On a practical level who decides which team a player plays for? If you can get paid to play for ACFC but you get picked by the U20s do you have to play for them? Or you live in Wellington - will it be compulsory if you're selected for the U20s to play for them. What about guys in the Phoenix academy - the whole set up is meant to be a JV with Team Wellington but they should be in Wellington so they can train with the Phoenix, do those players now have to go and play for the U20s?
It's basic things like this that should be part of any announcement
Common sense. Use your brain.
U20s will get full priority here.
Who decides which team the player plays for.. Um maybe the player himself?
If selected for the U20s will it be compulsory - is it compulsory to play for every rep side you make? No. But if you're good enough why would you turn that down?
The only grey area is Phoenix Academy/NZ U20
You say it's up to the player - but will the player get picked for the U20s if they decide to stay in Wellington and play for TW? NZF isn't going to set up this team and then have a second rate set of players are they - the whole point of this is that all of the players play together as much as possible.
And the Phoenix Academy vs the U20s - this surely undermines exactly what the Phoenix are trying to do by having those guys in Wellington.
I think the inclusion of the Under20 team in the ASBP is nonsense and makes a mockery of the national league. Another indication that NZF don't take it seriously. We should have had a team from South Auckland or Nelson to replace Manawatu.
in support of your position, it's been your catch cry for a while and NZF doesn't take it seriously. I listed a few but there is also the 3 to 2 round thing as well. NZF do have a Mickey Mouse leader in Kavanagh and getting rid of Glyn was just the start. FDJ as high performance director??? Jobs for the boys has never rung so louder in its life. The leadership of the organisation is a shambles and I objectively ask 'is there anyone high quality within the outfit?'. Now would be a good time for someone to throw names at this question and show me there is (Let's not include team coaches)
Back to the topic, I kinda fall back to that the league is fit for our purposes here and should not be a compared to elsewhere. It provides a purpose in having 'top flight football'. The argument of U20 v YHM is the red herring because even if the U20s finish last, would that have been any different to YHM? At least there is more benefit in having U20s there than YHM. JD rightly points out if NZF have actually thought out 'how' this will work. I seriously doubt it.
No, NZF has not thought this through. If a young player is doing well for a club side but is eligible for the Under 20s then obviously he'll be under pressure to play for the NZF team, even if they can't win anything. So a good young player at ACFC (and Waitakere) will have to give up playing in the O League and Fifa Club World Cup if this Under 20 outfit wants him. It's clear NZF have made them their priority and are using the ASBP as a training ground.
So this Under 20 team, that can't win anything, will have the pick of the young players and they'll have to move to Auckland. And if anyone thinks a player can turn them down and play for their local franchise, and not earn a snub by NZF, then they're being naive.
If NZF want to give the Under 20 team game time then organize tours to Australia or Asia. It'll cost the same as funding an Under 20 team in the ASBP. And, does this team also win a chunk of the O League prizemoney, like the other ASBP franchises do? I wouldn't put it past NZF to siphon off some of the O League winnings to fund the Under 20 side in the ASBP.
