Olivier Ntcham stole the show with a stunning free-kick goal for France under-21s against Bulgaria last night. Celtic’s midfielder came on as a 75th minute substitute, not long after teammate Moussa Dembele was subbed off.
Olivier has been capped by France at every age group since under-16. It is a mark of the expectations we have for him, and Moussa, that they are exposed to the demands of the Allianz Arena, despite Olivier having less than 50 senior games under his belt, and Moussa having less than 100.
At similar stages of their development, expectations of Kenny Dalglish and Henrik Larsson were considerably less, while contemporaries, Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic took years to reach peak form.
What we have seen from Olivier, and to a lesser extent Moussa, is a glimpse of their potential. Playing for Celtic, with its unique mix of expectations to win every domestic game, indifferent domestic opponents, and regular Champions League football, provides a great opportunity to polish potential into the finished article.
Young players will get first team opportunities in less demanding games, while 18-year-olds like Anthony Ralston will be asked to get stuck in against PSG. I doubt any other club can offer a better environment to develop talent, which explains why we can attract Moussa, Olivier and Odsonne Edouard.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW!
A Celtic State of Mind presents its 23rd instalment of insightful discussion into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Paul John Dykes is joined by Bafta-winning documentary director, John MacLaverty, and Scottish comedian, Phil Differ.
John’s Lisbon Lions documentary – Glasgow: 1967 – is an incredible celebration of Celtic’s European Cup win 50 years on.
Phil has been a staple part of Scottish comedy for decades, and has worked on such iconic productions as Scotch & Wry, Naked Video, City Lights, Rab C Nesbitt and Only An Excuse.
The CQN Podcast has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few months, and there are many more guests lined up in the months ahead from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature and politics.
NEW FROM CQN BOOKS! JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, THE LISBON LION DIARY, ORDER A SIGNED COPY NOW!
ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY NOW AT CQNBOOKSTORE.COM
962 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
HEBCELT on 13TH NOVEMBER 2017 11:31 AM
https://twitter.com/The_Tman10/status/929836556868780037
SOUTHOFTUNIS
Certain managers need their players to play his way,or they don’t play at all. A very good article yesterday on how,for all Mourinho’s success,it can come at a cost.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/nov/12/jose-mourinho-de-bruyne-lukaku-salah-chelsea
Personally,I think there’s always room in a team for a maverick,a player who can provide that flash of match-winning magic. And who gets the fans excited.
Lubo,for instance.
Radio chap has just played this in tribute to great young players who can’t get a game in a country run by corrupt dinosaurs — Fine choon too –
https://youtu.be/tc9tpOMu3eM
Folks after a bit of help if possible. I have secured two Cup Final tickets under my two season Client Codes but need a third ticket so need a third client code. Is there anyone out there would be willing to lend me their Client code to allow me to purchase a third if you are not going. Email address is kevbhoy88@yahoo.co.uk.
Many thanks if anyone can help. HH Cambhoy
Lubo The Wee Magician..
https://youtu.be/yTbg_oqjsX8
South Of Tunis on 13th November 2017 11:50 am
Speaking of youth. Two or three seasons ago Sweden played Italy in an under 21 tournament (I think) and adopted the same roughhouse approach. It didn’t work that time though the young Italians stood up to it well. I don’t know if any are still playing at this level.
Sorry email typo. kevcbhoy88@yahoo.co.uk
BMCUW –
” Lubo , for instance ”
Me -too ! .
Mourinho — ? – some Italian media outlets have him at PSG next season after a it’s not really a surprise if you think about it- Neymar move to Real Madrid .
Bristol City guy I’ve known since 1968 lives in Paris and has a season ticket for PSG . He is adamant that PSG play better without Neymar and with any luck -sooner or later -a PSG player is going to chin Neymar during a game..
Phone call from my Dad this Am. Phoned to tell me that Sime Vrsaljko ( Atletico Madrid / Croatia ) is the best right back since Danny McGrain . . He’s not prone to exaggeration -I’ll have to have a look
new article posted.
SOUTHOFTUNIS
Ah,but your Dad has yet to see young Ralston!
SoT
For me, the low point of watch in the Sweden-Italy game (2nd half only) was the way Ventura just kept shaking his head and wandering back to the dug-out when anything went wrong. Like he was cutting himself free of the game, “nothing do do with me, they are the ones who are losing this”. No instructions, no encouragement. I imagine that the level of trust in the dressing room is pretty on a par with that inside the current Conservative Party.
Mixed weather here in the far North in the last few days. Still, we’ve done the olives, so now we can hope for some rain and a colder winter. You can have too much dry weather.