BuzzerBeater Forums

yar U21 team is out of the cup, so looks like Leeroy is putting in fresh blood now.

good for us!

That's unfortunate for those managers with 21 year olds that have been training their players for this season's competition specifically. Very lucky for you guys with young ones getting a look in though.

What is the benefit of running 20 year olds now? Is it just so he can keep an eye on their progress easier, in prep for next season?

I think its really poor form for the U21 coach to do this.
I was just looking at the U21 team the other day and I thought it was really sad that even tho the aussie's didn't do too well.
That they've cut all the 21 yr olds so early in the season.
I know if this had of happened when Gab Wall was in the team and 21, I probably would have sold him and moved on instead of continuing his training the way i did.

congratulations to those that have players in the team now.
I hope the batch of 21yr olds next season are better than this seasons lot.

Its an interesting scenario for Leeroy, because, U21 team is out of the cup, there is nothing to gain for this season by keeping his current crop of U21's..... i mean the ones that are slated for National team duties yer, he is probably keeping, im not too sure. But why keep a 21 year old who isnt going to part of ur team next season? To reward the owner? Wouldnt that be very much not doing what is best for the U21 team?

There might also be some other logic behind his cuts... perhaps he has cut the players whos managers failed to keep their game shape in sufficient standing during the season? Maybe this contributed to why the team failed this season? If Lawrie doesnt train up as he likes, or i dont manage his game shape, then Leeroy should cut him from the team, so perhaps there is some of this going on as well.

The above is all speculation from myself, just to clarify for everyone. im not saying any of the above is truth, im just showing some different light on the matter which may or may not be true.

And ur right, lets not use Gab as an example cause he is NT prospect. But if you had U21 player that got cut halfway through season simply because the u21 was out of the cup, and this player didnt fit ur own teams balance/profile, then yer you probably would sell him.
But i guess thats my point. Leeroy shouldnt keep the U21 team together simply to appease the managers who supplied him the players. he should do what is best for the U21 team.

Real life example - Western Bulldogs - Brian Lake "Brian, you're awesome, but not going to player Full back next year.... we want to get a new backline up and running and develop them for the future, and we dont see you being part of that in the next 3-5 years. So you're going to play in the forward line ok?"

Brian - "screw you, im signing with Hawthorn".


Last edited by Coach Regan at 10/11/2012 8:45:15 AM

Playing in U21/NT games give players' experience.

Brian Lake didnt say that!

oh wait.... u meant the other bit.

Yes... playing in U21 gives players experience, which in turn, makes for better players, which makes for better national team members.

I cant really comment on whether or not Leeroy delisted U21 players who were potential National team members. One would think he wouldnt have though.

There's nothing that can be gained from keeping 21 year old players in the team when there's competitive matches for them to play in (other than the ones that will go on to NT duties, but that's a different story).

My thinking is that brining 20 year old players into the team early will act as encouragement for those owners to continue training the players, ready for the next campaign. It shows the managers that the U21 coach is serious about them playing in the team, which hopefully means they will continue training them in the most beneficial way for the U21 team.

exactly what i was trying to say, but in about 1000 words less.

succinctness is not my forte.

unless im making a 'poison'-post call.

Changing topic to the All-Star game - despite the obvious superiority of the Big 8 conference as a whole it was nice to see the Great 8 all-star team get up for a win. Seems we have a few decent players in the Great 8 just not the depth perhaps :)

Yes and sadly, this is the first season in quite some time that my players have not be a prominent feature... :-(

maybe thats why we won :)

jk