Youth/Development Team Thread

That second half was dreadful. Good to see us holding on for once though.

 

Will be one of the biggest lessons they learn this season, under heavy pressure for a long time but managed to hold on. They will probably be in bed tonight proud of themselves that they managed to see ur a win in difficult circumstances.

It will set them up better for the future than pumping teams like Hamilton 5-0.

 

Everytime I've watched us in this we're hanging on for dear life or throwing away a lead/draw. We were just fortunate enough today as Anderlecht were pretty garbage..

 

You're saying that as if this Anderlecht team were something special though. They were garbage. We should've pumped them.

There's nothing positive about our coaching staff failing to see what was going wrong and then basically parking the bus for the second half instead of actually trying to play football.

Anyone watching that game could tell we needed Hendry in the middle because Henderson was being lazy as * and trying stupid flicks and Hollywood balls anytime he got it.

 

As much as we've improved in getting youths into the first team recently that clearly shows how much better we could be doing.

No surprise when players like KT and Ralston get called up they're panic merchants with the ball in their own half.

 

The coaching staff was the troubling thing second half..

Failed to see what was going on and just shouted get up for 45 minute's. In possession we were really poor as well..

It's supposed to be building from the back and retaining possession at this level and by and large forgetting about the results. We neglected any game plan we had by trying to hang on to a win. Long ball's and camped just outside our box..

 

It was brutal mate.

The most important thing under Brendan is being able to build out from the back and take the ball under pressure.

That second half was horrid. Hopefully Brendan and his team were watching that and demand better.

For the style we want under him I'm surprised we're not going out and headhunting some Spanish or German coaches who'll put development ahead of their own CV.

 

We don't have the player's to build out from the back with this batch. Duffy especially is a bombscare and has very little ability on the ball. Not convinced by the 2 centre back's either. Mullen in goal is very young..

An injection of genuine quality in some departments needed..

I don't see enough of us week to week to know how good a job McIntyre's doing but his success rate of academy player's coming through to the first team and doing well is encouraging of late. Our passing move against Psg was exquisite and our breaking forward is good....so we are capable but on the ball overall, from what I've seen, we have to do better. Composure is missing..

Maybe it's something Brendan will look to address as we know he doesn't * about when thing's aren't to his high standards..

 

CELTIC Under-19s swept aside their Anderlecht counterparts 2-1 with a fantastic away performance in their second game of this season's UEFA Youth League.

The young Hoops scored two fabulous first-half goals and defended well in the second half to prevent the home side from drawing level and collect their first three points in the group.

Tommy McIntyre’s side stunned Anderlecht early on after Michael Johnston put the Hoops in the lead within minutes of kick-off at the Van Roy Stadium in Denderleeuw. Captain Regan Hendry then doubled the lead minutes later to put Celtic two goals ahead.

Anderlecht winger Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga handed the home side a lifeline with a second-half goal but Celtic defended well to close out the game and clinch a huge win against one of Europe’s strongest youth teams.

Celtic controlled the play in the first 15-minutes with some wonderful passing and aggressive pressing of the home team.

Jack Aitchison was instrumental in the opening goal when he held up the ball in the centre circle before sending Johnston on his way. The 18-year-old winger timed his run perfectly and calmly slotted the ball beyond a helpless Olivier Vliegen with a wonderful finish.

Hendry then doubled Celtic’s advantage in the 10th minute with cool finish following a string of fantastic passes in the lead-up to the goal. The ball was played out from the back to Ewan Henderson in the middle of the pitch. He then drove forward and slipped a pass through to Jack Aitchison inside the opposition box. The striker clocked Hendry’s run and the skipper did the rest, dinking the ball over Vliegen.

Aitchison came close to scoring himself midway through the first-half when he collected a loose ball inside the box and attempted to place it in the far bottom corner but his shot was deflected wide.

The home side had few openings in a first half in which Celtic enjoyed the majority of chances and showed great defensive organisation and aggression to deny Anderlecht any clear-cut opportunities.

The Belgian side were more aggressive after the half-time break, however, and goalkeeper Ryan Mullen had to make some fantastic saves to protect his team’s two-goal advantage.

Celtic still looked hungry for more goals, though, and Johnston caused Anderlecht problems on the wing with explosive runs and intelligent passing.

Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu was lively in attack and asked questions of the Hoops defence with some tricky footwork and impressive pace. Shortly after the start of the second half he cut inside and ran across the Celtic box, creating enough space to unleash a powerful close-range shot but Mullen showed lightning quick reactions to shut out the home team.

Lokonga, however, eventually found a way through in the 65th minute, the winger tapping in from close range after Mullen’s initial save.

The remainder of the game tested Celtic’s defensive organisation, but the Hoops were equal to the challenge, with Stephen Welsh making a vital clearance in defence, while Aitchison continued to trouble the Anderlecht defence on the counter.

And a mature and composed looking Celtic side ensured Anderlecht could not fashion an equaliser as Tommy McIntyre’s team produced a magnificent performance against an excellent side to clinch a well-deserved victory and a vital three-points.

 

Magic...

Let's hope the big team follows suit..

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Any reason Ajer isn't involved in these matches? After watching the last 2 games we couldn't half do with a bit of composure at the back.

 

Switched on from 55mins. By the sounds of things, I switched on at the completely wrong time! I did enjoy the commentator though.

 

I would play him. I think he needs game time against good competition without pressure and this is perfect for that. But the Youth League is about developing players and not exactly about winning. Maybe the coaches think he is already too developed for that sort of thing, which is aimed at 17 year olds who never kicked a ball for a professional game. He would be taking a game time he doesn't need that much from a very young player that needs it, and I understand this way of thinking

 

Euan Henderson training with the first team today

 

Premier League International Cup starts tomorrow.

Game against Swansea Ki making his return from injury.

 

Swansea 1 up.

 

Thought that was the beginnings of my coupon being * already, then realised it's not even 3pm yet, and this isn't a thread concerning the West Ham v Swansea game