Reserve League Ragged By Rafa

Common abroad where Reserve sides can play as high as the second tier in order to make up the numbers,Benitez feels that the current reserve league which clubs like Liverpool voted for is not good enough and the same system should be operated here.

The Spaniard told Liverpool's website: "It is clear that the reserve league doesn't work. "You can see youngsters playing just 18 games a season - that is nothing. It's certainly not enough for the development of these players. "It is something that we can improve in this country. If we do not change we will find other solutions, such as sending youngsters out on loan like I have done recently.

"Between 18 and 21-years-old in this country, the players do not know what to do. If they are good enough at 18 they are with the first team but on the bench all the time. "I would like to see reserve teams of the big clubs like ourselves playing in the Football League. Why not if they have enough quality?

"That will bridge the gap between the youngsters and the first team. If you do not give young players the chance to play competitive football and to learn things, things become impossible.

"I have been here three years and have talked to many people about this, and what I see is players who are 17-years-old and cannot progress.

"How can you use a 17-year-old in the first team, unless he is a really top talent like Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen? "Players of that ability can play in the Premier League, but you have to be special to do that so young.

"The rest of the lads need to play at another level, but the reserve league is nothing. "I am not sure about them playing in League Two, either, they need to be playing against good players, then they will learn more."

A string of Football League clubs have already criticised this statement including Barry Fry who told PA Sport:  "It would never happen here, not in a million years.

"The Football League is a thriving, 72-club competitive competition which is one of the best supported in the world - 16 million people watch it every season. "No-one would want to watch the reserve teams of any club - I don't care if they're Real Madrid, Juventus or Fray Bentos!

"If Rafa Benitez wants his young players to get competitive games then all he has to do is loan them out to clubs like us."