Chris James (Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat)

 

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. 

 

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?

 

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.

 

btw - as irrelevant as it is, Smeltz's goalscoring record at AFC Wimbledon was pretty good (26 goals in 43 games).

 

 

 

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

 

Anyone know if that is actually him?