Youth/Development Team Thread

Dundee make it 2-1.

 

2-2

 

Oko-Flex has been tearing it up in development. Deserves a first team debut this season.

 

DUNDEE…2
(Curran 55, Mulligan 57)

CELTIC…4
(Aitchison 51, Griffiths 53pen, Burt 65, Oko-Flex 78)

CELTIC kicked off their Reserve Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Dundee at Dens Park on matchday one of the competition. All the goals came in an eventful second-half, with Tommy McIntyre’s side ultimately showing their superior quality to secure the win.

Leigh Griffiths was in the side as he looked to build up some valuable game-time, and the striker almost gave Celtic the perfect start when he got a shot on target after just 60 seconds, but Calum Ferris in the Dundee goal produced a good save.

The Hoops were pressing forward in the early stages of the game, with Armstrong Oko-Flex coming close after 10 minutes, but, again, Ferris did well to deny the young Irish attacker.

Dundee’s first real chance of the game came on 15 minutes, but Craig Curran’s effort was deflected wide for a corner, and just minutes later, Hoops captain, Stephen Welsh, made a vital clearance inside the six-yard box as Andrew Nelson was ready to pounce.

Just before the half-hour mark, Oko-Flex came close with a header from a Connor McBride cross, and he was denied again moments later when his powerful shot was turned round the post by the goalkeeper.

Liam Hughes in the Celtic goal then came to his side’s rescue on 34 minutes when he saved a Callum Moore free-kick, while the last chance of the first-half fell to Griffiths, with his 30-yard free-kick well-saved by Ferris.

Just six minutes after the break, Celtic broke the deadlock. Oko-Flex rolled the ball into the path of Jack Aitchison, and from eight yards out the striker fired the ball home. Two minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Hoops.

Oko-Fles was brought down inside the area by Moore, and Griffiths stepped up to convert the spot-kick. At this point, Celtic were in control of the tie, but two goals in two minutes for the home side brought them level.

Curran slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box on 55 minutes, and two minutes later, Josh Mulligan headed home the equaliser.

The young Hoops side held their nerve, however, and on 65 minutes they restored their lead. The impressive Oko-Flex was once again involved, surging forward from 40 yards out before slipping the ball to Liam Burt to finish.

Five minutes later, Hughes prevented Lyall Cameron from equalising, before Celtic made it 4-2. Oko-Flex dribbled into the box, and although he went down under a challenge, he still managed to stab the ball into the net with the aid of a deflection. It completed the scoring in what was a thrilling Reserve Cup tie, one that Celtic ultimately deserved to win.

 

Surprised at Leigh Griffiths being part of this game but if it gives him game time and he's willing to be involved then good on him.

 

He needs games just now.

 

Okoflex
Connell
Afolabi
Frimpong
O’Connor
Oluwayemi
Hjelde

Not to mention keeping Karamoko.

Starting to invest in the academy/youths/reserves.

 

Some good investments been made can see our longer term strategy with guys like Frimpong and O’Connor etc if we get them looks good for the future

 

Did we ever finalise that deal for the dutch winger, Afriyie?

Oh and what happened with that kid from Linfield, attacking mid? Charlie Allen?

 

I love coffey, think he's a great baller

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Aye hopefully we get Frimpong and/or O'Connor in so Coffey can move back to CM and build up a decent partnership with Connell.

 

Raiding the English academies.

Must be Hammond’s work.

 

EWAN Henderson has joined Ross County on a season-long loan. The midfielder has made eight first-team appearances for Celtic, the most recent coming in the home leg of this season’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against FC Sarajevo.

Anthony Ralston, meanwhile, has moved to St Johnstone on a season-long loan. The defender has made 15 appearances for the Hoops, scoring two goals, and he played for most of last week’s 4-1 Europa League play-off victory over AIK in Stockholm.

And striker, Jack Aitchison, has headed to English League Two side, Forrest Green, also on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old is Celtic’s youngest ever player and goalscorer, netting on his first-team debut back in 2016. He has made 11 first-team appearances for the Hoops.

And Reserves captain, Stephen Welsh, has moved to Championship side, Morton, on loan for the season. He made his debut for the Greenock side in Saturday’s 5-0 defeat away to Inverness Caley Thistle.

Everyone at Celtic wishes all the players the best of luck in their respective loan spells this season.

 

Was that his field before?

If this is all he does and * off then he's left us in a better place than Congerton already..

We've got good kid's in our academy but it needed an injection of real quality. Was getting neglected for too long. Especially in terms of talent spotting and recruitment..

Been a fairly big positive swing this window..

 

It was always the obvious in the UYL how we could tear any team apart going forward but we’re absolutely chronic in defence as well.

Morrison was the big hope for a defender but Bayern came in.