Youth coach John Kennedy jetted in from Barcelona to watch his side turn on the style in a 4-2 win over Aberdeen yesterday.
After watching Barcelona beat Manchester City 4-1 in the Next Gen Series Kennedy watched his own side in action before facing the two clubs from the top of the Football Rich List later in the month.
Aberdeen went into the match on a good run of form and contributed greatly to the contest but were left chasing shadows at times as their opponents hit the heights.
Pass and move has been replaced with pace and move with some breathtaking football played at times by Kennedy’s kids.
Only centre half Stuart Findlay is a truly defensive player with full-backs Mikey Miller and Joe Chalmers at their best pushing forward while Jackson Irvine will wonder how he never got on the scoresheet.
Across the midfield and forward line the players have licence to do their own thing within the team structure with Paul George flying at the moment.
The Irish kid’s ability has never been in question but as he develops the ability to bring his team-mates more into play he is becoming even more effective. The urge to go on a solo run is hard to resist, as he showed with his goal yesterday, but in the last few matches the assists have been increasing alongwith his own awareness of the game.
“Paul is doing really well, it’s important he stays on this form and doesn’t try to do too much,” Kennedy explained. “When he keeps things simple and gets into attacking areas one against one he’s excellent.
“It’s important he doesn’t try to do too much because when he keeps it simple it’s very effective. Previously he’s tried to pick the ball up in the middle of the pitch and try to beat opponents, he’s cutting that out. When he pops it off and gets moving he’s very hard to pick up, then he gets into attacking areas to do his thing.
“The players are here to express themselves in the right areas of the pitch. The more that they play together the more that they get to know each other’s game and they can bounce off each other. That comes from experience of playing together.”
With a brand new team hitting form and players catching the eye of Neil Lennon there is plenty of excitement around the youth team set up.
By the final whistle yesterday Joe O’Brien, Findlay, Darnell Fisher and Jamie Lindsay were on the park holding their own with the age of the team plunging.
Marcus Fraser’s performance against Rennes didn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched his progress over the last twelve months with a number of other candidates on the verge of getting their chance to make an impression.
Kennedy knows better than most what is required to make the breakthrough at Celtic and is enjoying the task of working with kids at the most important stage in their careers.
“It’s an incentive for everyone when they see guys getting a look in at the first team,” Kennedy added. “Callum McGregor and Joe Chalmers were on the bench against Rennes and playing for the 19s the next day.
“That’s a great experience for them, they are still young boys and have the carrot of trying to get back there, our aim is to create first team players.
“Things need to be right for that to happen. The manager needs to know and trust the player coming in. He (Neil Lennon) was forced into it a bit but Marcus has come in and played excellently, the manager won’t hesitate to use him in the future.
“It’s important that they grasp it and make a good impression, when that happens they do that they can end up like in the team every week like James Forrest- that’s the aim. They all have a bit to go but they know what’s in front of them.”
Fraser was down watching his u-19 team mates yesterday after first team training at Lennoxtown.
His matter of fact approach to everything he does helped him through a potentially hazardous debut with Kennedy impressed by the 17-year-old’s character and ability.
“Marcus has a great attitude,” Kennedy added. “He’s never any bother and is a one hundred percenter. He has quality as well, it’s not just a case of being a big defender, he has a lot to his game, he reads the game well, is good on the ball and is defensively aggressive.
“He has a lot going for him, it’s early days in his career with a long way to go but the signs are good. I don’t think he realises how well he’s doing, as the season goes on he’s improving all the time, we tell him he’s doing well and he’s almost shocked!”
Celtic face Manchester City on Monday with the game kicking off at 7.45 at Celtic Park.
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