Chelsea B: The future of our reserves?

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

Okay, let me just say from the outset I am not proposing the following as an idea I agree with, but one I think is worth debating.

In Spain, Barcelona have an official 'B' team for their reserves that plays in the fourth division of Spanish football (though are in playoffs for promotion). In concept this is the formal reserve team of Barcelona and while ineligible for cups or promotion to La Liga or playing in the Copa del Rey has been a proven hotbed for some great Barca players (inc Messi, Puyol, Xavi, Guardiola etc).

With the financial climate in England worsening at the lower levels, what is the potential for a smaller club to be officially supported by Chelsea (or Utd or Arsenal for that matter)? I'm not talking renaming Brentford to Chelsea 'B' but set up some deal where we would pay for running costs and wages, take a share of any profits but primarily have a consistent place for our reserves and youth.

Key Advantages:
The smaller club is saved from extinction and gets benefit of some good young talent
Chelsea have a place where our reserves learn to play together rather than ply their trade separately
Tactics consistent with the main club could be used so players can get used to systems and styles of play

Key Disadvantages
Some removal of identity of the smaller club
Inability to play in cups or premiership - condemned as being a feeder club

Very open discussion, just throwing it out there.

[ChelseaForTheCup(s)]

I'd prefer an official B team.

Because this would no doubt be met with HEAVY opposition from smaller clubs in my opinion.

[blackjack]

I'd prefer an official B team.

Because this would no doubt be met with HEAVY opposition from smaller clubs in my opinion.

Agreed - take our current U-14 side, enter them into the the best league they could get into, and see if they couldn't be playing in the conference or league 2 by the time they're 19 or 20. Even our kids should be able to get promoted pretty quickly through the ranks below the conference.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

I'd prefer an official B team.

Because this would no doubt be met with HEAVY opposition from smaller clubs in my opinion.

Well the way I was thinking about it would be that it was a last resort for a club that would otherwise go bust, not to take over existing clubs who don't need any interference.

And the reason I would suggest this over an actual newly formed 'B' team is to get them at a decent level straight away (ie League One or Two). A new club would otherwise be in the triangle system and we would not benefit from our guys playing Sunday League opposition.

It's the kernal of an idea, I have no blueprint, but any 'B' team would have to be at a professional level and that would mean a partnership, not a new club.

[yasik19]

Well the way I was thinking about it would be that it was a last resort for a club that would otherwise go bust, not to take over existing clubs who don't need any interference.

And the reason I would suggest this over an actual newly formed 'B' team is to get them at a decent level straight away (ie League One or Two). A new club would otherwise be in the triangle system and we would not benefit from our guys playing Sunday League opposition.

It's the kernal of an idea, I have no blueprint, but any 'B' team would have to be at a professional level and that would mean a partnership, not a new club.

yep.

[fernb8]

Well the way I was thinking about it would be that it was a last resort for a club that would otherwise go bust, not to take over existing clubs who don't need any interference.

And the reason I would suggest this over an actual newly formed 'B' team is to get them at a decent level straight away (ie League One or Two). A new club would otherwise be in the triangle system and we would not benefit from our guys playing Sunday League opposition.

It's the kernal of an idea, I have no blueprint, but any 'B' team would have to be at a professional level and that would mean a partnership, not a new club.

very good stuff KDB and tbh I think this will eventually have to happen to keep the smaller clubs afloat. How can Acrington Stanley compete for fans considering their geographic location and tiny fan base? They are just waiting to go pop.

Hopefully the FA will allow some of the Prem sides to "adopt" a League 2/Blue Square side and share revenue, players, etc. I agree with your posts that this is clearly a win-win for both teams involved.

[Chelsea8-0Manu]

Why can't we just have an unofficial deal with a lower league club to loan all our reserves there? In this way, the club will not officially be our B team and will be allowed to be promoted and compete in cups?

[fernb8]

Why can't we just have an unofficial deal with a lower league club to loan all our reserves there? In this way, the club will not officially be our B team and will be allowed to be promoted and compete in cups?

I believe the FA would not approve of such action as it may give Team A an unfair advantage over the remaining teams in the League. I would think an inverse system where the winner of the Prem gets paried with the lowest team in the League or a permanent club adoption may be the only way to proceed foward.

[Dear_Claudio]

A team can only loan so many players per season so the FA/Football League would have to totally overhaul the rules.

[Chelsea8-0Manu]

A team can only loan so many players per season so the FA/Football League would have to totally overhaul the rules.

So we sell our reserves to the lower league team with an unofficial agreement to sell them back to us in January or after the season ends. Or have them terminate their contracts so we can sign them again anytime.

[BridgeMonkee]

very good stuff KDB and tbh I think this will eventually have to happen to keep the smaller clubs afloat. How can Acrington Stanley compete for fans considering their geographic location and tiny fan base? They are just waiting to go pop.

Hopefully the FA will allow some of the Prem sides to "adopt" a League 2/Blue Square side and share revenue, players, etc. I agree with your posts that this is clearly a win-win for both teams involved.

Just scrap all the smaller clubs and do away entirely with the idea of young English lads ever getting a chance to play a game. This would be a great idea for the national team.

[mshankb]

As much as I love the masses of football that there is in England, the truth is that in economic terms, there are too many professional clubs here - 92 + a handful of the Conference teams!


As for this idea specifically... I just can't see it. It simply wouldn't wear.

[okocha1]

Sahar is on loan to NEC. (http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nec-nijmegen.nl%2Flayout.php%3Fp%3D11%26NieuwsID%3D1426&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=nl&tl=en)

Hopefully everything turns out well for him and he starts banging in those goals.

[yasik19]

Sahar is on loan to NEC. (http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nec-nijmegen.nl%2Flayout.php%3Fp%3D11%26NieuwsID%3D1426&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=nl&tl=en)

Hopefully everything turns out well for him and he starts banging in those goals.

doesn't it say possible?

[okocha1]

Skysports confirm Sahar move eminent (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3680935,00.html)

[yasik19]

Skysports confirm Sahar move eminent (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3680935,00.html)

best of luck to him.

[lobomojo]

best of luck to him.

Not sure if has been posted before, a little blurb on Kakuta

http://chelseayouthandreserves.wordpress.com/under-18s/gael-kakuta/

[adri]

i'll start a proper new y&r thread.

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

i'll start a proper new y&r thread.

Thanks Adri - this was just a summer discussion thread with a specific focus.