Celtic Thread - 2023/24

[Magicpole]

Re. Your comments on me judging Rangers signings on YouTube clips. I actually don’t watch YouTube clips and only watched the Odin ones as you were raving about him. I watched it and the games were played on public parks and nothing spectacular

As far as it goes regarding Rangers new signings. I haven’t been raving about any of them. I’ve been overly critical if anything

For the avoidance of doubt I have no idea how good , bad or indifferent Celtics new signings will be.

Maybe I’ll get an answer if I ask just one more time. Who’s place will the new signings take in the Celtic starting XI

I think initially Yang will as will Rocky. Odin will be part of the team and come on in the 60th minute, as will Tilio. Right now we have Hatate O’Reilly and McGreggor, so it won’t he easy to break that up. Hatate will be off either this window or the next, so it’s vital we blood these young guys. Odin looks excellent though, he has a real chance but it’s up to him to make it happen. Your signings will feature more because you don’t have anything better. If you had Hatate Orielly and mcGreggor, none of yours would start either in the middle. What you need is the ability to change it on 60 and bring on subs that allows you to maintain the quality of play. These signings allow us to continue with that. Our bench last year was better than the oppositions first team picks. We still need a LB and goalie though.

 

[Magicpole]

I am always lamenting the utter failure of our Academy. Yesterday our under 21 B team played East Kilbride, a good wee local team and club. We lost 3.1 and well done to EK, but by fuck, if that doesn’t sum up and confirm all I have been saying then I don’t know what will.

Every time I read one of our mob lament we don’t give the young players a chance, I wade in with the truth. They are fucking shite. Yesterday shows what I am talking about. If I took over Celtic I would sit everyone involved in our Academy and ask, what the fuck do you do around here? It’s certainly not produce players for us. I would then spend a week watching the players, before signing the release of probably 95% of them, with an option to do the same to the rest after a month. 14 years, 3 players. Easiest job in football.

It’s a total waste of time and money.

 

[GunnerGer]

I am always lamenting the utter failure of our Academy. Yesterday our under 21 B team played East Kilbride, a good wee local team and club. We lost 3.1 and well done to EK, but by fuck, if that doesn’t sum up and confirm all I have been saying then I don’t know what will.

Every time I read one of our mob lament we don’t give the young players a chance, I wade in with the truth. They are fucking shite. Yesterday shows what I am talking about. If I took over Celtic I would sit everyone involved in our Academy and ask, what the fuck do you do around here? It’s certainly not produce players for us. I would then spend a week watching the players, before signing the release of probably 95% of them, with an option to do the same to the rest after a month. 14 years, 3 players. Easiest job in football.

It’s a total waste of time and money.

It also doesn't help that as soon as you produce what could be a genuine star, some big club down south comes and take them away, like with Ben Doak or Billy Gilmour or Rory Wilson

 

[Magicpole]

It also doesn't help that as soon as you produce what could be a genuine star, some big club down south comes and take them away, like with Ben Doak or Billy Gilmour or Rory Wilson

That’s true, but apart from those lads Gunner, Doaks for us, no other one since Tierney.

I do think we need to look at how we can at least get more money, possibly by giving those that look good enough a longer contract. Let’s face it, we probably have none in that bracket but if we had, we need to protect our interests.

We have bought four young guys who are all about 22. Mickey Johnstone is 23. We buy these lads for the simple reason we have nothing in n their class. Not a single player.

We watched our young guys in that final. Entertaining, but by fuck was that a reality check? Not a player on that pitch looked good enough. You have just bought, what is it, 9 players, for the same reason.

We have the biggest two academies, but between us, we have possibly two players who to me have a chance. And that’s me being kind.

 

[No.8]

It’s difficult for young lads nowadays. The money at teams outwith the top 6 or 7 clubs just isn’t there.

An example. My nephew was with Morton and they had a very decent team. I watched them hammer a very decent St Mirren at Ralston training ground. When he got to 18 four of them were offered contracts. £125 a week!! He was earning nearly three times that working with a friend who owns a landscaping firm. He decided to leave and two of them signed for Largs Thistle and for not much less but he can keep his job. He’s just signed a new contract for almost as much as Morton were offering. The only one who signed the Morton contract sat on the bench all season as dougie Imrie didn’t want to play yourhs

My neighbours son is Aaron Lyall who is a regular in Rangers B team. I’d love the lad to make it as I watched how hard he trained during lockdown but unfortunately he’s just not going to make it at Ibrox. Heartbreaking to see how much effort these lads put it to fall just short.

On the other side of the coin are players like Alex Lowry. He has everything and he could go on and be a star for club and country. He’s a fantastic player who has always been the best at his age level. Unfortunately Lowry knows how good he is and is not shy in letting everyone know it. Knowing the way he is I wasn’t surprised he suffered that horrific tackle last season. If you keep taunting opposition players don’t be surprised when one lashes out. Maybe , just maybe, he will learn from that and maybe wind it in a little. A loan deal at a St Mirren , Killie, Motherwell would do him the World of good.

We have Devine , King, Lowry, Rice, Lovelace and possibly Lyall in or around the first team squad. If two of them make it then it would be fantastic

What happened to the young Celtic player that made us debut at 16? Dembelle?

 

[Magicpole]

It’s difficult for young lads nowadays. The money at teams outwith the top 6 or 7 clubs just isn’t there.

An example. My nephew was with Morton and they had a very decent team. I watched them hammer a very decent St Mirren at Ralston training ground. When he got to 18 four of them were offered contracts. £125 a week!! He was earning nearly three times that working with a friend who owns a landscaping firm. He decided to leave and two of them signed for Largs Thistle and for not much less but he can keep his job. He’s just signed a new contract for almost as much as Morton were offering. The only one who signed the Morton contract sat on the bench all season as dougie Imrie didn’t want to play yourhs

My neighbours son is Aaron Lyall who is a regular in Rangers B team. I’d love the lad to make it as I watched how hard he trained during lockdown but unfortunately he’s just not going to make it at Ibrox. Heartbreaking to see how much effort these lads put it to fall just short.

On the other side of the coin are players like Alex Lowry. He has everything and he could go on and be a star for club and country. He’s a fantastic player who has always been the best at his age level. Unfortunately Lowry knows how good he is and is not shy in letting everyone know it. Knowing the way he is I wasn’t surprised he suffered that horrific tackle last season. If you keep taunting opposition players don’t be surprised when one lashes out. Maybe , just maybe, he will learn from that and maybe wind it in a little. A loan deal at a St Mirren , Killie, Motherwell would do him the World of good.

We have Devine , King, Lowry, Rice, Lovelace and possibly Lyall in or around the first team squad. If two of them make it then it would be fantastic

What happened to the young Celtic player that made us debut at 16? Dembelle?

He’s away. Never happened for him. A shame, but that’s life. It is grim trying to make it. Some who do, you are left scratching your head. Of your young players, I would say Rice has the best chance with the rest moving on to the Falkirks of this world. Like ours.

 

[No.8]

He’s away. Never happened for him. A shame, but that’s life. It is grim trying to make it. Some who do, you are left scratching your head. Of your young players, I would say Rice has the best chance with the rest moving on to the Falkirks of this world. Like ours.

I used to work with a lad that starred in the Scotland Under 16 FIFA World Cup Final. In the semi final he was up against Rui Costa or Luis Figo (can’t remember which) and was a standout. His name is Kevin McGoldrick. He was with Morton and after tournament Sheff Wed offered £125,000 for him. A fortune for a Morton player at that time. McGraw knocked back the bid and told McGoldrick he was going nowhere. Then Celtic came in and McGraw again said no. Big Kevin was Celtic daft and that was it. He chucked senior football and refused to play for Morton.

How many from that team made it ? Gary Bollan, Alex Clelland and Brian O Neill are the only three I remember. Think there was possibly a Dundee player as well

The Lowland League is not doing our young players any good. Possibly lend more youngsters to other clubs in the premier / Championship where they get the benefit of playing at a decent level and these teams benefit with players they may not be able to afford. Everyone’s a winner

 

[bennyboy]

I used to work with a lad that starred in the Scotland Under 16 FIFA World Cup Final. In the semi final he was up against Rui Costa or Luis Figo (can’t remember which) and was a standout. His name is Kevin McGoldrick. He was with Morton and after tournament Sheff Wed offered £125,000 for him. A fortune for a Morton player at that time. McGraw knocked back the bid and told McGoldrick he was going nowhere. Then Celtic came in and McGraw again said no. Big Kevin was Celtic daft and that was it. He chucked senior football and refused to play for Morton.

How many from that team made it ? Gary Bollan, Alex Clelland and Brian O Neill are the only three I remember. Think there was possibly a Dundee player as well

The Lowland League is not doing our young players any good. Possibly lend more youngsters to other clubs in the premier / Championship where they get the benefit of playing at a decent level and these teams benefit with players they may not be able to afford. Everyone’s a winner

Paul Dickov as well.
Eventful game.
A bit of the Wembley about it.

 

[No.8]

Paul Dickov as well.
Eventful game.
A bit of the Wembley about it.

I think Kevin Bain had a decent career at Dundee and possibly captained them

It’s just we have such a poor record in players going on from this age to actually making it in the game. This has to be addressed

 

[Magicpole]

One more sleep until battle is joined. Here’s hoping it’s 3 in a row and two in a row. COYBIG