pvfc wrote:paulscholes - prems/res is 1 squad not 2, but even if you look at a 'typical' prems teamsheet then only something like 4 out of 16 players at the moment are technically not home-grown to the club in question. End of discussion on this.
However, moving on and getting back to the point at hand, juniorsupporter makes a very valid point - maybe need to address levels of junior involvement first? It's the only way the leagues can be sustainable.
“end of discussion”…not quite
I’ve looked back over the team lists and remarkably the same names keep appearing. So stating a Prem/Reserves combined list is quite irrelevant what counts is who is on the pitch. By my reckoning it looks like 6 or 7 poss 8 are not home growns on the Cumby playing list of 11 on the pitch. Any reasonable thinking person would consider a home grown as a player who has had their development at the club hence grown and developed there so playing U13, 15, 17,etc. Happy to quote names, I’ve asked around and done some research so happy to slug it out on names & background.
While also on the poaching/recruiting I don’t think anyone is accusing Cumby of poaching, most people would consider if you build a ‘field of dreams’ and the players want to come, well and great! At issue here is when there is a soft target club and coach who will roll over on nearly all aspects of recruitment, fees, training and playing position that is very different from building an environment that players are attracted to and come with credit card in hand to pay to play. So no doubt the phone is running hot no need to actively poach or recruit the word spreads fast. (Why a GK will come out of retirement 30 min prior to the first game without being approached is an intriguing mystery but off the point.)
What has this got to do with restructure of the league…well actually lots!
IMO there should be less Prem clubs in the foreseeable future. With SASI coming in taking say at least 20 of the most promising players from clubs, who were probably already playing Prem/Reserve or State league, its just more players to be replaced in the existing clubs. Promotion and relegation is a good system but for it to work needs large number all pushing from below upwards. That is just not happening there are not sufficient numbers of players especially quality developed players to sustain the process.
Alternative: …8 Prem clubs at the most including SASI for the short term. Each Prem club has to have U13, U15 and U17 at least. Some rules should be borrowed from the AFL system whereby a Prem club can only accept say 1 non homegrown player per season. This would provide huge incentive for Prem Clubs to focus heavily on their junior development and retaining players. It would provide some protection for up and coming clubs say like Toros, PHK or Uni as examples if they develop players they have a good chance of retaining them as a Prem club can’t easily cherry pick all the good players. Only a couple of seasons ago Oympic had U13, 15 & 17’s plus Reserves and div 2 while Metro also had 2 U11, U13, U15 and U17 from memory. I've read Metro are trying to rebuild their juniors now they have moved. A club for eg Toros or Uni who can show they have the junior structures in place could be granted a Prem team or replace a existing Prem team at a season review. This placement would provide an indefinite stay in the league while they maintain their junior development because ultimately the juniors coming through will provide the numbers and quality for a competitive Prem side. A Prem side without juniors will only have one alternative to maintain numbers by taking from other clubs their better players.
Once there is sufficient numbers of quality players coming through then promotion and relegation will work and probably rule restrictions may not be needed too.
