[Marc]

Jose Mourinho has stated that he would like Chelsea to have a "B" team that play in the lower leagues of English football, much like Real Madrid have in Spain.

he was quoted as saying:

"I would love to see it. I can tell you for sure that if that happened, players like Lassana Diarra, Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou, when they are not selected for the first team, they have a competition to play in a different level. So they should have a look. Like in Spain, they would not be allowed promotion. They don't even play in the cup to stop the possibility of Real Madrid A against Real Madrid B."

While I like the idea, and have thought about it for my own team Man Utd in the past as a way of giving reserve team players a chance at playing competitive football to aid their development, i don't think it has a place in English Football, as it would allow big teams to have two world class squads, swapping players between them at will, which would lead to the league championship becoming a foregone conclusion every year, in not just one league, but two!

What are your opinions?

[CFC1]

We've only got a squad of 22 at the moment, so we would have to buy some more players....

No...never happen...for the good reasons you have already suggested.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Marc

Jose Mourinho has stated that he would like Chelsea to have a "B" team that play in the lower leagues of English football, much like Real Madrid have in Spain.

he was quoted as saying:

"I would love to see it. I can tell you for sure that if that happened, players like Lassana Diarra, Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou, when they are not selected for the first team, they have a competition to play in a different level. So they should have a look. Like in Spain, they would not be allowed promotion. They don't even play in the cup to stop the possibility of Real Madrid A against Real Madrid B."

While I like the idea, and have thought about it for my own team Man Utd in the past as a way of giving reserve team players a chance at playing competitive football to aid their development, i don't think it has a place in English Football, as it would allow big teams to have two world class squads, swapping players between them at will, which would lead to the league championship becoming a foregone conclusion every year, in not just one league, but two!

What are your opinions?

I can see why they would do it, as it would keep '2nd string' players match fit and sharp, (to a level 2nd team football doesn't give), should they need them, and that a 'nursery' club would benefit from the cash flow and quality players that such a deal would bring.

However, it's unheathly when it happens elsewhere. Games between the two sides have a nasty air of complicity, and, if the 2nd string is full of internationals there's a good chance the nursery club will rise through the divisions to meet them. Not to mention the other factors such as the lack of pride in your club, which is in this country is a part of the local heritage, if it becomes merely the adjunct to a bigger team. There is also the issue, as you say of artificial success, as the team is not really 'yours' once that happens.

I can't see too many lower division clubs who don't get a 'sugar daddy' being too chuffed about it.

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by overkill

... as the team is not really 'yours'

Spot on again, but I don't know about anyone else my age (ahem...late 40's), but I have been increasingly feeling that way about my club, as a whole, for the last 15 years or so! I suppose these feelings began when we started to buy players in earnest, rather than bring through our own.....

[DJT75]

I thought Mourinho already had a B team?




















B list celebrities....

I might be wrong but in Spain I think they have to register the B team players at the beginning of the season to stop them from swapping the players between the teams at will, throughout the season.

Although I have no chelsea bias, I think the idea is a good one however I think a rule would need to be introduced that would stipulate a certain percentage of home grown players in the squad list. The B team should never be allowed to be promoted further than the championship and should not be allowed to enter cup competitions.

Thinking whilst typing, should this team be allowed into the divisions at the expense of another league club, and which division should they start in?

[rio1981]

Originally Posted by overkill

I can't see too many lower division clubs who don't get a 'sugar daddy' being too chuffed about it.

My thoughts exactly; football is already set up to the detriment of the lower leagues, this would just be the final nail in the coffin. It's similar in essence to the whole Rangers & Celtic playing in England debacle, where would they start, in which league?

If it were to happen I'd stick the Chelsea ressies in the Ryman South League and see them get the kicked out of them by some plumber from Basingstoke!

... now you mention it, I'd actually pay to watch that

[DJT75]

Are the reserves leagues not competitive then? I'm sure Neil Mellor was loving it on about £5000 a week.

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by DJT75

Are the reserves leagues not competitive then? I'm sure Neil Mellor was loving it on about £5000 a week.

Maybe he doesn't like the fact that Reading & Watford reserves both beat Chelsea at home in the reserve league this season.

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by mrtbag

Maybe he doesn't like the fact that Reading & Watford reserves both beat Chelsea at home in the reserve league this season.

That's no surprise since our top reserves, all England under 18 and under 19 players, are out on loan!

BTW, given that our best players are away, doesn't it make it all the more surprising that, when I last checked, we were 2nd in the league, 3 points off the top and tellingly, above your mob?

[sdb123]

Prior to reading Mourinho's interview in the Daily Mail today I was under the impression that Arsene Wenger also said the same thing about running a "B" Team....(I thought I heard it on a radio interview either yesterday or today).

[overkill]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Prior to reading Mourinho's interview in the Daily Mail today I was under the impression that Arsene Wenger also said the same thing about running a "B" Team....(I thought I heard it on a radio interview either yesterday or today).

He did indeed. I see Mr Gold at Birmingham has reacted as I expected. And quite rightly too. Wenger and Mourinho are barking up the wrong tree with this one.