When Roy Race’s scriptwriters sat down to decide on their weekly football fantasies they would never bring themselves to write what Jack Aitchison went through yesterday.
A scoring debut.
With his first touch.
As the youngest player ever to play for the club.
This is classic (Roy) Race-ism. To get to the stage of making your Celtic debut as a 16-year-old striker Jack would have to have eclipsed many older players in the youth structure, so he clearly has something about him, but consider anything he achieves in the next five years as a bonus.
With Kieran Tierney (18) and Ryan Christie (21) also scoring their first goals for the club yesterday, there was an air of optimism that some of the development work we’ve invested in recently is bearing fruit. The most important lesson from yesterday in this respect was Tom Rogic (23).
Tom has been at Celtic for over 3 years, which indicated the time it takes to develop a player. He came through long-term injury during that period but he could easily have dropped off the scene a year ago without much fuss. He now looks every inch the modern creative midfield player. What he did to create the chance for Ryan Christie’s goal yesterday was sublime. If you didn’t see it, go look for it.
It takes time and patience to develop players, but the evidence is mounting that we’re good at it again.
Really pleased the sun shone on Ronny’s last day, in every sense of the word. It was a high to go out on after a lot of rainy days, in every sense of the word. I planned to appraise him, and our strategy, after the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat but decided to leave it to the end of the season after his quick announcement that he was leaving. Will pick up with this in due course.
As I walked away from Celtic Park yesterday and pondered the success or otherwise of Ronny Deila’s reign, the thought occurred to me, maybe it’s too early to tell?
Remarkably, over the weekend, more than 500 of you have contributed to a crowdsource project to publicise issues relating to Resolution 12 in The Guardian newspaper, and a business paper serving Uefa’s territory in Switzerland (all without a mention in the main blog).
We are not served particularly well in Scotland with oversight, accountability and governance. It’s important for our society, not just our game, that those who can articulate this situation do so. Read this article for more information, with a link at the bottom to participate.
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I was hoping the race was a reference to greyhounds.
TheTimReaper
I don’t want too many youths in the team at one time.
I want a balance of experience and youth.
Moyes,Keane,and Rodgers would most likely want the same balance.
Moyes would be my no 1 choice.
I had half a dozen seasoned Tims at my house on Saturday 5 out of 6 wanted Moyes.
1 wanted Keane.
The fans that I’m exposed too mostly want Moyes.
TT
WEEMINGER
I think there are plenty of decent skilful players in the squad, they need to be blended into a unit that performs consistently over the season, of course with youth comes a lack of experience and consistency:))
Could Ronny have gone on to achieve that, we’ll never know but as he himself yesterday said ” I’ve done my bit” Whoever takes up the reins now has big job in front of them to get us through the CL qualifiers, failure to do so leaves us adrift in a Euro sense, 3 years no big bucks. A huge task for any manager and the price of failure will be nowhere higher than on the pages of CQN:))
There will be a clear oot sale no doubt:))
HT
;-)
Paul 67
RD himself admitted in his post match interview that mibbee he should have played Christie sooner.
Damn right.
His caveat was importance of getting us over the line first.
Catch 22 meets chicken n egg. I reckon we’d have been over the line sooner, in more style had he had the courage of his stated convictions ref playing young, mobile, gifted, hungry players.
HH jamesgang
Tom Rogic has exceptional skill. I do worry though that he lacks strength and or stamina. Not unlike that other exceptional player of yesteryear, Paddy McCourt.
Árd Macha
Auldheid
Will be flying out tomorrow, so see you in Olas Bar tomorrow night. Much to catch up on.
thetimreaper on 16th May 2016 12:43 pm
We mostly seem to agree that we want youth in our team. I don’t think Moyes, Lennon, Keane are suitable to continue with that. It has to be Rodgers on that basis.
———
Would prefer a continental manager as I feel they are better at building a club structure (as Ronny was trying to do).
But of the likely names in the frame I would agree Rodgers stands out.
To dream the impossible dream. How many of us have dreamt that we might play for Celtic and score a goal at Celtic Park? Did this once and wakened up saddened that for me it was an impossible dream. To achieve the dream like young Jack at such a young age is just incredible. I hope yesterday’s appearance is the first of many to come in the seasons ahead.
I have been critical of things during the season, but I went to Celtic Park yesterday to celebrate and to enjoy whatever was served up. What a joy it was to see all those young Celts playing the Celtic way and to think that three of them were 16, 18 and 19 years old. But there were ones around me moaning if something went amiss.
I just felt that we could be on the way to greater things. The enthusiasm and support for one another on the pitch yesterday was wonderful to watch. Let’s hope it is not an impossible dream and that what we experienced on Sunday will be sustained and worked on by the new Manager. HH the Champions are here.
The return of the BOB AG!
Long overdue,I recall someone asking if he was a Bob Seger fan-Bob,Ag being the symbol for silver,and The Silver Bullet Band.
Naw,he replied. Jooooost say it fast!
Ard..,
I think Tom was introduced to the game in time to work on his stamina, keep in mind Paddy did not apply himself until it was too late in his development.
Right Champions
Our season should have been ending next week, had that master tactician got things right in a recent game
Anyone think, if we had a game next week, that we would start with the same 11 as yesterday ???
Oh and at the game I thought Armstrong was man of match, having watched highlights, looked like Rogic ?
Who actually got it ?
Hail Hail
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession,
I hope you’re right and it pays dividends, because a fully fit and strong Tom Rogic would be a massive player for us.
Árd Macha
Serious Question : Does Rogic get the full 90 minutes when he is with Australia?
If so, why not here?
Cowiebhoy
Lustig got MOTM at the game
Bitton has dropped off a bit from how he was playing in the second half of last season. But he hasn’t become a poor player. Maybe we just need to find the right blend of players around him to get him back to his best.
Jeez,
No.
Ard and canamalar,
I said to a mate yesterday that Rogic is a fine player, it’s a shame he cannot tackle or last 90mins.
His reply…Neither could moravcik.
Fair point :)
HH
New pre season fitness regime spilled
http://www.bethcosi.com/bendy-brewski-yoga/
Bawsman
We’re past the halfway stage – around 3 furlongs to go in a mile race.
The ads are considerably more expensive than the the one placed in Sunday Herald last year.
Breaking my self imposed exile from CQN.. I’ll return after manager appointed.
Great performance yesterday.
Confirming my assessment of Certain players such as Christie and SB.
Glittering spells of play from some of the young guys.
Re manager. Moyes, Rogers would astound me if appointed.
Keane would be a stop gap as we’d be looking for a replacement come Christmas.. At the latest.
Lenny would do me and I think he’s the best we’ll get.
I fear an unknown appointment or worse – Hartley Houston combo.
Yesterday was great but the acid test will come in Europe.
Paul67 – maybe your big picture piece should come in September?
.
Welcome Brendan..
001
AN TEACH SOLAIS,
I saw yesterday that you didn’t manage to meet up with Almore before the game. You were very helpful at the Easter 1916 event in Dublin and if you are coming over during the summer let one of us know.It would be great to meet up.
If not, no doubt it will be at Celtic Park 2016/17.
Great to be Champions in the Centenary of the 1916 Rising.
WC
remember ‘The whip should only be used for safety and encouragement.’
Cowiebhoy
Most of the changes this season have been because of injury.
Same team next game?
Well, let’s say he did – people on here would be moaning that Griffiths should be back in.
On the other hand if he took Griffiths back there would be just as many moaning about changing the team!
WINNING CAPTAINS
Please put out the call for futher, or increased, contributions from those of us fortunate enough to be in a position to do so.
If I were you I wouldn’t be giving a running commentary on amounts received. There are enemies of justice out there for whom sensitive information would be grist to their mills of deceit and prejudice.
Really appreciate the efforts of you all. HH
Geordie Munro,
;-) Hard to argue with that.
Árd Macha
..
Re; ‘The Magic Marsupial’
Remember Tom had only Played 5 a Sides up Until he was 18 or 19..
He Won the Equivalent of ‘Brisbanes Got Talent’ the Rest of Course is History.. He is a Uncut Gem.. Learning Every Hour Not Every Day..and a One Off..
Personally.. His Injuries and being Dropped from Australia’s World Cup Squad probably helped make Him the Player he is becoming.. Before that it was All Hype and Predictions..
Summa of SmilingAussieAssasinCSC
I also have doubts about players becoming heavier, I remember Nicholas being kept out of Arsenal until he bulked up and for me that bulking up lost a lot of the skills and speed from his game.
Strengthening and becoming better at holding off players while in posession yes, bulking up no.
Lighter players tend to be faster, the best ones get fouls when a bulky player goes through them and gets posession.
Thought the champaign may have had a wee bit of an effect as well
Lubo couldn’t tackle ?
Hard as nails he was. With a brain.
H
CLOGHERCELT
Good to hear from you and appreciate the lengths which you ghuys went to in BAC. The bould Noel’s escorted tour will live long in my memory and though I had on a number of occasions previously done the walking tour, he had the gift of bringing the events to life.
Unfortunately, wont be at Barca game. Beidh me ad freastal ar dianchursa Ghaeilge ar feadh na seachtaine sin. Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam. (Pad has no facilties for fada accents that I can find)
Hope the sun is shining imBealach Tra, Termonfeckin and all of Contae Lu.
HH
I like Christie a lot. He’s going to have a big season next year.
An teach,
Apropos the fada.
On Android you hold the letter down and all yer wee accents appear. ios is the same I believe néébs
HH
Young Ryan Christie’s dad Charlie looked a happy and proud mhan yesterday.
…and his mum.
Good Tims.
HH!!
GEORDIE MUNRO
Thanks for the tip. I’m really not very up to date and had searched every function key looking for it. Of course I’m too obstinate to actually read the manual or press the “help” button but thanks for the heads-up and I shall practice before actually using it. HH
‘the acid test will come in Europe’
– yes, we don’t want to be drawn against Lokomotiv Litmus.
Nightmare.
Shaun Dyce – Burnley manager – yesterday, on Joey Barton: ‘Credit to rangers for talking to Joey, but Joey doesn’t come cheap, you know (laughing) – you don’t get buy one get one free with Joey…’
Lulz. No way on earth the Hun can legally afford Joey Barton. Doubt we could either. If he turns up wearing a Fitlh Frock then the game’s a bogey before the game’s even begun.
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
Lokomotiv Litmus
Where they from ? Think they could provide a test ?
On paper maybe………