Put colt or reserve teams in lower leagues of the Scottish Football System.

Put colt or reserve teams in lower leagues of the Scottish Football System.

Up with Scotland. Up with Scottish football.

I think the top Scottish sides should be allowed to put their colt or reserve sides in the lower divisions.

This way young players at the big Scottish clubs of Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian would be able to guarantee young players experience of competitive football against grown men,

I think the best way to develop young players is to give them early experience of grown up adult competitive football.

It teaches them what they need to do to make it as professionals, physically, tactically, and mentally. It allows them to find out about pressure, and the game at a you8ng age.

Loads of players in Scotland’s past went on loan to grown up teams at a young age, including Kenny Dalglish, Willie Miller, and Kenny Miller.

Getting early experience is vital for a player’s development.

I would say allow the teams to the divisions below their first team.

Allow the colt or reserve teams to play under 23 year old players plus a few over 23 year old players to teach the youngsters what to do.

Critics of idea

1.       Why should they get in the league rather than some proper first team side?

Because most talented young players will be in the big clubs set ups, so if we want Scotland to improved we need more players to develop at the big sides.

Plus would you rather that some small part time team finish 6 places higher in the league above developing top Scottish players to help develop the national side?

2.       No one else does this.

No they do it in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal. All very successful footballing nations.

3.       It would damage the integrity of the league.

But this used to be done in the fifties. When the Scottish C Divisions had reserve teams of the big sides, plus proper first teams of part time sides playing in the C division. Plus a reserve side old firm derby might get huge crowds. So that would make Scottish football look better.





Conclusion

If we want to develop more players for the national side then let’s put reserve teams in the lower divisions of the Scottish League it would add to the depth of the league and international side.

We allow col teams in the Scottish League Challenge Cup. And this has been successful. So do it on a rather scale.