09 Jan 2018 18:47:21
Is that right Ed Rodgers has let Aidan Nesbitt go? Watched him with the youth team maybe 2 years ago and thought he was a prospect. But heh ho whit dae a know that's why BR's paid the big bucks.

{Ed007's Note - Aidan Nesbitt joined ML Dons last summer mate.}


1.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 09:13:34
I’m surprised anybody is surprised our young prospects end up at wee diddy teams. Too much hype and expectations on players who just aren’t good enough.

Every year we hear reports of how great this one is blah blah. I don’t know think any of the current crop of players are good enough. One or two might make it if we don’t progress, but if we do, maybe young Mickey, and only if he toughens up. His core strength is nowhere near what it takes to make it at a high level. If he does he has a chance. The rest to me are bound for diddy teams too.

Some get carried away when they talk about our academy players. It has been a feature for years. We hear how great they are and year after year they dissapear to be replaced by the next group of stars who never cut it either.

The return from our academy is woeful and has been for years. Talking players up who you can see are no bad, but no bad should never be good enough. In the last ten years we have produced Forrest and McGreggir and only Tierney is real class. The rest move on and when you look at them without green coloured specs you know that’s going to happen.

Ok for the Dundee’s of this world, not us if we want to step up.

We still want to step up, don’t we?


2.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 13:13:18
Don't really see the value of academies right now. They must cost a fortune to run and you are correct Magicpole, very very few ever progress to the first team. Money may be better spent scouting players and brining in players who have a better chance. Having said that if you look at the amount we have brought to Celtic who don't cut it even that can be flawed. I am amazed how well GMS has progressed at Aberdeen and we have bought some tosh as well. Maybe it's as simple as buying a better class of player like Ntcham and spending 4 or 5mill on them rather than buying loads of £1m players? Understand the academy's may produce the odd gem but what is the cost of running them. Ed have you any idea how much we spend in the academy set up?

{Ed007's Note - I have no idea.}


3.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 13:12:48
JFP1888, have you heard Elvis is dead? lol HH.


4.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 15:58:33
We sell Tierney and the running cost of the academy is covered for a few years and when a player is brought up in the clubs environment there going to try that extra bit harder.


5.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 16:23:01
Wise up, just now our academy is one of the most productive academies in the Uk we have 3/ 4 playing first team football on a regular basis we have the same almost making first team football and we have half a dozen excellent youngsters progressing just behind .
Our academy is doing a brilliant job.


6.) 10 Jan 2018
10 Jan 2018 19:52:23
Old man chris, in the last 5 years we have 3 first team regulars come from our academy to the first team. Tierney, McGregor and Forrest. The others may have had a few games but are out of the picture or moved on. Other players may come through, Ralston being one but in 5 years there are only 3 regular first team players.

We may be better than most but its a poor return as it is for most clubs but Scottish footballers attract no money. In fact go back 10 years I bet there are only about 6 players to come through. When we release these boys we don't get anything for them and selling Tierney for however millions if it just covers the cost for the last 10 years then what is the point?


7.) 12 Jan 2018
12 Jan 2018 12:03:17
If Old man Chris thinks that 3 players, two of them 25, holding a first team place in the last 8 years is a sign of a "brilliant job", then he is either sadly mistaken or our level of ambition is zero.

If we have the best then god help Scottish fitba.

We have signed another two young players from elsewhere, whose willing to bet they won't get into the team quicker and stay there than our academy player? .

Stats on this show a woeful return. If we improve, sign paddy, then neither mcgreggor or Forrest will be first choice. So, we will have one player. There is not one of the young guys who I have watched is going to keep a jersey anytime soon. When our defence is as woeful as it is and no academy player can step in, suggests to me at least they are even worse. How bad a defender do you need to be not to get a game for us?

Anybody thinking the academy is doing a brilliant job obviously can't bring themselves to criticise anything we do. Tell me old man, what was your position when the majority of us wanted the Kelly board sacked and chased? were you against that? Im interested to now. Do you think it makes you a better supporter not being critical of anything?

Criticising the board, or the team, or the academy is not anti Celtic, its pro us getting better Celtic.