Blantyre_Braveheart
-
Posts
941 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Tartan Army Message Board News
Media Demo
Posts posted by Blantyre_Braveheart
-
-
6 hours ago, The_Dark_Knight said:
Really good read.
As for Rangers go, they just beat Celtic 5:0 at youth level. If King and Kennedy are anything to go by, Rangers could have a wave of talented Scottish kids.
5 years ago we completely changed our youth set up. Out went Sinclair and his "yer too wee to make it" mentality, instead we went for technique over build (genuinely get the fear think what if Gilmour and Kennedy came through when he was still here).
The biggest thing for me anyway that has helped these lads development is playing friendlies and tournaments against foreign youth teams and some English youth teams. This has given them the chance to play against lots of different styles and abilities.
The reserves also play against English lower league teams and English u23 sides.
I still think we need colt teams for 18/19+, after that age youth football isn't going to do much.
-
5 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said:
Yeah it is, I'm from the Three Towns and played with TASS for years but sadly I was shite! Used to watch Winton when Killie weren't playing and Billy Snr was a tidy wee midfielder.
Billy Jnr has a real chance of going to the top and I've been saying that on here for a while now. Just always looked miles ahead of any of his peers.
Mebude looks a real talent too at Rangers.
Mebude has really bulked up in the last year. From watching him for the rangers and Scotland youths he has learnt a lot from morelos in the way he uses his body to turn players. I hope he remains a striker, but I can see him ending up in between striker/winger for a few years before he finds his position.
-
9 hours ago, sbcmfc said:
Matt Ritchie is probably the point you’d draw the line on that.
Used Scotland for his CV to further his club career.
Has shown zero interest for a long time, and not to sound xenophobic, but he’s not even Scottish.
If you're playing for a decent nation going to tournaments, I could see that but we are the complete opposite of that. Sadly these days England hopeful looks better on your CV than Scotland international.
-
2 hours ago, The_Dark_Knight said:
Talking of transfer gossip, I think the people who claimed that Leicester wanted Callum McGregor can now see how ridiculous the rumour was.
Leicester have, potentially, the strongest central midfield in the EPL.
Ndidi and Tielemans are two world class anchormen and Maddison is progressing into a really good player. All three are 22 years old. McGregor would've been a squad player.
Truth is, McGregor hasn't progressed since his Notts County days.
True he is still that same wide midfielder who came back from notts county, that Celtic fans wanted rid of.
He has massively progressed and changed his game since then and became a very good cm. What I would say however, is that he has stagnated in the last couple of years. It tends to happen in the SPL after a few years, player improves to a good level, but isn't tested enough to improve further or is training with average players, average coach's/facilities, etc.
-
7 hours ago, vanderark14 said:
Have Ryan Jack's performances been that good in Europe? IF they have there's no reason why he should be given a chance at DM. I see MCGinn and MCTominey more as box to box midfielders. Ryan Jack can sit and protect the back four.
However the only evidence i have of Jack playing great in Europe is the word of rangers fans on here and not the reasonable ones, the zoomers. Anyone else watched Rangers is Europe?
He has played very well for us and has massively stepped up his game this season. He had a poor mistake for the Porto goal in the away tie but other than that he has been good. His drive, work rate and aggression have always been his main strengths but as I said he has stepped up his game and worked hard to improve on the passing, shooting and ball retention sides of his game.
McGinn/McTominay are better players in a superior league but that doesn't always translate to international football. Neither have put in many great performances for Scotland. These next couple of games should be about trying to find a team for the playoffs. I believe guys like Jack, Gallagher, etc should be given a chance to show what they can do.
Truthfully I can see him as a make shift right back for the playoffs. Every RB we've tried has been woeful, so I can see Jack playing there in the playoffs.
-
Could be another Gilmour situation. I'd love him to stay as he is probably considered our best youth prospect but wouldn't begrudge him the move.
Leipzig would probably be best for his development, they have a fantastic youth program and aren't afraid to go with young CBs in their first team(Upamecano, Konate), so he'd have a better chance of making it to the first team in the next 3/4 years.
-
1 hour ago, PASTA Mick said:
Up to 16th after tonight. Cyprus in 15th.
APOEL scored an absolutely Flukey 88th minute goal, to get the win otherwise we'd have been 15th.
-
1 hour ago, Duncan Blackheart said:
Are there any bonus points for getting out the group in the Europa League?
I seem to remember there are some bonus points for that tournament, but it could be that you need to win one of the knock-out rounds to get them.
No don't think bonus points start in the Europa League until the quarters
-
3 minutes ago, ceudmilefailte said:
Forrest playing as a right back, better than some of our options.
Wouldn't need to be an option if Phillips or Paterson were in the squad
If he was playing at RWB it would need to be 5
-
2 hours ago, adamntg said:
I should add, I have seen Scott Banks. He looks good. Not as good as Chris Mochrie, and not as good as Scott Allan looked in those handful of games at Tannadice, but he definitely looks like he has a chance.
How many players who came through the Dundee United academy have had or are having decent careers after staying and playing first team football first? I can only really think of Stuart Armstrong.
-
I know it will sound like bias but after calling up the best striker in the championship, we should give the best keeper in the championship a shot. McCrorie has been fantastic this season, is very highly thought of and is only going to get better. He doesn't need to start but we need to be thinking of the future, having a past it 34 year old, a 32 year old (with barely any caps and having an average season in league 1) and a 26 year old who was a number 2 in the lower leagues for most of his career isn't the answer.
-
15 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:
He doesn't want to play for scotland and you are right we wont miss him. For a player of his calibre and the level he plays at, he should have much more caps but he doesnt
We could say that about literally every Scotland player ATM. In fairness to Snodgrass he had 2 very bad injuries and didn't get his first cap until his mid 20s, which sadly seems the norm for most Scotland players. Cant wait for Gilmour and Johnston to get their first caps in 5/6 years time😅😅
-
2 hours ago, The_Dark_Knight said:
And now on the Redcafe he's the worst player ever to play for Manchester United.
This is his first season as a regular, so he'll have his up and downs. I wish he had senior players that he could look at for inspiration, but when the senior players are as hopeless as Young, Lingard, etc, what hope does he have?
5/10 today.
Lingard has to be the only footballer ever to still be called a promising player when he is about to turn 27.
-
7 hours ago, 0Neils40yarder said:
... And here lies the problem that my son and I were debating last night, when he asked me what my Scotland team would look like.
Not a Rangers or Celtic player in sight as far as I'm concerned... They love being the flat track bullies in our piss poor league, skelping teams with a fraction of the resources, but put them into the national side, or lo and behold, ask them to move to a competitive league and they fold like deckchairs.
I'd consider Jack as an option at right back, but in no way would he get anywhere near a starting Jersey in midfield for me, as that's our strongest position with 4 or 5 options coming from the EPL.
Jack and Christie have been excellent in European games against teams that on paper are superior to Rangers and Celtic.
I'd also say that Scotland's best team (in the last 7 years) came when Scotland had that Celtic core under Strachan.
-
8 hours ago, AndyDD said:
Aye very much so. Right across the football world, money is going into youth development, in many ways because transfer fees are getting so insane between the big clubs and smaller clubs see the size of the rewards for sell ons.
However, for the moment and for the foreseeable, the old firm will continue to sign players like Defoe and Elyanoussi (etc etc ad infinitum) and play them ahead of their prospects, due in large part to cut-throat fan expectations.
I expect you're right and it will continue to grow. Here's hoping.
It is pretty tough to shove these boys from youth football into cut throat win at all costs games. It is why I think we need colt teams in the lower leagues. Instead of playing u20/u18 games they could be playing competitive football at a decent level, by the time they are 20/21 they could have 50-100 professional games under their belt. Surely that is better prep for a route to the first team than youth football and a loan to a part time club.
Murty (shit manager but good youth coach) was saying it himself last night, our centre Half's will have learnt more against souhill (& the other men's teams we beat) than a year or 2 of youth football.
-
3 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said:
We'll see in the summer I suppose but Rodgers has a hard on for him and I think he'll go there.
Tierney - £25m
Dembelle - £20m
Wanyama - £12.5m
VVD - £11.5M
Forster £10m
McGeady £9.5m
Armstrong £7m
That's £95.5m for 7 players in fairly recent times (McGeady only incdued as he's in top 7 fees rec'd ahead of Armstrong)
Those players cost £7.85m combined.
I'd say that's evidence of a buying club and one that's fairly good at it.
McGregor could go for a decent fee but I highly doubt it will be over 15 million. If he was 22-24 he'd be probably be over 20 but by the end of the season he will be 27 and not likely to improve, so I'd say 15 million would be a fair price for him.
-
1 minute ago, ceudmilefailte said:
Hardly huge it's the reserve league cup. Just confirms him as a member of the squad.
Playing against Grimsby in the carbao cup isn't huge but playing against man United in the competition is a pretty big deal.
-
Yet it will probably be another 5 years before he sees a Scotland squad 😅😅
-
2 hours ago, ProudScot said:
He just looks the same as he did for Livvy last year really.
Given his age & likely improvement with experience he is our best prospect along with Robby McCrorie.
McCrorie at Rangers was considered the far bigger prospect, it was why Rangers let Kelly leave. Having watched McCrorie a couple of times for QoS this season, I can see why. He has been excellent and has stretched up a few inches. 6"4 with McGregor like reflexes.
He will either be our number 2 or go out on loan to an SPL side next season. He probably won't be our number 1 untill atleast 2021/22, when Shagger retires.
-
1 hour ago, Squirrelhumper said:
True - hopefully we get a chance to rectify it next season!
I think with Alessio in charge and a half decent forward signed, you could go far in the qualification rounds (maybe even group stage with a bit of luck), This season seemed more of a blip due to a transition of manager
-
21 minutes ago, RenfrewBlue said:
Cracking night tonight for the coefficient but still annoyed that we didn't beat Young Boys and that we had a great chance to win tonight too and didn't take it.
Yeah still pissed about that. Especially after last year, where not closing out those types of games cost us going through.
-
8 minutes ago, Duncan Blackheart said:
Not that far off 15th. Would still need some good results, probably including a Rangers win v young boys, but things are looking up.
.675 off Greece
.625 off Cyprus
.125 off Serbia
Level with Croatia
Olympiacos are away to Bayern
APOEL at home to Qarabag
Partizan away to Man Utd, Red Star at home to Spurs
Zagreb at home to Shaktar
Another good night from Rangers and Celtic in 2 weeks and we could be 15th.
-
43 minutes ago, SWMM82 said:
Our game gets derided and rightfully so at times, but Rangers and Celtic are, at the very least, still competitive against some big clubs in Europe.
Rangers u19s also put Young Boys out of Europe yesterday.
That young boys youth team had some fantastic results in the champions League youth side last year. 4 points against Valencia and pumped Juventus.
We drew 2 each with YB to go through on away goals but we out played them and should've won it outright. Mebude has the potential to be a great player.
Compared to the shambles our academy was in even just 4/5 years ago, this was a great result and a strong indictment of the the changes we have made and the progress we continue to make. The problem is can they make the step up and get into the first team.
I think McCrorie (GK), Stephen Kelly, Dapo Mebude, Josh McPake, Kai Kennedy, Leon King can all eventually become first team regulars. There is also Middleton and Hastie who we signed and are out on loan, both look to have good potential as well.
There seems to be quite a few talented youth players coming through in Scotland right now. I really think the performance schools are starting to pay dividend.
-
59 minutes ago, Stu101 said:
Looking like a good night for the coefficent.
.675 behind 15th now. Another night like this in 2 weeks and 15th will be ours to lose.
Billy Gilmour
in TA specific
Posted · Edited by Blantyre_Braveheart
Jim Sinclair ex-head of youth development. He released so many talented 14-17 year olds due to their build.
I mean a lot of other Scottish clubs had similar problems with the "yer too wee" mentality, the likes of Robertson at Celtic where released for similar reasons I'm sure.
It makes you wonder how many talented younger players never made it because of that mentality.