I've never seen an EPL Reserve team game and wonder where do they fit in the whole scheme of things. I hear alot youth soccer development with Frank Simek, Ken Cooper, Zach Whitbread, Jemal Johnson, Jonathon Spector, Brian Mascarenas (?) Will Johnson and wonder? If they are successfful where do they fit into our youth national progression. What I do know. I have seen Simak and based on youth national undr 20's he was below Cochrane and Marshall as a Central Defender. Since Cooper was in college and goes to ManU reserve team contract does that make him a level above college in the US and below A-League or is Reserve team above A-Leage and more of a Division 1 English player well above a PDL player who plays college in season? (Grasping head) I'm so confused!! Someone please help me!!!!!!!!!
I think its hard to compare. But what you must remember is that when a player like Whitbread is playing on the reserves, he goes up against Michael Owen; Simek against Henry, Spector against RVN. Our forwards (Danny K and Cooper) can learn from some of the best strikers in the world. I think in being a member of a reserve team, you learn more about how to play the game at a professional level (as opposed to NCAA, where you learn more about the game, but not as a pro) which can help you down the road. The other thing is that the reserve teams are not equal, teams like United, Chelsea and the like can have reserve squads that can run circles around lower EPL teams and first divsion teams, other teams cannot afford to spend so much money on reserve players.
You make a really good point I really did not consider. It's not at this point where they're at but the potential where they could and should be be down the road. With those players in the EPL professional environment with Henry. RVN, Keane, to shoot for they obviously are in an environment to better themselves well beyond where they think they may reach. It boils down to that we may have better players in the states here and now. But some 2,3,4, years down the road they will have the competition to better themselves to their utmost. I'll call it the 'Landon Donovan Syndrome'. Thanks for the insight