Well done Olympic and Fulham and all the cup winners. Wonder what Ad Uni are going to do with their U17 Cup Winners 2011 shirts? :?

Yes, we're getting a little off track, but it's probably the most important issue around in the Womens' game at the moment. I remember when my daughter started playing at club and state level, everyone was euphoric that Women's football was the fastest growing sport in Australia. A few years on, and...

The Reserves competition is fine if you only want to have around 4 competitive clubs in the Premier League flogging everyone else year in year out. But granted, getting rid of it is always a contentious issue. IMO (and that of plenty of others) the Reserves Comp only benefits a small group of player...

What a classic - Lucas Leiva trying to defend the indefensible (no offence meant, but your view is from a biased perspective of course - reminds me of the U15/U17 cup fiasco last season). If true (the transfer that is), it will make all the difference. Anyone in the State League can tell you this. A...

Yes, the point about the juniors is a crucial point. The problem needs to be tackled at both the senior and junior levels. There's no point in attempting to improve the senior elite competition with the pain it's likely to cause if there are not sufficient players coming through from the junior rank...

Fair to say the Reserves teams are mainly home grown, not necessarily the case for the Prem teams, and that's what I was talking about. Is it still 80% at that club this year if you only look at the Prem squad? Anyway, perhaps this part of the discussion (poaching/recruitment) should be ignored. It'...

Agree with Bad Egg that poaching has always gone on. I wasn't trying to argue that it should be stopped/prevented (impossible anyway), just that it was part of a complex problem and that needs to be taken into account. Of course players want to play in top teams and achieve success, and clubs want t...

It's good to see someone making a serious effort to think outside the square. I like the idea of the 3 divisions for the elite level. A long term plan is definitely required and that idea has merit. The short term plans over the last few years have all failed. I agree that the Reserves competition i...