dudevillaisnice Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 As part of the most comprehensive review of youth development in over a decade, the 2012/13 season will see the start of the first national competition for U21 players. The new Barclays U21 Premier League has been devised as part of the new system and will help bridge the gap between Academy and First Team. Taking part in the 2012/13 Barclays U21 Premier League will be the 23 clubs who applied for Category One status as part of the categorisation process of the new youth development system: 17 Premier League and six Championship clubs applied and will therefore take part. All the teams have been confirmed and the fixtures compiled for the first phase of the competition, which will kick off on Friday, August 17th. A draw was recently held at the Premier League to determine which clubs will play up to the end of the year in three national groups: these are split into two groups of eight and one of seven clubs. The groups are: National Group One Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Norwich City, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United National Group Two Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford National Group Three Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers After this first group stage, the clubs will be placed into three groups based on their performance. The top three teams from National Group One and Two and the top two sides from National Group Three will qualify for the Elite Group, with the other clubs making it into Qualification Group Tier One or Qualification Group Tier Two depending on their finishing position. The teams will again play eachother home and away with the top three teams from the Elite Group qualifying for the knockout semi-finals. The winners of the two Qualification Groups will take part in a play-off to decide who will make up the quartet. The semi-final winners will then contest the final. The emphasis will be on playing U21 players with each team limited to just three over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper. Matches will be played over weekends from Friday to Monday and will provide clubs the opportunity for U21 players to be available both for the first team fixtures and the Barclays U21 Premier League. There is a requirement that at least two Barclays U21 Premier League matches must be at the main ground of each club and the play-offs, semi-finals and final also be played at the main grounds of the home clubs. Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The restructuring and reform of the Youth Development system in English professional football is driven by the ojective of producing more and better home grown players at every level. "Each stage of a player's development is tailored to ensuring they have the best possible chance of progressing and the new Barclays U21 Premier League addresses one of the most critical points – the transition from Academy football to the highest standards in the first team. "We believe this competitive environment, where fans can also come along to watch the next generation of Premier League and international players, will help deliver more talented home grown boys to that next level." Premier League Director of Youth, Ged Roddy, added: "Much has been done across the game to modernise the youth system over the last three years. Clubs have consistently highlighted the need to create serious competitive games as part of the overall professional game in this country. "The Barclays U21 Premier League aims to provide that vital transitional step and will become the hardest playground in the world as part of a players total education, because the next game may well be a debut in the Barclays Premier League itself. "The matches will be structured to complement the Premier League game rounds. "So, as a first team manager there is a great benefit in knowing that you can have your U21 player on the bench for the first team, but if he doesn’t play then there’s still the option for him to have high quality competitive football that weekend in the U21 League." The first fixtures scheduled will be in London as Chelsea take on Manchester City and West Ham United play Reading. Several fixtures take place at clubs main grounds in the first month of the competition. http://tinyurl.com/bwc4sxq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 4, 2012 Moderator Share Posted August 4, 2012 Yes I've already broached the subject in the Things that piss you off thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Is this the end of the reserves league then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 4, 2012 Moderator Share Posted August 4, 2012 In a sense yes, this IS the new reserve league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsimonw Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaGoMarching Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Without reading all that bumf what happens to players over the age of 21 who have failed to breakthrough yet, does the existing reserve league continue along side this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted August 4, 2012 Author Share Posted August 4, 2012 You are allowed a few over age players (think it's three) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevangrealish Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 WOW... trust us to get the easy league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted August 6, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted August 6, 2012 So the only difference between this and the reserve league is that we are limited to 3 overage players....that we never use? Viva la change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Tough group, Southampton spurs and utd could cause us problems... Bit harsh on only 3 overage players, some player (herd for example) don't break through straight away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 6, 2012 Moderator Share Posted August 6, 2012 Different league structure too Nigel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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