So how do you feel about playing a couple of teenagers, Filip Twardzik and debutant Jackson Irvine, in central midfield, but dropping a couple of SPL points? Good, I hope. Welcome to the world of player development.
For a decade or more Celtic produced prodigious youth teams but watched as Dundee United, Hibs, Hearts even Hamilton Accies graduated more effective adult players. Key to this is perhaps ensuring that players are tested at a higher level at key times in their development. In short, if you have not played regular first team football by the time you are 22 there is a good chance you will not fulfil your potential.
There is cost to this development, you’re not going to win all the time, especially when the two teenage central midfielders are surrounded by other young players: Adam Matthews, 20, Tony Watt, 18 and James Forrest, 21. Half time substitute, Victor Wanyama, is still only 21.
I’m looking forward to seeing more teenage kicks in the coming months.
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A Ceiler
Sounds good. My handicap is 12.
JJ
Estadio
How dare you :-)
When I passed greetings from Polish girls who keep loving oldtim67 I meant my wife and all my daughters. Now I must talk to my wife and ask her why she married me?
You really made my day hard ;-)
Throwing away the lead at home twice will be a bitter lesson for the Bhoys. I’m just glad it was to wee Pat Fenlon’s team.
I remember hearing on the radio from one of the MSM complaining about the influx of Irish managers to the SPL.
Clowns.
Celticinthesun,
hope its correct info, could you confirm here when you try
hail hail
Good Evening,
Paul makes a very good point in his leader.
Yesterday, twitter was awash with reports of fans being a touch disatisfied with both the result and the performance.
Whilst I understand that many will view yesterday as two points dropped, I would prefer to think of it as a generation encouraged.
Neil Lennon set out a team which was literally overflowing with youth and inexperience– virtually no experience of a top of the table SPL clash. The reason for fielding such a team is obvious. It was because he can afford to.
The SPL title is a marathon, not a sprint– and at least from now until Christmas there is the small matter of the Champions league to contend with– and we have drawn some of the big teams of Europe– with realistic prospects of progressing- but only if we are at our very best.
So the young team were rolled out yesterday- so that they can gain some much needed experience, so that they can know what is required of them on the big stage, so that they can get the feel for the stage and the experience of playing against players who, at this stage, know a lot more than they do. This young crop are a more than decent bunch but they have to develop,learn their trade and just how to become a first team player.
Equally, there were some afield yesterday, who have to learn just how to step up a gear and how to carry a couple of younger lads when necessary. Yesterday had development and next generation written all over it.
As for individual performances? Well they mattered not a jot. No one should be judged on yesterday alone, especially if at times they made the odd error.
I recall a few years ago, in a match against Hibs, we fielded a young fella who made his debut that day. Boy was he like a rabbit in the headlights. He couldn’t retain the ball, and piece of sloppy play cost us the game. I know some who immediately took the view that he would not make it. His name was Henrik someone…..
Graeme Spiers once described another youngster as heavy legged and kinda lost, expressing the opinion that he had not seen any evidence that would suggest that his talents were such that he was likely to grow into any kind of player. His name was Stilian….well whatever his surname he gained a few international caps and improved a wee bit.
As a result of the natural course of events kicking in over Ibrox way, Celtic have the chance to blood some young ones and give them a feel for the big stage without risking too much. There will be some who will never feel comfortable and show their best in any first team. There will be others who will grow to fit the jersey– and will fit it way beyond the wildest of expectations.
Jock Stein once took a complete crazy turn and decided to give a first team chance to a ball boy!!! Yes– a ball boy. His name was George Clooney— no strike that— George Connolly.
I know I have written of big George before, and I have no hesitation in doing so again for the benefit of those younger than me and who never had the chance to see George– and indeed for those who saw him plenty of times.
George used to juggle the ball all the way around Celtic park at half time on European nights– whilst the “big team” were in getting the half time talk from the Big man.
Imagine, then, the notion of getting the ball juggling kid just to come on one day and play with the Lions? Yet that is just what happened– although he will have trained with them and played a few reserve games with them.
How good was Connolly? Well if you are under 40 go and google Franz Bekenbauer. World Cup winer, European Cup winner, Balon D’or winner etc etc etc. Beckenbauer is one of the all time leading figures in German Football and has won all sorts of titles and plaudits. One of the lesser known titles that Franz was given was ” The poor man’s George Connolly”—- THAT is how good George was— if only he had stuck at the game and wanted– really wanted– to be a professional footballer.
In the modern era, I cannot think of a comparison with Connoly in terms of a skillful youngster in that position– all the so called superstars in England would not be fit to carry his carry his spare boots.The combined fortunes of Chelsea and Manchester City could maybe just about muster the transfer fee and the wages he would command.
Yet you only got to know how good Connolly was by fielding him on the big stage. And to be fair– George only got to know that he didn’t really want it anymore by having been given the chance on that stage.
Others, with less ability than George, such as Davie Hay, Lou Macari and even Kenny Dalglish had to get their chance and learn what it was like to wear the Green and White shirt on the big stage in or around 1969– and ofetn they were a bit unsure to start with. yet they all went on to be brilliant players– among the very best.
And while we are talking of that era– here is a wee piece of video which shows a few youingsters from a bygone era.
Have a look and watch it all the way through. Look at the guys in the training section.
All I can say is… yes we were THAT good! So good that to a man the great Leeds United team said that we were the best team that they had ever played against!
Jack Charlton said that Bobby Murdoch was the greatest passer of a ball in the history of the game, Tommy Gemmell was the kind of full back that no one had ever seen, and wee Jimmy was “The flea” all across Europe.
And yes we should have absolutely humped Feyenoord……. blooded a few youngsters….. and gotten ready for a mob who had looked on from 1966/67 and learned a thing or two…… they were called Ajax…. and they had a crop of kids!
But they had to learn to play….. and so they watched this lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvB_4JI87bQ
celtic heritage
20:19 on
2 September, 2012
Well said mate!
reorganising the league may get the huns into the top league quicker
how will sky view it …only 2 derby games ….or will they reorganise back to 10 teams when thems reach the top league
if Doncaster continues to advocate a reorganisation his position becomes completely untenable ..a short time ago he openly stated that a 16 team league would have been a financial disaster
re 16 team league ..i think the lower league teams would go for it ..wouldn`t bother me as long it is doen for the right reasons
fed up with the gerrymandering
The general consensus on here seems to be that it is alright dropping a few points as we blood our new, young players. If yesterday is representative of this experiment, then we can adopt the policy without dropping points. The chances missed yesterday were NOTHING to do that policy and everything to do with bad finishing and bad luck (posts and bar ).
JJ
PS Who was blamed on here for the first goal,Lustig or Forster? At the game, I thought big FF but my mate went for Lustig.
Was it Tony Watt who thundered in a shot that came off the underside of the bar in the first half? Game over had it gone in. And then a header off the post after a good sweeping move.
Lots to feel good about.
theweegreenman
re Irish managers
at the expense of Jeffries and other such dinosaurs
Does anyone know how much the tribute act paid for templehun? Really surprised at the hertz selling him to thems after the wallace transfer, once bitten……..
Hail hail
EDB
Hooper
eldiego
It was Hooper’s shot that came off the underside of the bar.
JJ
i thought big FF was suspect for both goals …re the first Lustig seemed to signal for him to come for it…probably a joint effort
rothbhoy
Hi
I saw one of your posts yesterday saying you drink in The Wilton?
I live about 5 minutes drive from that bar
Do you watch the games in there?
It appeared that Fraser apologised to Lusty for the “blooper”! These things happen….
Just watched the highlights from yesterday and we should have been out of sight at halftime – results are always viewed in context – if that had been last game of season needing a win it would be blog melt down – but in the context of this season at this time it wasn’t a disaster but still disappointing.
Estadio
20:02 on
2 September, 2012
I too feel the tone of the leader is a bit patronising.Just watching Madrid horse a Spanish ” wee team ” the fans are lapping it up; we should always try to give the punter what he wants, a winning team.
hebcelt
20:03 on
2 September, 2012
Stornoway black pudding is the best in the business; last time I ate it was in The McDonald Hotel, Piccadilly, Manchester, Lst November , me and a fellow exile were at daggers drawn over the last two slices on the hot plate. I won because I am a big ugly fecker , Now , where can I buy this feast in Glasgow?
jmccormick
it can be purchased in a butchers in the West End..
I’ll find out tomorrow and get baxk to you on here..
We are the only Scottish team with whom world wide sponsors would see and realise value. It can only be a matter of time before they demand access to Celtic and our diaspora. We must be a marketing mans dream. I hope that we all see a pan european league and the benefits on offer. Can only be a matter of time. Meanwhile let’s all back the clubs strategy in building,slowly, both the youth policy and affordable signings whilst giving the kids game time. How much has our manager grown over the summer. We are right behind you Neil. HH.
Brogan
Great video..
Any hints as to what’s happening in September?
Cheers guys. Great shot that deserved a goal.
When does BDO start their investigations?
….PFayr
20:31 on
2 September, 2012
I think, but not certain , that the plan Regan was cobbling together involved splits after so many games to decide play off spots and European spot, thereby engineering more Old F%*& matches.
I agree with your comments on the protection racket enjoyed by the dinosaur school of coaching in Scotland, but is that Lomas and Shiels not just a breath of fresh air ? Mmmmm
blantyretim
20:43 on
2 September, 2012
Thanks , the usual West End premium will be applied of course, perhaps I could pass myself of as a penniless poet?
J McCormick
My mate sells stornoway black pudding in his 2 shops in Clydebank,one in the shopping centre and one on kilbowie road,top of the hill butchers its called
JJ 20.36
My belief is that the keeper needs to call it and be decisive. He was facing the play. For me, FF was at fault but he has played well recently, so we’ll put it down to the cost of doing business :))
Adriano just scored a screamer for Barca, FF would have saved it.
The sad thing is Barca are only going to get better as the season goes on :<(
gordybhoy64
you teasing me?
The Scottish school of coaching states
article 7.1 – Any player wearing Green & White Hoops should be kicked if they are moving whether with or without possession of the ball.
article 7.2 – in addition to article 7.1 the same applies if the said player is standing still
THE EXILED TIM
20:54 on
2 September, 2012
not such a sad thing, so will we and Real Madrid.
J Mccormick
West Coast Fisheries in Ayr High St sells Stornoway BP as does Chisholms
Even sold in a wee sandwich shop in Stranraer
jmccormick Stornoway Black Pudding can be purchased in quite a few butchers in Glasgow Partick Shawlands and Rutherglen are 3 I know about. I,m back and fore to the games from Stornoway and can take you some down, just let me know. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Jmccormick,naw great butchers,sells stornoway by the barra load,does a good savoury slice too
J Mccormick
order on line ..wjmacdonald.com …so mrs tells me
article 7.3 – If a player is wearing a shirt with RFC on it, ignore aforementioned rules (and all other rules of fair play)
jmccormick
I know we will, I also hope Real don’t.
It will be interesting to see how Lenny goes about it in Barca, sit off and we will get humiliated, go at them is our only chance, their defence is their weakness.
Sammi and Jamsey running at them, bring it on.
Happy with a 0-0 boring draw :>)