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http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Reserves-news/2010/July/Elite-Squad-fixtures-released

'City’s Elite Squad – formerly known as the club’s Reserve side – will kick off their Barclays Premier Reserve League campaign with a home clash with Aston Villa on August 31.'

Sorry if this has been covered, I didn't find anything by searching.

Can't stand crap like this - in England you can be relegated to the Championship, relegated four or five times more to the Blue Square Premier League and now our reserve team are apparently the 'elite'.

Hope it draws the ire of a lot of other supporters. Its pretension of the highest order and makes us look fucking stupid.

Embarassing name to be honest. :(

Someone please tell me it is to do with sponsorship.

Daft name, who comes up with these ideas?

Sounds like a 'Cookism'

And yes it is pretentious bollocks but the way we are going this summer the players that got us 5th last year could easily be playing in the 'Elite Squad' this year :)

Also I suspect its about marketing, making us different and standing apart from the rest because lets face it there isn't a club in Europe who is able to compete with us financially and sooner or later that will show where it matters. On the pitch.

I think its finally dawning on people just how fucking serious ADUG are in making the City project a success.

It's not only embarrassing, but to me it also insinuates (rightly or wrongly) that our reserves will have some big names in the squad - hardly a good message to send when trying to sign players.

BobKowalski wrote:Sounds like a 'Cookism'

And yes it is pretentious bollocks but the way we are going this summer the players that got us 5th last year could easily be playing in the 'Elite Squad' this year :)

Also I suspect its about marketing, making us different and standing apart from the rest because lets face it there isn't a club in Europe who is able to compete with us financially and sooner or later that will show where it matters. On the pitch.

I think its finally dawning on people just how fucking serious ADUG are in making the City project a success.

It does. All about the trajectory I suppose.

Maybe the 1st team squad can become the "super, duper, uber, all singing and dancing, with bells on, dogs bollox squad".

when did people give such a shit about the name of the ressies? Call them Charlies Angels for all I care.

dazby wrote:when did people give such a shit about the name of the ressies? Call them Charlies Angels for all I care.

Same here. It's OUR elite squad, not THE elite squad you bunch of fucking tools!

Ted Hughes wrote:

dazby wrote:when did people give such a shit about the name of the ressies? Call them Charlies Angels for all I care.

Same here. It's OUR elite squad, not THE elite squad you bunch of fucking tools!

Aren't they playing today against Hyde FC?

Maybe its something to look up to from the youth team, rather than look down at from the first team.

Abu Dhabi wrote:Maybe its something to look up to from the youth team, rather than look down at from the first team.

That's actually a very valid point. I like that interpretation.

It's blue sky joined up thinking - we all need to be singing from the same hymn sheet - let's network.

mr_nool wrote:

Abu Dhabi wrote:Maybe its something to look up to from the youth team, rather than look down at from the first team.

That's actually a very valid point. I like that interpretation.

Me too. Although I don't like the name per se, it's different if the team is primarily made up of under-20s, playing against reserve squads with an average age of 23-24.

On that note, do any Prem clubs have 'career' reserve players? I remember looking at one of our reserve squads in the late '90s, and I'm pretty sure a fair few of the players were 26-27 year olds who'd never had a sniff at our first team.

Our "Elite" team beat Hyde 2-0 according to updates on Twitter

You forget the all important word "development"

All it is is a squad for those too old for the academy and not good enough/not yet ready for the first team.

Those who are not good enough will be using the games to put themselves in the shop window for other clubs.
Those who are not ready yet will be using the games to develop themselves until they are.

I doubt any first teamers will be playing in it this year, any players coming back from injury will most probably play behind close doors.

Could it possibly be part of a long term plan to get a 2nd team into the league at some point?

I'm sure Barcelona do something similar?

the_georgian_genius wrote:You forget the all important word "development"

All it is is a squad for those too old for the academy and not good enough/not yet ready for the first team.

Those who are not good enough will be using the games to put themselves in the shop window for other clubs.
Those who are not ready yet will be using the games to develop themselves until they are.

I doubt any first teamers will be playing in it this year, any players coming back from injury will most probably play behind close doors.

I hope that's the case. They've said it's an U21 'elite' squad & that's a great idea imo provided they stick to it. Ideally I'd like to see it as a genuine elite team so kids who are exceptional get fast tracked into it to play with the best, even if they're only young. Get shot of all the average standard 20 yr olds to the lower leagues & if a kid is only 16 but brilliant, get him in there & then the 1st team squad training & playing with better players, rather than running rings round kids half as good as him.

SORTED wrote:Could it possibly be part of a long term plan to get a 2nd team into the league at some point?

I'm sure Barcelona do something similar?

I would be nice if we could do something like the Germans do - the top tier reserve teams can be promoted to the third tier of the Bundesliga (but can't go any higher even if they win the league)