'B' Teams

[Roboklopp]

Dunno, bored now.

[Ams12]

I think the idea of A & B teams has the potential to turn into a mess years down the line. Some valid points about big clubs getting stronger while small clubs get weaker.
Instead big clubs should make affiliations (maybe a set limit) with a few smaller clubs, home & abroad that allows players to be loaned out to gain experience. Less hassle as the years progress.
Example...
LFC make connections with a team in L1, Championship, Spanish 1st Division Norwegian 1st Division. LFC can loan a promising youngster to any of those teams for a period of time.
Player gains experience (depending on game time given) helps both big clubs, in developing youth, and small clubs, in having a better level of talent available.
Could also set a quota on number of players that are allowed to be loaned to a given team.
Much better loan system!

[DannyMan2006]

Clearly it benefits the bigger teams. I'd also argue it benefits the players trying to come through.

[kev776]

Spain has 10,000 more fully qualified coaches than we do - this is why their National team is better, nothing to do with B teams.

[Darkon]

Spain has 10,000 more fully qualified coaches than we do - this is why their National team is better, nothing to do with B teams.

But their generally weaker competitive leagues have I think.

[Resu]

The idea if B teams just makes the biggest teams stronger and the smaller teams weaker. Its a bad idea.

We have the strongest and deepest pyramid system in the world and we should be trying to build on that strength not copy an idea from weaker leagues (in terms of depth and quantity) that maybe need that system.

Restricting non EU players in the lower divisions is a good idea, requiring more home grown talent in squads is a good idea.

But instead of making smaller clubs even weaker by allowing the strong clubs to field B teams I think they should allow stronger partnerships between bigger and smaller clubs so that clubs can develop younger players in a club where they have a bit more control on training techniques and tactics.

I also think young players should be encouraged to go abroad to develop to smaller leagues like Belgium, Holland, Norway etc. I think they will learn a lot more doing that than playing for a B team against conference teams.

Besides all that what happens in 10 years time? 10 years ago Leeds would be one of the clubs getting a B team and Man City probably not. If this had started 10 years ago would Leeds still have a B team and City wouldn't be able to start one? Or would be have 20 or 30 B teams by now all over the Pyramid and some a complete mess with no money?

Some good points here. Norway needs the B teams to fill up the leagues with decent players. On the other hand it's only in the top two divisions we have professional player, below that it amateurs. There are very little money involved in the leagues where the B teams plays, so that is a big difference from England.

[kev776]

Instead of giving Masoon 35m a year because his toy appears on tv every week, use the money for bonuses instead.

1. For every British/English trainer that attains full UEFA licence, the sponsoring club gets a bonus.

2. For every ex-academy player that plays for England/first team etc, another bonus.

3. Any team that plays 5+ ex-academy players, another bonus.

Spread the money down the leagues to encourage academy/coach development.

The most import point is to bring all of the leagues under one central management, the F.A. (after sacking the current old duffers incharge) Bring in proper qualified professionals to run it, not ex pros and retired chairmen. They could be used in an advisory capacity.

This would encourage smaller teams to produce talent and without the financial burden it creates, which may remove the "English premium" currently experienced for above average players.

[rodo]

**** idea how about spending the money on decent facilities for kids to use and an even half decent pitch to play on

[john316]

**** idea how about spending the money on decent facilities for kids to use and an even half decent pitch to play on

Doesn't any kid who's got talent just get signed up the clubs anyway so aren't playing in parks? Most kids who are going to make it are spotted so early that asking the Premier League to fund football pitches for players who'll they'll never care about is likely to be money wasted for them.

I'm glad at least somebody at the FA is at least prepared to contemplate major changes instead of being sat there just twiddling their thumbs. Some people might not like the ideas but it could at least generate debate.

[rodo]

Doesn't any kid who's got talent just get signed up the clubs anyway so aren't playing in parks? Most kids who are going to make it are spotted so early that asking the Premier League to fund football pitches for players who'll they'll never care about is likely to be money wasted for them.

I'm glad at least somebody at the FA is at least prepared to contemplate major changes instead of being sat there just twiddling their thumbs. Some people might not like the ideas but it could at least generate debate.

Football isnt just about the premier league though mate

[kev776]

It is up to councils to provide recreational facilities, not the premier league or FA.

[Liverpool]

It is up to councils to provide recreational facilities, not the premier league or FA.

Why the facilities are what are training up future players, surely its in their interest to have the best talent pool available then sign foreign players for hundreds of millions of pounds each year.

[kev776]

Why the facilities are what are training up future players, surely its in their interest to have the best talent pool available then sign foreign players for hundreds of millions of pounds each year.

This is what taxes are for, for providing local amenities for local people. Here in Germany all villages/towns get a sports centre of some sort, there is never any waiting lists for pitches etc, it just takes finance and organisation.

The German FA or Bundesliga have nothing to do with my local pitches, they are paid for by a mix of Town Hall funding and local business sponsorship.

[Liverpool]

All the cuts are smashing grassroots football to bits, Liverpool has been hit hard given how much grassroots there was, but its been massively declining now. Less youth teams, leagues etc. Just read this, Tony Barrett tweeted "Ross Barkley, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Jamie Carragher & Robbie Fowler all emerged from competitive park football". I think its in the clubs to step up and fill the gap. Given the money in the game its in their interest and least they can do for a bit of CSR.

[topscorer]

This is what taxes are for, for providing local amenities for local people. Here in Germany all villages/towns get a sports centre of some sort, there is never any waiting lists for pitches etc, it just takes finance and organisation.



The German FA or Bundesliga have nothing to do with my local pitches, they are paid for by a mix of Town Hall funding and local business sponsorship.

These days in many communities the local club is one of the biggest local businesses. And since it's very relevant to them that the facilities are maintained it seems appropriate, to me, that they should be part of the solution as a local business sponsor.