‘We need a complete revamp’ ‘There’s good players there’ ‘problem goes a lot deeper’ Debate rages over Lowland League concerns
Some attention is falling on the Celtic B team and their efforts in the Lowland League this season.
It is the third season that the club has been involved at this level with no real evidence that it is helping to produce players for the first team squad.
Typical of the issue is Rocco Vata, now in his third season of playing against 5th/6th tier opponents with most matches played on plastic pitches.
At 16 he was getting priceless experience as he faced some time-served pros that don’t take kindly to being shown up by some bright young thing with a famous surname that is being tipped for big things.
Now at the age of 18 Vata is wondering exactly what his development plan is, after getting a couple of first team outings off the bench last season Celtic signed two more project right-wingers during the summer leaving Vata further behind in the queue for places.
While he has been at Celtic he has seen other younger players try their luck elsewhere with English and German clubs closely watching players in the Celtic Academy. Now it seems that Vata will be joining them, either in an agreed transfer this month or leaving as a free agent at the end of the season.
The lack of a pathway coupled with the depressing backdrop of a second season playing in the Lowland League isn’t going to produce first team player.
Ben McPherson and Ben Summers are out on loan at Championship clubs but know that a high benchmark is required to succeed. Another loan to a Premiership club next season will be required to put them in the picture at Celtic.
An alternative pathway with Admira Wacker appears to have stalled, the Austrian season is well underway without any sign of Tobi Oluwayemi or Matthew Anderson in action.
Next month Celtic are in action in the UEFA Youth League- with seven points from seven Lowland League matches the u-19 side are looking at some very demanding autumn fixtures.
Celtic B in the Lowland League doesn’t seem like it’s working does it?
Playing vs low quality & nobody really close to breaking in to our first team.
Doak, Morrison, Hjelde & a few others would be around the squad but the reality is those good enough get picked off beforehand. pic.twitter.com/2Lrfce6XMZ
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 22, 2023
The Academy problem goes a lot deeper than the League the B team plays in.
We need a complete revamp. Too many coaches have been there too long; too much a “job for the Bhoys” culture. Need an injection of new ideas; young, ambitious foreign coaches should be employed— John Gerard Collins (@collinsjg57) August 23, 2023
The thing is we ARE producing players in the academy we just can’t retain them & with Brexit rules now in place that’ll only get harder with English sides poaching our top talents.
It’s a tough one, hopefully we manage to improve the pathway to our first team but it’s not easy.
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 22, 2023
There’s a reason top youngsters are choosing to leave Celtic for low level teams in search of real challenging game time, fair play to the lads they know it doesn’t work and care about their career
— KingHenky ??????? (@KingHenky) August 22, 2023
We’re actually such a poorly-run club.
Tell me how teams like Dortmund are able to give their youngsters more game time, despite being in a far more competitive league??
— Matt (@telly_1888) August 22, 2023
Let me ask you this.
Since we entered the Lowland League, how many have broken in to or even made in excess of five appearance for the club?
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 22, 2023
Celtic have several of the players that would be starting in that side out on loan, Summers, Lawal, McPherson etc.
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 22, 2023
There’s good players there, I’ve no doubt in that.
Vata, Kelly & Carse are players that I like I just want them to be in the best place possible to develop & I’m not sure this is where it is.
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 22, 2023