I remember writing with anticipation 10 years ago as many of Martin O’Neill’s benchwarmers came to the end of their contracts. Martin was not a squad rotator, so those not entrusted with his confidence found themselves on the bench or in the stand on match day, there was little scope to play your way back into the squad, and the wages spent unproductively inhibited our chances of bringing in fresh talent.
Ronny Deila spoke to the media on Friday about the same issue, moving on those who are already well out of the picture, as well as some who played their part last season but who are unlikely to see much in the way of game time in the season ahead.
There’s going to be a bit of churn in the squad, we’re still likely to add three or four players, but it’s been 20 years since a Celtic manager’s talked about creating space in the squad for youth players to fill. This isn’t a criticism of the managers we’ve had since then, more a reflection of the pressure they worked under.
Tommy Burns had to drive us from mid-table mediocrity to genuine contenders. Wim, Dr Jo and John Barnes weren’t here long enough to concern themselves about development, which Martin made it clear from day one that his interest extended only as far as the first team squad.
I doubt any Celtic manager worked under the intensity Gordon Strachan experienced during his four years. Every point dropped delivered a greater trauma than at any time I can remember. Neil Lennon managed through the transition, from competing head-to-head with three-in-a-row winners Rangers, to getting used to life as the last surviving superpower.
This is Ronny’s luxury. It doesn’t matter if we win the league by a record tally, or match the defensive records created in each of the last two seasons. Better to lose more games while giving a chance to young talent, than ask hoary pros to grind through the same gears one more time.
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Modern hoary pro’s are hoary
bournesouprecipe
17:11 on 28 June, 2015
Just for the record BSRs list is not exhaustive
…… As a post-lisbon-lion Tim, used to the footballing business-end-of-a-shileleigh, all this self-conglatulatory pish sits uneasy with me. Can we please get back to being the underdogs. Promptly.
French outfit FC Metz are tying up the arrival of striker Amido Balde from Celtic, with the Guinea international being ready to put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
Balde spent the second half last season on loan in Israel with Hapoel Tel-Aviv, having spent the first half of the campaign in Belgiaum at Waasland-Beveren.
Now the 24-year-old is heading to France and according to La Republican Lorrain, will link up with Metz imminently after terminating his contract with Celtic.
Balde will sign a two-year agreement with the Ligue 2 club, who finished 19th in Ligue 1 last season to drop down to the French second tier.
Balde was snapped up by Celtic from Portuguese outfit Vitoria Guimaraes, but struggled to make his mark in Scotland.
Let’s get Pirlo – he’s hoary and hairy
praecepta
17:12 on 28 June, 2015
I tried to contribute a wee quid or two but got flung out of “just giving” page the other week, is there still an avenue to pay into ?
Wasted at New York City
It will be great if the young lhads can break through. 2 things have often put paid to that in Scotland. The first is the “get tore into them” mentality, which is used as a compensation for ability, especially as the MIBs allow other teams to kick us off the park. That has to change. The second is our own support: we have to learn patience. Look at how we treated young McGregor last season. I’m sure he lost all confidence.
Gerryfae
I posted earlier that 99.9% of players linked with Celtic never sign, this percentage may have risen in the ole internet age.
StrikerVacancyApplyCelticPark csc
Even playing field..
$$$$$
BMCUWP
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” :-)
Gerryfaethebrig
Her link page & blog is still open today – but don’t know for how long?
https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/janicet67
Cheers!
Pakheadcumsalford.
Agreed. We probably have to decide that we can win something with youth and put up with the consequences if we don’t. McGregor is a case in point. I thought he showed great promise but was given a doin’ on here many’s a time.
HH
Gary67
Goodly News
overseasbhoy
17:16 on 28 June, 2015
Let’s get Pirlo
Pirlo would be amazing, not sure if he fancies a couple of trips to Dingwall or Inverness, Pirlo is as close to Lubo we will ever witness
Gerry
Think I read somewhere that Pirlo is being lined up for an American retirement deal.
Ole Daddy Warbucks introduces his new signings for theSevco squad 2015/16
Give Youth a chance!
3rd Round League Cup seeded ties take place in September – time to field; Youth, Fringe (needing game time) and 1st Team Players (coming back from injury).
1st Team will have clocked-up 2 months playing time + (hopefully 6 CL qualifiers) and will be in the CL or worse case Europa Group Stages.
Got to bite the bullet some time!!
teuchter ár lá
17:29 on 28 June, 2015
You are correct, Pirlo on his way to the good ole US of A, I was replying to Overseas Bhoy just wishful thinking of Pirlo gracing the grass at Celtic Park
Praecepta – flung out again, surely my credit rating can’t be that bad when I actually have some cash in that account !
I will get the Mrs or the wee yin to do it for me once they come in, great effort from your daughter and by hook or by crook my daft fiver will get there
Canamalar 16.38
You may be correct about it being to expensive .
However I would contest that by en large we do currently recruit most if the best youngsters in Scotland.
There will be some who go elsewhere , but we get most of what we want.
I think your previous comment is correct.
Scotland just doesn’t produce enough top quality players.
In the 60,s 70,s 80,s every top side in England had several Scottish players , and Scottish football still provided teams that contested European finals.
TT
Turkeybhoy
Currently lying in bed shaking and shivering with heat exhaustion after only 2 days in Ovacik oludonez, had factor fifty on my dome, and a hat and thirty everywhere else, dratt dratt and double dratt
Lubo was a pup in comparison :)
Well Forrest is a home grown talent – I think. If he could add a bit more constitency and awareness to his game hes a potential star.
But the young player who didnt make it with us but had all the attributes to be a megastar -Tony Watt!!! Ok he was signed from Aridrie but how did that project go so pear-shaped?
TT,
You also have the problem that anything we get that looks like developing into a decent player is not protected, how many have been crippled ?
I’d say too many.
TinyTim
Most of the top EPL teams have very few English players let alone Scots.
CANAMALAR
Very good point,and that goes back a long way too.
Someone posted a pic of Brian McLaughlin earlier. Career ruined by a career thug. Tallybhoy frequently refers to Stevie Murray. More recently,Paul George amongst others.
Not to mention John Kennedy,albeit not in a domestic match.
Scottish football was a real hotbed of talent till souness arrived, he virtually killed scottish football overnight.
HH
Tiny Tim
Doing well thanks for asking. Just catching the sun in Puerto Rico.
Gary67
If Metz are signing Amido Balde – alleluia :-)
Now for Derk Boerrigter
I am one of those who do not rate Calum McGregor, giving him credit he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, nothing else in his game which contributes to the team, for me and from what I saw watching him playing in games with us – thought his work rate and attitude was very poor constantly leaving players exposed due to this
Hail Hail
Mild mannered pedro Delgado.
A very good suggestion .
TT
Mr 67 found this article of yours from May 2013
Congratulations to the Celtic under-20 team on securing league and cup double, the fourth consecutive season Celtic youths have recorded this achievement. John Kennedy and Stevie Frail’s operation is years ahead of what was previously known as their domestic competition.
Celtic have been fine-tuning youth development since Tommy Burns returned from Amsterdam all those years ago with new strategies, some of which are still being used. The cream graduate as Champions League players, but Celtic are pretty much running elite-level youth development in Scotland, a fact made clear when you look at the enormous number of Celtic training academy graduates earning a living across the rest of the league.
It used to be the case that Celtic wasted young talent. Perceived wisdom was “Go to Aberdeen or Dundee United, they’ll turn you into a player”. The opposite is now true.
If Amido’s Contract has been good news, all good, two Strikers wages freed up, albeit they didn’t feature it frees up money to hopefully at last invest in one that will score regularly.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Praecepta
I agree with that, play the under 20’s made up with 1st team fringe in the League Cup games, right through to potentially semi final if we get there, irrespective of opposition
Hail Hail
Lennybhoy
How much money is freed up, when both were out on loan last season ? Would think those club would have been paying what 50% of their Celtic salary ?
Hail Hail
cowiebhoy
It will be what their combined wages are. As you say they were out on loan. The loans finished therefore we would revert to paying their respective full wage.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Singsong time
Cowiebhoy
3rd Round/Quarter/Semi are all mid-week (90mins +ET) end Sept/Oct/Nov – probably 3 games that the majority of the 1st Team could do without.
Sure its a Cup (& part of a Treble) but counts for very little these days. Youths need to be tested in a ‘big’ time situation (maybe with less consequences) – in theory a blend of Youth and Experience should be able to handle it.
If not – then maybe time to move some on and test the next batch.
the exiled tim
17:54 on 28 June, 2015
Scottish football was a real hotbed of talent till souness arrived, he virtually killed scottish football overnight.
HH
…….
Exactly bud.
And no way am I wearing the yarn that the cheating only started with the EBTs.
Butcher,Woods,Stevens et al knocking back the biggest teams in England to come to play in Scotland?
Aye right ye be.They’ve been cheating for decades imo.