The reserves aka the Development team aka the u20 team have seen a lot of changes since the end of the season.

The team that will play in 2017/18 will be certainly different from the one that ended the  2016/17 season.

If we look at the 27 players (some of them were first teamers who played a game or two to help the team or top up their fitness) that played for the development team during last season, a lot of them have already left or are on the way out:

Tinaya Alexander moved to LSU Soccer to study in the USA.

Chloe Brunton-Wilde expected to leave and play in the FA WPL for a local team.

Lia Cataldo was part of the u16 RTC team and should be promoted to the development team as she looked promising.

Gabriel Clarke was part of the u16 RTC team and could be promoted to the development team.

Shannon Cooke will be one of the most senior players after an excellent first season at development team level.

Rianna Dean, the England u19 striker, should be on her way out with FA WSL2 teams sniffing around as Pedro Losa does not seem interested in giving her a chance.

Charlotte Devlin went to Millwall Lionesses on loan for the Spring Series and was a success there. Expected to carry on playing for them.

Anna Filbey will be one of the senior players in the development team.

Florence Fyfe left earlier in the season for Bristol City due to her studies, came back and might move again to an FA WSL 1 side who could give her a chance.

I fully expect Taylor Hinds to compete for a starting place at left-back with Dominique Janssen and Emma Mitchell.

Laura Hooper will study in the USA at Seattle University.

Amelia Houghton-Boyle left mid-season for the London Bees in WSL2.

Carla Humphrey, a first team player, left for Bristol City following her lack of first team chances.

Dominique Janssen, a first team player, will be one of the first names on the teamsheet next season.

Chloe Kelly, another first team player, will compete for places up front.

Jordan Littleboy will study in the USA at Hofstra University.

Katie McCabe, another first team player, will compete for places up front next season.

Bethany Mead, another first team player, will compete for places up front next season.

Jessica N’Gunga should be another senior player for the development team next season.

Lucy Parker left mid season to study at  LSU Soccer in the USA.

Anna Patten is now a fully integrated first team player following the Spring Series.

Kalani Peart should be another senior player for the Development team next season.

Molly Peters signed up mid-season, status unknown at the minute.

Chiara Ritchie-Williams is moving to study in the USA at LSU Soccer.

Sian Rogers, the England u19 goalkeeper, is third in line behind Sari Van Veenendaal and Anna Moorhouse. Will she stay or look for a first team place in WSL2 or FA WPL?

Leah Williamson, a first team player, will be one of the first names on the teamsheet next season.

Lotte Wubben-Moy is moving to the USA to study at the prestigious UNC.

With so many players on their way out, it is expected that the best u16 players who won the FA Youth cup will be promoted to the Development team.

One player has already signed up as we reported a week ago.

There is no doubt that Kelly Smith will have to rebuild the side during pre-season.