What have we learned from the Antalya Cup?

I was really impressed with Henderson putting himself about just enough to stall a lot of Gala's assaults

 

learned that balde can hit a penalty

 

The full game is on youtube in turkish if anyone hasn't saw it. Pretty decent game considering it was a 0-0 draw.

And the fact the full senior team were subbed on at halftime and were trying really hard to beat us and were frustrated they couldn't get anything decent past us shows that we have a strong squad full of depth.

I seriously hope lennon plays balde in the next domestic game we have coming up.

 

That Turkish trophies aren't that sturdy.

 

That we have some very promising young players and Lennon should trust them more in competitive matches.

 

I learned Lennon dosnt tan

 

No pyro no party

 

The young Bhoys done very well, I think. That Galatassary team were up for it, make no mistake about that. Friendly or not, they wanted to win it. Even Schneider was celebrating like a looney! (Wish that wee * no 22 missed his penalty, mind)

Can't really say which youngsters stuck out for me. Wasn't overly sure who was who to be honest. Fisher looked good, always has when I've seen him.

Forrest I thought was excellent when he was through the middle. I don't really like him on the wing, it's harder for him to jink.

Balde and Pukki I reckon will come good. Balde, like Lenny said is a rough diamond. Pukki just needs to finish better. He's doing everything else right, imo. A playmaker or a regular partner will do him the world of good.

Derk was trying way to hard and it never paid off. Am sure Lenny and co will tell him to calm down a bit. Can't blame him though. He'll be desperate to play.

Big Zal still looks a very good deputy keeper.

 

Fisher is a capable left back, but far superior at right back. Herron isn't a full back. Forrest is looking good.

 

I read a comment about this subject via another site. The individual made the point that people are raving about the likes of Gauld (and rightly so) etc. Our youth team have been wiping the floor playing against these players for years. So should we really be surprised by the quality shown by our youngsters???

Leaving the above aside, I think we've seen in particular a hunger from these young guys to catch the attention and interest of the senior coaching staff. Did any of them produce enough to warrant a starting place, not for me. However we ve see that they can be relied upon when challenged and maybe we could field them against Hearts later on in the season(sarcastically).

 

People here need to calm down and understand that it's a process to rebiuld the team after the losses of Hooper and Wanyama. "Hesus" Samaras isnt playing at the level that he needs to and the new guys need time to getting to know each other. As Sean wrote in a other thread and Pukki stated, they've had hardly any time to train together + that Lenny keeps changing the squad and formation from game to game.

The game against Gala was a good test and pointer. European League would've been a good place for this team as it's still work in progress and the real test will be Champions League qualifers in August.

For the expectations of some people in the CL, to get to the last 16, it's really hard, even with a team that has had a solid preseason. I think that people here have got a twisted idea of the level of competition that the CL is.

 

We have learned that Liam Henderson will be a class act and is good enough to be a 1st team regular as from this weekend

 

Balde can score !!

 

And take cracking penalties

 

That Balde and Pukki should be given an extended run of games together and that a lot of our youngsters are good enough to be involved in the first team

 

Than Janko would walk to glasgow to wear the hoops, if he leaves now he might be here in time for the CL qualifiers

 

what's that lad o'connell like? i heard he was handy.

 

- Balde and Pukki have goals in them.
- We have a lot of hungry, talented players coming through the youth academy.
- Lennon needs to give more of said youth players a chance in our remaining domestic games this season.
- We would have been good enough to go quite far in the Europa League this season.

All in all, a very worthwhile trip in my opinion. We never disgraced ourselves at all and matched a strong Galatasaray side with essentially a bunch of kids and only a few regulars playing for us.