Newcastle United is one of 17 Premier League teams that will play in a new Under-21 competition announced today by the Barclays Premier League, and the goal is to bridge the gap between the U18 Academy teams and the first teams at English clubs.
Richard Scudamore – Barclays Premier League CEO
Teams from 17 Premier League and 6 npower Championship clubs – it’s those clubs who applied for Category One status for their Youth Academies – will be divided into three groups, although not by geography.
Southampton, Watford and Tottenham are part of Newcastle’s group, as are Sunderland, and there will be play-offs and a final each year.
The teams will consist of U21 players in the main, with each team being able to have three over-age outfield players and one over-age goalkeeper, and it seems to follow closely the Olympics criteria, but is U21 rather than U23.
In truth, the Newcastle Reserve team has been like this for a few years now, with the average age of the side often around 20.
This is how Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore explained the new competition:
“Each stage of a player’s development is tailored to ensuring they have the best possible chance of progressing.”
“The new Barclays Under-21 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.”
Here are the National groupings:
National Group 1 – eight teams: Arsenal, Blackburn, Bolton, Everton, Norwich, Reading, West Brom, West Ham.
National Group 2 – eight teams: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle, Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland, Tottenham, Watford.
National Group 3 – seven teams: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wolves.
The groupings are made up of those teams who applied for Category One status for their U18 Youth Academies, and it’s a good job it wasn’t those clubs who were given Category One status, because Newcastle missed out, and we have been classed as Category Two.
This seems a sensible move by the Premier League.
Comments welcome.
NUFC News 24/7
35 responses so far ↓
1 Tsunki // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:44 PM
i am first
2 Tsunki // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:44 PM
but why i dont know. Indian magpie did this to me. Dont hate me.
3 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:46 PM
I couldn’t care less where you are.
4 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Are you starting to get a little worried about Indian?
So, what do we think of our group? Got the Scum, so there’s a win.
5 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Tsunki…I feel bad about letting the last thread just die out. So, I propose we alternate comments between this and the last thread.
6 ilovetoon8788 // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:53 PM
Fernabarce just signed krasic for 7million. Would have loved to see him here though. I think until a first choice right back is coming, pardew is holding onto Simpson. I think Simpson will leave once a new right back comes in.
7 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Darlings….do keep it to yourselves for yours is the love that dare not speak its name….and keep the Shola hater out of it
8 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:56 PM
i still have the feeling indian reads these articles….. but resists to comment on them…….
9 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:56 PM
ilovetoon…..I don’t see them letting Simmo go until someone arrives or at least is tied up. I’m still not certain they’ll get rid of Simmo anyway. He’s only worth peanuts, so may be worth keeping hold of and letting him run down his contract.
Actually, I don’t think I have an opinion when it comes to RB’s anymore. I am drained. Do we even need a RB? Can we rename the position?
10 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:57 PM
Has he sent us to Coventry ?
We’ve just signed Bigi from there.
11 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:59 PM
MFH…Sorry mate, didn’t mean to make you feel left out. The mackem slayer hater? Something very wrong about that. How can you hate a mackem slayer? Madness.
Nufc786….In that case, hey howdy hey Indian!
12 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Well played MFH, well played.
13 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Any updates from Transfer sage? Or is he in hiding?
14 Conaldo // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Good question though, where the heck is Indian? Last I knew he had a massive argument with someone, then disappeared. It’s been like a month now. Should we be worried or has his hatred of shola ameobi just turned him over to the dark side of the force,or as it is more commonly known, turned into a mackem….
15 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Ibiza
I’m with you…let’s just sign a LB instead and shuffle the pack…
16 MagpiesFlyHigh // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:07 PM
He did change his moniker to Shola Hater for a day or two but got sussed, threw a wobbler, chnaged it back again and has since sunk without trace
17 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Haha
18 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:11 PM
MFH…Think we should create a new mystery position. Let’s compile a list of what we’re looking for in a player and then we can best decide the new position name.
If anyone says “Someone to play at the back to the right hand side of the pitch” I may just weep.
19 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Conaldo
tht argument was with dear tsunki……… and tsunki vowed to leave the blog which he did but returned and indian stuck on here for sometime and left…….. both did the opposite of what they intented to set out……
20 GeordieoftheSouth // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Erik pieters would get my vote…cover for centre back too.
21 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Conaldo…It would be fitting with the whole hating Shola more than any other living being. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone mind, being a mackem. Nasty stuff.
22 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:14 PM
This blog is the football version off the Jeremy Kyle show…
23 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Nufc786…A favourable situation some might say?
GotS….Would be a good option. Everyone seemed keen on him until he played against England. Can’t really write him off for one below par performance though.
24 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:16 PM
Robert…Please don’t say that. Once again, I may just weep and then get angry, then confused and just sit and stare…oh wait…maybe this is like the Jeremy Kyle show?
25 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:18 PM
indeed it was………. ibiza bring back indian?????????
26 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:20 PM
nufc786…Indian will always be with us
27 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Indian is in Rehab,Kets is in the looney bin,Transfer sage has done a runner.
This is defo the Jeremy Kyle show..
28 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:23 PM
ibiza always…..
29 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:27 PM
Robert…I don’t know mate, sounds like the start of a killer country song if you ask me or perhaps a little blues number?
“Summer Blues Of The Newcastle Blog”
30 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:27 PM
786
31 RobertNufc25 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:31 PM
What next?
Debuchy takes a lie detector or dna test ?
32 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:32 PM
most likley……
33 Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Not sure, we could have a shock twist in his family history. Turns out the President of Lille is Debuchys long last Father and can’t stand to see him leave.
There is some huge bust up and he ends up getting adopted by Pardew live on air?
34 nufc786 // Aug 3, 2012 at 11:36 PM
tht could happen…….
35 Lee Dodd // Aug 4, 2012 at 9:06 AM
Breaking News We offered Gazza A Contract But Didn’t Offer enough Chicken and larger – Newcastle Will Put a Higher Bid in For More chicken and larger early Next Week !!!
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