Chris Richards at Crystal Palace

Mai and Nicolas Feldhahn.

Nicolas Feldhahn is the captain and one of the overage players.

 

so its hard to believe richards gets a look before both mai and feldhahn?

 

Mai is above him but not Feldhahn. Feldhahn is with the second team to help and lead

 

Essentially like a player coach who has no chance of making it to the Bundesliga? A German Crash Davis, per chance?

 

Yeah, he's similar in profile to Christian Gross (30 years old), who hadn't played above the 3.Liga until Werder's current injury crisis. He's started 5 games in a row for the first team.

So he has some chance, but I imagine Bayern would use him as a last resort, probably behind Richards.

 

Exactly

 

The Big Boys' II teams are officially the U-23s but most of the squads are under 21. The over-age players are there to keep the youngsters from being completely dominated physically, to calm them or the game down when things are going badly and to show the more Neanderthal lower-division journeymen that there are others who can mix things up off the ball.

Since they do what captains do, you could say that they're there as co-captains, with each vet being responsible for organising/leading his part of the team.

A coaching role outside of matchdays isn't always part of the job, though a lot do go into coaching later on.

 

I would love it if we approached the USMNT this way. Mostly U23 with just a few guys in this exact role.

 

You wish we'd operate the national team like a reserve club squad? Makes zero sense.

 

I should've clarified - I wouldn't want us to operate that way in most circumstances, but it would make sense in situations like right now where the developing/growing generation is so much more talented than the generation that's in its prime.

 

ℹ Team news ahead of tomorrow's clash with Union Berlin. 👇

— 🇺🇸 FC Bayern US 🇨🇦 (@FCBayernUS) October 25, 2019

Mai is back from injury and gets the call up.

Bayern II play on Mon, maybe we see Richards at CB (if he is feeling better).

 

Still makes no sense. We should just play the young players who are ready and ditch the old guys.

 

Lol

 

Unsere 1⃣1⃣ für den Heimsieg gegen @svw07 💥#FCBSVW #FCBAmateure #packmas pic.twitter.com/P7f4Ku0ZnQ

— FC Bayern Campus (@fcbayerncampus) October 28, 2019

Richards starts at CB

 

This was the whole point I was trying to make. Obviously I didn't do it very well.

 

⏸ #FCBSVW 1:0 (45.)

💪 Tor: Otschi Wriedt
❗Früchtl pariert Foulelfmeter!#FCBAmateure #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/Sib55zQ9kl

— FC Bayern Campus (@fcbayerncampus) October 28, 2019

 

Game finished 2-2 with Bayern snagging the last gasp equalizer. The other team played a man down the last 20 min.

I didn't watch, so I have no idea if Richards was responsible for either goal.

 

No worries. The club reserve squad operates in a particular way having older players participate who don't have a competitive chance at making the senior team; they participate to provide mentorship and protection as the other posters described. There are separate national squad youth teams (U23, U20, U17) that are somewhat analogous to club academy teams.

 

Thanks for posting Duke. Got beat a couple of times but looked pretty good... especially considering the high-press he was often facing.

 

ℹ️ @Javi8martinez will travel with the team to Frankfurt and is an option for #SGEFCB 👍 pic.twitter.com/DyZdC5wds8

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) November 1, 2019

Our boy

 

Richards scores. Bayern II up 2-1. https://t.co/NZdPrSh34R

— Daniel (@DanielSmith1022) November 3, 2019

 

looks like they lost 5-3 gulp

 

Kovac sacked

 

Wow... Can't say that I am not happy Bayern is in turmoil... I loathe that team. So boring to have the same team win every year... especially when they are constantly taking all of the best players from their closest competitors. I hope they loan Richards out because I would hate to have to root for him in that uniform.