Many leagues around the world are absolute garbage so I don't think it's an over the top statement.
No point in me arguing over semantics though, more came here to ask if there's a chance James will come back to NZ for the training camps to try and get a look in with Ricki?
Chris James (Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat)
El,
There are alot of quality players playing in the reserve leagues. Seasoned professionals recovering from injuries or trying to get back in to notice.
The Arsenal reserve team / youth hasn't exactly feared to badly in the fa cup over the past few years.
And if playing in a reserve squad is such a poor standard then why do young up and comers sign for teams they have no chance of breaking into for the next three - four years?? Why not keep playing regularly in the lower leagues??
Have you ever been and watched a Premier League reserve fixture??
I have, and I also watch a lot of Perennial strugglers Liverpool Reserve matches on TV. There are very, very few seasoned professionals playing, the average age of most teams would be about 20 and the simple fact is that of those who play reserve team football very few of them break into first team football. The standard is technically pretty good but the intensity is very low. Numerous managers have made the same point including Benitez (who suggested reforming the whole reserve team system). Several big clubs don't even have a reserve team any more.
For example, this is the team sheet from a Reserve appearance Chris James made for Fulham
Fulham: Batista; Moncur, Watts (Anderson 60), Zakuani, Omozusi; James, Collins, W Brown, Goncalves (Saunders 45); Ehui, Runstr�m
I have checked and in total that group made 0 first team appearances for Fulham.
I have checked and in total that group made 0 first team appearances for Fulham.
The question of why people sign for premiership clubs to only play in the reserves is a good one. I guess for many the hope of breaking through to the first team is worth the disappointment and they're probably fairly well compensated?
Dean,
I agree with you there, but as easily as you bring up that team list i am sure you could have found others with four or five names on it that did have experience.
Question: Who would seem more likely to succeed... a 20 year old midfielder with a youth England cap currently with a prem league youth side that the club is trying to succeed in resigning him, or alternatively a mid 20's striker playing in Norther conference with 2 goals in 20 plus games??
I know who'd i'd take, and thats james over Smeltz. (using their cv up to 2006)
It may only be a reserve team, but a reserve player with fulham sounds a lot more promising than a player who couldn't score in a brother at conference level.
I like him as a player as he has more technical skill than other midfield options. Should he get picked is debateable. But he is young with some good experience behind him and i'd rather see him involved thatn left to rot in obscurity.
I have heard rumours that is attitued is problematic which may explain why things have not gone well for him. I have not heard any comments saying he is not talented enough.
TouchMe2010-04-27 23:36:39
TM - we are not picking a team for the 2006 World Cup finals, but for the 2010 World Cup finals. so all this romantic, teary-eyed dreaming about what James could have/should have/might have been is redundant. His career has been a shambles for the past few years and he cant get off the bench for Barnet now. Smeltz is two time A-League golden boot winner, one time Johnny Warren Medal winner and the AWs main goalscorer in the past two years.
btw - as irrelevant as it is, Smeltz's goalscoring record at AFC Wimbledon was pretty good (26 goals in 43 games).
Many leagues around the world are absolute garbage so I don't think it's an over the top statement.
You're underestimating the quality of football in leagues around the world, and certainly overestimating the quality of reserve football in England.
Not even on the bench on today s defeat . Worst, Barnet still need 1 point in the last 2 games to avoid relegation...
Barnet's manager, Ian Hendon, has been sacked today after their poor showing at Accrington last night. Maybe Chris will get some game time in the last two matches with the change in personnel...
He is starting on the bench on today's crucial game:
Chris entered the game at the 69 minute: 2-0 loss and barnet still in danger for the relegation
There was a picture and little article on him in today's metro (free newspaper) - basically saying that he thinks they can stay up or something (it wasn't very interesting). From the photo he seems to have funny hair - reason enough not to get him on the plane to SA.
I had a dream about Chris James last night - my overwhelming recollection was that he was too fat to be a professional footballer. I have no idea if this is true in real life...
Barnet are finally safe from relegation but james was an unused substitute on a 1-0 victory vs rochdale...
Loan deal with barnet has ended and he doesn't appear on Barnet roster for next year. I am wondering if anybody has an idea about his future destination?
the phoenix are looking for an attacking midfeilder ( just a thought)
New Manager has bought in something like 7 new players and released a couple of established Barnet players so probably not a lot of chance for James there.
Is he still with Barnet? Didn't even feature on the bench against Arsenal recently.
was released at the end of the season
So where is he?
If you read this forum Chris, what r ya up to? You that AW that Ricki was talking about??? disco_mart2010-07-21 08:59:29
If you read this forum Chris, what r ya up to? You that AW that Ricki was talking about??? disco_mart2010-07-21 08:59:29
No info about him at all. I am fearing that he will have the same future than jack pelter who was a bright prospect at a young age but never materialise in a great footballer...
riki shuld bring him home
where is this man??
where is this man??
You could send him a facebook message...
Here's is profile i think. Says he's currently in London.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513778422&ref=search
I wrote him an email on facebook but never answered...
He just had an operation on his knee (on Thursday) with Sakari Orava. I don't know how long he'll be out for. He was they guy that repaired Beckham's achilles.
he was trialling at leyton orient before being injured and having on operation. out for 8 weeks.
Any source for this info spartan?
the man himself
Is Chris fit again to look for a new club?
should this thread have him labelled as unattached?
it's a real shame that he's gone off the boil so badly with injuries and poor form and whatnot. such a promising player.
I remember seeeing him playing for the AWs a few years ago now and he looked like the kind of player that we could definitely use.
hopefully he can ge over his injuries and get some solid first team football somewhere
Smeltz4PM2011-02-01 12:18:55
pretty irrelevant, but now that I think about it, it might have been a game of football manager '07 he was signed by spurs and was major trouble when my lads played them. goes to show the people at FM rated him pretty well.
I still remember people saying we should sign him. FMD.
let's hope he finds success downunder and lands an A-League contract
any news of how he is going?
Season hasn't started yet. Not until the end of the month.
Don't think the season has started yet.
potential 1 week injury cover since hes in sydney?
Standdown after he moves back and cover in positions we don't really need cover in.
Cole Tinkler would be more likely if you want an APIA player.
Cole Tinkler would be more likely if you want an APIA player.
There is a cjamesnz7 who I started following on twitter yesterday who then tweeted at me to say the blog me and some mates have is a good read (which really it isn't) so I tweeted back asking him Brazil 2014 and he said yeah plus Russia 2018 aswell if the knees hold up.
Anyone know if that is actually him?