In the grand scheme of things, it might not seem to matter that Celtic’s B team have no reserve league to compete in next season. It will not determine the outcome of the league title and will affect Premiership teams equally. The impact of what happens in reserve football are, however, real and long lasting.
For decades, Celtic have dominated Scottish youth leagues, yet the ability to transform players who shine in their age group into first team regulars is woeful. James Forrest, Callum McGregor and the superstar from Wishaw are all we are inclined to talk about since Paul McStay bookended the golden two decades 40 years ago. Compare that to the relative success of Hibs, Aberdeen, United, Motherwell, even Hamilton Accies!
Reasons for failures are usually complex and simplistic explanations by outsiders should come with a Dunning-Kruger health warning, but I know multiple iterations of Celtic coaches have bemoaned the lack of competition our development squads face.
A young David Turnbull at Motherwell would have taken midfield responsibility as his side battled teams of equal or greater ability. The same player at Celtic would play in a team that dominated possession every week and always faced weaker opponents. No one improves their sharpness, industry or skill continually facing weaker opposition.
The consequence of all this is that we can expect our finest talent to wither on the vine more often than grab a pitch-side megaphone unless and until they face better players week-in, week-out.
The perennial ‘Colts team’ proposition now sits with the Scottish Lowland League, which I do not expect is of a great standard, although many of their pitches are better than their SFL counterparts. It is better than nothing and possibly better that a Premiership Reserve league, however, if we want to reverse a 40 year trend, we will need to be far more creative.
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Happy Birthday Paul.
CQN is always a highlight of my day. Even when the huns beat us. HH
I find it interesting that strikers like Cavani (aged 34) Dzeko (35) and Ibrahimovic (39) are still banging in the goals at a high level. It seems that if you are good enough, you are young enough, to turn an old saying on its head.
Talking of old strikers reminds us that Defoe was one of three strikers who scored 4 goals against us in the last fiasco. ( He was only on the field for 4 minutes ). Yet Sevco have started methodically preparing for next season already, and have just signed another striker, who incidentally scored 2 goals in the Belgian playoffs at the weekend. Clubs like Aberdeen ( signed Gallagher today ) are also making transfer moves in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, with 10 weeks to go to the first Champions League qualifier, and another 10 weeks having elapsed since Neil Lennon’s departure, precisely nothing of any note has transpired. The way Celtic are making a meal of preparing for a crucial season Just defies belief.
Maybe, just maybe, I am totally off base, but why on earth cannot our neophyte CEO inform fans in a general sense, without breaching any confidentialities, of the steps the Club is taking to address the huge task ahead of us? This policy of omerta smacks of complete contempt for the fan base.
I am increasingly turned off by it.
ERNIE LYNCH 8.44PM 6/5/21
So you actually believe that Scotland couldn’t be as well off as similar sized countries. One obvious examples of the unfair ways the Westminster government has treated its people is how low the state pension in the UK is compared with most countries in Western Europe. You seem to think that if you repeat a thing often enough then it must be true.
Eddie Howe must bring his own team in my humble ignorant experience.
Well no all English European finals, thank god👍
mmccartney,
I genuinely think going for Independence now is not a Good Move – I’d never Endorse any party – the way they are – All of them.
My Son is just thinking about moving to his new flat. I asked him who he voted for – He was just home from work and he admitted he is unlikely to vote for anyone – likely not vote at all. I’ve done the same too when I was his age.
Club culture edoes not produce good on pitch outcomes
Burnley 78
Are you the Eden Mill guy?
I think the Arsenal job is tailor-made for Brendan. However as it looks like Leicester will finish in the top four, would he consider it?
In a recent interview he talked about preferring his head over his heart when he left us – he is pragmatist – an ambitious one. Would he go if approached at the end of the season. Personally I think he would.
PETEC on 6TH MAY 2021 9:58 PM
mmccartney,
I genuinely think going for Independence now is not a Good Move – I’d never Endorse any party – the way they are – All of them.
My Son is just thinking about moving to his new flat. I asked him who he voted for – He was just home from work and he admitted he is unlikely to vote for anyone – likely not vote at all. I’ve done the same too when I was his age.
Not voting??? unbelievable …astounded of forehead!!!!
`Not voting??? unbelievable `
Why?
Back in the Kelly and White days I simply couldn’t afford a season ticket ,but I still managed to pay at the turnstiles now and again ,Iam like a lot of Celtic Supporters very disappointed the way the season has panned out ,and over the years I’ve been lucky enough to afford a season ticket ,and as long I am on this earth hopefully I will still renew my ticket ,so you pair who have came on here and critize me one sentence F—K O-F.
MMCCARTNEY on 6TH MAY 2021 9:48 PM
The SNP’s own sustainable growth commission admitted independence would involve 10 years of austerity.
That’s what they were admitting to, so you can bet the farm it would be far worse.
That was before Brexit.
And the Covid Pandemic.
But you keep spouting your delusional nonsense.
Timbhoy2
Think you need to either read up on celts for change at the time or grow up.
Probably both TBH😯
John Thanks for Your Support.
Noone can comprehend losing a Child.
All I can say is – Yer a Superstar work Colleague.
Hopefully Everyday is NOT like Sunday
It was predictable.
Belated birthday wishes to our host
Pity we never got a new manager as a gift
prestonpans bhoys
Celtic 1 Villareal 1 April 2004
Far from the game being rubbish, we did well to get a draw. Villareal served up one of the best performances ever seen at the Park.
Brilliant display of football. Good to see them in a Euro Final.
Celibacy
It was not that game, they turned up a few years later for a domestic game!
Celtic mac sorry this bloody tablet changed for login name
No offence to Greg Taylor but Glen Camara pushed him aff the Ba’ as if he wis a fly to be swatted.
The thing is Greg has given his All unlike so many others in the Team.
It is imperative that Callum is retained to build a proper team again but I think he may well have decided it isnae happening.
Annoyed about so much.
JHB says
later told an SNP supporter who asked her who she was: “I’m not fascist, just a normal, decent unionist patriot. My grandfather fought the Nazis.”
A link for others more Clued in than me.
https://www.salk.edu/news-release/the-novel-coronavirus-spike-protein-plays-additional-key-role-in-illness/
I have decided not to take a vaccine.
Perhaps that will influence comments.
A wee heads up..
YouTube.
Under the cosh with wee luigi macari.
A must watch.
Warning! A few swearies…
Superb.
Thankfully – not a cult
British Freedom Party
Cornelius.
All the best on your wifes recovery..
Paul67.
Many happy returns. .
HH.
Back in the White and Kelly days, Season tickets were a board controlled racket.
Category A – Free to several hundred family members in the main centre stand right up to the back row.
Category B – Friends of the family, with a pedigree, the next left section of the not padded seats.
Category C – Pools agents, hitting a membership/revenue number got a book for the ground.
Total maybe 1,240 (from a celts for change document)
Happy Birthday P67.
I was lost, but now I’m found, thank you to the cult of two, Ernie the ego and JHB –
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57013769
HOT SMOKED on 6TH MAY 2021 6:03 PM
DESSYBHOY on 6TH MAY 2021 5:52 PM
Thanks.
—————
There are a series of ‘experimental’ events all under eye of Gov.uk
last weeks rave liverpool
last week bands liverpool
snooker sheffield
brits
f.a cup final
more are getting added
just seen your chat re 15,000
ambitious i think. but hope am wrong
Goodnight – Thank God I don’t live in Scotland – and I am guaranteed to be part of the Union forever
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57000052
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056
SAINT STIVS on 6TH MAY 2021 11:04 PM
Come on m8, stop being pedantic, you know [if you were referring to my post) that the inference was on non participation of bhoys contributing to any products which embellished their pockets :)
I’m not sure we need be that creative – rather we need to put some effort in. For example, we’d enter the Lowland League – currently 16 teams – increase to 18 with us and them, making for a 34 game season.
Copy this model to add some variety and different challenges: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/46864784.amp
They’ve since upgraded, playing the Qarabag first team for instance. It costs £1m per season to run and they sold graduate Chris Mepham to Bournemouth for £12m. They also saw 12 graduates make a debut for the first team in the first three years of doing this.
Put a bit of effort in and we could revamp our Academy – add a couple of senior players (either those coming back from injury, players who are good squad players but don’t get many minutes, or those coming to the end of their careers) and get them playing Qarabag, Bayern Academy (it’ll save Bayern scouts a plane ticket), Scandinavian clubs, English League 1 clubs, etc. Only Friendlies, but a useful learning experience for our kids of done properly!
OR
Just buy/partner with/invest in a lower league club in England/Scotland and send our u-21s to them with buy back clauses or 95% sell on fees to get round loan restrictions. We buy back those we think will make it/do a job for us.
We could have more than one such partner club – League 2 in Scotland for our under 19s, Irish league for under-20s, English League 2 for our under-21s for instance.
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 6TH MAY 2021 11:15 PM
SAINT STIVS on 6TH MAY 2021 11:04 PM
not the intention at all,
a reminder to some interlopers of the privaleged structure of having a celtic season book, way back them well maybe for 1894 till 1994
simply, in one of the families, or a sponsor or a pools agent.
TIMBHOY2 on 6TH MAY 2021 10:23 PM
Back in the Kelly and White days I simply couldn’t afford a season ticket ,but I still managed to pay at the turnstiles now and again ,Iam like a lot of Celtic Supporters very disappointed the way the season has panned out ,and over the years I’ve been lucky enough to afford a season ticket ,and as long I am on this earth hopefully I will still renew my ticket ,so you pair who have came on here and critize me one sentence F—K O-F.
——-
I think this is directed at me for suggesting your original post made what I think is the considerable assumption that anyone not renewing next season is a towelchucker and/or unable to take defeat.
I am highly unlikely to renew due to my frequently stated reservations on how the club has been run over the past 10 years.
The only thing our Board understand is money and the withdrawal of custom. If I am to be regarded as an O – – F- – – customer I will take my money and find another use for it. I will not have my intelligence insulted watching WWE Scottish Football.
I didn’t think my initial response was particularly critical of your comment, but merely pointed out that I believed you were making a rather large assumption.
I’d also highlight that your host pointed out yesterday that contributors should mind their manners towards fellow contributors.
Squire Danaher
if you read Squire,Celtic The Early years 1887-93 and his follow up books are a good read to get the spirit back.
it will be a changed experience back at cp.
whatever happens,whoever is appointed.
a lot changing.
keep hope in yer heart mate
i am reading Tontine feyenoord post.
still the 8 y.o greetin myself tae sleep,
after that
hh
AN TEARMANN on 7TH MAY 2021 12:34 AM
Your positive regards are appreciated. I don’t have those books but have a sizeable Celtic library.
Without blowing my own trumpet, I’d like to think I “know my history”. Among my company, I seem to be generally regarded as the Rainman-type ‘go-to guy’ about all things Celtic.
My football company consists 8-10 of the ‘Celtic Da’ age bracket and I’d say at this stage a maximum of 3 would be renewing.
It’s all very sad.
I’ve reached the conclusion that the ‘hope in your heart’ and ‘the dreams and songs to sing’ are important to us as supporters but only a marketing tool to our Board.
They’re more interested in the Blue Pound and the Operation Short Head business model as we’ve discussed previously.
That’s bad enough but then ye get accused of being a towelchucker.
Is the Nazi Fascist Unionist Fransen getting her baws booted in Glasgow?
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19284715.nicola-sturgeon-confronted-right-wing-candidate-jayda-fransen-glasgow/
.
From the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, in Brazil, recitation of the Holy Rosary for all young people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMD0n_ll8hA
Ave Ave