ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Reserves

A glance at the reserve team against Man City reveals only two players that I can recall making the first team squad - Vidaarson and Ruddy. Where's VDM ,Da Silva and others who don't get a game? Why aren't these types of players given a run out?

It used to be that players returning from injury had a run out in the reserves, plus fringe players and a few young lads. Fans could go along to Goodison on weekday nights and for a fiver enjoy a decent game against Man Utd or Blackburn reserves and some of the first-teamers might turn up amongst a 5,000 crowd packed together in the main stand. I think they used to call it the Central League. It was a pretty useful exercise all round, instead of the complete waste of time the reserve set-up has become.
Alan Rodgers, Blackpool Posted 10/10/2007 at 12:24:22

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Michael Kenrick

Ah.... The Good Old Days! Just another changing facet of football as we know it, Allen. Things simply don't stay the same.

Seamus Murphy
1 Posted 10/10/2007 at 15:12:35

As far as i know Da Silva is still on loan at Barnsley.
I dont think it is a waste of time either - where do you think Vaughan and Anichebe plyed their trade before breaking into the first team?

John Lloyd
2 Posted 10/10/2007 at 15:51:04

For the first time ever, we are using are reserve team correctly. We have one of the youngest reserve teams around, coupled with the fact the U-18s are flying & if you look at the players that have come through over last 5 years (Rooney, Hibbert, Vaughn, Anichebe, Hughes) with the ones that are pushing the 1st team squad (Boyle, Vidarsson, Agaard etc) the youth/reserve setup looks promising for years to come. Check our results & the teams we put out, it truly is looking good. Along with the new training facility at Finch Farm. The Futures bright!!

James Elworthy
3 Posted 10/10/2007 at 15:54:53

Didnt Kevin Keegan get castrated for suggesting reserve football should be scrapped. I think these days all reserve sides are packed with youngsters, I dont think many teams play anyone in there first 22 squad players in the reserves anymore. Only maybe a keeper.
Da Silva is at Barnsley and is doing well according to reports. Maybe VDM could be offloaded for a month somewhere as it will do him alot of good as he just sits on his arse either on the bench or a barstool while he is here.

Alan Rodgers
4 Posted 10/10/2007 at 17:51:44

Just reminiscing really Seamus. To my mind ,though ,we have too many footballers not playing football in a competetive environment and this probably applies to all Premiership clubs. I know Vaughan and Anichebe came through but they are still raw. A season in the good old Central League would have done them good. It’s a hell of a leap from our so-called reserves to the top flight.

Seamus Murphy
5 Posted 10/10/2007 at 23:24:50

I do take your point about VdM though Alan - dont see any reason why he shouldnt be made play for the reserves, after all its not like it would be the end of the world if he got injured as he is not very likely to figure for us anyway, barring a major injury crisus