Youth/Development Team Thread

CELTIC’S Development Squad had their first big test of pre-season on Saturday – a match against the Clyde first-team – and they came through it impressively, drawing 2-2 with the League Two side.
Goals from Aidan McIlduff and Innes Murray gave the young Celts a deserved share of the spoils, and coach Tommy McIntyre was delighted with the result and the performance.
“It was a really good test for us,” he told the official Celtic website. “We made a lot of changes, particularly in the second-half, with a lot of the Under-17s from last season coming on. We did well in periods of the game so it was a good game for us.
“We played a lot of good football and that was the most pleasing thing. We kept the ball for long periods of the game and there were a lot of good individual performances as well.
“I thought we deserved the draw. We had one or two good chances in the second-half but we couldn’t put them away, so a draw was a fair result.”
Aidan McIduff scored a stunning first-half goal to draw Celtic level after the home side had taken the lead, and although Clyde restored their lead after the break, Innes Murray’s injury-time goal made the final result 2-2.
“Aidan scored an outstanding goal,” said McIntyre, “a strike from about 25 yards out, but similarly, they scored a great second goal that we couldn’t do anything about.
“Clyde are a really good side, and they’ve got a lot of experienced players. We’re not getting carried away because it is pre-season, but it was a good test and even looking ahead to the Annan Athletic game next month, we can gauge what it’s going to be like. We know it’s going to be very tough.
“But it was good for our young players and also for our more experienced players who were great with the young ones as well.
“It was a good crowd, which was good in terms of the experience for our players in terms of playing in a stadium, in front of a crowd and against a first-team.”
Celtic’s Development Squad now face two more tough pre-season tests, against Dalbeattie Star on Wednesday and then Whitehill Welfare.
“Those games will both be tough, but it’ll be good for us,” said McIntyre. “There is no point taking a game where we might win 7-0. We want games that challenge us.
“It’s all about getting fitness, getting the performances and getting ourselves ready for the start of the season.”

 

CELTIC’S Development Squad continued their pre-season preparations this week with another win, this time over Lowland League side Dalbeattie Star.
A double from Calvin Miller and a strike each from Michael Johnston and Regan Hendry were enough to see off the borders outfit in a 4-0 win, continuing the young Celts' promising start to their summer run of matches, which has so far included victories over Partick Thistle Under-20s and Clyde.
Development Squad manager Tommy McIntyre told the official Celtic website that he was pleased with his side’s performance in their third pre-season game and added that his group of players are continuing to improve.
“First of all it was a good exercise for us,” he said. “We played a young team and it’s all about getting minutes, keeping players fit and giving the players minutes to top up their training so it was a good exercise for that.
“We were well received and they were excellent hosts for us. The SPFL Premiership trophy was also there for the fans down there at the borders so it was good to go there and let the fans see the younger players coming through.
“Our first game was against Partick Thistle then we had Clyde and then Dalbeattie Star. The Clyde game was an excellent one for us because it was against their first-team and they have high hopes for further promotion this year.
“It was a really good test at a big stadium with a crowd behind it as well so it was a good gauge for us going into the Challenge Cup game against Annan. It was tough but we’d rather have that and we were lucky not to pick up any injuries.”
Following last year’s undefeated title success, McIntyre’s squad has been bolstered by the addition of eight new faces from the Celtic U17s set-up, while several players have also returned from loan spells away from the club last season.
The Academy coach added that his team is still gelling together but said the early signs are promising, with a number of his group also sampling first-team training over the summer with Brendan Rodgers’ senior squad.
“There’s still a settling in period because we have young ones coming up and those who came back from loan last season so there’s quite a big group,” he explained.
“They have been excellent in training and they’ve worked hard together. We’ve had a fairly busy period but we’ve had longer than the first-team to prepare so in that respect it has been quite good that we can plan the programme.
“The big thing is to keep everyone fit and make sure they get their pre-season done, and so far so good. There have been one or two, but these things happen and it’s just a case of making sure we’re ready for the first game of the season.
“Ultimately, the most important thing is developing players and pushing them closer to the first-team. The best way to do that is to replicate similar styles.
“The manager is very flexible with his systems of play and that’s good because ultimately you want to develop individuals into players so there has been a great connection.
“The first-team staff have been very helpful, very open with the Development Squad staff and Academy staff, so that in itself is really healthy for the continuous progression of young players and their development.”

 

Good reading. I wonder who the stand outs from the u17 that have come through are. That age group will be be ones that have really benefitted from the st Ninians set up.

 

SATURDAY’S 0-0 draw with Whitehill Welfare was another step on the road to full match sharpness for Tommy McIntyre’s Development Squad, according to the Professional Academy Manager.
The young Hoops were held to a goal-less stalemate with the Midlothian-based club as their preparations for the season ahead continue, but McIntyre said the match was a good exercise for his players in their quest for fitness.
“We experimented and conditions were difficult but at this stage we’re more interested in getting fitness and we managed to get one or two players who needed a little bit of game time,” he told the official Celtic website.
“We’re not too disappointed because there are games coming up and we’ve still got a fair bit of preparation to do but all credit to Whitehill. They were well organised and made it difficult, putting bodies behind the ball as we expected so that’s something we’ve got to get used to and learn to break down.
“We tried a different system, but it’s more about how they play individually, and we learned one or two things about players as well. It’s all about giving them game time but we’ll step up now and start looking at who is going to be in the starting XI come the start of the season.”
The match gave the McIntyre a chance to test out some of the younger players who have joined his squad this year from the Under-17s and also welcome back a few familiar faces like Luke Donnelly, who hadn’t featured since the turn of the year through injury.
New signing PJ Crossan also tasted his first action in green and white and the Development Squad coach said he was pleased with the efforts of the fresh faces who were drafted in.
“We have been lucky in that we managed to chop and change things, bring in some younger players and give them a wee bit of experience so we used that as an exercise,” he said.
“They have been fine and we have a good backline who have served us well over the last couple of years. Young players need to learn the game so it has been good for us to experiment and try one or two young ones.
“They have been excellent in pre-season and their attitude has been first class. Young Mikey Johnston has been doing really well and is making the step up. The other ones have done well in the games but know they’ll need to bide their time and be patient to force their way into the squad.
“We’ve got the balance right but it’s up to them to hit the ground running and so far their attitude has been first class. There are still one or two that might go out on loan but we have to leave spaces for young ones coming through who are doing well so we are getting closer to it.
“We’ve got some tough games coming up with Liverpool there and we’ve got the Super Cup in Northern Ireland this week featuring Real Sociedad, Espanyol and Everton. That’s an Under-21 tournament as well so we will look at that.
“The big thing is to get them ready for the Irn Bru Cup game against Annan, which we’re really looking forward to.”

 

What about loaning the more promising players out to Ronnie at Valerenga? I think that would be perfect for everyone.

 

One name I've not noticed before is Michael Johnstone. He gets a mention for being good too and he scored a goal in the 4 0 game.

That sounds like a good idea, Ronny will know the players so he could let us know which ones would work out best for both of us.

Do yous think it might be time for Calvin Miller to go out on loan? He seems to be progressing all the time and I wonder if a bit of senior football might be good for him right now.

Good to hear Luke Donnelly is back from injury. He sounds like a prospect from what I've read.

What is the difference between the Academy staff and the Development squad staff? Is it basically the Academy staff are for the under 17s and below and the Development staff are for the over 18s?

What's the story with Nesbitt, is he still on loan, back in the Development squad or in the first team squad?

Sounds like we're having a decent pre season. The European games should be interesting and good experience.

Thanks for the match reports Crow

 

Calvin Miller should go out aye. Short term loans though. If they're doing well loan them out to a better team. If they aren't bring them back.

 

Agree with that

 

Celtic youths are playing Real Sociedad in the SuperCupNI(formerly Milk Cup)tonight, its live on Youtube from 7:45

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZBtxlY57ek"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZBtxlY57ek[/ame]

 

Brilliant cross by Miller but a stretching Jack Aitchison spooned the ball over the bar from about 4 yards

 

Calvin Miller puts the ball in the net but its ruled out for a handball

 

Pretty sure that was off his chest and not the hand,should be 1-0 up.

 

Wow, nearly 1000 watching the live stream on youtube

 

Great defending header by Ralston to prevent a chance for Sociedad who then go really close with a shot from the edge of the box.

 

Miller looking really good on the left wing

 

Deflection there

 

* defending 1-0 Sociedad.

 

Sitter missed by Sociedad but they then take the lead with a deflected shot straight afterwards, harsh for Celtic as they have been the better team although there are some sloppy moments in defence.

 

Real almost make it two after a run down the right and cutback

 

HT Celtic 0 Real Sociedad 1