Celtic Colts

Yeah, I was going to say we need to try and get these on Celtic TV, there's def an appetite there for it.

A bit further down the line but the sooner we get Barrowfield renovated the better. There's plans for a spectator stand for the women's and youth teams as well as the indoor pitch which would really make a difference.

Would be good to know how far that is from fruition, I know plans were submitted last year.

Edit: I don't know why it's quoted you 4 times haha

 

Do we have any top centre forward prospects in the youth teams?As a nation we don’t seem to develop good players in this position lately.

 

They'll train at Lennoxtown permanently next season.

 

Celtic have announced a restructuring of their academy and B-team staff and operations. They have suffered a significant loss of emerging players to clubs such as Liverpooland Bayern Munich in recent seasons — and have taken an action to stop the talent drain.

They also want to improve the numbers coming through to the first-team squad. Stephen Welsh and Mikey Johnston are recent graduates from the academy but are peripheral now, and could move on soon. Not since Kieran Tierney in 2015-16 and Callum McGregor in 2014-15 have first-team regulars been produced, something they are keen to rectify.

Here is what is changing and why, and what it means for the future.




What specifically is changing?
First-team coach Stephen McManus has joined the B-team set-up as they rejoin the Lowland League for their second season in Scotland’s fifth tier.

Beyond the staff changes, the organisation around the B team will change too. From now on they will always train at Celtic’s main training complex of Lennoxtown. This was not always the case last season, although that was at least partly down to COVID-19 restrictions.



Every other age group below the first team and Bs will train at Barrowfield, Celtic’s second training centre that is generally used by Celtic women and the youth teams, but which the Bs used at times last year.

The most notable change is that the Bs will specifically try to emulate the training sessions and programme of the first team.

This happened to an extent last season when they worked on high pressing and inverted full-backs, but it was never officially incorporated, which is what is being proposed for the upcoming season. Ange Postecoglou wants the Bs’ training standards, fitness levels and tactics to be as close as possible to what he has created with the first team so those players that are promoted fit in more quickly.





Why is this happening?
There have been two growing concerns about the academy in recent years: player retention and the number of academy graduates making the jump to the first team.

Over the past three years, Celtic have lost many of their most promising prospects to other clubs before they had played a minute for the first team. Ben Doak’s move to Liverpool is the most recent and high-profile, but it is a list that includes Leo Hjelde (Leeds United), Josh Adam (Manchester City), Liam Hughes (also Liverpool), Liam Morrison and Barry Hepburn (both Bayern Munich).

Although there are still gifted prospects in the academy, the club have become increasingly worried about the talent drain’s impact on the number of players coming through with first-team potential.

The club began communicating clearer first-team pathways to young players last season, but it is hoped that more formal links between the Bs and the first team could persuade players to stick around.

The second issue is how few academy players are making the step up. Postecoglou is not opposed to playing youth — Doak’s two league appearances at 16 years old show that — but he does not hand them minutes for the sake of it.

If they are good enough, they are old enough, but his prerogative is to win matches and trophies. If the manager believes a player is not capable of contributing to that cause, they will not be picked.

Last year, during the first half of the season and mostly during international breaks, B-team players would be called up to first-team training to test themselves while making up the numbers for those away on international duty. This generally stopped during the second half of the season, partly because Postecoglou wanted to foster a close-knit mentality among his first-team players. A second factor, however, is that even if he rates many academy players on an ability basis, he did not believe they were yet physically or tactically ready.

The training sessions could break down because the B-team players were off the pace. The gulf in preparation, focus and intensity between the Bs and first team was too significant. This was not necessarily the players’ fault or a reflection of their ability, but that they had little or no experience of the first team’s high standards.

Postecoglou believes that mirroring the first team’s sessions and standards in training with the Bs should, in theory, make academy/first-team integration more cohesive. The knock-on effect is that B-teamers not only improve but are more prepared to handle the rigour of first-team training if called upon, and are therefore more likely to earn competitive minutes because Postecoglou trusts them.




Senior figures at the club are also aware they are not producing enough first-team-ready players from their academy, and agree with Postecoglou that this is a potential solution.

The club were reasonably pleased with their inaugural season in the Lowland League in which they finished third, behind Rangers B in second only on goal difference, but believe their ceiling to progress further is much higher than what they achieved last year. Emulating the first team is viewed as a positive step toward building upon those foundations.



What does this mean for this season and beyond?
Potentially more players will train with the first team, because Postecoglou will be more confident of them adapting to the pace of training, and the Bs will always play at Lennoxtown.

Postecoglou’s precise training methods and tactics are engineered to maximise a player’s potential so this restructure should help young players’ technical, physical and tactical development too.

It remains to be seen whether some of the more senior Bs players will be content with these changes in standards and with greater proximity to the first-team, or if the carrot of regular senior football via a loan move would be more enticing. There are no immediate plans to loan out any of those senior B-team players until Postecoglou has the chance to monitor them in pre-season.

The proof will be in the pudding but this appears a positive first step in improving academy and first-team integration.

 

Good..

A clear pathway to the first team and regualry involved with the first team training (which I thought was always happening to be honest)..

At least we're recognising changes are needed as far too many are jumping ship..

Just a start but more needs to be done..

 

Honestly stunned reading that.

Why has it taken until 2022 and a manager coming from the other side of the globe for that joined up thinking to be implement? Honestly man. It's incredible just how out of touch and behind the curve we are/have been.

To me, the team immediately underneath the first team squad should have been training alongside them since Lennoxtown was opened. Shouldn't be this novel idea.

 

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/june/27/celtic-b-team-lowland-league-2022-23-fixtures/

The fixtures for the Lowland League 2022/23 season have been released and Celtic FC B will kick off their second year in the Lowland League with a home game against Cowdenbeath on Saturday, July 23 (KO 3pm).

The young Bhoys will be looking to make a strong start to their season as they welcome league newcomers to Penny Cars Stadium after their recent relegation from League Two.

The Hoops are back to full training and looking forward to the season ahead after gaining vital experience and having consistent game-time last season.

Be sure to follow the B team’s official Twitter account @CelticFCB, which will be kept up to date with all news related to fixtures and how you can support the young Celts.

CELTIC B LOWLAND LEAGUE 22/23 FIXTURES
Day Date Kick-Off Opponents Venue
Saturday 23/07/2022 3pm Cowdenbeath H
Tuesday 26/07/2022 7:45pm Berwick Rangers A
Saturday 30/07/2022 3pm Spartans A
Tuesday 02/08/2022 7:45pm Civil Service Strollers H
Friday 05/08/2022 7:45pm East Kilbride H
Saturday 13/08/2022 3pm Gretna 2008 A
Sunday 21/08/2022 3pm Heart of Midlothian B A
Saturday 27/08/2022 3pm Dalbeattie Star H
Tuesday 30/08/2022 7:45pm University of Stirling H
Saturday 03/09/2022 3pm Rangers B A
Saturday 24/09/2022 3pm Caledonian Braves H
Saturday 01/10/2022 3pm Gala Fairydean Rovers A
Saturday 08/10/2022 3pm Tranent A
Saturday 29/10/2022 3pm Cumbernauld Colts A
Tuesday 01/11/2022 7:45pm Bo’ness United H
Saturday 05/11/2022 3pm Open Goal Broomhill H
Wednesday 09/11/2022 7:45pm East Stirlingshire A
Saturday 12/11/2022 3pm Edinburgh University A
Saturday 03/12/2022 3pm Edinburgh University H
Tuesday 06/12/2022 7:45pm Berwick Rangers H
Saturday 10/12/2022 3pm Cowdenbeath A
Friday 16/12/2022 7:45pm Tranent H
Monday 26/12/2022 3pm Dalbeattie Star A
Saturday 31/12/2022 3pm Rangers B H
Tuesday 03/01/2023 7:45pm Civil Service Strollers A
Saturday 07/01/2023 3pm Open Goal Broomhill A
Saturday 14/01/2023 3pm Gala Fairydean Rovers A
Saturday 28/01/2023 3pm East Kilbride A
Wednesday 08/02/2023 7:45pm University of Stirling A
Saturday 11/02/2023 3pm Bo’ness United A
Saturday 18/02/2023 3pm Gretna 2008 H
Friday 24/02/2023 7:45pm Heart of Midlothian B H
Saturday 11/03/2023 3pm Cumbernauld Colts H
Friday 17/03/2023 7:45pm Spartans H
Saturday 08/04/2023 3pm Caledonian Braves A
Saturday 15/04/2023 3pm East Stirlingshire

 

Why were we almost kicked out of the LL?

 

It had to be voted on again as it was a 1 year deal before, then hearts wanted in on it and that wasn't popular with other clubs so caused some friction, Celtic and Huns both wanted hearts too

 

Thanks, interesting. Needs to be permanent for the good of all I'd have thought.

 

Pumped 6-1 off East Kilbride

 

Celtic need to sign the best young players in Scotland to play for that B team with the expectations of going on to play for the first team. They have that unique pressure. Need encouragement and proper coaching.

I wonder if they've changed the tactics and are trying Ange Ball for the first time and it's gone * up. The club will be on the case after this result to improve.

 

Where did we actually finish in the league last year btw? Just realised we all agree levels * and we need to develop guys at a higher level, but I don’t think we won the * thing so we might be talking *

 

3rd. Way behind Bonnyrigg and behind Rangers B on GD

 

Sign Bonnyrigg this year, cheeky dicks.

Being 3rd and treating that level as below us after is something we’ve no earned to do then, if we scooshed it, aye fair, at 3rd place we can’t claim that level us below our youth players.

Some teams in it, aye that’s fair, we skelped one 10-0 or something Moffat smashing 5 in. But that’s not every week clearly.

 

I think if we played the more experienced "B" team they would've pushed bonnyrigg but most weeks there were new blood put in 16,17 year old which is great experience for them all about the development for me winning the league comes second

 

Think that’s exactly what we need to use it for, young talent 16/17 to get used to playing men, then at 17/18/19/20 they can be out on loan in other leagues developing playing professional football. Come back to us 20/21 with 100/150 odd games under the belt. That’s the ideal for me.

 

The talent drain continues then?