It goes without saying that Barcelona are the benchmark, as a former Celtic manager might have put it, for football clubs and youth development worldwide.
Tonight at Celtic Park John Kennedy’s u-19 side face Marseilles in the Next Gen Series with the images and memories of a 5-1 defeat in Barcelona still painfully fresh.
Star of the show for the Nou Camp wannabes was young striker Dongou who showed good taste in scarf-wear after the match as well as style and a clinical eye for goal on the park.
Whether he goes on to develop like the current first team players available to Pep Guardiola remains to be seen but all around him there are examples of players who have came through the club’s Academy and developed into Champions League winners.
Not even the most optimistic of Celtic supporters will be expecting any of Kennedy’s squad to lift the big cup but if a regular flow of players showing the ability of James Forrest is peppering the first team over the next five years the club will be back on course at developing their own players.
Before the opening Next Gen match in Marseilles Chris McCart, head of the Youth Academy, was asked about how success could be measured. His answer was simple and to the point: “Barcelona are the example, their first team is their Academy.”
A fortnight ago in Barcelona the current Celtic youth side discovered just how strong the Barca Academy is. While a large part of the result was self inflicted there was no doubting the class of Barcelona, on another day the winning margin could have been more emphatic. Being two goals down within the first ten minutes is hardly a new experience for Celtic side’s away in Europe.
Despite having no points to play for tonight a win against the French side would round off a very satisfactory campaign for Kennedy’s squad.
Without doubt the highlight of the campaign, to date, was the 4-2 win away to Manchester City in October. The Premiership side barely got a look in as Celtic set the pace with the five man midfield of John Herron, Callum McGregor, Filip Twardzik, Dylan McGeough and Paul George always on the front foot.
Whether that team plays again is unlikely but that night the youths set their own benchmark playing with the flair and imagination that can only be described as playing the Celtic way.
Looking through the Barcelona monthly magazine the pride that the club takes in the development of their young players is obvious. Baby faced pictures of Lionel Messi, Victor Valdez, Andres Iniesta and others highlight the development of players through the ranks in an era where the cheque book is preferred by most clubs.
Hopefully in years to come Celtic will be able to look back with pride on the development of our own players with McGeough, Marcus Fraser, Joe Chalmers, George and Callum McGregor giving hoops fans the same pride that is so evident at Barcelona.
The legendary Carlos Puyol
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes
Nou Camp Academy Boys
CLICK HERE to meet the Next Gen bhoys
CLICK HEREÂ for Video Celts TV
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook
brilliant article Joe – love where you are going with that
surely ONE manager has got say ok we’ll keep this group and form them into the first team