Youth/Development Team Thread

Sounds fantastic! Doubt I'll make it but would love to, could be a decent atmosphere if a few charge along.

 

First half they were the better side, but we could have scored 3 or 4 in the second half.

 

Yeah the admitted in the pre game interview they were poor over there, pitch was hard to play on and Puskas liked meaty challenges. On a good pitch with a better front 3 performance they felt confidence and wow they certainly did :icon_mrgreen:

 

Match Report from tonight's game

CELTIC’S under-19s progressed to the knock-out stages of the UEFA Youth League after thrashing Puskas Akademia 3-0 at the Tony Macaroni Stadium in Livingston.
Tommy McIntyre’s side went into the game trailing 1-0 from the first-leg in Hungary but two first-half goals from Theo Archibald and Calvin Miller gave them the advantage in the tie before Miller grabbed his second late on to put the result out of sight.
The Hoops now go into the last 32 of the competition and will discover their opponents following the draw on December 14.
Celtic made three changes for the match with Conor Hazard replacing Colin McCabe in goals and Dan Higgins brought into defence in place of Mark Hill. Jack Aitchison also replaced the suspended Joe Thomson as Tommy McIntyre reshuffled his side into a 4-1-4-1 formation.
The Bhoys opened the match brightly and signalled their intent early when Miller flashed a shot across goal from the left of the box in a sweeping move straight from kick-off.
Akademia soon settled and looked comfortable in possession but it was the Celts who were forcing themselves on proceedings and they went close to drawing level in the tie after 10 minutes when Aidan Nesbitt slipped in Jack Aitchison in the box but the striker shot wide after rounding Balazs Toth in the Puskas goal.
The Hoops were dominating possession with Archibald’s probing runs down the right providing a good deal of creativity but Puskas’ defence kept the Bhoys at bay, forcing them into long range efforts.
The Celts persevered, however, and it was through Archibald that they drew level in the first-half.
A surging run from Aidan McIlduff down the left created space for the full-back to cross and the ball made its way to the feet of Archibald just inside the box. The winger took a touch to steady himself and stepped onto his left before curling a shot past Toth at the near post to put the Hoops in front on the night and level on aggregate.
The Hungarian side sought an instant reply and pushed forward from the restart but the Bhoys remained composed and soon took advantage in the tie through a piece of determined play from Miller.
The winger chased down a through ball on the left wing but Toth came out to clear the danger. Miller refused to back out of the challenge and managed to squeeze in a shot which took a deflection off the Puskas keeper and curled into the net from the corner of the box to put Celtic 2-0 up on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.
Again Puskas came forward after conceding and passed their way through the Celtic backline allowing Alex Damasdi to shoot from 12 yards but Fiacre Kelleher was in a good spot to block the shot.
The Bhoys remained on the front foot at the start of the second-half and went close to adding further to their lead when Archibald shimmied past his marker 20 yards out and shot at goal but his curling effort was saved by Toth.
Akademia stood strong in the wave of Celtic attacks and after having so little of the ball in the first-half began to assert themselves around the hour mark. A miss-hit clearance from Dan Higgins gave them a great chance to get back into the game but Damasdi blazed his shot over the bar after gathering in space 18 yards out.
Breslin’s foul on Bence Peter 20 yards out set up another chance for the visitors from a free-kick 20 yards out but Noel Laszlo’s effort went well over. McIntyre’s side were being pushed further back but the Bhoys stayed compact and defended in numbers while hitting the visitors decisively on the break.

The momentum had shifted in favour of the Hungarian outfit and it took a great sliding tackle from Kelleher inside his own box to stop Bence Szabo from getting a free shot at goal.


Celtic replaced Nesbitt with Innes Murray with 10 minutes left as they sought to see the game out but the result was finally put out of sight shortly after when Miller scored his second of the night.

The playmaker showed good composure to dummy his marker on the edge of the area before curling a precise left-footed shot past the keeper to make it 3-0, sending the Bhoys safely through to the last 32 of the competition.

 

Should just start buying a quality core of players & have the young guys in reserve. Too much SPfL standard dross in our squad taking up wages.

 

They like to curl the ball I see...

 

Encouraging to hear how the development sides have been getting on last few years. Always seem to compete with any side they come up against be it English sides or in the European stage. And also impressed when given a run in some friendly games for the first side. Galatasary and Wembley cup springs to mind.
These euro comps are excellent for us too. Gives them a real feel of playing against traditionally more technical nationssomething we have never had the luxury of through the years.
Can see a much bigger emphasis of these boys stepping up into the top team in coming years. Hope it's transpires. The experience in playing against good set ups from down south and more so from Europe will be envaluable if and when they get promoted to first team and then go into European competitions.

 

They are being coached now in a way that once they reach the first team the general play will be very familiar to them. Like to see atleast 2 or 3 every year coming in. Think we will reap the rewards in the coming years sticking with this. This is deila plan so a bit of patient with the man might well see things being a lot rosier in the way the club develops

 

I think that is similar to the way Barca set up their youth systems. Everyone from u10s up play the same formation and way the first team play. In all honesty is common sense but you'd be surprised on how many youth systems are focused on results instead of development.

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Blackett, Ciftci and Boerrigter all playing for the development squad tonight

Fasan; Breslin, Kelleher, McCart, Blackett; McManus, Thomson; Murray, Hendry, Boerrigter; Ciftci

Subs: McCabe, Higgins, Miller, Payne, McIlduff, Archibald, Lafferty

 

No Nesbitt?

 

No Nesbitt. Great stuff if he's not injured. I want him starting this weekend.

 

Think he's being rested - took a few hard tackles last game.

 

Hope he's in the team for Hamilton then
Doubt it though after a weeks rest for the 1st team.

 

Hope hes not injured.

The amount of players that have missed their chance due to poorly timed injuries is heart breaking.

Hopefully see him on the bench or hes being rested.

 

We are playing Chelsea in the Premier League International Cup on Friday so we may just be holding Nesbitt back for that.

 

1-0 Celtic, Ciftci with the goal

 

Excellent stuff, come on Celtic!!!!!!! Good to hear Ciftci scored.

 

big dirk subbed aff.

 

Final score 1-0 Celtic, think that is them now in second place behind Hamilton, 6 points off top but with 5 games in hand.