Both reserve teams can have pretty transient squads.
Players coming and going due to - OFC age group qualifiers, age group WCs, players called up to senior ALM squads, guys needing rest periods (otherwise can be 12 months continous football) and now the OFC Pro League another factor.
There can be games where they field strong sides, with lots of wider ALM squad players, and others where it's very much young 16-17 kids running around.
That likely won't change much when the National League moves a full winter comp next season. In the bigger picture of maximising young player development pathways in NZ, they should be in the National League. The NZ talent pool will always be shallow compared to most nations, so anything that enhances it is a good thing.
But for sure if you are a staunch supporter of NCR, Petone, Auckland United, Western Springs or whoever you may have a different view.
Is the National League a development comp, or well.........a national league. That's always the debate isn't it. And as Declan would say with the best young player development setups, the results/games are often secondary.
Players coming and going due to - OFC age group qualifiers, age group WCs, players called up to senior ALM squads, guys needing rest periods (otherwise can be 12 months continous football) and now the OFC Pro League another factor.
There can be games where they field strong sides, with lots of wider ALM squad players, and others where it's very much young 16-17 kids running around.
That likely won't change much when the National League moves a full winter comp next season. In the bigger picture of maximising young player development pathways in NZ, they should be in the National League. The NZ talent pool will always be shallow compared to most nations, so anything that enhances it is a good thing.
But for sure if you are a staunch supporter of NCR, Petone, Auckland United, Western Springs or whoever you may have a different view.
Is the National League a development comp, or well.........a national league. That's always the debate isn't it. And as Declan would say with the best young player development setups, the results/games are often secondary.