FA proposes brand new "U21" League

[redmike65]

Hopefully this comes to pass, if accepted it would start for the 17/18 seson.

- A FULL reserve league - nicknamed Premier League II - which will mirror the clubs' first team fixtures.

- FIVE over-21 players will be allowed in matches, as well as a senior goalkeeper, to encourage youth development.

- A TELEVISION contract which will feature live games shown at prime-time, including on Friday nights.

- MATCHES will be played in clubs' main stadiums, with reduced ticket prices to encourage fans to attend.

- BIG prize money of around £3million for the eventual champions to encourage clubs not to loan out their best up-and-coming players.

It is also understood the academy systems at Premier League clubs will be given an overhaul, with teams set to be under-17s and under-19s rather than the current U16s and U18s.

With the ending of the "emergency loan" thanks to FIFA clubs will no longer get the chances to send out players for short periods.

Mirroring the league and using the stadiums could be tricky esp as TV and Cup replays mean the schedule is frequently tweaked, presumably to protect the pitch the U21s would play the away clubs stadium on a given match day.

[Assassin]

This will double the amount of games played on all of the clubs pitches........quagmire

[Cormack74]

Yup, that bit doesn't sound good but I like the idea of a league.

[dww]

Most PL pitches seem to stand up pretty well, think that will be a minor concern. I would imagine that they will have to instigate some sort of second stadium to deal with conflicts with cup games etc. any way.

I think this could be a good idea but it would be a shame if it were to have a negative effect on lower league attendances which seems like a real risk.

[Exiled_red]

The idea of playing all the games at the first team ground seems a bit odd as twice as many games for some pitches could be a problem.

If you are allowed a 5 over 21 outfield players and an over age GK it is a reserve league rather than a U21 league. The whole thing sounds like it is being talked up "BIG prize money" which is £3m - that is peanuts to the PL clubs, half of the PL players will take more that that home in a year.

The system does need changing but these seem like minor tweaks which will ultimately make little difference.

Also weren't there U17's and U19's previously and then they changed it to U16's and U18's in a previous change to the system?

[redmike65]

Playing 38 games a season is more than a tweak. The U21 Premier League Cup needs to be made mandatory though, Liverpool only entered this year as the EL has no under-age version of itself.

[red g]

Sounds like a money spinner to me.......try and push out FL all together.

Would potentially stop loans to lower league clubs for some players as well if this elague takes off and has a big audience of its own,

[Exiled_red]

Playing 38 games a season is more than a tweak. The U21 Premier League Cup needs to be made mandatory though, Liverpool only entered this year as the EL has no under-age version of itself.

I didn't realise the U21 league currently only play 22 games a season, I thought it was still like the format of a few years ago where they played ~30 odd.

That will make a big change as 22 games a year is pathetic!

[vlahka]

Dont like the 5 players over 21 thing. Stupid idea.

[dom9]

Selling the rights to premier league games for obscene, gargantuan amounts of money isn't enough. So let's turn the previously murky backwaters of reserve football into a product, and sell that too.

There will never be enough money. More is always needed. Those who are priced out of the real games will get a chance to see the stars of the future at a discounted rate, in the real stadium and spend their cash on beers, pies, programmes, hot dogs and sweets in the stadium. A bit of fun on a Friday night.

Maybe the BBC will finally get some regular live football to broadcast. If they win the rights of course.

You've got to hand it to the Premier League. Their audacity knows no boundaries. And I'm sure this latest exercise in milking pounds will pay off.

[redmike65]

What's your problem? Cheaper rate football enabling the public to see a mix of prospects and first teamers in a proper stadium. No one has to buy a stupid burger.

[Vermilion]

Intelligent burgers are available.

[dom9]

What's your problem? Cheaper rate football enabling the public to see a mix of prospects and first teamers in a proper stadium. No one has to buy a stupid burger.

I didn't say I had a problem.



Am I being wooshed?

[redmike65]

I read that post as "fairly" hostile.

[dom9]

It smacks of greed.

But greed is good, right?