What is wrong with fielding a B-Side?

Just recently Andre Villas Boas was criticised for proposing teams field a B Side in the same way that Barcelona do. In that system the reserve teams is placed in competition and the main stipulation seems to be they cannot occupy the same division as the parent team.

I am actually in support of this idea. Many players are sent out on loan through the season to lower division teams. I would pose the question as to whether it would benefit the club and player more if they were to stay at their club and play in a B side which would still have the opportunity of promotion and relegation.

Many owners and supporters don’t want their teams to be feeder clubs and it may restrict the ability of some clubs to grow. These difficulties can be overcome by certain criteria. For instance let’s say the Championship could restrict the number of B sides in the division and if a B side were to finish in the top two of League One then the lowest placed B side in the Championship could be relegated.

Tottenham Hotspur currently doesn’t participate in the Reserve League and instead send all their playesr out on loan in order that they can get some competitive football. They could be better served to be playing their reserves in either the Championship or League One.  Not only do these players get competitive football, they also get to play together which will benefit the first team in the long run.

There will still be players not capable of playing the level their B Side currently plays so the opportunity for lower league clubs to loan players should still be there and of course only the big sides may be able to have the money to field a B Side.

One other factor to consider may be the way players move between the first team and the B Side. Maybe a limit on how many first team games any player has been selected for would be an idea.

There has long been the suggestion of Celtic and Rangers joining the English League. The trouble there for me was that they would be parachuted in when other Scottish teams were not given the same opportunity. The same can be said for any B Side joining the football league. Who decides on the merit of each team?

This concept may never get off the ground but I do believe it needs to be discussed and investigate the merits of making this change. In the long term it may give the opportunity for players who are not being played to stay fit, stay motivated and put themselves in the shop window. It is the British way to fight against change, but sometimes change could benefit all.