Premier B League

This has nothing to do with Phil's Premier League 2 idea.

This is the big plan to help the young players of the future to develop. We're in there because our academy that Eddie spent a shed load of money on has elite level status.

This is only the re-branding of the development league - currently designated to the Premier League anyway. Which is why our U-21 and U-18 results are somewhere in the Premier league website.

Due to this being part of the solution to the how are we going to get the next generation of good English stars problem I fully expect the Premier League to throw a bit of weight and money behind this.

Fair enough Zat but the part that caught my eye in particular is the emphasis on Sky broadcasting the matches from the club's normal home stadia in the same way they broadcast PL games now.

I can't help wondering if Phil has an unrealistic expectation of just how much Sky would be willing to pay for it and how many people will actually show up to watch it.

Think the TV thing is the sweetener and part of the getting used to playing in more competitive games.

If they get this right - it could be a massive benefit.

Thing is you just know someone's going to try and kick the backside out of it.

comment by ZatKnight's 50p head - Facially fuzzy till we win! (U6427)
posted 18 hours, 58 minutes ago
Think the TV thing is the sweetener and part of the getting used to playing in more competitive games.

If they get this right - it could be a massive benefit.

Thing is you just know someone's going to try and kick the backside out of it.
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I think Sky will try to milk it for as much money as possible in subs/advert revenue the way ESPN did college American Football, Basketball and Lacrosse.

Unlike the USA we in this country don't really care about the local University or youth teams though so I can see this being a real flop for everyone commercially at least.

One added word of warning, we need to make sure if and when it happens that we don't lose good up and coming players for next to nothing to clubs like United, City, Chelsea etc.

One thing we are very good at is letting players go on free transfers.

SWIE if they're under 23 you HAVE to pay for the player, a sort of compensation for the time and money invested in his training by the club you sign him from but I do take your point, we have a nasty habit of letting players go for free or much less than they're worth.