Wanderers SC

Probably more New Zealanders in that squad than the rest of the ASBP teams combined! 

I still don't understand how playing together will improve the players as individuals, which in the end should be the long term point of this exercise.  If the team play in 2015 and win an extra group match great, but this thing is only worth it if these players improve individually and some of these guys go on to play for the AWs.  In the end I personally am in the Foster camp, when it comes to youth football results at tournaments don't really matter - it's about developing players who can play in a certain way, not developing teams. Are these individuals going to develop more playing for this side?  That should be the only question

Because they will be training all summer? Surely that is better than the alternative ie doing nothing.

pretty sure this group have been doing TAP sessions at least 3 times a week all the way to the World Cup and now have started again as well so I think playing in the ASB Premiership is only one part of it.

I must admit I have flip flopped on the idea a few times now going from dumb idea to great idea and back and forth.

I think the best measure of success for this team (and lets call it an exercise really) is the football they play and improvements they show.

This team will not be in its final shape for 2015 which everyone is aware of but if this team is competitive (and it sounds like it has been thus far) and they can improve over the course of the campaign, then from an U20s perspective, its been a very worthwhile aspect.

Well said Nate.  NZF are running effectively running their own private academy and this is the tip of it.  Personally, this partly looks like a semi-cynical way to keep people in the NZF system rather than play at other academies and partly a naive, symplistic approach to player development

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11156429

In the end, this is the key for me.  Is this really true?  Is playing in the ASBP any preparation for "the level of competition at the U20s?

"The key reason behind the inclusion of the Wanderers SC team in the ASB Premiership is to maximise the level of game time, in a cost-effective manner, for a number of our players at a standard which will best prepare them for the level of competition they will face internationally," Aspden said."

Would they though? Only one has played an ASBP game before.

Its missing a few of the U17 guys like Zac Speedy, Nick Forrester. Wonder where they end up?

i should add that the aussie state leagues are going down a similar path (controversially) they are implying stricter restrictions on age and nationality in order to enhance player development at the top level

at the moment we have a national league that pretty much allows as many foreign players to play as each club wants with little requirement to play or train young players

then youngheart decide to play young locals and they get hammered and then get the boot

But then they'd be on the bench behind foreigners across a number of sides. And what would that achieve? 

I also keep swinging back and forth on whether this is a good idea or not. 

teams don't play with the same first eleven.  the squad rotation we see in the a-league provides about the right level of exposure for the younglings

in saying that, the asb prem only offers 14 games, so you probably have a point

What a result! Well done the kids on 2-2 draw with canterbury. Match report anyone?

Canterbury are a bit pants without Clapham, but regardless, all the talk about Wanderers being complete pushovers seems vastly exaggerated. 

Kids could have been 3-1 up at half time. Played much the neater footie, Canty direct & physical. Another  Doney goal soon after Canty's 2nd was disallowed for marginal offside - shame as it ended a great passing move. I left before the 4th equalising goal.

Ben Thomas and De Jong the kids' standouts for me. Kelly and Kamo for Canty.

Strange atmosphere at ground - like a family day out.

good to see michael white back in the asb prem. always rated his direct style

also good to see that wanderers (and waibop) are making the league much stronger than last year

Wanderers should be a good team by next season. It would be a bit strange if they actually ended up winning the league (not that I can see that happening). The loss of Youngheart is a shame but I feel these guys will offer more (at least for two seasons, then what?)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11158965

Wanderers 'Special Club'

Perhaps the most scathing line though was...

awesome, good article bruce

Rather team just adopted are they are in. North Harbour FC or something. Wanderers SC is beyond stupid and lazy

So now they have answered that most important question about their acronym, how about the $65000 one, and whether they will get their share of the spoils come World Club Cup time?

I'm not certain the Wanderers idea is develop talent per se, more to keep a core of players together in preparation for the world cup. But that's already been done to death here. There are probably as good or better ways to do this but I struggle with the argument some are putting up that their inclusion is disrespectful to those already in the league etc. At the end of the day, who is it really affecting? The 100 people that turn up to watch your game? I'm going to enjoy seeing how some of these kids develop over time.