers? And so on...
Bit harsh that all the Ebbsfleet fans were aware weeks ago that we'd scrapped our reserves, yet the board have only now got round (it's up on the OS now) to telling Charlton fans that.
I see we will be playing friendlies at the training ground instead, as I suggested over a month ago we would. Gold star for me.
You are clever. And thanks for letting us know how clever you really are.
[cite]Posted By: floydandharvey[/cite]I mentioned this over a month back (that we were scrapping our reserve team as we had cancelled our deal with Ebbsfleet) and people mocked me. Ebbsfleet's acting CEO confirmed it in an official statement two weeks ago (his exact wording: "Charlton have informed us that they will be operating without a reserve team next season"), but I didn't post it on here as you would have mocked me again. Where are you now, you mockers? And so on...
F+H, out of morbid curiousity and a severe lack of life, i decided to check the post you referred to see how the masses had giving you such a violent mocking that you were left trembling in charity shop door, begging for spare change for some soup.
Out of 22 replies, the only questioning comment was from Henry Irving (well there's a surprise :-) ), stating "F&H, you may be right but that is a hell of a leap from maybe not renewing at Stonebridge Rd to scrapping the reserve team."
Can you whisper me your address so i can send you the "Over-egging it - 2009" award :-)
[cite]Posted By: nigel w[/cite]I take time out from watching cricket for my weekly log-in to CL to check out the news : comings, goings, both mangerial and playing squad; takeover developments; new sponsors or anything at all that might foster a little bit of excitement or enthusiasm towards the new season.
And all that's happened is that we have abandoned reserve team football.
That's not cost-cutting. That's throwing in the towel and admitting that we are no longer a serious football club. From premier league side competing with Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal to impecunious non-entities joining Cheltenham/ Lewes/ Yeovil in not being able to afford to enter a reserve league? And all in the space of three years...
Totally shocked by this. Would Shelvey or Elliot have been ready to step up so boldly to the first XI without a decent reserve XI set-up ? Would we have developed players of the calibre of Lee, Bowyer, Konchesky, Parker etc ?
It seems to me we are now in a WORSE position than we first joined the old Third Division (S) in 1922 ...
Desperate times at The Valley, folks. Truly desperate.
I know what you mean, and it's not wrong, though the reserve leagues aren't as good as they should be. There's not many games (which is why they had a reserve cup last season) and the standard changes all the time depending on who and when you're playing.
At least they've said they might enter if finances improve.
I think it's really case of we'll now be playing friendlies, which can be arranged whenever, against whoever and however often it suits the clubs. Rather than a set of fixtures against teams like Lewes, who were well below the standard (not being unfair on them, look at the league table) or other games that don't suit the first team fixtures.
but F & H I didn't mock you off and we haven't scrapped the reserve team.
The article says we'll still have the reserve team albeit only playing friendlies.
Personally, I'm not happy about that and think it is a bad step. Even if we can get enough friendlies I don't think that will compensate for regular league matches even if they have the advantage of not incurring bookings and suspensions that would count in Football League games. It also gives a negative picture to the outside world.
My gut feeling is that this will be like the Womens' team. Not scrapped and still playing in a league when finance is found but we shall see.
Now Totenham have pulled outof the Premiership reserve league, using many of the reasons found in the Wolves fans article. So maybe not the total disaster many of us thought this might have been.
[cite]Posted By: se9addick[/cite]A great little article a wolves fan posted on our BBC site, thought you might like to see it as it clearly points out the pro's and con's.
That's a brilliant article and when you read it you think it might not be so bad after all. If it can work for a side newly promoted to the premiership then it should be good enough for us too.
It's great that he went to the trouble of writing it for us, and that's why I love the BBC board, you get alot of interaction with fans of other teams (although not all of it great, namely Gillingham fans having a pop constantly).
The only thing I would say is, if we do use it in the way the Wolves fan described it will be great, but if we’re simply doing it as a cost cutting exercise on the sly then it’s still detrimental.
[cite]Posted By: AFKABartram[/cite]F+H, out of morbid curiousity and a severe lack of life, i decided to check the post you referred to see how the masses had giving you such a violent mocking that you were left trembling in charity shop door, begging for spare change for some soup.
Out of 22 replies, the only questioning comment was from Henry Irving (well there's a surprise :-) ), stating "F&H, you may be right but that is a hell of a leap from maybe not renewing at Stonebridge Rd to scrapping the reserve team."
Can you whisper me your address so i can send you the "Over-egging it - 2009" award :-)
It felt like more people than just Henry. But you are quite right that it was just he. Perhaps he just seems like many people for reasons of height, girth and/or volume x
That would be Henry utilising the proxy mocking rights of his clique ;o)
Comments
By the time the squad has been sorted out, it won't matter next season. The squad should be smaller, so all players are looking at being involved rather than being purely back up and reserve team regulars. Younger players will probably have time out on loan and some involved more often in the first team.
Shame for some of the players, some might not be seen as ready for time our on loan, but are too old for the u18s like Stavrinou and Clark. Although they might be able to play as overage players? Unless that's just an FA Youth Cup rule.
Does this mean they didn't get a place? Would have liked to have seen us play Eastbourne or Crawley reserves away :-( Eastbourne not far at all for me. Went to our Lewes games this season (Brighton also played at Lewes), shame one was called off as the floodlights failed.
1st team manager i hope
Didn't stop them playing plenty of 2nd string friendly matches though.
Be prepared for playing a number of non-league sides, and these will be far more physical games than reserve league.
Seth is probably bang on when he says we'll play a number of closed door friendlies instead.
Probably costs no more to put on than paying the other team's expenses.
Danny Murphy Damien Matthew .... ?
;o)
I expect he'll go back to the U-18's.
Where does that leave Gritty?
DM
They certainly did. I went to the Brighton v Lewes reserve game, they had players who probably will never make it in their first team, never mind give our reserves a decent game.
They competed well against Brighton, even went 1-0 up, but that was only because Brighton's team was made up of a few young pros, u18s and a handful of schoolboys.
To be fair they were the only team in the league well below the standard, I saw us against Brighton and eventually we took control, but only Jonjo stood out, players like Wright, Mambo and Solly did well enough but weren't clearly a class above.
Can imagine, shame for the 2nd years who were becoming reserve team regulars. Mambo was almost always in the reserve team, and Tuna, Perkins, Pell etc were playing a few games as did some of the schoolboys.
Could see some of those I mentioned going out on loan, even if it's only Isthmian or Blue Square South, like Godfrey, Christie and a lot of the others did.
Can see Mambo going on loan for one, he's already good in the air and strong, playing against physical and experienced BSS strikers would probably do him a lot of good. See just how strong he really is.
you'd imagine that he'd go back to the U18's or wherever he came from and Gritty would likewise take a step back into his previous role. Or they'd out him but from what I have heard he is very highly respected and very highly thought of in the Boardroom. Problem is that applied with Mark Robson too and look what happened to him.
And all that's happened is that we have abandoned reserve team football.
That's not cost-cutting. That's throwing in the towel and admitting that we are no longer a serious football club. From premier league side competing with Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal to impecunious non-entities joining Cheltenham/ Lewes/ Yeovil in not being able to afford to enter a reserve league? And all in the space of three years...
Totally shocked by this. Would Shelvey or Elliot have been ready to step up so boldly to the first XI without a decent reserve XI set-up ? Would we have developed players of the calibre of Lee, Bowyer, Konchesky, Parker etc ?
It seems to me we are now in a WORSE position than we first joined the old Third Division (S) in 1922 ...
Desperate times at The Valley, folks. Truly desperate.
yeah but remember we have more chance of beating (shit) teams now and i think that'll make some happy cos facing man utd, chelsea and co was too depressing for some.........................
You are clever. And thanks for letting us know how clever you really are.
Gold star AND a Brownie Point.
;o)
F+H, out of morbid curiousity and a severe lack of life, i decided to check the post you referred to see how the masses had giving you such a violent mocking that you were left trembling in charity shop door, begging for spare change for some soup.
Out of 22 replies, the only questioning comment was from Henry Irving (well there's a surprise :-) ), stating "F&H, you may be right but that is a hell of a leap from maybe not renewing at Stonebridge Rd to scrapping the reserve team."
Can you whisper me your address so i can send you the "Over-egging it - 2009" award :-)
I know what you mean, and it's not wrong, though the reserve leagues aren't as good as they should be. There's not many games (which is why they had a reserve cup last season) and the standard changes all the time depending on who and when you're playing.
At least they've said they might enter if finances improve.
I think it's really case of we'll now be playing friendlies, which can be arranged whenever, against whoever and however often it suits the clubs. Rather than a set of fixtures against teams like Lewes, who were well below the standard (not being unfair on them, look at the league table) or other games that don't suit the first team fixtures.
The article says we'll still have the reserve team albeit only playing friendlies.
Personally, I'm not happy about that and think it is a bad step. Even if we can get enough friendlies I don't think that will compensate for regular league matches even if they have the advantage of not incurring bookings and suspensions that would count in Football League games. It also gives a negative picture to the outside world.
My gut feeling is that this will be like the Womens' team. Not scrapped and still playing in a league when finance is found but we shall see.
There are far more pro's than I initially thought...
reserve team pro's and con's
That's a brilliant article and when you read it you think it might not be so bad after all. If it can work for a side newly promoted to the premiership then it should be good enough for us too.
The only thing I would say is, if we do use it in the way the Wolves fan described it will be great, but if we’re simply doing it as a cost cutting exercise on the sly then it’s still detrimental.
That would be Henry utilising the proxy mocking rights of his clique ;o)