"B" team and U19s - how to do it?

[CybrSlydr]

So, I'm now with Celta Vigo and am enjoying my time with this team. However, unlike the MLS teams I'm used to coaching, I now have a Celta "B" team and a U19s team. I'm thinking of them like the "B" team are my reserves (which no longer have a league in MLS) and the U19s as my Academy.

I never really messed around with the Reserve/Academy aside from the occasional scouting report to see if there were any worthwhile youths to bring up. The reserves were especially worthless as since there isn't a league for them in which to play anymore, they don't do anything - so you have to loan them out and that never does anything as the teams you loan to are typically worse than you are - especially in facilities.

So, what I'm asking of you folks, is how do I get the most out of my U19s and "B" team? What kind of coaching staff should I look to build for them? I've never looked to find out, but can I assign coaches on the "B" and U19s like I do for the First team to maximize training stars?

I'm assuming that the base of all this is my Head of Youth Development - I'm assuming I want one with maximum Judging Ability/Potential, maximum Works with Youngsters and a wide Scouting knowledge? I have also read that they will bring in players of similar mentality (Balanced, Fairly Professional, etc).

I appreciate you help folks!

[ozilthegunner]

I have a few ideas, but I too am interested if people with more knowledge could pipe up.

On my Rostock Hansa team in Germany I have my Rostock IIs (so B-team) and my U-19s. My U-19s play in a league, so they have themselves figured out. But my IIs don't. So what I do is always schedule a friendly each Monday. This has the added benefit of letting me get some of my first teamers who didn't play in the first team over the weekend a bit of time to keep up match fitness.

As far as training goes, if your setup is similar to mine, then your B-team will train with your first team. So as far as team training goes, its the same (and the coaching staff is the same). But of course you can assign them individual training.

The U-19s, on the other hand, have their own staff and own team training. I generally give them a bit more of a break (they get a rest before and after games, rather than just after) but otherwise keep a similar schedule for them (I do 4 months of ball control team training on low plus their individual training; followed by 4 months of tactic training on low plus their individual training, just like my first teamers/IIs in order to promote the specific attributes associated with those two training regimens).

One other thing to keep in mind about your Head of Youth Development - which I think what you said is pretty much on target - is that they will tend to bring in people that fit their preferred tactics as well. At least I am pretty sure about this, as mine preferred a tactic that included an AMC and kept bringing people in for it when I had no tactic that used one. Not a big deal, since I just retrain them and they still do a useful job for me, but something to keep in mind.

[Guarin Screamer]

My B team having a league or not would completely change what I do with it tbh. If they had a league I would use it a lot more to develop talent. If it didn't and I had make a bunch of friendlies, I would only use it to keep fringe players match fit while loaning out my best youngsters. Playing friendlies just wouldn't improve them enough for my liking.

I look for the attributes "judges ability/potential", "motivation" and "works with youngsters" when picking a manager for the B teams and U19s. They pretty much speak for themselves but I want a coach who specialises in kids, can see and appreciate the talent he has in his team and pushes them to improve.

I've read that the personality type of your HOYD gets passed on to regens more regularly too. Something to think about.