Darvel don’t exactly have a big fan base.To be honest, I'd rather see ambitious teams like Darvel and the other big junior teams getting their chance than some of the dross that makes up the lower league. Slamming the door on them iseliminating the opportunity for new teams with bigger fanbases to improve the Scottish game.
They’ve been playing each other since they’ve been 10. Playing against older tougher opponents gives them a different challenge imo.I’d much rather the B team be playing against the younger players of other Premiership teams tbh. I see no benefit of the Lowland league
To be honest, I'd rather see ambitious teams like Darvel and the other big junior teams getting their chance than some of the dross that makes up the lower league. Slamming the door on them iseliminating the opportunity for new teams with bigger fanbases to improve the Scottish game.
They’re playing against glorified amateurs in the lowland league. I don’t see how playing in lower leagues readies any player to play for our first teamThey’ve been playing each other since they’ve been 10. Playing against older tougher opponents gives them a different challenge imo.
They’re playing against glorified amateurs in the lowland league. I don’t see how playing in lower leagues readies any player to play for our first team
Look at Josh mcpake, doing relatively well in Championship and was highly touted for us but he’s absolutely no where near being good enough. Playing against amateurs would’ve done 0 for his development
Fair enough, I was thinking more of the big junior clubs that do and have ambition unlike most of the 2 lower spfl league.Darvel don’t exactly have a big fan base.
As do PSV and Ajax in HollandI know it'll never happen but our B teams would be so much better if they were playing at a higher level. For instance when Barca and Real Madrid B's used to play in the second tier of Spanish football.
But they do have serious money behind themDarvel don’t exactly have a big fan base.
They shouldn't be creating a League Three to do this. It should be part of a national restructuring of the entire pyramid with larger leagues and less tiers at SPFL level. B-Teams should be entered at an appropriate level.
They should be creating a reserve league again instead of ruining the integrity of the football pyramid
For years fans wanted a proper pyramid in place and we got it. B team joining lower league was ok but that shouldn’t impact teams from west of Scotland or east of Scotland being able to get a route into league football
Don’t disagree but the big clubs in Scotland, including us, shouldn’t be allowed to enter B teams into the proper league system as it’ll just clog it upWe had a reserve league and us and the tims pulled out of it because it was the group of players our players had played against at youth level and it wasn't doing anything for their development. We then started playing friendlies instead against other youth academies like Bayern, Man Utd etc.
The whole pyramid setup needs changed it doesn't work the Highland League and Lowland League winners shouldn't need to play a playoff match against the team that finishes bottom of league 2 to gain promotion. The playoffs in the league always tend to favour the teams that finish 11th in top flight or 9th in championship/league 1 as well it needs complete change.
The pyramid needs altered. There are teams stuck in the 5th and 6th tier who have better backing and fanbases than many in the divisions above. They can't get up because the system is set to try and keep the team for tier 4 and tier 5 in their division.They should be creating a reserve league again instead of ruining the integrity of the football pyramid
For years fans wanted a proper pyramid in place and we got it. B team joining lower league was ok but that shouldn’t impact teams from west of Scotland or east of Scotland being able to get a route into league football
But is not a similar scenario to Gretna with Brookson? If something happens to their current benefactor it all goes pear-shaped?But they do have serious money behind them
I’d much rather see teams like Pollok, Talbot, Darvel, Clydebank, Kilwinning be in tier 5 pushing for proper promotion than having B teams stalling progression for clubsThe pyramid needs altered. There are teams stuck in the 5th and 6th tier who have better backing and fanbases than many in the divisions above. They can't get up because the system is set to try and keep the team for tier 4 and tier 5 in their division.
You shouldn't have to play a 2 leg playoff just to have the chance of playing the worst team in tier 4.
There should be 3 tiers. Then from 4 onwards it splits and starts becoming a pyramid. 2 tables in tier 4, 4 tables in tier 5. Then all the smaller stuff below that.
Don’t disagree but the big clubs in Scotland, including us, shouldn’t be allowed to enter B teams into the proper league system as it’ll just clog it up
Imagine rangers or Celtic B winning the championship regularly and blocking teams promotion. It would make a mockery of Scottish football
I’d much rather see teams like Pollok, Talbot, Darvel, Clydebank, Kilwinning be in tier 5 pushing for proper promotion than having B teams stalling progression for clubs
Have our B team playing elite academy’s in friendlies in addition to a reserve league
There a three benefactors at Darvel. Brownings the Bakers , Black Rooster and to lesser an extent QTS.But is not a similar scenario to Gretna with Brookson? If something happens to their current benefactor it all goes pear-shaped?
Problem is the facilities at these clubs is absolutely dire and they don't have the money to invest in infrastructure. The second they start channelling the limited funds they have away from playing staff (failed pros dropping to junior to earn more and be the big fish) to upgrade changing rooms and spectator areas they will not be pushing for anything. They will never sustain full time football either.I’d much rather see teams like Pollok, Talbot, Darvel, Clydebank, Kilwinning be in tier 5 pushing for proper promotion than having B teams stalling progression for clubs
Have our B team playing elite academy’s in friendlies in addition to a reserve league
I saw them recently v Irvine Meadow and for all their money they were absolutely dire.But they do have serious money behind them
They need to move the B team fixtures to Broadwood too, bigger stadium in a pretty central and easily accessible location.
Or develop our own training centre to accommodate the b team rather than play at some other clubs ground.Or Airdrie
That could be said for every single club, no matter their league. What would happen to the EPL if the owners just said "we've had enough, ditch it"But is not a similar scenario to Gretna with Brookson? If something happens to their current benefactor it all goes pear-shaped?
They’re playing against glorified amateurs in the lowland league. I don’t see how playing in lower leagues readies any player to play for our first team
Look at Josh mcpake, doing relatively well in Championship and was highly touted for us but he’s absolutely no where near being good enough. Playing against amateurs would’ve done 0 for his development
Good. Scottish football needs to do what's best for the professional game. Part time clubs that will never amount to anything have far too big a say in how the game is run.
To be honest, I'd rather see ambitious teams like Darvel and the other big junior teams getting their chance than some of the dross that makes up the lower league. Slamming the door on them iseliminating the opportunity for new teams with bigger fanbases to improve the Scottish game.
The idea that B teams are the reason that the Dutch and Spanish do so well ignores the very limited impact that B team football has in Germany. German B sides typically play in regional leagues. A couple of them will sometimes have a run in 3.Liga. You're more likely to see German sides loaning their better youngsters out to teams in 3.Liga or Bundesliga 2 than to rely on their B teams playing in the German regional leagues.
If we don't improve everything that happens before kids hit 18/19 years of age then playing them against low level professionals won't make a bit of difference. We still won't produce good players. We also need to abandon this notion that teams can't play 20/21 year olds because of the risk involved. If a 20 year old can't be relied on to be part of Rangers' squad and to come on as a sub, or to start some games against weaker opposition, then they're never going to be good enough. Neither Rangers nor Celtic have developed good enough youngsters beyond that critical mid teens age where we lost Gilmour to Chelsea and the striker who went to Villa. Patterson was a massive exception - you need to go back to Alan Hutton to see the player before him who was developed by the club, played for Rangers first team as a young player and who then moved on for strong money.
There are very good reasons why we should change the league set-up in Scotland. My own preference would be 3 leagues of 16 teams, a proper winter break, fewer midweek games and a change to the cup competitions. But changing to accommodate B teams isnt going to magically fix our game.
They’re playing against glorified amateurs in the lowland league. I don’t see how playing in lower leagues readies any player to play for our first team
Look at Josh mcpake, doing relatively well in Championship and was highly touted for us but he’s absolutely no where near being good enough. Playing against amateurs would’ve done 0 for his development
The Beggars B team use Airdrie’s groundOr Airdrie
With 3 leagues of 16, is that a 30 game season, or would you still incorporate some kind of split?
I’m not strictly saying you are wrong, but one of the factors for smaller clubs is the matchday income and I don’t see them looking to significantly reduce that.
And what do the Spanish know about developing quality footballers?I know it'll never happen but our B teams would be so much better if they were playing at a higher level. For instance when Barca and Real Madrid B's used to play in the second tier of Spanish football.
Utrecht and Feyenoord also.As do PSV and Ajax in Holland
The training centre will never be able to accomodate the crowds we could attract by using a conviniently located existing stadium.Or develop our own training centre to accommodate the b team rather than play at some other clubs ground.