Youth/Development Team Thread

JOSH Kerr’s second-half header saw Celtic’s Development Side defeat Dunfermline 1-0 at East End Park and return to winning ways after Saturday’s Irn Bru Cup loss to Livingston.
After replacing the injured Sam Wardrop, the defender netted from Regan Hendry’s corner in the 64th minute to give the Bhoys the three points in Fife.
Tommy McIntyre made three changes to the team that lost 5-1 to senior opponents Livingston three days earlier.
Theo Archibald, Dan Higgins and Jack Aitchison all came into the team, with Aitchison partnering PJ Crossan up front as the young Hoops reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
Joe Thomson and Aidan Nesbitt, both in the midst of loan spells with Dumbarton and Morton respectively, dropped out the squad, while Aidan McIlduff was named among the substitutes.
Crossan, playing against his former club, almost handed the young Celts a dream start. Inside the opening 20 seconds, he skipped past his marker and drove into the box. The striker attempted to loft the ball over the advancing Cammy Gill but the goalkeeper managed to get a push the shot to safety.
The young Hoops continued to pour forward with pace and purpose and Calvin Miller was next to try his luck, driving wide from the edge of the box after collecting a return pass.
Sam Wardrop was then inches away from finding the net with a header after the home side failed to clear a corner from the left.
It has been an impressive start to the match from McIntyre’s side, who looked eager to atone for their below-par first-half performance at the weekend.
But Dunfermline, who included two former Celtic youngsters in their team in John Herron and Ciaran Lafferty, weathered that early storm and got their first shot on target from full back Conner Duthie, though it was a comfortable save from Ross Doohan.
While the Bhoys were still enjoying most of the ball, they didn’t have the same cutting edge as they did at the start of the contest.
Aside from Aitchison heading over and Anthony Ralston’s cutback causing consternation, Gill was being well protected by his backline.
And as the hosts grew in confidence and the match became scrappier, Doohan had to make two smarts saves from Scott Lochead and Duthie.
It was the Pars who made the more positive start to the second half and Doohan was quickly called into action to thwart former Hibernian frontman Farid El Alagui after he had twisted and turned in the box.
But the visitors began to resume control of proceedings, and Miller had a golden chance to break the deadlock after Aitchison picked him out in the front of goal but a defender got in the way of the winger’s final attempt.
After El Alagui had a penalty appeal waved away for the home side, Miller came close again. Crossan did well down the right and he picked out his team-mate in the middle but this time Gill denied the young Celt with an outstretched leg.
Theo Archibald, operating in an unfamiliar left-back role, saw a free-kick from 20 yards charged down by the wall following a foul on Aitchison as the pressure continued.
Eventually, the pressure paid off. Hendry’s deep corner was met by an unmarked Kerr at the far post and he had the simple task of guiding a header into the net.
McIntyre’s had several chances to add to their tally on the break as Dunfermline committed more men forward and they remained resolute at the back to see the game out and collect a deserved victory in Fife.

 

TOMMY McIntyre praised his players’ character after they bounced back from Saturday’s Irn Bru Cup defeat to Livingston to beat Dunfermline tonight at East End Park.
Defender Josh Kerr scored the only goal of the game, heading home from Regan Hendry’s corner in the second half to secure a deserved three points for the Bhoys against a home side who fielded several senior players.
Speaking to the official website about what pleased him most about the performance, McIntyre said: “Probably the character and the way we changed it. It was good to get the shut-out, not just the goalkeeper and the back-four but the whole team.
“Winning 1-0 is always a good result, especially against a very experienced Dunfermline side. But we will take that every week as the stronger the sides we play, the better it is for the young players, and I felt they stuck to their task and handled the game well. At times, we could have done better but it was a pleasing result.
“We freshened things up, making three changes and we got a good reaction after that disappointing result at the weekend. It’s important we got that opportunity to play in those games as it’s part of their education and the most important thing is they learn, develop and progress.
“The results aren’t that important, it’s more about performance and going into the (Barcelona) game next week, it’s good to get the 1-0 win.”
Celtic made a positive start and could created a number of early scoring opportunities, most notably when PJ Crossan was denied by goalkeeper Cammy Gill inside the opening 30 seconds after a fine solo run.
The young Hoops reasserted their dominance after the interval and Calvin Miller twice came close to finding the net before Kerr converted from Hendry’s pinpoint corner.
“It was an interesting game from our point of view,” said McIntyre. “We had spells in the game where we did really well and in other parts of the game we could have managed it a little better.
“We started the game really well. In the first 15-20 minutes we created one or two chances and then the game kind of drifted a bit.
“In the first 30 minutes of the second half we were excellent and then the last 10 minutes we never really managed the game that well.
“We created a lot of chances and we scored a great goal, something we have worked on in the training ground, so it’s always pleasing when something like that pays off.
“We identified there were opportunities round the back for us but it was a great delivery by Regan and so everyone played their part,” continued the coach. "It’s good having the finer detail but if you don’t deliver then it doesn’t mean anything. But everything worked for us – there was a great delivery, we scored at the back post and I was pleased for Josh.”

 

Celtic Youth train ahead of tomorrow's Uefa Youth Cup against Barca.

 

Does the Uefa Youth league have the same groups as the champions league? So our youth team plays Barca, Man City and Monchengladbach?

 

aye.

 

the game tomorrow is on BT Sport 1 3PM

 

UYL Training
The Bhoys prepare for tomorrow's UYL match in Barcelona.
http://www.celticfc.tv/tv/video/vod/3898

 

IT’S a Celtic-Barcelona double-header today (Tuesday), with Tommy McIntyre’s Under-19 Squad taking on their Barcelona counterparts in the afternoon ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash at night in the Nou Camp when Brendan Rodgers’ side kick off their group-stage campaign.
The young Celts are in UEFA Youth League action at the 15,000-capacity Mini Estadi, situated adjacent to the Nou Camp. And it’s sure to be a tough test for the Hoops, who look set to play in the Catalan heat, with temperatures predicted to his 80-degrees.
For the Celtic coach, however, facing one of Europe’s top youth teams can only help in the development of the Celtic players, whose ultimate target is to reach the first-team.
“We always want to be at the top table and play against the best players in the world, whatever age group that is, whether it be senior or youth level, and there’s nothing better than the Champions League, so it’s a really exciting time for us,” Tommy McIntyre told Celtic TV.
“It’s very warm, which may have a deciding factor in the game and how we play but the facilities are as we’d expect – they’re first-class and we can have no complaints. It’s a great experience and it will be a good education for the players.”
Tommy McIntyre’s side have started the new campaign well, and had a couple of impressive results in the Irn Bru Cup against senior opposition, while they’ve also kicked off the defence of their title.
And the Hoops coach believes that Celtic’s reputation as a club which produces young players through the Academy will mean there is a healthy respect from the opposition in the Mini Estadi this afternoon.
“We are always looking for a test,” he said. “We’ve already had the Challenge Cup this season and the UEFA Youth League is another vehicle for the players’ development and improvement.
“It’s going to be a very tough game but we’d rather take these games and it’s one that we’re all looking forward to.
“Historically, throughout Barcelona, they always have excellent teams and they’ve produced arguably the best team in the world, and it’s the same with their Academy teams, and they do have a fairly extensive pool to pick from, so we’ll treat them with respect.
“At the same time we’re here to play well, and we’ll get good respect for what we’ve produced historically and there’s always a good connection between both clubs, so hopefully it’s a good game.”

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/celticfc/status/775676600855781376/video/1

 

Lee Seung Woo is the player to watch from Barcelona

Juvenil A XI vs Celtic: Josep; Morer, Montes (c), Oriol Rey, Cucu; Monchu, Busquets, Collado; Pérez, Guillemenot, Lee.

 

not bad team that from Barca.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/celticfc/status/775686882520956928/video/1

 

game just about to get underway good test for the Bhoys today.

 

Barca 1 up 2 minutes played.

 

* *. The team constantly concedes early goals.

 

Fucksake just switched this on and we are already 1-0 down

 

Perez with the goal, assisted by LSW