This was a concept that West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady talked about last night on Jeff Randall’s ‘Christmas dinner’ special on Sky TV. She said that one of West Ham United’s challenges was that it lacked the resources to fund the team beneath the team. She also admitted that not being able to score goals was a problem, as was evident in the failure to take chances in the Boxing Day game against Arsenal.
This was a concept that West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady talked about last night on Jeff Randall’s ‘Christmas dinner’ special on Sky TV. She said that one of West Ham United’s challenges was that it lacked the resources to fund the team beneath the team. She also admitted that not being able to score goals was a problem, as was evident in the failure to take chances in the Boxing Day game against Arsenal.
‘The team beneath the team’ means having enough quality players who do not qualify for a first team place, but can cover for injuries and suspensions and ensure that there is a good choice of players on the bench for substitutions.
The team beneath the team is generally made up of two types of players. One type is more experienced players who have failed to live up to the promise they showed when they joined the club or simply do not fit in with the way in which a new manager wants to play. In the latter case, they may go out on a long loan and perhaps ultimately join the club they have been loaned to.
The second type are promising younger players. They need more match experience, but do not get it sitting on the bench or playing in the development squad. Of course, they are very well paid for not doing very much, but for some of them the frustration at not being able to play competitive football leads them to leave to join a lower league club. Others are happy to take the money and a leisurely lifestyle.
It is very easy for a player to fall through the divisions. In my second tier non-league club we have a striker who is not yet 30 and once played (and scored) in the Premier League. It can be a precarious life.