Youth/Development Team Thread

Rogic and Armstrong are actually younger than Allan and given they play ahead of him they are probably better players.

 

A dozen or so SPL starts would serve his development better than training with our squad. Can do that pre season. He's about 20-21, not 17.

 

Keep forgetting that actually...

Was a hypothetical exercise anyway, with the feeling regarding the need for CL next year, coupled with the frenzy of the arrival of sevco I can see next year being very conservative unfortunately

 

That bhoy Roberts does look decent the last 2 games, I know it's reserves but still

 

Eoghan O’Connell has joined Cork City on loan until July 1 this year. The Celtic defender hails from Cork and will be aiming to help his hometown club when they kick off their new League of Ireland season next month with a home game against Bohemians.
came through the Youth Academy at Celtic and has made six appearances for the first-team, since making his debut against Ross County in March 2014.
He went out on loan at the start of this season to Oldham Athletic, but that was curtailed through injury and he returned to Celtic in November, having made two appearances for the English League One side.
Everyone at Celtic wishes Eoghan all the best during his time with Cork City.

 

We'll see, mate. But my guess is his "philosophy" of integrating young players has went out the window now with the pressure of the role and we won't see a deviation from core, established players from here on (e.g Armstrong, Johansen). Even less so next season with the zombies coming up.

But look, would absolutely love to be proved wrong.

 

As always, cheers for the updates Crow Roberts sounds like some player, have to get him first team action soon. Him and Allan would make a good partnership.

Thanks for the highlights Jock

Some nice goals.

 

going on the updates Roberts had a cracking game again last night.

 

They haven't been dropped for extended periods though? Other than when Armstong picked up a knock and missed a couple. And part-time EK doesn't count.

Aberdeen and Ross County results have further raised the stakes. Will be Conservative and risk-adverse from here on. He'll be trying to see out the season and the Zombies will be seen as his first domestic challenge next season. He won't be straying from his first picks.

 

I'm sure we'll at least see Roberts come on as a sub much the same way Allan and Christie do now. He sounds like the kind of player who could get us points but you might be right, he might not be risked when the points aren't safe.

Seems ready though. Plus we'll want him to be a part of the CL campaign if we win the league so he should start getting games.

 

Injuries, suspensions? Armstrong missed what 3 games at the start of the year end of last? and didn't feature in Sept. Maybe I'm just not seeing it but given we are in Feb now I'm struggling to find where they have been "dropped for prolonged periods in recent months".

 

Johansen barely started any League games from about August till November, think he was definitely carrying an injury then.

 

Eoghan O'Connell's move to Cork is a good move all round for everyone. He'll get competitive first team football against teams who are Scottish Championship level and some would be lower to possibly mid level SPL in Dundalk, Rovers, Pats and Bohs. Cork qualified for the Europa League qualifiers and outside of Celtic the Irish teams have probably similar results in Europe, may be less then impressive but still a bit of European experience compared to what you'll get in Oldham or most Scottish clubs. Also being back at home could do him the world of good in the way it helped Richie Towell after he came back to Ireland from Celtic.

Hopefully he's in the Cork team for when they travel up to play Limerick tomorrow.

 

They've played consistently and very, very rarely missed a game when fit and despite RD's talk of competition have not been made accountable or lost their place despite barely kicking a ball. I've been unable to find a point where they didnt start 2 games on the bounce when available. That my point, they are first picks to play regardless of being poor and ineffective. And I believe due to some perceived reliability to Ronny they will limit opportunities of potentially better, young players who made need a few games to get going, especially now the heat is really on him.

But I don't think we'll agree here, mate. The truth is somewhere in the middle, let's leave it at that