last couple seasons, best players in reserves go out on loan to Championship teams..............rest disappear and end up in conference or lower - so whats the point, none of em get into the 1st team - maybe the bench but they don't play - real potential players bypass the reserves (like Josh)

I watch all the games on CTV and we have some decent players who are doing their best but no 1st team squad players play so how will these guys improve

bit negative but the gap between reserves & 1st team is vast and growing

It's for the younger players who are considered the best of the bunch and who are ready to step up from the youth side but are not ready for the first team yet. You can't expect any player who is going to make it at the club to be ready for the first team at 17/18. Some players are late bloomers and don't start to show real quality until their early 20s, which is why they play in the reserves for a while.

In the good old days reserve games were also used as a game to get an established player back to match fitness. Sadly today none of the clubs see it that way and prefer to give most of the first team players a run out in a cup/league game rather than taking the old route.

I can remember when the reserves was called the Football Combination League. As Maverick says, back then many first team players would play for the reserves to get match fitness, although that was before the first team had as many substitutes as they do now and no sub keeper was allowed. If it was the same now, the likes of Kalou, Anelka, Malouda, Mikel, Zirkhov & co would have clocked up many reserve games this season.

Now it does just seem to be used as a stepping stone from the youth team to the first team although any players that are a bit special it is deemed better to send them out on loan or in Josh's case, play a bit for the youth yeam, a bit for the reserves and a bit for the first team!

It serves a purpose but for how much longer you do have to wonder.

The reserves are an important stepping stone in our youth set up. The money we make from selling on young players not considered good enough to make our grade helps to finance the complete youth set-up. The club only expect one or two to make the first team ever couple of years (this has been said on CTV many times) if the number increases it's a bonus.

last couple seasons, best players in reserves go out on loan to Championship teams..............rest disappear and end up in conference or lower - so whats the point, none of em get into the 1st team - maybe the bench but they don't play - real potential players bypass the reserves (like Josh)

I watch all the games on CTV and we have some decent players who are doing their best but no 1st team squad players play so how will these guys improve

bit negative but the gap between reserves & 1st team is vast and growing

Not sure where you got that one from because Josh has played plenty of times for the ressies.

My understanding is that in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have their reserves team in the league (but obviously can't be promoted to the top league).

Having a Chelsea reserves team in the Championship or even League 1 would make a huge difference to the level.

My understanding is that in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have their reserves team in the league (but obviously can't be promoted to the top league).

Having a Chelsea reserves team in the Championship or even League 1 would make a huge difference to the level.

With the number of clubs in England I dont think that's a feasible idea and it would be unfair on the numerous clubs that are now a part of that league and would be replaced to accomodate the reserves side. Its a great setup in Spain but I have my reservations if it can be replicated in our current system.

My understanding is that in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have their reserves team in the league (but obviously can't be promoted to the top league).

Having a Chelsea reserves team in the Championship or even League 1 would make a huge difference to the level.

That is actually a smart way of doing things.May be what could happen is that English PL teams form some kind of connection (financial) with a league 1 or 2 team that is similar to the farm system used in ice hockey. Players can be called up from the farm team when needed to replace injured players etc

Al

My understanding is that in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid have their reserves team in the league (but obviously can't be promoted to the top league).

Having a Chelsea reserves team in the Championship or even League 1 would make a huge difference to the level.

I can see this happening in the next few years to be honest. The bigger clubs are already unhappy with the reserve league, more and more players are being sent out on loan rather than keep them ticking over in a poor reserve competition. Plus the financial position of many lower league teams leads me to believe we will soon see the big Prem league teams taking on a 1st div or championship team as a sort of 2nd team.

I can see this happening in the next few years to be honest. The bigger clubs are already unhappy with the reserve league, more and more players are being sent out on loan rather than keep them ticking over in a poor reserve competition. Plus the financial position of many lower league teams leads me to believe we will soon see the big Prem league teams taking on a 1st div or championship team as a sort of 2nd team.

Mourinho wanted the reserves to play in the league system as well, and said so publicly but that was pretty much quashed.

I don't personally agree with it. I think the system is good for the lower league clubs who get players they might otherwise have not gotten on loan and that helps the standard in those leagues. Also if we were able to field reserve teams in the league that'd only lead to more stockpiling of players and less opportunities for clubs lower down the ladder to win honours.

Mourinho wanted the reserves to play in the league system as well, and said so publicly but that was pretty much quashed.

I don't personally agree with it. I think the system is good for the lower league clubs who get players they might otherwise have not gotten on loan and that helps the standard in those leagues. Also if we were able to field reserve teams in the league that'd only lead to more stockpiling of players and less opportunities for clubs lower down the ladder to win honours.

I fully agree with you in that I dont want it to happen, it would make a mockery of the leagues. Players coming and going from sides, strong one week, weak the next. In Rugby league they have a new system of dual registration. A young player at a top league team can also register for a team in the lower leagues meaning he can play for either team at any point. My team have chosen not to take this route, yet week in week out we play against teams with players who have just suddenly appeared, didnt play last week and may well not play the week after. Its a farce.