Tonight’s game against Hibs is yet another dead rubber as we are left counting the days to the Scottish cup final. With that in mind could it be the right time to slot a couple of youth prospects into the starting XI? If we can’t give them a game when the league is already won then when can we?
The first team have understandably dropped down a gear with the competitive edge being taken away so why not blood a few youngsters from the start? I’m not saying a full inexperienced side, but two or three with a mix of seasoned pros?
Wouldn’t it be wise to blood youngsters such as Bosun Lawal, Ben Summers and Rocco Vata (if fit) and give them additional experience in the first team, especially at a tough away venue like Easter road. It would benefit them greatly.
We have nothing to play for so it makes sense and with the more established players going through the motions, wouldn’t it be ideal to blood a few first team hungry youngsters who would relish the challenge?
Ange most likely has been impressed by a few as he’s run the rule over them a few times, but is he prepared to give them a chance?
Last week The Celtic Star asked John Kennedy about the chances of playing some of the talented young players at Celtic in order to demonstrate the pathway to the first team exists.
“You are making me feel old there. It was a long time ago,” John Kennedy
The Celtic Star asked John Kennedy about his own Celtic debut twenty three years ago and the importance of a pathway for the Celtic starlets towards the Celtic first team.
Here’s what was asked the Celtic Assistant Manager. “I remember Kenny Dalglish giving you your debut twenty-odd years ago. How important is it for us to keep that tradition going and look at bringing in some of the B team players who have performed very well this season and who have just won the Glasgow Cup and maybe deserve some minutes before the end of the season?”
John Kennedy answered as follows: “You are making me feel old there. It was a long time ago! Yeah, Kenny obviously gave me my debut, which was a very proud moment for myself. I think that’s a big part of the club.
“The difficulty is when with a big club the opportunity isn’t there as much as with other clubs who maybe don’t have the resources to bring in the players we do and the demand to win all time. But you know, over the course of time especially when I’ve been here there’s always a player every season or two seasons who comes in and around the first team.
“In the last 6-9 months, we’ve had Bosun (Lawal), Ben Summers and Rocco Vata who train us every day. So again, that’s players we have looked at and thought they’re ones we want to try and develop and when we can bring them up with the first team into training regularly.
“You certainly see that difference, there’s more demand on them, there’s a higher level of tempo and intensity in how they play. You’ve seen some of them enter the pitch.
So again, that’s something the manager spoke about it in terms of last year. He made some changes to the B squad. Certainly, he has more of an eye on it now. Hopefully, in the seasons ahead, we’ll see a steady flow, and young talents coming through. Again, it’s about being ready for the opportunity when it comes along and you’ve got to take it because as I said, it’s Celtic and they don’t come around every week.”
JustAnOrdinaryBhoy – follow on Twitter @ordinarybhoy
