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Fitzjames · 21st June 2007, 02:18

I think it works as well or as badly as the players we send.
Presumably the arrangements with Shelbourne in Ireland and a DAnish or Norwegian club fell through.
Personally Shelbourne would be a better bet (culture language ability wise) as a Belgian SECOND division team. A Belgian first Division team would work much better. Antwerp really need to be there.

There seems a plan behind "loans".
Academy players who sign Pro seem to get a few months in Reserves before being loaned out...either to RA or a League 2 side.
Then they come back more Reserve games where they are re-evalued. Then a loan to the Championship (the likes of Stoke or Barnsley).
Presumably the likes of Simpson, Martin, Eckersley, R Jones, Gibson, Campbell Shawcross will be re-evalued in Reserves before joining a Championship side on loan or being released in January window.
As an old timer I tend to resent the way that the Reserve Team is so downgraded compared to say 1960s.
Back then only say 14 "first teamers" would not have played meaning that the Reserve team quality was pretty good.
Nowadays routinely around 20 "first teamers" are unavailable plus around (at most last season) another 10 "reserves". Quality and continuity suffers.
Yes we are pretty high up Reserve League..we even win it which we hadnt done for years prior to around 1993.
But we are now playing other downgraded reserve sides.

21st June 2007, 02:18	#6 (permalink)
Fitzjames Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Co Armagh Ireland Posts: 1,009	Royal Antwerp I think it works as well or as badly as the players we send. Presumably the arrangements with Shelbourne in Ireland and a DAnish or Norwegian club fell through. Personally Shelbourne would be a better bet (culture language ability wise) as a Belgian SECOND division team. A Belgian first Division team would work much better. Antwerp really need to be there. There seems a plan behind "loans". Academy players who sign Pro seem to get a few months in Reserves before being loaned out...either to RA or a League 2 side. Then they come back more Reserve games where they are re-evalued. Then a loan to the Championship (the likes of Stoke or Barnsley). Presumably the likes of Simpson, Martin, Eckersley, R Jones, Gibson, Campbell Shawcross will be re-evalued in Reserves before joining a Championship side on loan or being released in January window. As an old timer I tend to resent the way that the Reserve Team is so downgraded compared to say 1960s. Back then only say 14 "first teamers" would not have played meaning that the Reserve team quality was pretty good. Nowadays routinely around 20 "first teamers" are unavailable plus around (at most last season) another 10 "reserves". Quality and continuity suffers. Yes we are pretty high up Reserve League..we even win it which we hadnt done for years prior to around 1993. But we are now playing other downgraded reserve sides.