João Félix

It’s for that reason I have some sympathy with Chelsea and their use of the loan system. Regardless of their ability to integrate their academy players into the first team, they have the best academy in the country and the players seem to quickly outgrow youth level football and need to be tested at a higher level. All the top academies in the country have the same problem.

I guess the issue for most is the elitist nature of b teams, and how it does undermine competition were they to be competing in the lower leagues.

There’s also a difficulty in implementation due to the FA, Premier League and Football League being three seperate entities with differing goals. I understand the resistance from the Football League as they want to protect the integrity of their league system. Sadly it has a negative effect on the development of young talent in the country, which in turn is detrimental to the national team, Premier League and the Football League.

comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 41 minutes ago
Watched him for Benfica's first team for the first time a couple of weeks ago in the derby and he was fantastic.

It was such a shame his first goal in that game was ruled out for a foul he committed because he took it so well from about 25 yards out.

It's rare to see a player with such a broad skillset. He has incredible technical and playmaking qualities but he has the movement and instincts in front of goal of a striker and from seeing various clips of him he looks quite handy in the air for somebody of his size too.

I would love for us to be able to accommodate a player of his class.
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Yep; shame about that VAR decision, because it was a wonderful piece of skill and finish.

There’s also a difficulty in implementation due to the FA, Premier League and Football League being three seperate entities with differing goals. I understand the resistance from the Football League as they want to protect the integrity of their league system. Sadly it has a negative effect on the development of young talent in the country, which in turn is detrimental to the national team, Premier League and the Football League.

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It's a sad situation unfortunately we're stuck with.

The only thing I can think of is to make it compulsory to have a certain number of first team players who haven't played or played much at the weekend or during the week to play for their club's reserve side in a league format which mirrors the Premier League - same teams, 38 games, same fixture schedule where possible etc. Forget about any cup competitions at that level. The focus should be on a higher standard of league and player development.

It means more football for young players, something they don't get enough of at U23 level currently even with the cups, it gives them opportunities to play against better players in more competitive games, it would generate greater interest and larger crowds and would give young players more chances to play in bigger stadiums in a more professional game type situation and it gives first team squad players much needed game time.

Implementing all of that, making it work and getting clubs and the players to agree to it is much easier said than done of course but something like that is perhaps the next best thing to a B league system which is never going to happen in England.

Yeah that’s sounds like a solution, albeit one I can’t see happening. Something needs to be done. The coaching and development of young players has seen a positive change, and we are starting to see the benefits in the profile of the players that are starting to progress through the academy system now. Making a change for those players to play more competitive football is the most important thing now, however. Hopefully some arrangment can be made to help as everyone would benefit from it.

I’m not sure on the exact numbers, but I wouldn’t be shocked to find the vast majority of players that come through the premier league academies end up in the Football League. When you consider this, their resistance to the idea of B teams playing in the football league is probably counterproductive to the quality of their product. You’d still see big crowds as well as people would like to go and watch the next big things in English football testing themselves at lower league level. It’s a shame the political aspect of it is ruling their head rather than trying to reach a common ground with the prem and FA, for the betterment of English football.

Making a change for those players to play more competitive football is the most important thing now, however. Hopefully some arrangment can be made to help as everyone would benefit from it.

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I’m not sure on the exact numbers, but I wouldn’t be shocked to find the vast majority of players that come through the premier league academies end up in the Football League.

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Yeah, I would definitely bet on that being the case.

comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 18 hours, 24 minutes ago
Watched him for Benfica's first team for the first time a couple of weeks ago in the derby and he was fantastic.

It was such a shame his first goal in that game was ruled out for a foul he committed because he took it so well from about 25 yards out.

It's rare to see a player with such a broad skillset. He has incredible technical and playmaking qualities but he has the movement and instincts in front of goal of a striker and from seeing various clips of him he looks quite handy in the air for somebody of his size too.

I would love for us to be able to accommodate a player of his class.
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Have to agree with this, especially the 'broad skillset' bit. I was surprised to see just how much he could do, and also that he was always looking for an end product. The small, rapid steps and direct running reminds me of the slightly older Cristiano Ronaldo (rather than when he was younger doing step-overs), but he has more in his locker in terms of passing and crossing than Ronaldo did when he first came to OT.

Tearing it up for Benfica B

If he's everything people are saying he is, Real or Barca beckons.

comment by puffinthebushkangaroo (U1950)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Tearing it up for Benfica B
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He's in the Benfica first team now, 9 goals in 24 starts. For a kid and a midfielder, that's impressive.

comment by Firkin (U19526)
posted 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by puffinthebushkangaroo (U1950)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Tearing it up for Benfica B
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He's in the Benfica first team now, 9 goals in 24 starts. For a kid and a midfielder, that's impressive.
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Averaging over a goal/assist per game in the league.