Youth Team - NYL or NZFC

Youth Team - NYL or NZFC

I know there's already threads regarding our possible avenues for getting a youth side up and running, but I have no idea what people would rather; a team competing against other A-League sides, which would probably involve increased costs but less red tape, or a team in the NZFC, which could potentially play curtain raisers for the Nix and may also replace T-Dub.

Replacing TW would be terrible short term although long-term would benefit the Nix AND NZ football.

If the idea was to replace TW why not just have a proposed Nix youth side play under the guise of TW?

NYL. I'd rather our reserves and development players play against other A-League reserves and development players.

I heard someone say that we didn't play already simply because the FFA didn't want to fund us. Why can the NZFC not fund us?

'Cos they're skint mate.......that's why.....

Firstly I assume you mean NZF and secondly they can barely fund themselves let alone a team that doesn't really benefit them directly.

People say that they rather there be another team in Welly or Auckland than have a Waikato or Otago etc...

Well here is another team in Welly. Sure it'll have A league reserves and youth players, but you'd need more of Wellingtons finest to make a squad.

Don't replace TW, compliment them. Add some pride to TW in playing to be the best in Wellington let alone the NZFC. Great motivation. Auckland and Waitakere have the same stuff going. I always hear the old 'theres only one team in Auckland' chant.

It would be interesting, but I suspect it would see none of the animosity that exists across Auckland.  Most of us would just enjoy watching an NZFC match every week.

For me, I think an NZFC side is about $1,000,000 a year more viable than a NYL side, and firmly believe it should be two Wellington sides, not a replacement for Yellow Fever TW.

Oh I totally agree with you HN. I'm not suggesting for one second that they replace TW nor do I believe that it will create the 'Auckland atmosphere' The problem in Auckland is 1 of ethnic loyalties, players that have always changed sides for the money (and aren't worth it) and just some people with their heads up their ass and that 'Its Auckland - A' attitude.

It'll be interesting to hear what the Kiwitea faithful have to say about Bryan Little in TW clash in Auckland. He didn't leave for WCC money or fame and was one of their better performed players last year that hardly put a foot wrong. Still, they'll find a needless reason to bag him.

Well. . . here's my 8 simple reasons. . .

1.) There is no need to replace TW.
2.) Cost effective against NZFC sides.
3.) More pride for the reserve/youth nix side playing in NZFC.
4.) Youth/reserve players are playing against full Men teams not men/boys team.
5.) We overestimate the NYL compared to some of the State Leagues which will later will have former NYL players in their ranks in the coming years when they would not be able to reach A-league level.
6.) NZFC is equivalent to State Leagues in many ways and the Academy teams (which a majority of NYL players played in) in State Leagues are usually mid-table.
7.) Some players who do well in NZFC were doing well in A-League when they step up. Whereas players in the State leagues and other Australian teams who were comparatively similar in success. This shows that NZFC is the same if not better standard to the other Australian teams except for A-League sides.
8.) It's a good assessment on any up and coming players in the NZFC that may take the step up.

So against the poll results so far, I have selected NZFC as my favourite destination.

I'd quantify our some of our NZFC games (depending on teams) to be similar to Brisbane Premier or Q League. Agent 472008-11-15 00:47:39

The problem is that we are classed as Australian so AFAIK it would count as a transfer every time we called up a player. (and a player can only do 2 transfers a season?)

I think we're putting to one side the "it can't happen" arguments Valeo and just discussing what would be best.

I never thought I'd say this (really) but I pretty much agree with AWB. (shock, horror!)

Yup.  Definitely not as strong (overall) as the NSW PL.  I've never seen a VPL game but would guess that would be a stronger league too.

Still, NZFC is a reasonable standard.  There is daylight between it and the winter comps.

Leave the NZFC alone.  I think it would devalue that competition when you have a Phoenix team in the NZFC that will be completely different week in week out plus it's nowhere as seamless a transition from A-League youth to the senior team.  The hole point of a youth/reserve league is to give you some taste of the big time before stepping up, but playing against kids your own age and bringing through a group of players.  Would they even be competitive against a class act like Auckland City?  Put out a young team with a few 16 year olds and they could take some towellings.

Yes that is true Jimmy Dean

You wouldn't allow for the fact that there maybe as many as 4-5 Phoenix non playing 1st team members in that team though? At the moment, you would have Plodder, Mulligan, Draper who would have played every week and the likes of maybe Johnson, Coveny, Costa, Hearfield whom would have bounced in and out depending on 1st team duties

Why have a new team? All the players in the Phoenix squad should each sign for an NZFC team as well so that if they were not selected or had a week off they could play for them. For example, Daniel might play for Canterbury if he isn't picked for the Phoenix. I'm sure there's plenty of holes in this but it would be cool if it happened.

Interesting idea, would be cool to see it work, but the restrictions to overcome would be huge, lots of compromises and discussion between WP, NZF, FFA and FIFA would be needed for sure.

Problem being,imagine if they managed to in the NZFC (hypothetical)....it really would devalue the comp. That and TW dont need another team to compete against in the region...

I've thought about this, and I think NZFC is a better idea.

The problems with NYL is firstly, the team would have to be based in Australia which would massively increase the cost of competing in the league, and in addition we'd have to take a lot more Australian youngsters onto the team, and although there's nothing wrong with that, I'd like to see the Nix youth side place a lot more emphasis on developing young NZ talent. So a place in NZFC would lend itself more easily to that goal, in addition to being a cheaper option for the club.
Having said that, I'd hate to see YFTW go, so I hope that two teams can co-exist happily.

You will find that there are a few more things we agree on beforehand, I'm sure. The question is . . . are you a true believer?

I think that, some NZFC players would get a taste of the level that A-League presents by playing one on one situations with a couple of Nix reserve players especially if they are really top notch player that was unlucky not to get a starting A-league line up. Also, if any NZFC player shines, the A-league scouts are not far behind. Some VPL or NSWPL scouts will look at the NZFC while watching the youth/reserve side as well.

The exciting thing for the youth players is that if they do very well and outshine the reserve players, then they will get a chance on the bench in an A-League game.

edit: el grapadura that avatar is soooo homophilic . . . AllWhitebelievr2008-11-15 20:35:15

The AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) plays in the VPL. They are all young kids. They came 14th last season though so it kind of supports your point - also, the class of the kids at the AIS would be far and above most NZ youngsters.
valeo2008-11-15 20:22:28