The Development Squad

For the next season, the reserve team is now going to be know as the development squad...

Why? So the players are not known as reserves and are in the development squad?

Doesn't fuss me to be honest.

It's similar to the NBA which has the "D-League" (Development League)

The term 'development squad' has been pretty common in other sports for years. Perhaps it's a reflection of the fact our 2nd XI is less populated by older fringe players and more populated by kids these days. Makes no difference what it's called.

largehat wrote:The term 'development squad' has been pretty common in other sports for years. Perhaps it's a reflection of the fact our 2nd XI is less populated by older fringe players and more populated by kids these days. Makes no difference what it's called.

I read somewhere that a lot of players refuse to play in the reserves, some even have it in their contract. Ponces.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

I read somewhere that a lot of players refuse to play in the reserves, some even have it in their contract. Ponces.

If that's true, I bet they can't refuse to play if they are rehabilitating from a major injury, that wouldn't be in their interest. I only see the reserves when we play Liverpool because it's shown free on Liverpool's TV channel on Sky, but looking at the match reports it seems less and less the case that unused first team subs have to play for the reserves in mid-week, so perhaps you're right.

I know if one of our first team got injured playing for the reserves, half the users on this forum would blame Coyle, so maybe it's for the best.