For close to two decades Celtic youth teams have dominated Scottish development leagues. We invest more in youth football than anyone else, we flood the Scottish leagues with graduates from our academy, and we harvest the occasional gem for the first team.
The current squad has Kieran Tierney, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Eoghan O’Connell (who I think has a genuine chance) and Liam Henderson, who all made the step-up but for 40 years our record in maturing youth talent has been appalling.
Care to guess the last successful striker Celtic brought through the system?
Clubs who regularly finish behind Celtic in the youth league table produce far more first-team talent, some of whom Celtic pay money to sign later in their careers. What Dundee United, Hibs, Hamilton Accies and others can do, which Celtic have been reluctant to do, it blood young players in the first team early.
Celtic’s reasons for this are valid. They have championships to win every season, and even when that is a formality, dropping points to anyone is cause for a crisis. We do not have the most conducive environment for youthful endeavours.
In recent times we’ve tried to help players bridge the gap between youth football and the Celtic first team by sending them out on loan. Callum McGregor benefited from this but it’s hard to find evidence the strategy is delivering.
Celtic have wanted a ‘colts’ team for 50 years, a place where youthful talent can come up against the harsh environment of fully grown men. I know one chairman of a successful developer of youth players who believes that if they are not thoroughly exposed to ‘real’ football between the ages of 16 and 19 they will be lost to the game by 20.
Frustration at a perceived lack of progress kicks in, then unhelpful habits take over.
No one can say with any great conviction that a colts team will solve anything, but it might. For that reason, it’s worth trying.
Time is running out for orders of books and DVDs for Christmas from the CQN Bookstore. We’ve a great range of new and classic titles, fill your boots!
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GFTB
I had 4 children 7 years apart. Had 3 season tickets for years and tried to take them on a week by week rotational basis. Turned out that the bhoys were beelin and gave their ma grief when one of their sisters went in their place. The ghirls would get bored and want to leave at half time. In the end it was me and my 2 sons at the match every week. :)
Lennybhoy……..am glad the paw purrs did not fall on dead ears….
Braw.
*** GOALS FOR SHAY ***
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JOBO BALDIE on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:29 PM
Not particularly, why do you ask?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
You started chatting town on Messenger! You might have been hacked!
SFTB
There are plenty of fallen giants- Notts Forest, Villa, Rheims, Torino and Dukla. Eintracht, St. Ettiene, Vasas Budapest, Steau, Red Star, Honved, Wolves, Preston, Leeds and Blackpool. No-one is desperate for them to be at the top table.
I know several fans of fallen clubs especially Leeds and Forest and everyone of them thinks the rest of the teams are desperate to have them back in the top league. Leeds are desperate to draw Man Utd in a cup and claim it’s United biggest game of the season.
chatting to me…
HT
After I posted that I realised that sectarianism was the wrong word, I was thinking it but should have said corruption in the post.
As I said earlier, the sectarianism is good for business, it keeps the fires stoked and the money keeps rolling in, competition is good for business, we need it, this is why IMO that we allow them to cheat us on the park, with a level playing field we would win things year in year out, we have done no bad getting cheated, so I honestly think the suits are happy enough with the status quo, they are making money, we are so far a head that given they come into a few bob we are in a position to spend that wee bit more to keep ahead, if that is the thinking, I have not a clue, but they for sure are not thinking in trying to clean the game up in any sort of manner.
HH
Call me Gerry: That has always been a concern of mine. I don’t have any evidence either way though.
ThomTheTim: sadly, you are probably not wrong.
Twists and turns
Spot on ….. it’s all about money, and to hell with truth and justice …… words fail me
Those who just want to keep going, and act like nothing has happened…. I try to understand, but I dont get it.
We have been cheated. It is like finding out your wife has been sleeping with your mortal enemy, and, not only that … refuses to discuss it, and, apparently, intends to keep on doing so. Would you want to stay married to someone like that?! I wouldn’t think so.
Like most on here, I suffered through the zombies 9IAR. So, right now, results wise, we have gone from the cemetery to paradise, so to speak.
But, even during those dark days, was never ashamed of my club/those running our club. I am today.
For me, being cheated by the zombies was easier to stomach than feeling betrayed by our present custodians.
We all suspected that their titles were tainted, so I was never embarrassed by anyone at our club for not winning. Our trophies meant more because we won them honestly. We all had an idea of what we were up against ….. but we were all on the one road. Even in those ‘dark’ days, there was a sense of community; a feeling that we were all in it together, win or lose.
I always believed that, deep down, even the zobmies knew they cheated to win their trophies, and wondered if they could really enjoy them. I didn’t think I would. I now know that to be true.
If we are content to win trophies, but throw our integrity out of the window in order to do so …. well, for me, the price is too high.
And the sad thing is… it is not like we would win less had we done the right thing. The zombies were a busted flush …. if anything, we would have won more had we done the right thing. But it does seem like our Board wanted them ‘back’ ….
Today,it seems our Board is only concerned about making a profit and winning trophies, regardless of how we do that. And they want the zombies ‘back’ and are prepared to turn a blind eye to the truth, in order to make that happen.
In that respect, it seems to me that our Board is more aligned with the league and those running the zombies (what did we know about the 5WA and when?) than it is with the average Celtic fan. That is sad.
For the last several years, we have laughed at the zomibes and how stupid they were to allow themselves to be taken advantage of by those running Sevco. But, reallly, as long as we allow the Board’s actions (inactions) to go unchallenged, how are we any different ?
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:30 PM
Is it just possible that the Board refuses to engage in a battle which it believes it cannot win ?
That being the case , is it possible that the Board believes that engaging in such a battle could endanger the safety of our supporters . Particularly in the lead-up to the Rangers game ?
HT
No problems.
HH
TET
What’s worse buying into the sectarianism or buying into the corruption?
I don’t have an answer as I’m sure you’re aware I’m being rhetorical.
Everyone will have ‘camel and straw’ point and I think this will be it for some.
Yorkbhoy
I am sure that the attitude exists among the fans of fallen giant clubs.
However, If European football is being re-arranged, it will not concern them if you could once get crowds of 60k or more: If you have been long enough away from the top flight then a team like Leicester or Southamton or Hoffenheim or Leipzig or Villareal will be much further up the pecking order even though their support size is unimpressive.
DD 9.36pm
Good stuff, I find it hard enough trying to convince one, Dallas is convinced she will be at Celtic park before the season is out, he has to listen to me every other day, he is far more positive than me, although she puts the bhoys in her class to shame as she knows every Celtic player (& their songs) one wee guy asked how does she know everything about Celtic when she doesn’t even like football, her answer “my dad”
8 mins added at Goodison. It’s Sevco time.
#somethingyouwontseewhencelticneedagoal
1-0 Liverpool, deserved.
MIT 9.44pm
Whit ????
Your wife cheating on you is the same as a PLC board not protecting their shareholders
Have I got that correct ?
Only on CQN :-)
Good scouse derby. Better team won.
JOBO BALDIE on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:39 PM
My Mum just phoned to say she got a message from me on messenger…she replied and all she got was “Hi, how you doing…”, she stupidly replied and realised it wasn’t me when she then was then told you’ve won $10,000.
First question to my Mum why would I start off by saying “Hi how you doing? Why wouldn’t I just pick up the phone or say Hi Mum…
I’ve posted something on my FB timeline though it does just appear to messenger that is affected, bloody hackers…:(
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
HT
You make a very good point re the sectarianism, personally I see things in a different light, we have always been the underdogs, we have always know that we were the minority race, and it’s a race imo in scotland so we had to either fight it or give in.
The corruption obviously goes hand in hand with the sectarianism, they can’t have Timmy getting too big for his boots, hence why scotland allows racist orange marches every week of the year, all public funded btw.
I have not a clue how to deal with things, I honestly wish I had an incling, what I do know is that every time someting like this happens a few more will walk away and stop giving the club their money and support, till eventually who knows, things, life goes in cycles, we will maybes not always be at the top of the tree cos you can bet your life that the powers that be don’t want us there.
It’s no easy choice mi amigo.
HH
Macjay
Both those thoughts are possible but the first is unconvincing and the second even more so.
Dealing with point 2 first, this is not about the timing of an O** F*** match. We might have 4 or 6 of those a season if they remain flush enough. That will always be a convenient fig leaf of an event. And not opposing them on Res. 12 or the Tax cases has not and will not lead to greater safety for our fans. They are currently a vengeful lot and do not need any statement from Celtic to inflame them- they are permanently raging.
Point 1 is difficult to argue. How do we determine what case and which points are unlikely to be won? Already the 4 assiduous amateurs, and their supporters, have elicited a letter from EUFA which is highly damaging to the myth that all our media have lined up behind. That should have provided the Board with encouragement.
Now, I agree that the Board will want to have a good chance of winning before they strike out. But, if they thought that time was not yet reached, they could argue that point. They could articulate the impediments they see. None of that was done. They were dismissive, derisory and obfuscating. they were anything but clear in what they felt they needed still or what was inadequate about what they had.
I would have to perform contortions to feel that this was a display of sober, conservative reticence. It was obfuscating, obstructive and vague. The Celtic Board are Stones in the Road.
Gerry …
It is a hypothetical wife (just to be clear …. dont want to be getting in trouble with the boss!)…
Lennybhoy
The last time you were selling Viagra
Love
LENNYBHOY on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:59 PM
Change your FB password immediately. Your Mum too
HH
MACJAY
That being the case , is it possible that the Board believes that engaging in such a battle could endanger the safety of our supporters . Particularly in the lead-up to the Rangers game ?
If I was listing 100 suggestions as to why our board are reluctant to take any action, in order of likelihood, that would be number 100.
LENNYBHOY on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:59 PM
unless it is just standalone messenger ..then just messenger
HH
AWE_NAW_NO_ANNONI_OAN_ANAW_NOO on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 10:02 PM
Cheers mate got you advice through FB…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
THE SPIRIT OF ARTHUR LEE on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 10:01 PM
Shhhhh…need to know basis…:)
LOVE
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
MIT 10.00pm
Stuff that, one is bad enough, does the hypothetical one give you just as much grief, I think it’s in their DNA
All kidding aside I totally understand the annoyance of many with the Res12, and remember the Res12 is about the cheats running the game and not the tax evaders …… I don’t think for one minute things will ever be the same , whether it be the SFA or the tax evaders at least the Res 12 bhoys have made it more difficult for them all ever to do it again, by the way the Huns bad is burst and the Sfa’s going down slowly, there is only one team who has a decent ball to play with, enjoy the good times
Glass always half full :-)
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:44 PM
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 9:30 PM
Is it just possible that the Board refuses to engage in a battle which it believes it cannot win ?
That being the case , is it possible that the Board believes that engaging in such a battle could endanger the safety of our supporters . Particularly in the lead-up to the Rangers game ?
——
That’s exactly what PL said to me. My scars came before the demise of Rangers. He had no response.
HUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 10:02 PM
I have a higher opinion of the Board.
I am sure that they take their responsibilities for the safety of our supporters very seriously indeed.
TET
Off to bed I’ll respond tomorrow my friend.
GFTB
Dallas is one of lives real good guys.
Was great knowing him growing up.
In his green Saint Als blazer and Tommy Burns hairstyle, we referred to him as Twist n Turns in Knightswood. :)
Take the wean for a special occasion to a match in Paradise. Lunch in a restaurant before was the only way my 2 ghirls were interested. :)
HT
Enjoy your Horlicks
TSOAL
Hope you are well amigo.
Was gonny give Benicassim a miss next year but on hearing Chilli Peppers headlining and rumours of Radiohead also, my mind might be changed.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 19TH DECEMBER 2016 10:00 PM
I hold a jaundiced view of all sporting authorities.
Football. Athletics. Swimming. You name it .
I don`t doubt that the S.F.A. can be seen in the same light.
You won`t necessarily get justice in a court room.
Take your point about the next Rangers game. However , what we know is that some of those associated with Rangers F.C. are dangerous people.
At this particularly sad moment , an over emphasis on public safety would be forgiveable .
Having said that , I can understand the frustration of those who have worked so hard for a fair outcome to our legitimate concerns .
Fairness and sport are now strange bed fellows.
Maybe estranged.