What have we learned from the Antalya Cup?

Having seen our fringe players and youth players perform very well against good opposition in the Antalya Cup, who do you think is good enough to make the step up to the first team squad or starting XI?

I'm actually surprised by our strength in depth. Our squad is being criminally underused.

Fisher, Henderson, Biton, Pukki & Baldé all look to be good enough for Celtic. I'd include Atajić in that although he didn't feature much in Turkey. The other lads maybe have a little further to go before they're challenging for starting spots.

I've been particularly impressed by Fisher & Henderson this season. Fisher, in particular, plays with a maturity beyond his years.

Załuska showed he's a great back-up 'keeper & Forrest seems to have really come onto a game, despite that * penalty miss. :icon_mrgreen:

Boerrigter really didn't impress me. If Samaras goes, I really wouldn't be comfortable with Derk as the only left-winger at the club. He looked so promising on his debut but I haven't seen much from him since.

 

I've learned that Pukki will be a star playing alongside a focal point striker, Balde is improving all the time, Biton is going to be a mainstay in our midfield before much longer and that some of our academy lads must be given some game time between now and the end of the season.

All in all I think it was a worthwhile exercise.

 

I've learned that the NextGen games have not been in vain, and there is more than a glimmer of hope that the next crop of youngsters coming through the ranks at Celtic may give us more than one or two future first team players.

Delighted.

 

Think we learned what we all knew 18 months ago that we should be bringing through the better youngsters in the squad and giving them more of a chance. Think Pukki and Balde should be given an extended run in the team.

 

Think it shaping up well with what we've got already and we will add more firepower aswell..

Henderson majorly impressed me today and a few times I've seen him,same as fisher..
Not see enough of miller in a celtic shirt as he didn't even touch the ball but at 15/16 to get your first appearance,future is bright and I hope he gets abit of game time domestically this season..
Fraser coming back and hopefully being the same player,touch rusty today but good to see him back and he did well..

Future is bright..

Right now Henderson and fisher are more than ready..

 

Balde deserves a run in the league, more than anything else.

 

Nothing that we didnt already know. Balde deserves to start some games, Pukki is not an out and out striker but a good second striker playing alongside a big man and we should be bleeding in more youngsters

 

I'll reserve judgement on Biton, despite the fact he's faired quite well when been called upon (except Ajax at home). Like to see him impose himself more on games and even be a bit more vocal. Could learn a lot from playing alongside Brown and listening to Lennon.

Also think with guys like Henderson and likes of Irvine and McGregor returning from their loans for next season and pushing for places in the team (that's my hope anyway) it's time to let go of Kayal. Don't see what he adds to the team anymore despite one good performance against Ajax.

 

I forgot about Irvine and McGregor. Watt as well. Squad's shaping up very nicely.

 

That we have a great crop of youngsters and that Amido Balde has got genuine potential. His goal and penalty were both top class. Even the keeper was applauding.

I think Irvine and Mcgregor could break into the side next season after their loan spells. Two players who we had to let out on loan. They are far too good to be sitting on the bench and Lenny knew that.

 

I was just reading a Henderson interview on the official site and he was remarking on how Biton was talking to him throughout the whole game and giving him pointers and stuff.

 

Good to hear. Will hold my hands up on that one . Hopefully will become a regular occurrence. He has all the physical attributes to be a top class CM I think

 

You see why this tournament was worthwhile now..

We are all on a positive spin and encouraged by what we have and what we've seen..

Not all good but lots to be happy about..

Imagined we'd just played killie,we'd of had endless threads of doom and gloom and slating's all over the shop..

Thing is we didn't even win and there's been no negativity,tc first..

 

That we're coming together as a good, solid young club with a tremendous amount of upside.

 

Was a bit sceptical about this tournament but it's been a very worthwhile exercise. The confidence Balde, Pukki and Biton will have gained from this should put them on the right track for the rest of the season. The youngsters that came in played without fear and bodes well for the future. Think we've learned we don't have to stick with the same old faces and that a couple of these boys should be in and out the side until the end of the season. Rather we brought our own youngsters into the side than buy Dundee Utd's

 

I agree with the above comments. I just really REALLY hope that giving these young players a chance was a sign that Lennon plans to give them more playing time and not just a stunt to silence those fans who feel that we should give more opportunity to the youngsters. They really deserve to prove their worth and they will sure as * leave more sweat and blood on the field than some of the players we had to watch play regularly in these past months and who seemingly have a cemented first team spot no matter how * they play.

 

Hopefully it will have taught supporters to stop moaning and complaining about us taking part in this type of tournament. We have also pocketed some money from this along with the other benefits.

 

Think it was more of a learning experience for Lennon.

Hopefully he has now caught up with the rest of us.

 

I thought John herron had a good game as well. Was getting stuck in and passing the ball well

 

Herron wasn't very good at all. He didn't even get near Amrabat.