Marc.....Preseason friendlies have been arranged for the Res and start properly nexr week with Cobham Sports Res at home ko 7.30pm, Tues 3 Aug.

Melksham Town are in the Screwfix Premier League and my mate is the manager and we arranged a game....but i will be only taking about 6-7 16 year olds for this game however Tommy will be giving me about 7-8 players so this will be a great tester for our young players who will start this fixture.

However Tom has been impressed with a number of lads, ie Carl Chivers(16), Johnny Byron(16), Dave Sturgess(16), Paul Baystone(16) these may figure in Tues and Fridays fixture.........so i already have an idea who my side is plus what tom retains for his squad from the trialists.

Also the game versus Exeter City at home, will be all under 18 year olds, this is on Tues 10 Aug.

Marc we have our own reserve section with our fixtures which will feature the reserve players.

Interesting Points......

I think apperently the reserves wont be judged on results just the development of the youngsters. Even if thats the case surely there will be a need for a few experienced players to be playing every week to help the youngsters develope. Im sure Kevin is looking to add a few older players to the squad.

If however the job of the reserve team is to develope youngsters and get them as close to the first team as possible as in PBFC'S Case and WTFC'S Case. Then its imperitive that the team is well balanced for its progression. I personally feel that the most important thing for a reserve team is to provide competion for places within the squad and to make sure we have as many players capable of playing at the highest possible level as possible. To do this the Reserve team needs to be as close to the first team in standard as possible.

I think to do this you need a blend of youth and players with experience at DSL DPL level etc. Either that or have a bunch of extremley talented players regardless of their age. And to be honest I dont think we have 14 16-18 year olds of the ability to go onto the DPL by themselves. I think if were honest if we did they wouldnt be with us now.

Just My Opinion

Doug I think your being a bit harsh.

Im not having a dig at my own club only asking questions. Is that not allowed?

This thread was started by me asking if the reserves shouldnt have a few more reserve team fixtures to help mould the team formation, tactics, staff and morale. Is that out of order? I think its reasonable.

Then it progressed to whether the reserves should be playing a few senior players in the reserves or not.

As I dont know ( & you havent stated) what the actual directive is for the reserve team I cant give my opinion but the other Mark Speculated on two sceanarios and I agree with him.

From the start every one has been going on about the reserves just being for youngsters no-one until you, said that it would be mixed squad. With this in mind I dont think any post on here has been out of place.

Marc, i take your point about older players, the situation we have at the moment is that 5-6 of the younger players have already been involved in 1st team fixtures and i believe as tom agrees's "if there good enough there old enough"....take for instance Carl Chivers he has made 2 appearances for the first team and everybody is talking about him not only in the club, i have had other inquiries from Wessex clubs.....Lee Mitchener came here as the res keeper and has also played in goal for the first team just recently against Dorchester and made 3 -4 excellent saves.. this lad is just 18, also Dave Sturgess made a second half apprearance against Salisbury played centre of midfield, we havn't seen Jonny Byrom yet another 16 year old who was offered wessex football this year, Paul Baystone.......Dave Linton made aa ppearance against Dorchester second half, beleive me i know these lads can handle DSL.

Im about to sign a 19 year old, who has just return to england after representing his Home country in an under 21 Youth World Cup qualifying match. This player has got to be looking for first team football. He will be playing at Melksham on Saturday and again next Tues versus Cobham Sports.

My standards are very high and if the lads are not quite ready then they either play for the u18s or leave, they are all aware of that.

There will be also Tom's squad players playing with the younger players.

But also remember as at all clubs senior players may feel that they wish to move on if they are not in the 1st team...

also i have another three friendlies during aug which will see the Res playing 7-8 games.

I hope this helps, im always answer anyones questions....keep supporting.... you are as important as are the players.....


KJ

i went to the game at Melksham and i must say our young men did us proud.......i dont know what Kevin said to them at half time but they certainly came out
all guns blazing.

However I will say i was a little concerned to hear people talking about Kevin Jackson implying they were going to ask him to manage there club. People only had good things to say about him I hope we dont loose him because my son talks about him all the time...

By this display i know he has no hesitation in playing young players at a high standard.

Melksham 5 V 3 Poole Town Res

Full report courtesy of Kevin J can be found on Reserve section:- www.poole-town.fsnet.co.uk/reserves.htm