Youth/Development Team Thread

Youths play again this afternoon against Inverness, will be interesting to see if any young players are left out with an eye to them being possibly involved in the squad for the first team game versus Stranraer.

 

Aidan Nesbitt strike against Helsinki named as one of the top 10 goals of the UEFA Youth League so far

http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/video/videoid=2322882.html?autoplay=true

 

Was a classy goal as well

 

Team for today's game against Caley

Hazard; Wardrop, Kelleher, McCart, Blackett; McManus, Thomson; Hendry, Donnelly, Nesbitt; Miller

subs: McCabe, McIlduff, Hill, Higgins, Murray, Archibald

 

doubt nesbitt will get his chance on sunday.

 

good team today hopefully another win


I'm having to go out in 10 minutes so I can't post any updates.

 

1-0 Celtic after just 6 minutes, Regan Hendry with the goal set up by Sam Wardrop

 

2-0 McCart

 

3-0 Luke Donnelly with the goal from a cross by Blackett, McCart then almost immediately makes it 4 as he hits the post.

 

Was never on the cards.

 

Once again I question the point in playing Tyler Blackett in a development game.

 

Celtic have made all changes and the likes of Nesbitt, Kelleher and Donnelly are all playing 90 minutes so would be a surprise if they are even amongst the subs on Sunday, only player possibly involved could be Joe Thomson who was replaced very early in the second half

 

4-0 Calvin Miller

 

The only thing I would say about him playing is that the youths have 4 games in 10 or 11 days as they try to catch up on fixtures so that may be a reason to play him so you can rotate some of the younger players through those matches.

 

That was a cracking strike from the wee man.

 

FT 4-0

 

Thanks for the updates, Priest.

 

What a peach! He's a cracking player.

 

What a goal, love the fact he kisses the badge as well.

More excited about seeing him in the first team than anyone we bring in. Hope to * we can get another 1 or 2 Teirneys in the first team of the next couple of years.

 

match report from today's game

CELTIC maintained their unbeaten run in the SPFL Development League with a commanding 4-0 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Cappielow today (Friday).
Tommy McIntyre’s side had gone top of the table following the 4-1 win over Hamilton Accies earlier this week and stretched their lead over the Lanarkshire side to six points following their defeat of the Highland Jags.
Goals from Regan Hendry, Jamie McCart and Luke Donnelly gave the Celts a dominant hold of the game in the first-half before Calvin Miller’s fine finish late on in the second-half capped off a one-sided game for the Bhoys.
A total of six changes were made for the game following the win over Hamilton, as Logan Bailly, Eoghan O’Connell, Aidan McIlduff, Mark Hill, Scott Allan and Gary Mackay-Steven dropped out, to be replaced by Conor Hazard, Fiacre Kelleher, McCart, Conor McManus, Hendry and Miller.
The Bhoys started the match with an excellent tempo and took the lead early on through Hendry, who controlled well in the box after gathering Sam Wardrop’s accurate cut-back and slammed a left-footed shot into the net past the helpless Cammy McKay in the Inverness goal.
Wardrop’s runs down the right flank continued to threaten the Caley backline and he created a string of chances before the Hoops doubled their lead.
Goalscorer Hendry had already caused consternation in the Caley box from the many corners the Bhoys won, and it was another excellent delivery from him that saw Jamie McCart make it 2-0 after he finished with power as the Highlanders failed to clear their lines.
Tommy McIntyre’s side then made it 3-0 with a brilliant sweeping move that started with a fine interception from Tyler Blackett. The defender stopped a long ball in midfield to send Aidan Nesbitt free and the attacker played a clever ball to the byline for Blackett to cross.
His cross was met first-time by Luke Donnelly who stroked home beyond McKay to give Celtic the commanding lead they deserved at half-time.
The Hoops maintained their control of the match as the second-half got underway with Theo Archibald replacing Hendry after the midfielder took a knock before the interval. Mark Hill also replaced Joe Thomson in midfield early in the second-half.
Fiacre Kelleher’s towering header from Archibald’s corner brought Celtic’s first chance of the second period after the hour mark but McKay saved well on his line.
There was no relief for the beleaguered Caley defence, however, as the Hoops went close through Donnelly and Miller before forcing a succession of corners as they pinned the visitors back in their own box.
The Highlanders defended in numbers but they were caught cold when Aidan Nesbitt’s deflected through ball was controlled by Calvin Miller, allowing the striker to use his pace to sprint away from his marker before calmly slotting the ball between McKay’s legs at the near post to cap off a fine afternoon and excellent victory for the Celts.
The win preserved the Hoops outstanding run of home wins this season and put them six points clear of Hamilton before they take on Dundee on Monday, January 11.



post match interview with Tommy McIntyre
CELTIC’S Development Squad might be racking up the points in the league, but coach Tommy McIntyre says he’s been more impressed with his team’s performances than their points tally.
The Bhoys have ascended to the top of the SPFL Development League this week and opened up a six-point gap over second-placed Hamilton with two games in hand following a 4-1 win over the Lanarkshire side on Monday and a 4-0 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Cappielow today (Friday).
Both matches have seen the Celts dominate their opponents with some fantastic play and well-crafted goals, and McIntyre has been delighted with his side’s application.
“It's not the be-all and end-all,” he said, on his side’s breathing space at the top of the league. “It's nice to win the game but the whole thing is about individual development. If we get that development and get players pushing for the first-team, then that means the performances are there.
“The most important thing is if they're taking things from the training ground into the game and they are improving.”
Friday’s win over Caley Thistle was Celtic’s eighth at home this season, maintaining their winning run at Cappielow and their undefeated run in the league this season.
An early strike from Regan Hendry set the Celts on their way before Jamie McCart and Luke Donnelly added to the advantage before half-time. Calvin Miller’s cool finish in the second-half capped off a dominant display.
“Some of the play today, particularly in the first-half, was pleasing with the way we moved the ball about,” the Development Squad coach added. “We cut them open down the sides and I thought the two full-backs and wide players did well. They were good goals and they came at a good time.
“Sam Wardrop did well against Hamilton and we asked for the same against Inverness but also to get into the final third a bit more. Sam has good energy levels and good recovery too so he did well and he had some good combinations with Regan Hendry and Luke Donnelly.
“The most pleasing thing was the manner in which we tried to build the play. We started at the back and got it in the middle of the park. We had Joe Thomson and Conor McManus who linked the play well, and then Mark Hill did the same in the second-half. They looked as if they enjoyed it.
“We tried to freshen things up and bring one or two in and it's good that we can do that. We're not able to do that all the time but there's a really heavy programme lined up for them and it is just about how we manage them individually.
“For us it's about the performance and I think we had some nice passages of play.
“I've got to hand it to medical and sports science as well. They are making sure the boys recover properly and the players are looking after one another. The more we can keep fit the better for us.”