Youth/Development Team Thread

Good stuff. Thanks for putting a smile on my face young yins!!

 

Cheers Crow and thanks a lot for the updates

Well done the Hoops!!

 

no problem

 

Nesbitt being linked with a possible loan to Partick Thistle

 

Up the wee Hoops!

 

today's match report

THREE goals, three points and a clean sheet against Rangers at Lennoxtown today (Monday) saw Celtic move to the top of the SPFL Development League.
Tommy McIntyre’s side were in dominant form straight from kick-off and took the lead over their Glasgow rivals just before half-time when Aidan Nesbitt stabbed home a finish from close-range after good work from Calvin Miller down the left wing.
The Celts doubled their lead early in the second-half through Ryan Christie, who did well to get on the end of a spill from Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie before Nesbitt netted his second of the day with a fine finish from the right-hand side of the box.
It was a comprehensive victory for McIntyre’s side, who controlled the game from start to finish in difficult conditions, and now climb to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Hamilton, who are scheduled to play next Tuesday.
The match, which kicked off with strong winds and heavy rain battering the pitch, saw a return to action for Hoops midfielder Charlie Mulgrew, who anchored the centre of the park alongside Joe Thomson as he continues his return to full fitness following an injury suffered in the 2-1 defeat to Ajax in the UEFA Europa League in November 2015.
The 29-year-old played the first-half prior to being withdrawn at the break for Mark Hill, as Tommy McIntyre made six changes in total from the team that went down to St Johnstone in the Youth Cup last month – their first domestic defeat of the campaign.
Recent recruit, Ryan Christie, who made his senior debut for the club late in the 3-1 league victory over St Johnstone also featured from the start in an attacking role, supporting Paul McMullan, who has returned to the club following the end of his loan spell at St Mirren.
Leo Fasan, Eoghan O’Connell and Calum Waters also came back into the team. Conor Hazard, Jamie McCart, Aidan McIlduff, Mark Hill, Regan Hendry and Luke Donnelly were the players to drop out.
Despite the blustery conditions at Lennoxtown, the young Hoops started with gusto and they soon established control of the contest with their fluent, passing style.
In the 14th minute, Christie saw a penalty appeal waved aside after the former Inverness Caley Thistle forward was barged off the ball in the box by a Rangers defender.
As Tommy McIntyre’s side remained in the ascendency, O’Connell came close to the opener when he headed Mulgrew’s inviting free-kick inches wide of the post.
There was no let-up from the hosts as half-time approached as Fiacre Kelleher and Paul McMullan both threatened to find the net, but the breakthrough that the Bhoys thoroughly merited finally arrived three minutes before the interval when Nesbitt converted from Miller’s cross.
And only a clearance off the line prevented Anthony Ralston’s cross, intended for Christie, finding the net on the stroke of half-time.
For all their dominance, the youths only had a slender advantage at the interval but they set about swiftly ending Rangers’ resistance after the restart.
It only took five more minutes for them to double their tally as McMullan’s delivery wasn’t dealt with by the Ibrox side’s goalkeeper, allowing Christie to apply the finish from close-range.
And just a few minutes later, Celtic effectively sealed the points thanks to a rasping, angled effort from Nesbitt after some sublime skill from the lively McMullan.
The Celts finally had the breathing space their dominance of possession deserved and they continued to pull the Ibrox side across the pitch, with McMullan keen to exploit any gap he could in the Rangers backline.
Anthony Ralston and Calum Waters continued to apply pressure down the flanks while Kelleher and O’Connell remained composed to deal with any hint of a threat from the visitors.
As the match approached its conclusion the frustrations of the Ibrox side began to boil over, with Jordan Thompson, Jamie Brandon and Dylan Dykes all booked in the final 20 minutes for a string of late challenges.
Celtic remained disciplined, however, and were unlucky not to add to their lead before full-time when Christie was denied by McCrorie’s fine stop, and the match finished 3-0 to the Celts.

 

Thanks for the match report Crow

Sounds like we did well in quite bad weather.

McMullan sounds like he had a great game. It said he showed a sublime bit of skill to set up Aidan's 2nd. This is why these games should be broadcast, we want to see these moments.

Aidan another brilliant game. Think I just seen a post saying he's off to Partick Thistle. It's a bit disappointing as we won't see him in the senior team soon. But I'm glad for him. We've got so many midfielders it wasn't looking good for him. Then when we signed Roberts it just seems like a few first team might not be getting a game for a while never mind our youth. Aidan could be brilliant for Partick Thistle. And we should get to see him when they have games televised.

Whole team played well today by the sounds of it. Well done the Hoops.

Sounds like a good one today.

 

no problem aye the team played well today

 

CELTIC Youth Academy graduates Aidan Nesbitt and Jack Breslin have both gone out on loan until the end of this season. Nesbitt has joined Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle while Breslin moves to League Two side, Annan Athletic.
And both players moved on transfer deadline day, having helped Celtic’s Development Squad to a 3-0 league victory over Rangers at Lennoxtown earlier in the day, with Nesbitt netting two of the goals.
Nesbitt has already made his top-team bow as a substitute against Raith Rovers in a League Cup tie back in September and the 18-year-old will be aiming to garner further valuable first-team experience at Firhill over the coming months.
Everyone at Celtic wishes Aidan and Jack all the best for their temporary loan spells this season.

 

Says a lot when your first loan is to an SPL side.

 

That's good news for Jack Breslin too. Not as glamorous but it's a start. All the best ack

 

Jack should do well out on loan same with Aidan.

 

It's fantastic.

He can't play against us though right?

 

Brilliant that Nesbitt is headed to a decent PL side. He should hopefully get plenty games. Don't know much about the other lad but good luck to them both! I hope Nesbitt does really well for thistle and forces his way into Ronnies plans for next season. He is deffo our best young player, imo.

I'd like to see Miller go out on loan to a PL side soon too. We should send our most promising youngsters to the highest level teams possible.

 

Highlights from yesterday's game, unfortunately its HunsTV

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

 

Pitch at Lennoxtown looks better than Hampden

 

TOMMY McIntyre heaped praise on Celtic’s Development Squad after they turned on the style to sweep aside Rangers at Lennoxtown despite adverse weather conditions.
A brace from Aidan Nesbitt and a goal from Ryan Christie saw the young Hoops run out 3-0 winners and claim the derby honours on Monday afternoon.
Nesbitt bagged his first late in the first-half after good supply work from Calvin Miller, before Christie doubled the lead five minutes into the second period.
And another fine finish from Nesbitt a few minutes later, following some sublime skill from Paul McMullan, sealed a dominant victory
Speaking after the game, the Professional Academy Manager told the official Celtic website: “More importantly it was about the performance. In very difficult conditions for both teams, we managed to handle it better and played the better football. The goals came at good times for us but they were fully deserved.
“While we respected the conditions, we still wanted to play on the ground. It’s important we did that. We have a certain philosophy and way we want to play and that will never change, regardless of the conditions. The players stuck to the game-plan even though it was difficult at times but some of our passages of play and the chances we created were excellent.
“Probably the most pleasing aspect was the way we pressed and the way we won the ball back,” continued the coach. “We got a couple of goals from pressing high up the park and the players showed great energy levels and a willingness to do it.
“I felt they made it easy for the back four by winning it further up the field. Not only that, but then we went and broke and we have that willingness and do that whether it was full-backs or midfielders running in behind. The whole work ethic with the team was excellent.”
Paul McMullan impressed on his return to Bhoys after his loan spell with St Mirren ended, while Charlie Mulgrew made his return from injury, having spent over two months on the sidelines.
“Paul came back in and led the line but one or two others came in including Charlie Mulgrew, who was a great example to the young players and he got 45 minutes,” said McIntyre. “It was great for the young players to play around him Ryan Christie got a game under his belt as well, but I couldn’t single anyone out. To a man, everyone did really well.
“We enjoy playing Rangers,” he added. “It was a good game for us to take and one we were looking forward to. It was a good test and we came through it really well.”

 

3 seconds long then...............

 

That was an absolute roasting. Considering it was rangers TV showing those highlights it could've probably been about 7