Quote Originally Posted by animallittle3 View Post
I was a regular at the old Central League reserve games in the 80's and 90's and during those days with the crowds nearly always sparse unless we were playing Manchester United or Liverpool reserves you'd see the West Stand full of scouts from all over the place .

You knew they were scouting or looking at somebody because a lot of them were out of work manager's keeping themselves in the game and earning a few quid scouting .

You'd see ex Huddersfield Town boss Mick Buxton at nearly every game , George Kerr , John McGovern , Wilf McGuiness , Colin Addison and once Tommy Docherty .

They'd probably not be looking at our second string but it was a good league back then with clubs like Aston Villa , Coventry , City , United , Everton , Liverpool , Newcastle , Sunderland , Leeds , Wednesday as well as ourselves and Rotherham etc etc .

They'd be some good second string talent to look at , a young John Hendrie at Coventry , Gary Bannister also at Coventry , Paul Warhurst , Earl Barrett at City , there was this young skinny black kid one night playing Villa who was the best and most skilful player I'd ever seen called Mark Walters who was just incredible .

The point I'm making and I've never had an answer to this but why did that system ever need to be changed or condemned to the dustbin of history ?

I've never understood why .
Good post Animal , you & I might have been stood side by side as I would also attend these matches if it they fell on the right shift for me and there would always be the whispers along the terrace as to who were the players who were attracting the scouts etc etc & the standard of these matches were usually pretty good because in those days first team players would use these fixtures as part of their returning to fitness plans if they had been out injured & we regularly played reserves from the top flight & would see quality players you would not normally get to watch . Getting back to the original point our new DOF should be watching potential targets & at least have a list of contacts who he trusts to watch & report back to him , it has to be time to rip up the spreadsheet & get back to football professionals using their expertise & knowledge to bring a squad of players together capable of doing the job & keeping their fingers on the pulse by constantly monitoring potential targets .