Dylan McGeouch

It's all very well being successful in youth football, which I do watch, but it's pointless if you can't make the step up to first team. We've had literally hundreds of players that this has happened to down the years. McGeouch is a huge talent and I am not writing him off but Tony Watt has taken to first team football far more from what little time they have both had. I don't think there was a huge amount of difference between the pair in youth football and, whilst McGeouch has shown glimpses for the first team, Watt has scored twice and performed very well in every chance he has had. People really jumped on my post there as if I was writing Dylan off which is not the case at all. Just telling it as it is.

 

So far youth football and a great goal against St Mirren is all Dylan has done. He's showed flashes of skill but not produced performances he can at youth football.

 

This is my point. It is no slight on Dylan, though. It takes time to adapt but he will get there as he has the talent. I think Watt looks more physically developed - stronger and taller - than McGeouch and that is an advantage. I rate both their chances of becoming regulars at Celtic in the coming years.

 

Youth football is an irrelevance. It doesnt matter how well or bad you do at that level. You've either got ability or you've not.

Iniesta and Portillo is a good example. Iniesta was always going to be a world class player, he never until he was 23/24 until then he was only very good. Portillo scored a lot of goals at Real Madrid but was an average at best player. Look at them now.

McGeouch will be one of the best players in the SPL soon and be one of Scotlands best players. Watt might not even become a good SPL player.

 

He's only had about 2 games worth of time on the pitch half of which has been him playing on the right of midfield.

I dont know what some people are thinking about some times.

Likewise Watt has had about 1 games worth of time on the pitch but people think he's looked good, he may have but theres a differance from looking good and being good.

 

Your argument confuses me - we all agree that both Watt and McGeouch look good prospects in youth football. I have argued that Watt looks more promising so far on the basis of his first team performances. You're arguing youth football doesn't really matter (the iniesta example) which basically backs up my argument? Right now, I'm saying Watt looks more promising as he has shown more in first team football than McGeouch.

 

No, im saying your either good or your not wherever your playing.

9 times out of 10 when McGeouch stepped on the pitch at all youth levels, Club and International he is the best player playing. Obviously he doesnt always play the best.

Watt might do well enough sometimes but he might not be good enough. McGeouch might not do too well sometimes but he will always be good enough.

 

Tony Watts good though. Dylan is as well.

I just think you're unfairly writing Watt off.

 

I disagree with that. Plenty of players have looked like world beaters at the youth set-up but very few have passed the grade at Celtic. Some have been a bit under the radar and ended up making it for the first team. Talent isn't enough to make the grade unless you're really phenomenal. McGowan was a really good prospect for us, amongst a few others, yet Forrest became the first team regular from that youth set-up. I'm convinced that both will make it though.

 

McGowan and Forrest never played anywhere near each other.

McGowan played in the teams with Conroy, O'Brien, Ferry, Grant, McGlinchey, O'Dea, Cuthbert, Caddis, Sheridan etc

Their problem was that they were all SPL class players but none of them were Celtic Class, so they were a very good team but not very good individuals. Ferry and Grant the two best though were robbed of their chance by long injuries, they may have made it.

Forrest played in the team where the best players were him, Tidser and Towell. All 3 had a chance, Tidser was a bit fat and slow though and you could guess he may have made it or not, he hasnt think he plays in the lower Leagues. Towell could have made it or not, as of yet hes not but hes doing ok in the SPL and will be a good SPL player. Forrest has and he was always the best.

The current "Forrests" are McGeouch, Kidd and George. I will be very suprised if they never made it at Celtic. George's time has been cut though by a bad injury but he could still come back.

 

No one's doubting or writing McGeouch off but? Look back a couple of pages and I completely backed him - he was playing the most experienced full-back in Scottish football, a player who has played against some of the best wingers in the world. All I'm saying is that, thus far, Watt has made the step up to first team football a bit more successfully than McGeouch.

 

He hasn't though. Neither of them have made the step up yet.

I could play for Hearts against Celtic next week and have a really good game, it wouldnt mean I was a good SPL player and they should sign me.

McGeouch will make the step up and I wouldnt have a problem if McGeouch was to start in ANY game for us because I know he will end up one of our best players fairly quickly.

 

I never said either of them had made the step up yet though? I said that Watt has been more successful with the transition from youth to first team.

 

But he's not becase none of them have made the transition. You cant call the odd game a transition.

You can only call a good few games, prefferably start and in a row a transition.

If both McGeouch and Watt were to have started the last 10 games in a row imo people on here would be all over McGeouch as the new messiah and berating Watt as a diddy.

 

But he has been more successful with the transition thus far? Embarrassing the way you're slating one of our youth players tbh.

 

Im not slating him im just saying it as it is.

Watt is a decent young player, he might do well for Celtic but he probably won't just my opinion on him. Imo Keatings is better than him but Keatings was held back and been bypassed now until next season since he was injured 6 months.

McGeouch though is that good that despite being out injured 6 months and having no first team experience he is still getting game time for the first team this season.

Watt is still a raw player, imo in the games he's played he's looked really raw and unready. He runs about like a madman and would burn himself out if he was to start, he also looks really nervy and too eager to impress.

McGeouch on the other hand, looks comfortable when hes on. He looks capable and ready, albeit the one game he started he never got on the ball a lot but there nothing he can do about that now.

 

I just think you're contradiciting yourself here a bit - both have looked good for the youths and you've said it doesn't really matter what happens at the youths. Dylan has only showcased his talent at youth level and you rate him highly as a consequence of those performances yet don't think youths matter? Then Watt has also been very good at u19s and first team yet he won't make it? They both have talent but it is easier to look good in youth football than in first team and so far Watt has looked better for the first team than Dylan.

 

I dont base my opinons on how good they look against whoever they're playing.

I base it on their ability as individuals and how they would fit into our current team.

 

But they are only able to showcase their abilities against the players they are playing. Both have looked good for the youths and both have been good for the first team, Watt slightly better thus far yet you've decided one will make it and the other won't?