The story of Celtic’s left back position has been largely painful over the years. Emilio Izaguirre arrived after the 2010 Wold Cup and, for a few seasons at least, strengthened what was a perennial weak spot in the team. You’re going back decades, possibly to Danny McGrain himself, before you’ll find someone in the left back position Emilio wasn’t clearly a stand-out improvement on.
Having supplanted Emilio in the Celtic team, there’s a good chance that 18-year-old Kieran Tierney will make his Scotland debut tonight on his breakthrough season. It’s a great story for a player who has physicality and maturity beyond his years. We might just have a genuine player on our hands.
The echo of a big failure at left back still reverberates around the club. Seven years ago Sligo Rovers’ Seamus Coleman, was on trial at Lennoxtown, but was sent home as he wasn’t judged able to put pressure on Lee Naylor, during Gordon Strachan’s last season. Then reserve team coach, Willie McStay, recommended Coleman to Everton, where the player has turned into one of the best left backs in the English Premier League.
Assessing strikers is comparatively easy; there are objective statistics (goals scored) to inform your view, including at youth level. It’s not as easy assessing a defender, where picking a winner offers you only subjective opinions. Kieran has achieved far more than any of his teenage contemporaries this season, some of whom were more lauded than him.
Perhaps the crucial deciding factor in all this was who was given an extended run in the team. If you don’t allow your youth players to graduate (at the right time), and don’t sacrifice first team mainstays (at the right time) you’ll forever buy other teams’ graduates.
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What is the stars, Weiss is a wee horror who blended in well at Ibrox
Miased the first 20 minutes but a surprisingly decent game between Scotland and Denmark.
Glad that I havent missed Griff’s goal
DALLAS
Aiden is coming on
Hopefully he will kick Weiss
Jobo,
Ye jinxed him ;)
Aiden on for his 81st cap
Naw Wits leave that to McClean, pity he is on a yellow.
Griffiths coming off, Martin on.
Get Broonie off next
Get Broon aff ffs
I came on this morning around 06:00 to wish one most genuine and generous Ghuys it has been my privilege to meet and who I now consider to be quite simply my Frhiend. I recall the night in the KoSC Blantyre when a mutual Fhriend introduced us, introducing me as Lennybhoy and I mean just that, not my Sunday name. He may have been born in ML4 but he’s okay now as he is an adopted ML5 Bhoy now.
God Bless you big Mhan, hope you’ve had a great Day…Hoopy Birthday LEFTCLICKTIC.
A very big Hooooopy Birthday to Mrs. Blantyretim as well…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
No easy watching two games at the same time, tried three earlier but gave up on that, can just manage the two.
Get Erik aff ffs!!!
Remi Garde sacked at Villa,Warbiola a cert…
Sviatchenko getting ready to come on for Denmark
WHiTS
As you will be aware, the Celtic youth team were in our Hotel at weekend
The Management exam sitting at breakfast table next to us Satirday morning
So my big mhate asks about Ronny’s involvement
They were very complimentary towards Ronny and his support, time and input
Mhate asks if he is having all teams playing to same structure – Yes
Conversation stopped pretty quickly when my mhate stated he thought that, by the way the youth had played the day before, same poor style and movement as 1st team
His Bhoy, Big J and I tried to hide under the table :-)))
Bada
It was a stupid appointment… Remi not Warbiola
Bada Bing
Moyes, or Pearson.
Warbiolla taking over Man U from LVG
Delaney’s, at least there is a leftie power base in the G40 part of Scotland. Lol.
Cowie
I love it
Apparently Barcelona won the tournament,
It’s alright for you lot, I’m stuck watching the Engurlund game :-(((
Hayes on for Ireland
Nice footwork by Aidinho
What is the stars, its a pity Ireland don’t have a Roy Keane type of player playing tonight who could given Weiss a nice welcome to the game.
McGinn is a smashing player who’s next move is to us, I hope.
Wouldn’t have got in our first team when he left St mirren though imo.
His time at Hibs has brought him on a great deal and smoothed a few rough edges
HH
As he gets himself booked :D
HH
Cowie
There is the complete results from the St Kevins Tournament
Celtic beat West Brom 6 -1
http://www.skbfc.yourclub.ie/news/7160
Corkcelt. Johnny Hayes has done well to finally get a game for Ireland
To go from lower league football with Barnet then onto Caley and now performing consistently for Aberdeen has shown him in a good light.
To me he is Aberdeen’s most important player.
Fabulous double save from Craig Gordon.
Denmark miss a sitter
Great reactionary save from CG.
Agreed Dallas, no problem with the guy at all, wouldn’t mind if he was on our books.
The French are a seriously good side, and Italy getting a spanking
Ritchie shoulda finished the game after a cut back
HH
And Scotland miss a sitter
Great chance for Matt Ritchie after good work by Anya. Superb block by the Danish defender.
2 all
game over at Aviva
Euro winners elect losing 2-1 to the Dutch
Full Time Dublin 2 All. Enjoyable competitive game. Thought Ireland were the better team but saying that both our goals came from spot kicks. Anyhow that’s the silly stuff over back to the real thing on Saturday.
Erik lucky not to get a bad injury from Bridcutt assault