Che Dail

I agree with this... Although starting at the bottom in effect would block progress - because they'd likely sail through the leagues preventing other teams from getting promoted, whilst that time spent to get up the pyramid wouldn't achieve the competitive levels required - nobody wins. If anything, I'd be interested to look at it the opposite way round: What happens if the league expands and opens up the 3rd tier, and drop the B teams there immediately.

That there's nothing wrong with a 'blended' approach to player development. B-Teams have their place, alongside other methods.

Well if you ask a silly question you get a silly answer: He's currently a 'goldie' foil Match Attax card, but if hadn't played in a B Team, he might just be a plain card, like Harry Kane. That ok for you?

As you know there are plenty former players at the top level of the game who advocate B-Teams... Sure plenty current players will too, since it formed part of their development.

And how would you like me to quantify a response to this? Using Match Attax card scoring system?

Well, no wonder! To most observers, the EoS league this season has been phenomenal - what has been achieved in such a short space of time, I'd say, is well above and beyond what any club could have expected before moving across from the Junior grade. Yes - there needs to be greater movement between the EoS / WoS and Lowland League - but as things stands that's wholly outwith the control of the leagues below it - hopefully things will change in time. The B-Teams is a side-issue to the real problems with the pyramid - and I believe reform is needed from the top down, which won't happen unless a business-like proposal for re-structuring is put to all clubs to show how everyone wins. If we accept in principle that B-teams can exist alongside established clubs, they really shouldn't be in the Lowland League but further up the chain - as is evidenced by their successful implementation across Europe. And they shouldn't (they currently don't) stop the free-flow of movement between the leagues.

Yeah, when you predicted the cataclysmic downfall of non league-football, which has failed to materialise. Just because you're angry about B-Teams and don't like them, it doesn't mean they're bad. When there's such hostility to an idea in certain quarters, folk just won't engage for fear of getting shouted down by the mob. I's basically a group of like-minded furious people agreeing with each other for 12 months solid - there's no debate or progress - what's the point in that?

Like Germany (after Michael Owen thashed them), the Netherlands recognised something was wrong and have made moves to fix it. Change is generational and not instant. For many years they didn't have to change a thing due to their historic successes. Still, the Netherlands are ranked 10th in the world - which is moderately successful in the great scheme of things. And the success of Spanish football in recent decades has roots in Holland / Cruyff.

The loan system would still work in addition to B-Teams, that won't necessarily stop. And there's no reason why not to have a reserve league - but it doesn't provide the quality or intensity (or regularity due to frequently postponed fixtures) that playing competitive matches week-in week-out against men that is needed for the step up to 1st team football.

FRANCE - 3rd best in the world 17 out of 23 players in their squad played in B teams, incuding Mbappe (Monaco - 12 apps). 391 appearances overall. Average age (current) = 26 What's the problem?

The current Netherlands squad features 15 players with B team experience (in the not too distant past): Flekken, Drommel, de Light (he's good!), Teze, Timber, Wijndal, Til, Klaasen, Koopmeiners, de Jong, Bergwijn (a star?), Danjuma, Lang, Malen, Gakpo. 400 appearances between them in B-Teams The current Spain squad has 18 players with 750 B team appearances between them (not including David Silva, retired - 14 times for Valencia B - he's brilliant!). Portugal: 18 players, 611 B-Team appearances Germany: 17 players, 341 B-Team apps Croatia: 6 players, 81 B-Team apps Ukraine: 12 players, 298 apps Czech Republic: (quite recent, B teams parachuted in at Tier3) 3 players, 107 apps I've not done France yet, but it's a lot too Luddites!

Some of the Braga team that beat Rangers tonight gained experience in B-Teams: Fabiano (Braga B - 22 apps) Carno (Braga B - 4 apps) Al-Musrati (Vitoria de Guimaraes - 40 apps) Ruiz (Barcelona B - 68 apps) Mederos (Sporting CP - 68 apps) P. Oliviera (Sporting CP - Vitoria de Guimaraes - 22 apps, and Sporting CP - 2 apps) V. Oliviero (Brage B - 15 apps) And Karim Benzema, who scored 3 for Real Madrid against Chelsea last night - he played 20 times for Lyon B team. It'll never catch on here though

Although I have nothing against Bonnyrigg and I would be happy for them to get promoted, Fraserburgh or Buckie promoting would be good for speeding up change in the LL. Gretna and VOL being replaced by Cowden and the tier 6 champions would definitely make the league more attractive and increases the chance of a vote to increase relegation passing in the near future. More relegation spots from the Lowland League would be more likely if the number of promotion spots to the SPL was increased. If 3 or 4 clubs moved up and down every season they will quickly find their level. But again, self-interest and collective refusal to adopt progressive change for the betterment of the game prevails. The block is caused by the tier(s) above.

The whole thing needs shaken up. We don't yet have a 'pyramid' in Scotland. The league structure is a 'column', shaped by self interest from top to bottom. If we followed Central European precedent our league structure would be regional at Tier 3 or Tier 4, with B teams at T2 or T3 alongside other full-time professionals. B-Teams feature across a belt of countries from Portugal to Slovakia: 1. Portugal (in T2); 2. Spain (T2); 3. France (T4); 4. Switzerland (T3); 5. Netherlands (T2); 6. Germany (T3); 7. Austria (T2); 8 Czech Rep (T2); 9. Poland (T3); Slovakia (T2)

Nobody, not one single person even said that, except you. Just made it up. Ironic you continually saying other people are thick / brain dead / stupid. Just more of the same parochial nonsense...

Here's one for you... Jadon Sancho... £73m transfer to Man United. I'd expect some of that money will filter back to Watford and Man City who invested in the player's development. His transition from youth to adult pro football included a 3 game stint in the Dortmund B team at just 17yr old.

I don't think it should be exclusive to Rangers and Celtic and I doubt they do either - if other clubs can afford to support a 2nd FT pro team then the same opportunity should be allowed for Hearts/ Hibs/ Aberdeen etc

I agree they need to be at higher level than LL - it's not what they wanted but the best they could get, for now. Certainly wouldn't see any value in starting FT players down in T8 or T9 - would be a waste of time and money and defeats the purpose.

LOL - His 6 x Ballon d'or wins count for nothing, what a loser. But to correct you, he did win the u20 World Cup and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics among his 148 caps and 75 goals for Argentina. Kenny Dalglish won nothing with Scotland mind - could do with him dusting down the Puma Kings eh.

What, you believe that they went from u17s or u19s to B team competitive football against professional adults, and it didn't improve them?

'Natural ability' - What is that exactly? The Barcelona B team is part of the Academy and coaching structure - it's a component of their pathway to the 1st team (for players and coaches) - the transition between youth and adult football at the highest level of the game.

No, it's to help the Scottish National Team. If the league standard improves, so will the players = best v best. So if the next Messi signs for Rangers and plays for a season in their B team, or even Stenhousemuir the Hibs B team, it would raise the standard of that team. It would improve those around him, and provide a challenge for those playing against him (who, mostly, will be Scottish).

Aye ok, shut the door on the way out eh I suppose it didn't help Guardiola as a player and as a manager either

Messi is Argentinian - he's helped out with their national team a bit. Spanish football is a joke, aye? What B team did Ross Forbes play for?

I translated a bit from this article on the Czech Republic: "The B-team primarily serves the needs of the A-team, but our main goal is to develop our young players. We set goals to train and play with the same intensity, difficulty and game expression as the A-team shows us. A possible move would be a strategic step forward, we have set it within two years, "said Jiří Bílek, a member of the Slavic leadership, for the club website. "Compared to the junior league, it will definitely be a jump for the boys. On the one hand, there is already a game of promotion and relegation, and older players are also appearing in the competition, which awaits the boys for the first time. I wonder what it will look like. We can also count on the fact that players from the A-team will play for us in some matches, “added the coach of the Pilsen reserve Pavel Horváth. https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/domaci-souteze/zmeny-nizsi-souteze-cfl-msfl-divize-b-tymy.A190625_160334_fot_dsouteze_jic They're quite good as well - certainly papped Scotland anyway.