Reserves Pulled Out of Combination League.

[miserableoldgit]

Radio Solent reporting this morning that Saints Reserve team is to be pulled out of their Combination division and will instead play freindlies at home and abroad, and in doing so will strenthen realtions with teams in Europe. Interesting!

[Pilchards]

Too right!

 

It never happens often that first team players get in involved in reserve matches anymore, which suggests they have these closed door games already.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Radio Solent reporting this morning that Saints Reserve team is to be pulled out of their Combination division and will instead play freindlies at home and abroad, and in doing so will strenthen realtions with teams in Europe. Interesting!

 

 

I haven't been a huge fan of Cortese lately, but I have to say, if true, this is a top draw decision IMO. Players and fans might more enthused, and certainly more should be learned. The organisation of reserve team football in our professional leages is downright pathetic. Chelsea "reserves" for example are multi-million pound players who play pointless lacklustre games at places like Aldershot Rec.

[Turkish]

I haven't been a huge fan of Cortese lately, but I have to say, if true, this is a top draw decision IMO. Players and fans might more enthused, and certainly more should be learned. The organisation of reserve team football in our professional leages is downright pathetic. Chelsea "reserves" for example are multi-million pound players who play pointless lacklustre games at places like Aldershot Rec.

 

Whats he dont to upset you then?

[beatlesaint]

Sounds a much better option than playing away to Forest Green Rovers et al on a cold and wet January night in front of 4 people.

[Marsdinho]

I think this is a great idea, it allows you to have greater control over when and who you play.

 

Our youger players could benefit from playing against foreign teams.

[SaintRichmond]

Sounds a much better option than playing away to Forest Green Rovers et al on a cold and wet January night in front of 4 people.

 

 

 

I didn't know their ground could hold 4 ???:rolleyes:

[Saint Lindford]

Not really surprised, what benefit is there for players playing against the likes of Forrest Green Rovers Reserves?

 

Arranging friendly games against Premier League clubs or foreign teams will be of more use to the development of the younger players.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Whats he dont to upset you then?

 

I think he's been childish and arrogant over his relations with the Echo and dissing of other people expressing their views. However I don't then try to interpret everything else he does in the same way. So I'll give him credit if he does something good, and the appointment of a talent identification head honcho, and the reserve team games ideas are IMO both very good moves.

[JRM]

Radio Solent reporting this morning that Saints Reserve team is to be pulled out of their Combination division and will instead play freindlies at home and abroad, and in doing so will strenthen realtions with teams in Europe. Interesting!

 

Excellent news.

 

I am going to give the first team a miss this year and follow the reserves across the continent.

[alpine_saint]

Another excellent initiative from NC, hope the likes of SOGGY can give credit where its due.

[alpine_saint]

Excellent news.

 

I am going to give the first team a miss this year and follow the reserves across the continent.

 

It means I might be able to get the odd game...

[stevegrant]

Seems a very sensible decision.

 

Given that a lot of sides in the lower leagues struggle to find enough players to fill the first team subs bench, it stands to reason that games against their "reserve" teams aren't going to provide any benefit to us other than perhaps injury recuperation.

[Doctoroncall]

I haven't been a huge fan of Cortese lately, but I have to say, if true, this is a top draw decision IMO. Players and fans might more enthused, and certainly more should be learned. The organisation of reserve team football in our professional leages is downright pathetic. Chelsea "reserves" for example are multi-million pound players who play pointless lacklustre games at places like Aldershot Rec.

 

I thought the PL sides were playing each other and it's only those clubs in the FL that have the reserve leagues localised.

 

Besides, we don't know if this is NCs great idea or that of the development team (Reed et al) rubber stamped by NC.

[miserableoldgit]

I thought the PL sides were playing each other and it's only those clubs in the FL that have the reserve leagues localised.

 

Besides, we don't know if this is NCs great idea or that of the development team (Reed et al) rubber stamped by NC.

TBF the club haven`t confirmed or commented on this yet, but Solent sounded pretty confident that it was going to happen.

[Scudamore]

Besides, we don't know if this is NCs great idea or that of the development team (Reed et al) rubber stamped by NC.

 

There's no i in team.

[Micky]

This is probably all part of the bigger picture and NC getting ready for when we are playing in the Champions League after successfully completing the clubs 5 year plan.

[doddisalegend]

Not really surprised, what benefit is there for players playing against the likes of Forrest Green Rovers Reserves?

Arranging friendly games against Premier League clubs or foreign teams will be of more use to the development of the younger players.

 

If you think about it in reverse Forest Green's reserves probably play against better players than their first team do bizzare:p

[VectisSaint]

Good idea, reserve football in this country is rubbish nowadays. Still, I can't help thinking that these European teams will be running scared at the prospect of facing young Pulis

[Kingsland Nick]

Good news. The reserves should be about developing young players, not trying to win the Combination.

[The9]

I'm still peed off about us getting booted from the Premier League reserve league when the first team got relegated - we were one of the best sides in that with all the academy players getting useful run outs against decent opponents every match.

[Micky]

Not really surprised, what benefit is there for players playing against the likes of Forrest Green Rovers Reserves?

 

Arranging friendly games against Premier League clubs or foreign teams will be of more use to the development of the younger players.

 

Tend to agree with this. Can't for the life of me imagine why Germany did this:

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12023_6174582,00.html

 

prior to the WC, don't understand the benefit of it at all...??!!!

[Badger]

Tend to agree with this. Can't for the life of me imagine why Germany did this:

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12023_6174582,00.html

 

prior to the WC, don't understand the benefit of it at all...??!!!

 

Noted the headline :

 

"Germany enjoy warm-up romp".

 

If you saw the same headline about England you would expect it to involve something more sordid.

[Wes Tender]

I'm still peed off about us getting booted from the Premier League reserve league when the first team got relegated - we were one of the best sides in that with all the academy players getting useful run outs against decent opponents every match.

 

Quite right. We should have stayed there on merit and to relegate us from it just because we were relegated was a farcical situation.

 

These two initiatives, the appointment of David Burke from Manchester City's scouting organisation and the opportunity of our reserves to play matches arranged to suit us at home and abroad, is a clear statement of intent of the club's ambitions.

 

I think that we are in for an exciting summer with some more good news to come if we are able to sign players of the calibre of those touted on here, but the infrastructure of the actual club, with improvements to the training ground, catering and hospitality and now further tweaking of the backroom staff is symptomatic of Cortese putting into place pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When that is complete, we ought to have everything in place to get to the Premiership and to stay there.

[alpine_saint]

Quite right. We should have stayed there on merit and to relegate us from it just because we were relegated was a farcical situation.

 

These two initiatives, the appointment of David Burke from Manchester City's scouting organisation and the opportunity of our reserves to play matches arranged to suit us at home and abroad, is a clear statement of intent of the club's ambitions.

 

I think that we are in for an exciting summer with some more good news to come if we are able to sign players of the calibre of those touted on here, but the infrastructure of the actual club, with improvements to the training ground, catering and hospitality and now further tweaking of the backroom staff is symptomatic of Cortese putting into place pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When that is complete, we ought to have everything in place to get to the Premiership and to stay there.

 

And to get into real Euro competitions too, seeing as most of the PL will be ineligible by the time we get back there...

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1282136/Manchester-City-United-Chelsea-Liverpool-maybe-Europe-Real-Madrid-Just-UEFAs-new-finance-rules-mean.html

[Ewell]

Expect plenty of matches against Glenn Hoddles academy side!

[suewhistle]

Expect a Saints reserve team on your easyjet flight (or probably Flybe from Southampton I suppose) soon. It could be a reasonably cheap way of travelling, interesting for the players for the different environments and playing styles, and broaden their horizons a bit.

 

No doubt some of us far-flung types would take the chance to go and watch and confirm that Saints fans are everywhere!

 

Oh yes, and if we have home matches have them at SMS and don't do them behind closed doors. Continentals are well-impressed with the crowds we get in the third division (eg: here in Italy or look at Morgan's Facebook page) so why not impress them with our reserve team attendances. You never know, it might persuade a future young star to sign for us.

[Colinjb]

Expect a Saints reserve team on your easyjet flight (or probably Flybe from Southampton I suppose) soon. It could be a reasonably cheap way of travelling, interesting for the players for the different environments and playing styles, and broaden their horizons a bit.

 

No doubt some of us far-flung types would take the chance to go and watch and confirm that Saints fans are everywhere!

 

Oh yes, and if we have home matches have them at SMS and don't do them behind closed doors. Continentals are well-impressed with the crowds we get in the third division (eg: here in Italy or look at Morgan's Facebook page) so why not impress them with our reserve team attendances. You never know, it might persuade a future young star to sign for us.

 

A great idea. I remember there was a free to enter friendly vs West Ham back in April 2002 around Easter time, there must have been a crowd of a few thousand there for it, had a great time. (We lost 3-0 from what I remember, but nontheless it was a good way to spend the evening. Bairdy played.)

 

Even if it's only a few hundred paying 3 pounds or so to get in it would make for great experience for the lads, and if it's against someone actually rather good (Barca or AC Milan Reserves) then we could no doubt get a decent crowd for it.

[SaintRobbie]

Seems a very sensible decision.

 

Given that a lot of sides in the lower leagues struggle to find enough players to fill the first team subs bench, it stands to reason that games against their "reserve" teams aren't going to provide any benefit to us other than perhaps injury recuperation.

 

Agreed. It also demonstrates ambition yet again. It's a statement that basically says we are not a combination league club.

 

I hope our reserves are playing CCC and Premier League Reserve sides for experience.

[Thedelldays]

so, saints takeover at home and we send the reserves to takeover europe

 

tip top

[saintsub]

I can only assume that SFC can generate sufficent quality friendly matches to bring on the talent within the academy. This is a brave move but one I support provided it can deliver better football for our up and coming and fringe players (or those returning from injury). I cannot imagine that this was entered in to lightly and the pros and cons will have been fully discussed. I would suspect that some of the Chamionship and even Prem clubs would relish the chance of having a run out against us given the good name the SFC academy has for generating high quality players. It actually also provides the coaching staff the oppoirutnity to experiment and put more players on and off during match since they will not be tied to league match substitute rules.

[Wes Tender]

I can only assume that SFC can generate sufficent quality friendly matches to bring on the talent within the academy. This is a brave move but one I support provided it can deliver better football for our up and coming and fringe players (or those returning from injury). I cannot imagine that this was entered in to lightly and the pros and cons will have been fully discussed. I would suspect that some of the Chamionship and even Prem clubs would relish the chance of having a run out against us given the good name the SFC academy has for generating high quality players. It actually also provides the coaching staff the oppoirutnity to experiment and put more players on and off during match since they will not be tied to league match substitute rules.

 

A very good point.

[Give it to Ron]

It actually also provides the coaching staff the oppoirutnity to experiment and put more players on and off during match since they will not be tied to league match substitute rules.

 

We might even get Pulis on the pitch for ten minutes at the end of a game ;-)

[doubleonothing]

Tend to agree with this. Can't for the life of me imagine why Germany did this:

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12023_6174582,00.html

 

prior to the WC, don't understand the benefit of it at all...??!!!

 

Think England did something similar prior to Euro 88. Beardsley scored 4.

 

Didn't do us much good. We lost every game.

[doubleonothing]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/8190446.Saints_to_axe_reserve_side_from_league/

[VectisSaint]

I can only assume that SFC can generate sufficent quality friendly matches to bring on the talent within the academy.

Don't think we have pulled out of the Academy league have we?

[Matthew Le God]

Don't think we have pulled out of the Academy league have we?

 

No.

[Raven on the wing]

It would also give us the chance to play against & have a sneeky look at players we might be interested in from specific other clubs rather than a set league programme.

[Legod Third Coming]

There's no i in team.

 

No but there is a me.

[Deano6]

There's no i in team.

 

No, but "team" is an anagram of "meat", as in "meat pie" and of course "pi" and the other prominent transcendental "e" both feature in the famous equation "e^(pi*i) = -1", which relates unity on the real number line to - you guessed it: i!

[RonManager]

No, but "team" is an anagram of "meat", as in "meat pie" and of course "pi" and the other prominent transcendental "e" both feature in the famous equation "e^(pi*i) = -1", which relates unity on the real number line to - you guessed it: i!

 

Yes, 'i' as in -

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!VOTE FOR RICKIE!!!!!!!!!!

[paulwantsapint]

Even if the reserves play non league 1st teams it has got to be a good thing

 

But if we can get a couple of high profile reserve game it must be played at SMS

[percy windham]

Think England did something similar prior to Euro 88. Beardsley scored 4.

 

Didn't do us much good. We lost every game.

 

 

 

one of my favourite phoenix from the flames, this one.

[ooohTerryHurlock]

Sounds a much better option than playing away to Forest Green Rovers et al on a cold and wet January night in front of 4 people.

 

There was more than four people there and it was n't januarylol

[John Boy Saint]

Has to be the best way forward, as the quality of the opposition does not seem to be too much of a challenge, and looking at the results it seems the team approached the games last season with a laissez faire attitude. Getting better games especially overseas might inspire better performances that can be carried forwards into the first team.

[suewhistle]

And it might improve the attitude problems that have been mentioned - a few heavy defeats and they'll realise they aren't as good as they thought they were and need to work hard to succeed at the top.

[South City Si]

this sounds like a great idea. Used to go to the odd ressie game but stopped when we got kciked out the Prem res game as didn't really wish to see Aldershot let alone their reserve teams!

How they pull this one off and may start going down to Staplewood again to watch games.

[SFC Forever]

Brilliant sounding idea but how many games will we get to play every season.

[Matthew Le God]

Brilliant sounding idea but how many games will we get to play every season.

 

As many or as little as they want.

[SFC Forever]

If only it was that easy. There will be times when a game will be hard to arrange or will need to be re-arranged due to aanother game being cancelled or added through drawing a cup game for example.