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| Friday, 27 April 2012 09:53 |
FPF gives green light to B teamsSix Liga Orangina places available for 2012/13 It was confirmed last night that the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has ratfied the proposal put forward by the Liga clubs for the introduction of B teams into the professional divisions, effective next season. In a communique posted on the FPF's website, Portuguese football's governing body confirmed the agreement, which allows for up to six new additions to the Liga Orangina.
According to Herminio Loureiro, FPF Vice-President for Institutional Relations, the move will provide "a competitive space" for younger, primarily Portuguese players, that will "allow them to assert themselves in professional competitions." Loureiro also expressed his hope that the anticipated arrival of the country's best-supported clubs would trigger higher public interest in the Liga Orangina, where just six of the sixteen teams competing in this season's edition have an average attendance of over 1000, and the overall average attendance stands at just 929.  Although the identity of the six B teams has not yet been confirmed, media reports have for months named them as Benfica, Porto, Sporting, Braga, Maritimo (whose B team currently competes in the regional II Divisao and has given the likes of Baba an entry point into the Portuguese game) and Guimaraes. The entry of any other clubs at this stage would be a surprise, as the personnel and financial resources required to support a second professional squad are likely to be onerous. Indeed, the participation of Guimaraes, whose problems have been well-documented this season, has been questioned by some.Loureiro confirmed that a deadline for expressing intent would be set by the Liga. In the event that only an odd number of teams are available, the Liga Orangina will either be reduced in size, or, if there is one spot that needs filling, the team who finishes 15th this season (with three rounds remaining that is Freamunde) will be spared relegation. Beginning 2013/14, three teams will be relegated from the Liga Orangina (currently there are two spots), whilst the champions of the three II Divisao Zonas (Norte, Centro and Sul) will be promoted automatically, instead of contesting a round-robin play-off with the top two gaining promotion.  Although there was no explicit mention of promotion for B teams in the FPF communique, the original Liga proposals (overseen by current FPF President Fernando Gomes during his time at the helm of the Liga) stated that they would not be able to rise up to the Liga, or compete in any national cup competitions. With one thorny governance issue off the table, attention will now turn towards the ongoing question of Liga expansion. Loureiro did not directly refer to this in his statement, but did declare that "we [the FPF] are open to hearing and considering any proposals that the Liga may wish to make." The Liga announced earlier this week that its member clubs would meet on May 3rd to discuss the expansion proposals, but with the only realistic solution (a play-off between the teams who finish 13th-14th in the Liga and 3rd-4th in the Liga Orangina, with the top two competing in the Liga next season) having been rejected by the clubs once already, and any decision over expansion having obvious implications for the B teams proposal, it is unlikely that the tortuous negotiations have run their course quite yet. Ben Shave |
What people here are trying to say is that our Liga de Honra is better than the Belgium, Swiss, French, etc... 1st Leagues.
That's crazy.
Would Wass or Rodrick develop better getting first team ball, which they have, in France or Switzerland or Liga de Honra?
I'm not saying its a horrible idea. I actually feel it would be great if it was used for the younger players or players coming back from major injury. Half a season of lower level playing could help.
What I don't like is the expansion of a league that's already strapped for money. Expanding our SuperLiga is just as dumb.
If clubs are looking for more revenu, maybe they should start spending some. We all know most Portuguese fans root for the Big 3, with Braga and Guimaraes having a very loyal following. By the way Gil Vicente has one as well. Maybe some of te other clubs should start marketing and developing some sort of following within their own area, instead of just using A Bola, O Jogo, Record, etc... Newspapers to get any info or publicity out to the public.
Yes, some of our clubs could justify having B squads, but to expand leagues in order to get them to compete immediately is fools gold. What is happening at Leiria is not an isolated case. It's a continuing trend.
By the way, how about a synopsis on Leiria. I had to read the article quickly, but I believe that Leiria offered the players some of the salary, not all, and they refuse the settlement? President of the club was flabbergasted? Really?
Are they refusing to continue the campaign?
I hear the point of loaning players out to other sides which i think keeps them out of sight and out of mind for the first team coach.
I also agree that having the big 3 win the second division would help overall attendance as we know how many fans these clubs can draw on away games. At the end of the day, anything that puts more money into all of our clubs while developing talent is something too good to pass on. I’m still not sold on increasing the second division unless it’s done fairly.
Also, loaning out players sometimes includes the other team picking up the salary on the loan deal. Which free's up money. Now these players will eat away at top teams payroll.
I might be wrong on this but at my first reaction this is how i see it.
True, B teams cannot get promoted to Liga Zon / Sagres.
The main problem is to know if the actual U19 have game intencity to play in a Liga Orangina.
Most of them from the 3 big clubs did their youth path with less than 5 defeats !!
Last 2 years U 19 competition improved with that 8 final teams playing, but U17 and U15 competion has a lot to improve.
I give the example of the U17 that i coach this season.
They started compete in August and ended in January. So 32 teams stop competition ! ! ! ! Only 16 teams continue to compete.
Those U17 got promoted to U18 team to play district Porto Association U19 or the season was finish for them.
FPF has to change to improve more games for them and specially more competitive games.
I know next season U 15 National championship will have some changings, but i don t know what are they going to do...And if it will be better...or worst !!!
If you say it had to do with them earning money right away, then maybe those teams that need that shouldn't have a B Squad.
Guimaraes is so poorly run, what makes people or the organization think they can handle a B Squad. The way I see it, both squads will be sitting at the bottom half of both tables.
Which brings another point. What happens if these B Squads finish at the bottom of the Liga de Honra table? Will they be relegated? If so, again, why don't they have to earn their way onto the league?
Finally, I think that people see this as a wonderful way to bring on and develop more Portuguese talent. I'm not so sure that will be the case.
Also, as a Benfiquista, I realize that we might be World Class but we're still a selling club. What is more profitable for us, loaning out the likes of Wass and others, or having them in the B Squad? Frankly I feel that he's and we're better served with him in Ligue 1 at Evian. Same goes for Roderick at Servette.
It's not as simple as rolling out a B Squad and letting them play.
The introduction of these squads into the Liga de Honra was done so the SuperLiga would be expanded.
Huge mistake.