THERE have been some scatter-brained ideas in sport, but the one unveiled by the Football Association's pompously-named commission takes the veritable prawn sandwich or grisly burger - depending where you chow down at a football match.

One of the notions extolled and exhorted to give every available playing chance for latent English talent to flourish was the creation of a division for 'B' teams from the Premiership.

If established, that tier of prime-cut potential would, bizarrely, become the fifth division of the domestic league placed between the current League Two, from which York City are trying to ascend, and the Conference.

It is envisaged that the top ten Premier teams would field their 'B' outfits alongside clubs currently playing in the Conference premier division.

The belief is that upcoming English youngsters, who feature only in Under-21 or Academy league football, would benefit from regular outings in more meaningful and competitive matches against recognised, hard-bitten, hard-nosed opposition. They would gain match experience, seasoning them for a hopeful upgrade to regular senior football and even on to the international stage.

Look - a production line of English teenagers honed to take on and best the rest of the world.

It's so easy-peasy, hunky-dory, what's the story, 1966 revisited here we go. Cry King George, Lord Beckham and Greg Dyke, the three lions shall roar and rule once more.

What arrant and arrogant nonsense.

Unlike in Spain and Germany, where 'B' teams have existed alongside established clubs for many seasons, the proposed English structure would allow promotion for the Premiership's clique of crèche clubs.

Besides the fact that neither of those nations has the same weight and structure of professional clubs, immediately one then has to question what is the point of the so-called pyramid system presently in operation in football which offers a path for clubs to be better themselves by reaching higher divisions?

If nothing else it will kill the Conference and subsequently staunch and then atrophy a vital artery, which continues to pump life into English professional football.

Picture this, Forest Green at home to Manchester City B. Would there be much of a fan base for City's Under-21s to make the trip to that game on a miserable Saturday in February? A glorious afternoon in May backed by a chauffeured trip in a limo with a stop en route for a three-course meal and signed shirts from all the City youngsters would hardly tempt anyone from the environs of Manchester to embark on such a journey.

Life-sustaining revenue for Conference clubs would be wiped out. The competition would be meaningless.

And if the purpose was to blood English youngsters, there's no stopping the fact that a lot of England’s elite teams comprise squads whose youngsters from within these shores are often outnumbered by players hailing from Europe and beyond. Would any of those pampered young-bloods, from Blighty or yonder, give much of a fig about playing against Kidderminster, Hereford or Grimsby?.

The fact of the matter is there has always been enough English talent.

Even now England manager Roy Hodgson's squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil to be announced on Monday would not look too threadbare if it included the likes of young and largely untried tyros like Ross Barkley, Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling, xxxx Stones, Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane.

The problem with England not succeeding on the world stage is more to do with not nurturing young talent properly and not being brave enough in promoting young talent.

It is a cliché but if they are young enough get them in the first team. But when they do make the grade, don't burn youngsters out by the incessant demands of clubs who are driven by cash, so if there not playing in a recognised fixture they are off on some club promotional jaunt.

In a way, you have to have some sort of sympathy for Dyke and his commission. He, and it, are damned if they do, damned yet more if they do nothing.

But what is needed is diligent handling of youngsters and their potential not some ham-fisted push to satisfy the needs of the few - the Premiership - to the detriment of the many - the rest.
 

OH joy, oh boy. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has declared that he will stand for election for another five-year term at the helm of world football's governing body. How can we deserve such good news all in the one week?