27 Jul 2014 10:49:25
herron, 20. oconnell, 19, lyndsey 19, twardzik, 21, a back 4 who between them haven't played 10 competitive matches and only a few more first team friendlies and two (full backs) being played out of position . midfield. mgeoch 21, Henderson, 18, biton 22,,,, mgeoch the most experienced of the 3 with a massive 19 first team appearences mostly as sub and out of position,, (played more central yesterday our best player) forwards,, watt, 20 just back from a hamstring injury,, balde, 23, atajic 20, watt most experienced with 25 games . having watched the game the defence rode their luck mostly twardzik and oconnell but they weren't backs to the wall and they did deal comfortably with most attacks st paulis goal was from a mistake/miscontrol from twardzik, the midfield was let down by biton not imposing himself enough and young Henderson slightly off his game but they competed well and tried to attack whenever they could the final ball forward was off mostly all day forwards huffed and puffed all day had half chances but nothing clear cut watt wanted to take pen but was told to give it to atajic who ballooned it, now they got beat but weren't embarrassed and although some not playing on top of their game they kept at it for the 90 mins against a team of regular/seasoned pros who came 8th in their league, they weren't outclassed and I've never seen a team do so many professional fouls in a game if this wasn't a friendly they would ./could have a few men sent off, but it was a friendly to give fitness and experience, to me it showed the u20 league is holding back our youth and they need to be playing against men not boys anymore so either ronny starts to play them or start loaning them all out so be it but leaving them in our u20/development squad they won't improve further

1.) 27 Jul 2014
This might sound harsh DRB but I haven't seen any of our youth make a decent case for themselves and it's time to punt most of them.

Henderson only a teenager I'd keep, maybe Fisher but the rest need to go for the sake of their own careers. They aren't good enough :-(

I've been having a think about this youth situation (as you do) and would like to see a few changes at Lennoxtown. The only half decent players in recent times have been McGeady, Maloney and Forrest and even then most argue about them. Unfortunately Feruz made another choice.

This is how I see it, maybe someone sees something different?

2.) 27 Jul 2014
Spot on DRB . Remember the idea that we should have a feader club in 3rd division with no promotion . Scottish football is holding Scottish football back!

3.) 27 Jul 2014
Mrs e, you can tell our two 19 year old c/backs and our other youths aren't good enough on the evidence of a couple of friendlies?, remember a lot of fans slated /wanted vvd punted on the evidence of a few friendlies last season, something different, radical even .give them game time and see if the are good enough

4.) 27 Jul 2014
Maybe I was too harsh on the 19yr olds but we have seen them a few times. Youth players have to make a case for themselves in these friendlies, training and any game they do get in the 1st team.

Southampton have done well but how many players have they let of that their fans have never really seen, same with all the other Clubs?

VVD knew he was getting criticism and started playing out of his skin, our players aren't doing that. VVD, Wanyama etc are not much older than Twardzik, McGeouch and are now the same age Wanyama was our best player in the Champions League group stages - I don't see it with them at all.

They need to take their chances in friendlies and in training, they aren't doing enough to earn a place.

5.) 27 Jul 2014
Until given first team football we won't know, vvd played over 60 first team games before we signed him would he have got that coming through the academy under lennon?, we were open to offers for mgregor but rd has given him a chanceand up till know he's taking it whos to say more wont

6.) 27 Jul 2014
McGregor has to be played now or let go, he's 21 and was a regular with Notts County, it was probably the right decision to send him out on loan? That Icelandic team we played were murder and difficult to tell how it will go with McGregor.

I don't think it's about the fans getting to see them in the first team so we can all make a decision, Celtic youth are dominating in their age group in Scotland and have played in European competitions - they have to make a good case for themselves here.

O'Connell, Findlay, Fisher, Fraser, Toshney, Waters, Herron, Irvine, George, Twardzik, Atajic are all named as 1st team players on Celtic's website, time will tell.

I know I'm sounding a bit negative and I don't mean that, nothing would be better than to see these guys become first team regulars and be better than Lustig, Matthews (22), Stokes, Griffiths, VVD, Ambrose, Johansen(23), Commons, Mulgrew.

It's just a shame we seem to be playing a bigger part in developing the careers of young players from other Clubs as our players are not good enough.

Genuine question here - Who was the right back in the U20's when the 19 year old Adam Matthews arrived?

{Ed007's Note - Maybe RD agrees with you and that's why he's looking at bringing in Haakan Lunov, the Stromsgodset development manager...}

7.) 27 Jul 2014
Dominating with no reward of progression into first team while Dundee utd play youths who gain experience and most fans on here want to buy them all, with one of them a player we never gave a chance being touted for 3 million, if the club want experienced young players from other clubs and not promote from within fine, but close down the academy and use the money spent on that for outsiders, I don't want them played for the sake of it but how do we know who can push on and progress if they don't get a first team chance alongside better more experienced teammates and opposition

8.) 27 Jul 2014
What's your take Ed on why he's bringing in his own development guy?

{Ed007's Note - I'm very happy with it, I reckon Lunov is the man RD would have wanted beside him all along, the manager obviously knows and trusts him. When you look at Lunov's qualifications (I'll admit I had to Google pedagogy) you cans see why RD likes him.
Between 2001-2007 not one single Stromsgodset player earned a youth cap for Norway, in just 5 years under Deila, 3 with Lunov there, the figure reached 179.

9.) 27 Jul 2014
DRB agree with you and I'm not happy about it either. If I'm wrong about some of the players not being good enough, it'll show very soon. I just don't think some of these players are doing enough to be given a decent run in the first team. I know some think yesterday was only a friendly but it was their chance again and St Pauli are no great shakes.

The only player I'd take from Dundee Utd is Armstrong. I wish Ryan Gauld all the very best and think he's made the right move, don't think staying in Scotland would have done him any favours. Would our eternally happy support be happy with the league position Dundee Utd finished in? I know your not saying play 11 youth players.

Ed - I'm happy to. Lennoxtown has been going nowhere long before Lennon arrived and time for a shake up. I would be delighted to see young Players take their chance, I know another Dalglish is too much of an ask but I can hope.

There could be poll - do we think the youth are not good enough or just not getting a chance?

{Ed007's Note - normal text here. I've added another option that RD will help the players (and system) improve, I still expect to see a marked improvement in the young players that are still here if they are given the chance. Remember how clubs complained about loan players level of fitness, that is down to poor coaching, nothing else, and I can't see that being the case under RD.}

10.) 27 Jul 2014
The thing is in my opinion we are buying too many young players who are getting in the way of our youngsters who are not getting enough first team football.
However I suppose the board feel before they buy, that Big Balde will turn out as good a buy as Virgil .

11.) 28 Jul 2014
I'm trying to be positive here but out if the names in my post above think at the most O'Connell, Fisher and maybe more of McGregor - can see the rest leaving.

Henderson will stay. Watt I reckon is better than Stokes and Griffiths but is definitely out of favour (so it seems is Stokes?)

Would like to see some new names breaking through this season as well.

Should we be worried if we reach the group stages and make no signings? I reckon so

{Ed007's Note - There's fresh reports coming out of Belgium that Lierse are interested in Watt again but I can't see it after the way it turned out and I think Watt himself would see it as a huge risk.
I honestly wouldn't get rid of any youth until January, that will give RD and his team time to assess all of them after 6/7 months working under him and it is easier for young players to find a new club in January IMO. There isn't the usual deluge of activity and lower level/league teams are more likely to look for who's available to help cheaply boost their squad for fighting promotion/relegation and consolidate.
The youngsters deserve the chance to prove themselves under the new management and coaching system, you don't get that many unfit young players if it's not a problem with their coaching, if the players are doing what they're told and it's wrong it's not their fault, if they don't do as they're told they're out.
It's been said that one of the things Watt and NL fell out over was the difference in training from the first team to the reserves/youths, he felt he was a better player than have to train in what was really no more than constant bounce games.}

12.) 28 Jul 2014
Agree I would give them until January and this should be enough, if the talent and work rate is there then RD will see it. Think a few of them need to up their game bit time.

I see it looks like Watt is off - that was quick!

One of my biggest complaints with Neil Lennon was complacency and this is what I want to see sorted and more discipline.