How about some attacking coaches for the first team too! Stubbs looks out of his depth even at that low level.

It's almost all the youth team playing for the reserves, all the time.

While on this occassion a few of the first team squad played, usually they are boys playing against men. Hardly fair to judge Stubbs on this?

So little emphasis is placed on reserve football these days, I wouldn't even try and draw any conclusions based on it.

"....should there be a better tactician in his position?"

How about David Moy.....oh, hang on....

That's the whole problem with the Everton set up. It's an old pals' act; about time we bought someone in from outside with fresh ideas.

Maybe Stubbs is keeping an eye on Rodwell and Felli for when he makes money on their transfers, a la Rooney?

Half the reserve team are out on loan, trying to scrape a couple of coppers together for a new signing.

Agree we need some attacking influence in the coaching department. Isn't Stubbs just a coach? Thought Holden was the "manager".

Where are all the "Howard out, give Mucha a game" clan? Problem for reserves is there is no consistency so it is hard to gel!

The reserves league has completely changed over the last few years and barely holds any worth or purpose these days. In the past, you'd often get plenty of first teamers from other sides playing to gain fitness or returning from injury, you hardly get that now. The only reason we have so-called first-teamers appearing in ours is because of how tiny our squad is.

The biggest problem is that these players are supposed to be the competition for the first team and none of them are noticeably improving. It's time we stopped letting the bench warmers get paid for nothing and get them a few run-outs in the reserves.

Mucha and Hibbo both played against Blackburn and I reckon a few of the others should be playing, eg: Osman, Anichebe, Bily and Heitinga as they are not playing full games ? so how can they be match fit?

I don't want to enter into arguments with other fans but when players were off--form or coming back from injury, they used to play in reserve games to get them sharpened up. A lot of our STARS seem to be quite happy sitting games out on the bench and picking up money for old rope ? 15-minute cameos at fantastic rates of pay!!!

I don't like Stubbs for the very reason Dave Lynch mentions #4.

No wonder he was publicly advising Rooney to leave after Euro 2004.

What is Taffy Holden doing now if Alan Stubbs is manging the reserve team?

Reserve team matches are a joke. Only a handful of games and they are used for getting/keeping players fit.

It's quite funny that as we have a decent result against Chelsea we find some posters having a pop at the reserve team and their "manager". Some posters really do make me laugh. We're doomed I tells yer!

Stubbs is assitant to Holden

http://www.evertonfc.com/match/coaching-staff.html?startfrom=5

Anyway, the reserve team is pointless nowadays.........

Unfortunately over recent seasons the Reserve Team League has been chopped and changed and it has declined. I know it is often the nostalgic cry ? " In years past, things where better" and it's the usual cliche. But in this case I think that in years gone by the Reserve Team League was better organised.

Basically the Reserve teams from Northern clubs played in the Central League, with their Southern counterparts playing in the Football Combination. I think this system operated fairly successfully for several decades. When my Dad bought me my 1st season ticket for the 1966-67, we used to go to some of the Reserve Team matches. I recall seeing people like Joe Royle, Jimmy Husband and Mike Trebilcock playing for Everton's second string. I reckon that the attendances at Goodison would have been around 5,000 on average.

In my opinion a good Reserve team League is important for the development of young players and also giving "game time" to squad players.The current system in this country leaves a lot to be desired and over recent years the organisation of the Reserve Team League has declined very sharply.

Compare the situation in Spain. There several of the Reserve Teams compete in the overall League structure ? Barcelona's 2nd Team play in the 2nd Tier of the Spanish League. Real Madrid's play in the 4th tier. The teams can get promoted and relegated ? but they can't be promoted to play in the same division as the 1st team. I think that Barcelona's 2nd Team are in 7th place!! Is it any wonder that so many good young Spanish players seem to be coming through the ranks, when they can play their Reserve team football at a decent, competetive level.

If you look back in history some of the most successful Everton teams ? 1969-70 and 1984- 85 for example they have included several players who have come through from the Reserves. Players such as Tommy Wright, Jimmy Husband and the great Brian Labone, Gary Stevens and Kevin Ratcliffe played for Everton's Reserve team in the Central League.

So I have to disagree with Craig. The Reserve Team is far from pointless. Bringing through our own players is very important for a club like Everton. We may not be able to compete in the transfer market with the financial mega rich clubs, but neither can the likes of Ajax Amsterdam. Having a good youth policy is one way we can redress the balance as Ajax have done.

Stubbs is not entirely to blame, his options are resricted due to the decline of the Reserve Team League. Have a decent league organisation at Reserve Team level and the benefits will be many.

I checked the Spanish Division 2 table and Barcalona Reserves are 9th in the table ? still very good in my opinion. I expect we will be seeing some of those players playing in their 1st team in years to come. That's why Reserve teams are important.

Michael, agree with you, that reserve teams are important, especially when like us, you are skint as fuck.

But surely if reserve games are pointless and we are skint, what's the point in taking part at all?

Michael, isn't it that Barce grew so strong and successful that their reserve team is so good? Rather than the other way round?

Barce and Real's reserve teams are practically teams in their own right rather than reserve teams. Barce B will be big enough to have its own reserve team soon. They even have a 15,000 seater stadium of their own next to the Nou Camp.

EFC used to field up to seven teams each week and I have played against Everton 'A' and Liverpool 'A' sides who were in the same league as Southport who I played for, Marine, Tranmere Rovers reserves etc etc.

First team players always played at least one reserve game following an injury to sharpen them up... and if they were off-form they got dropped to the reserves and replaced.

Sitting on the bench for 60 minutes (at least) every week is a joke and a great job for some players who are on big money for providing cameo performances or tactical moves.

It's not simply a case of Barcelona being rich first and the 2nd Team not really being important. They have had a long standing commitment to a youth policy as have Ajax. The current coach of Barcelona ? how many trophies has he won in just a couple of years? ? started his coaching with the Barcelona youth team.

A good youth development programme is important to Everton. Check your history ? many of our best teams contained a good proportion of "home grown" players.