Celtic Banter Archive October 17 2015

17 Oct 2015 22:40:40
Brilliant my Celtic bhoys. In RD we trust.

17 Oct 2015 13:45:05
Is anybody old enough to remember any players we brought through ourselves, that have been a higher level than that of a Dundee player?

I honestly think that the last twenty years has produced only maybe two players worth anything

A shambles. Every young player who we have that is any good we buy from wee diddy clubs. I suppose it's only fair we bring through their players.

The quality is mediocre at geat and useless mist of the time.

17 Oct 2015 15:37:58
I touched on this recently mate, - the last top player was Paul McStay, he made his debut at 16 and I think he turned 50 recently. Roughly 10 years before that we had McGrain, Dalglish, Davie Hay and George Connolly. Our academy is a disgrace. This is an area I've been going on about to my family since Tommy Burns came back and he was the driving force behind Lennoxtown. He travelled all over the world looking at different set-ups before deciding, when he seen the end result he was absolutely disgusted, because as usual we cut corners (no pun intended) and tried to do it on the cheap. He specifically wanted more full size pitches (indoor and out) of course the board came out with their usual nonsense saying don't worry we own the sight and phase 2 will start relatively soon, 10 years later we're still waiting. It's a world class site, truly beautiful, but they've not done enough! Sometimes during the winter none of the teams can train, like I've said, the indoor pitch/hall is like my old gym hall. Between all that and the lack of top coaches, it's a complete embarrassment!

17 Oct 2015 16:28:11
It has been an abject failure in producing 1st team players.

17 Oct 2015 20:21:55
Over the last 10-15 years we have produced John Kennedy, David Marshall, Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney and James Forrest. These are the only ones who could or have played in the Premiership.

As this is a poor return it raises the question why do we see so few players coming through the ranks.

I have a few ideas myself but like the rest of you I am just guessing. Anyway here are a few of my thoughts:

1. Due to the high pressure for our manager to win every game (especially domestically) it reduces the chances that young players will be blooded into the first team.

2. As we have a massive squad of experienced players, a manager is more likely to play an experienced player over a younger player, as he needs to keep the squad happy and harmonious.

3. We often see very talented players in our youth teams but they don't make the step up to first team the vast majority of the time. This is partly due to points 1 and 2 above but I also reckon the Scottish lifestyle and mentality hinders player development (Tony Watt being a prime example) .

4. Perhaps our coaching is not good enough? I know in Holland for example that they have a lot of their top coaches coaching the youngsters, which ensures they are getting top class coaching.

I am hoping that Ronny Deila addresses the first two problems and I think we are already seeing early signs of that as he has been trying to trim our first team squad and does seem willing to slowly blood them in the first team. I am also hoping that the backroom staff he has employed plus his man management and involvement will help point 3 as well.

18 Oct 2015 15:47:08
No matter how good the facilitates and no matter how good the coaches it is impossible to develop a young teenager into a good young footballer unless he really wants to take that leap.
Nearly every year Lennoxtown is a float with potential great footballers
Maybe it's the love of women, good or bad distracts them, maybe it's alcohol or drugs or maybe it's the leisurely lifestyle takes over around about 20 but something happens . I think it's more of a British Irish thing than Continental Europe but we have to correct why young boys are not becoming the footballer's we want.

18 Oct 2015 20:08:55
I agree about the dedication/lifestyle, and I think it is a cultural thing, a lot of working class kids want to be out with their friends getting wasted, and some will be more care free and not analyse things too much with regards their careers. The coaches have to be stricter though, there is plenty temptation in Holland for eg, and I remember Sneider/Van Persie and a few others who came through at the same time being warned that they wouldn't fulfill their potential if they kept going out and eating junk food and getting pissed. Top coaches and better facilities isn't going to make things any worse that's for sure. Even if you get two a year that take on board what is being said, and train more because of the facilities then it's worth it.

19 Oct 2015 00:12:06
I don't know about Holland but France Germany Spain Portugal and Italy are among Countries that don't have the culture of youths drinking to excess . I know of someone from Belfast was in an hotel a few yrs ago when Arsenal had their Christmas Party Most of the players drove home afterwards Walcott was carried out and put into back of taxi .