Boss Mick McCarthy says it’s “nonsense” that Town are unable to play all their fringe players in U21 games.

Currently, development coach Mark Kennedy is permitted to field only three overage outfield players plus a keeper in the Blues' Professional U21 Development League Two matches, which has meant that the likes of Anthony Wordsworth have been forced to miss out.

Having made seven changes to his side for Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup draw at home to Preston, McCarthy said some of the players he brought in were lacking in match sharpness, something he believes the current U21 rules don’t help.

“Don’t start me about U21 games, that’s just nonsense, we should be able to play all our fringe players,” he said.

“It should be a reserve league in my opinion. That’ll probably upset someone, I hope it does and I hope they write to me and we’ll discuss it. It’ll be great.

“I’ll tell them all the reasons because that’s a problem. You can play three of them, I don’t know where the rest are expected to get games. And it doesn’t matter how much training you do, you’ll never replicate that.”

While disappointed with his own team's display on Saturday, the Blues boss felt the League One Lilywhites’ performance shouldn’t be overlooked: “I said to the lads afterwards, Preston played well and deserved their draw and their replay.

“That’s as poor as we’ve played for a while. Maybe that’s down to Preston, of course, maybe we should give them congratulations for not letting us play.

“But we’re sixth in the table, nine unbeaten and it’s pretty good going, actually. We’ve made some great progress. It’s a bit of a dip, but we’ll come back, we’ll be fine.”

Will he make similar changes for the replay at Deepdale a week tomorrow? “I didn’t pick the team I picked to lose it, we just weren’t good enough to win it, unfortunately.

“We’ll go up there and we’ve got a good away record, haven’t we? I’ll have a look at QPR first. I’ll give it my whole consideration after QPR.”

Photo: Action Images

Nfinley13 added 07:33 - Jan 6 got to love MM 'That'll probably upset someone, I hope it does and I hope they write to me and we'll discuss it. It'll be great.' when he has an opinion he isn't afraid to tell the world and if someone has a problem with it he calls them out haha good old Mick
10

Blu added 08:03 - Jan 6 What is McCarthy bleating about? The clue is in the name - UNDER 21! The nonsense is that we can field up to 4 over-age players, which hampers development of those the competition is designed to help. If he wants genuine reserve football he should get together with other clubs who have the same needs and sort something out.
1

bluemingood added 08:37 - Jan 6 If footballers were not so overpaid we could afford a combination league.
2

thebeat added 09:00 - Jan 6 Yep i agree with Mick it should be a reserve league. Just like the old days. Sign of the times im afraid.
6

brian_a_mul added 09:20 - Jan 6 U-21 should be maintained for the development of youngsters, it does already allow for 3 for senior players. However there is a breakdown in the underage/reserve league structure. This is what MM is on about. Most clubs do not have enough players in academies (U-18/U-21 etc) and reserves teams to compete in separate leagues. Only the really big clubs can afford such a large player base at all levels. With FFF rules, most clubs need to keep player numbers, and the associated costs of maintaining these numbers, below a certain level. Maybe the club should look at a feeder club, eg a League 1/2 club in Scotland where we could have the option to send players for competitive games when required. Of course the terms and conditions of such an arrangement would need to be established and there would no doubt be costs involved.

2

bluemingood added 09:42 - Jan 6 Lol or Siberia, Brian
0

hogster1970 added 09:52 - Jan 6 well why dont they go back to when it was just youths reserves and first team, wasnt a problem before was it, and it ment all players on the bench got game time , also players coming back from injury and also for the youths to step up a gear and play agaisnt old pros, hence why yo never needed to loan players out, but the last combonation league we was in after relegation from the prem we won i think and then the prem decided you can only be in there reserve league if you are in the prem, which aint good at all, thats why half our fringe players are ring rusty and allways look out of sorts and takes atleast 2 or 3 first team games to get on the pace, which never happened before did it. but again cant see this changing unless we have a championship league one reserve league and split to north and south.

8

bluemingood added 09:56 - Jan 6 Utter common sense Hogster.
1

Wickets added 10:07 - Jan 6 Yes that seems a good idea Hoggie, but i think the extra expense involved is the big problem. Most clubs cannot afford it nowdays.
0

Beattiesballbag added 11:17 - Jan 6 Easy solution to the reserve players letting you down Mick is to play your best players all the time if they're not injured. Playing your best 11 used to work! What is the point of playing someone for just one game then putting them back on the bench for the next, .....back where you started! “That's as poor as we've played for a while. Maybe that's down to Preston, of course, maybe we should give them congratulations for not letting us play." That will be a first! another team stopping.... US.... from playing!!! how did they do that..... by hogging the ball?

1

AbujaBlue added 11:17 - Jan 6 Blu: If you genuinely think what MM said was nonsense then I suggest you write to him as he asked!
2

Cheshire_Blue added 11:40 - Jan 6 Mick, maybe you should decide on what team to play at Preston BEFORE I buy my ticket!!
0

BlueVelvet added 12:19 - Jan 6 It clearly should be Reserve side League, and not U21 - U21 means under 21 years of age can play only
0

BlueVelvet added 12:26 - Jan 6 Bring back the weekday evening reserve games at PR
0

Fat_Boy_Tim added 14:28 - Jan 6 I can see MM's point, he is unfortunately a victim of his own, very good, policy of not changing a winning (or more recently, not losing) team. We have the most consistent selection policy in the league and as a result the most rusty bench (if you know what I mean!). It is a shame that we can't rest all of the back 4 in the cup games but if we don't pick up any injuries the replay could be handy for match sharpness in the next few weeks.

0

dubblue added 16:27 - Jan 6 We probably cannot afford a reserve team and an under 21 side, best to focus on the latter rather than a reserve team which no doubt will include a few journeymen who may be required for first team football from time to time, with the U21s we are investing in the future!
1

hogster1970 added 22:02 - Jan 6 it wouldnt cost any more wages wise as your team will be a selection of under 21,s and on the edge first teamers and players coming back from injury ect, was never a problem before so why now, mind you players didnt get payed over extorsionate wages i supose lol
0

theobald1985 added 08:15 - Jan 7 I think it is set up correctly.the problem is managers wanting 20 odd senior players these days.the way the system is currently set up means you can have 14 senior players all with loads of game chances and if you get further injuries you give a chance to some of the young academy players.this needs to happen as we dont find aout about our academy players until they have had a proper run in the side and they will never get a run if teams have 22 senior players ahead of them.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls