why don't squad players turn out for the reserves anymore ?

[goonerboy]

i was reading the info on the reserves in the arsenal programme yesterday and noted that the reserve line-ups hardly ever contain first team squad members. I am sure it is the same for most premier and championship clubs although may be different for Div1 and 2 teams.

It did make me wonder why the fringe players don't play more often for the reserves. For example we bought Young Park in the summer but he has hardly been on the first team bench this season. However he has only played twice for the reserves. So in essence he is just spending all his time training and getting no match practice.

With first team squads so large i don't understand why the fringe players don't get more match time. Surely even a reserve match is better than no game time.

[Senior82]

Sheffield Wednesday scrapped their reserve team in the summer. I did notice in the last couple of seasons it was almost entirely made up of academy players, although that was mainly due to the small squad we had, with Arsenal i'd certainly imagine that they have a few more to choose from.

[nozer]

Senior82 wrote:

Sheffield Wednesday scrapped their reserve team in the summer. I did notice in the last couple of seasons it was almost entirely made up of academy players, although that was mainly due to the small squad we had, with Arsenal i'd certainly imagine that they have a few more to choose from.

Think you may have hit the nail on the head there ,"So in essence he is just spending ALL his time training"
When i was a regular at the match the only time you would se the players before the game was when the team coach arrived the players would walk onto the pitch and have a look around for a few minutes.
Is there any real nead fore the hour or so training before the game .
I think players are over trained these days .
I went to se Everton play a reserve friendly at Southport a few seasons ago and that team was made up of youth team players, one lad who did catch the eye in this game though was a 15 year-old called Victor Anichebe.
Seams most reserve teams know are for the sole perpose of blooding youth team players.
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[The SFC Chris]

We always play a mixture of fringe players and youth players, although that could change under our new manager.

[sharrowblade]

Good question.

I suggest reading what kind of agreements some of these players have stipulated in their contracts.

It was rumoured Chris Woods (the former England keeper and Wendy player) used to have it written into his contract, no reserve team football, and if he was fit he had to play in the first team.

Unfortunately, gone are the days of a smaller first team squad, and if one or two got injured, one or two of the reserve team, usually local lads got their chance to step up.

This subject leads onto one of the current topical debates, whether or not to allow some of the bigger clubs to play reserve sides in the lower divisions like they do in places like Germany.
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[Senior82]

sharrowblade wrote:

This subject leads onto one of the current topical debates, whether or not to allow some of the bigger clubs to play reserve sides in the lower divisions like they do in places like Germany.

David Moyes said that he tried to enter Everton's reserves into the conference a few years back, but was told that they'd have to start at the bottom of the pyramid. Quite right too. However it wouldn't surprise me to see one of the bigger clubs enter a reserve team into the non-league system in a couple of years. Or maybe Manchester United will just wait until FCUM have gained a couple more promotions and then buy them

[ToffeeDan]

Surely if a handful of PL teams entered at the Conference level (with no promotion opportunity) it might draw bigger crowds & a better standard of opponent for both teams (it's only one league below Div 2 for a start & plenty of PL teams loan players out to Lge 1 & 2 teams). The progress the parent club seeks is playing in their team to their coaching manual. I'm sure more fans of the PL teams would be interested in watching the equivalent of Man U 2nds v best of Conference (home & away). Just my take on it.

So why not start them off a level (or two) below the Conference if they are prepared to put some much needed funds into that level of football for the privilege?

[The SFC Chris]

ToffeeDan wrote:

Surely if a handful of PL teams entered at the Conference level (with no promotion opportunity) it might draw bigger crowds & a better standard of opponent for both teams (it's only one league below Div 2 for a start & plenty of PL teams loan players out to Lge 1 & 2 teams). The progress the parent club seeks is playing in their team to their coaching manual. I'm sure more fans of the PL teams would be interested in watching the equivalent of Man U 2nds v best of Conference (home & away). Just my take on it. So why not start them off a level (or two) below the Conference if they are prepared to put some much needed funds into that level of football for the privilege?

The Conference is already a very high standard of football, in fact IMO it should be part of the Football League. Many clubs in it are now professional, the remainder still play at a high level.

While your idea is sort of what I would like to happen, I don't think you can just insert the teams into leagues that they can't get promoted from/where they're playing much worse teams (at Isthmian/Southern/Northern level), or worse teams (at North/South level).