Teenage kicks

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.