Although we're probably trying to cut costs, we're not the only team seeing that arranging their own reserve matches is much more flexible.
It has been decided that our Reserve side will not be entering the Barclays Premier Reserve League for the 2009/10 season.
The Club is committed to aiding the development of our players within the Professional and Academy squads in the best way possible.
It is felt it would be of greater benefit providing our 18 to 21-year-old players with a tailor-made games programme, which includes experiencing competitive football with loan transfers, tournaments and private friendly fixtures that allows greater flexibility around the First Team's fixture schedule.
It also enables fixtures to be arranged as and when they are required for First Team squad members.
We have outlined our thoughts to the Premier League and explained how we feel this programme provides a better alternative in meeting the changing requirements of our players.
"I just think it gives you the option of fixing up a game where and whenever you want rather than being tied to a fixture schedule which can sometimes prove difficult around First Team games," reasoned Manager Harry Redknapp.
"This way we can create our own schedule and play games when we want to. There are always clubs looking for games so I think this will suit us better.
"The youngsters need to go out on loan and get playing like they did last year. It was a great experience for those lads who went out so we will be looking to do the same again this season."
[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.
"For those of you struggling to understand what your board is trying to achieve;
When Wolves had to cut our reserve side for financial reasons, I definitely think the club took a step forward. It has been a very successful system for us and even when Steve Morgan took over and gave us financial stability, we never went back to the old system.
I'll start with the Cons, because I don't think there's many. The Pros will come afterwards.
Con 1) The format is more of a friendly system. The opposition team can pull out of the friendly with a certain amount of notice (usually 12 or 24 hours). Although this can also be a pro for your team, should injuries or fixture congestion make the game unsuitable.
Con 2) The quality of opposition varies greatly. You can be playing against a full UEFA cup first team one week and then a conference reserve side the next.
Con 3) Players appearing in these games are still vulnerable to injury. We found this out ourselves this spring when Kightly was injured against a Shrewsbury reserve side.
Pro 1) Squad size is unlimited, no limits on the number of substitutions during the game, suspended players can play. You can play schoolboys if you really wanted to, whereas in a reserve league you are limited to a minimum age. No restrictions on number of amateurs or triallists in a game either.
Pro 2) Yellow/Red cards incurred during these games do not result in suspensions for later reserve games.
Pro 3) You don't have to pay a team like Canvey Island for the pleasure of using their ground for your home reserve games; you can just use one of your own training pitches where you can manage the pitch conditions better and have immediate access to your own physios instead.
Pro 4) Travel costs. You are no longer obliged to take 200 fans on a 100 mile round trip because Cambridge United reserves are in the same league as your reserve side.
Pro 5) Pick and choose your fixtures, if smaller clubs want to play your reserve side, they come to you..... if you think it's worthwhile for your players. There is always the option to refuse.
Pro 6) Flexibility. If you have 2 or 3 players coming back from injury you can schedule a friendly with a smaller side especially to aid their rehab. We used 26 squad players last season and we have never had a problem with players lacking match fitness or sharpness when they came into the side while using this reserve side system. I reckon this alone won us an extra 5-10 points last season because injury replacements hit the ground running.
Pro 7) More varied opposition. We have had foreign sides come over specially for these games. One of our ex-players now manages a third division French side, they flew over for a game. It gives your youngsters an education in different styles of continental football, teams in League systems with a winter break (Sweden and Russia for example) will look to come over in the New Year as match practice before their season resumes.
Pro 8) You can still enter reserve competitions. We have still entered the Birmingham Senior Cup (reserve knockout involving Midlands clubs) despite not being entered for a reserve league.
Pro 9) Smaller squad size. The manager doesn't really have to think about a mandatory reserve fixture, all of his players are there for first team duty. It is very convenient for him because he can schedule a friendly to bring on those younger players if he really wants to. You won't need a reserve team coach either. We cut our training staff down and merged the reserves with the youth department. We now have a "Development Coach" who takes kids from 16 years of age and helps them get into the first team squad, as a result our academy results have improved to the point where we are competitive with Manchester United and Liverpool's youngsters."
Interesting that when Charlton do annouce it it is all doom and gloom and a sure sign of the impending death of the club. When Wolves and Spurs do it it suddenly seems like a good idea. I wonder why?
[cite]Posted By: LargeAddick[/cite]
[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.
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]Article from the Wolves fan
"For those of you struggling to understand what your board is trying to achieve;
When Wolves had to cut our reserve side for financial reasons, I definitely think the club took a step forward. It has been a very successful system for us and even when Steve Morgan took over and gave us financial stability, we never went back to the old system.
I'll start with the Cons, because I don't think there's many. The Pros will come afterwards.
Con 1) The format is more of a friendly system. The opposition team can pull out of the friendly with a certain amount of notice (usually 12 or 24 hours). Although this can also be a pro for your team, should injuries or fixture congestion make the game unsuitable.
Con 2) The quality of opposition varies greatly. You can be playing against a full UEFA cup first team one week and then a conference reserve side the next.
Con 3) Players appearing in these games are still vulnerable to injury. We found this out ourselves this spring when Kightly was injured against a Shrewsbury reserve side.
Pro 1) Squad size is unlimited, no limits on the number of substitutions during the game, suspended players can play. You can play schoolboys if you really wanted to, whereas in a reserve league you are limited to a minimum age. No restrictions on number of amateurs or triallists in a game either.
Pro 2) Yellow/Red cards incurred during these games do not result in suspensions for later reserve games.
Pro 3) You don't have to pay a team like Canvey Island for the pleasure of using their ground for your home reserve games; you can just use one of your own training pitches where you can manage the pitch conditions better and have immediate access to your own physios instead.
Pro 4) Travel costs. You are no longer obliged to take 200 fans on a 100 mile round trip because Cambridge United reserves are in the same league as your reserve side.
Pro 5) Pick and choose your fixtures, if smaller clubs want to play your reserve side, they come to you..... if you think it's worthwhile for your players. There is always the option to refuse.
Pro 6) Flexibility. If you have 2 or 3 players coming back from injury you can schedule a friendly with a smaller side especially to aid their rehab. We used 26 squad players last season and we have never had a problem with players lacking match fitness or sharpness when they came into the side while using this reserve side system. I reckon this alone won us an extra 5-10 points last season because injury replacements hit the ground running.
Pro 7) More varied opposition. We have had foreign sides come over specially for these games. One of our ex-players now manages a third division French side, they flew over for a game. It gives your youngsters an education in different styles of continental football, teams in League systems with a winter break (Sweden and Russia for example) will look to come over in the New Year as match practice before their season resumes.
Pro 8) You can still enter reserve competitions. We have still entered the Birmingham Senior Cup (reserve knockout involving Midlands clubs) despite not being entered for a reserve league.
Pro 9) Smaller squad size. The manager doesn't really have to think about a mandatory reserve fixture, all of his players are there for first team duty. It is very convenient for him because he can schedule a friendly to bring on those younger players if he really wants to. You won't need a reserve team coach either. We cut our training staff down and merged the reserves with the youth department. We now have a "Development Coach" who takes kids from 16 years of age and helps them get into the first team squad, as a result our academy results have improved to the point where we are competitive with Manchester United and Liverpool's youngsters."
Interesting that when Charlton do annouce it it is all doom and gloom and a sure sign of the impending death of the club. When Wolves and Spurs do it it suddenly seems like a good idea. I wonder why?
[cite]Posted By: LargeAddick[/cite]
[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.
'Yellow/Red cards incurred during these games do not result in suspensions for later reserve games.'
With a small squad that is certainly a massive plus.
Yet when I said that no one agreed with me. : - )
and so far no-one has agreed with me, except you of course. From the start I said I wasn't too bothered by this so Wolves and Spurs pulling out hasn't altered my view at all.
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]Interesting that when Charlton do annouce it it is all doom and gloom and a sure sign of the impending death of the club. When Wolves and Spurs do it it suddenly seems like a good idea. I wonder why
probably cos we're wank and a downwardly mobile club as opposed to wolves and spurs
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]Interesting that when Charlton do annouce it it is all doom and gloom and a sure sign of the impending death of the club. When Wolves and Spurs do it it suddenly seems like a good idea. I wonder why
probably cos we're wank and a downwardly mobile club as opposed to wolves and spurs
Yes, that was it. Everything Charlton do it shit, everything other clubs do is good.
But Wolves did it before last season and according to one Wolves fan it has been a good thing in terms of fitness and preperation. And even when they had money chose not to return to a league set up. Yes they are upwardly mobile now. Maybe this is one reason why.
If you look at the list of teams played no more shabby than we would meet in a reserve league.
As I said before still not totally happy but I'm laughing at the usual "we are the worst club in the world and everyone is terrible, there are no positives whatsoever in anything we do" brigade.
Comments
Although we're probably trying to cut costs, we're not the only team seeing that arranging their own reserve matches is much more flexible.
'Yellow/Red cards incurred during these games do not result in suspensions for later reserve games.'
With a small squad that is certainly a massive plus. On refelection I think we have made the right decision.
"For those of you struggling to understand what your board is trying to achieve;
When Wolves had to cut our reserve side for financial reasons, I definitely think the club took a step forward. It has been a very successful system for us and even when Steve Morgan took over and gave us financial stability, we never went back to the old system.
I'll start with the Cons, because I don't think there's many. The Pros will come afterwards.
Con 1) The format is more of a friendly system. The opposition team can pull out of the friendly with a certain amount of notice (usually 12 or 24 hours). Although this can also be a pro for your team, should injuries or fixture congestion make the game unsuitable.
Con 2) The quality of opposition varies greatly. You can be playing against a full UEFA cup first team one week and then a conference reserve side the next.
Con 3) Players appearing in these games are still vulnerable to injury. We found this out ourselves this spring when Kightly was injured against a Shrewsbury reserve side.
Pro 1) Squad size is unlimited, no limits on the number of substitutions during the game, suspended players can play. You can play schoolboys if you really wanted to, whereas in a reserve league you are limited to a minimum age. No restrictions on number of amateurs or triallists in a game either.
Pro 2) Yellow/Red cards incurred during these games do not result in suspensions for later reserve games.
Pro 3) You don't have to pay a team like Canvey Island for the pleasure of using their ground for your home reserve games; you can just use one of your own training pitches where you can manage the pitch conditions better and have immediate access to your own physios instead.
Pro 4) Travel costs. You are no longer obliged to take 200 fans on a 100 mile round trip because Cambridge United reserves are in the same league as your reserve side.
Pro 5) Pick and choose your fixtures, if smaller clubs want to play your reserve side, they come to you..... if you think it's worthwhile for your players. There is always the option to refuse.
Pro 6) Flexibility. If you have 2 or 3 players coming back from injury you can schedule a friendly with a smaller side especially to aid their rehab. We used 26 squad players last season and we have never had a problem with players lacking match fitness or sharpness when they came into the side while using this reserve side system. I reckon this alone won us an extra 5-10 points last season because injury replacements hit the ground running.
Pro 7) More varied opposition. We have had foreign sides come over specially for these games. One of our ex-players now manages a third division French side, they flew over for a game. It gives your youngsters an education in different styles of continental football, teams in League systems with a winter break (Sweden and Russia for example) will look to come over in the New Year as match practice before their season resumes.
Pro 8) You can still enter reserve competitions. We have still entered the Birmingham Senior Cup (reserve knockout involving Midlands clubs) despite not being entered for a reserve league.
Pro 9) Smaller squad size. The manager doesn't really have to think about a mandatory reserve fixture, all of his players are there for first team duty. It is very convenient for him because he can schedule a friendly to bring on those younger players if he really wants to. You won't need a reserve team coach either. We cut our training staff down and merged the reserves with the youth department. We now have a "Development Coach" who takes kids from 16 years of age and helps them get into the first team squad, as a result our academy results have improved to the point where we are competitive with Manchester United and Liverpool's youngsters."
Interesting that when Charlton do annouce it it is all doom and gloom and a sure sign of the impending death of the club. When Wolves and Spurs do it it suddenly seems like a good idea. I wonder why?
Yet when I said that no one agreed with me. : - )
and so far no-one has agreed with me, except you of course. From the start I said I wasn't too bothered by this so Wolves and Spurs pulling out hasn't altered my view at all.
probably cos we're wank and a downwardly mobile club as opposed to wolves and spurs
Yes, that was it. Everything Charlton do it shit, everything other clubs do is good.
But Wolves did it before last season and according to one Wolves fan it has been a good thing in terms of fitness and preperation. And even when they had money chose not to return to a league set up. Yes they are upwardly mobile now. Maybe this is one reason why.
If you look at the list of teams played no more shabby than we would meet in a reserve league.
As I said before still not totally happy but I'm laughing at the usual "we are the worst club in the world and everyone is terrible, there are no positives whatsoever in anything we do" brigade.