Scottish Kids Chance of Playing

[GHfaeGTA]

1 hour ago, Burj_Alba said:

Reading all these posts  I thought I would keep track of how many Scottish eligible (SE) players actually played during a week game so devised this scoring system, starting in week 1.

The points system is 4 points if a SE started the match and 2 if one came on as a sub (not if he just sat on the bench for the 90+ minutes). Double points if one of those players is 23 or under.

Not a perfect system by any means as someone like Donovan got about 7 minutes yesterday. Also had to include McGregor who remains “eligible” and, the never will be capped, like Jason Holt or Greg Kiltie.

The colour scheme is an orangey colour for teams who won and blue for draws.

Will see how this develops over the weeks ahead but fancy Motherwell or Dundee United to challenge Rangers for a relegation spot.

 

If you’re tracking Scottish ‘eligible’ players then your stats for DUFC are wrong. Rawlins who started at RB has  a grandmother who is Scottish 

[Burj_Alba]

1 hour ago, GHfaeGTA said:

If you’re tracking Scottish ‘eligible’ players then your stats for DUFC are wrong. Rawlins who started at RB has  a grandmother who is Scottish 

Flashscores and others has got him down as Australian, I cannot see a mention of him in the other eligibility threads. Happily change the data if he could still play for Scotland. Likewise any other dual nationality kids out there.

[Clyde1998]

On 8/3/2026 at 9:44 AM, bdgsct said:

There is a tipping point tho. €130k is too low but at £250k it would begin to be cost effective. There is greater value than the cash to help bring other youngsters into your own first team.

True. I'm also working on the assumption that anyone who's good enough to be in a Premiership first team whilst being on a youth contract is probably going to be poached by an English club. Once a player is on a professional contract, the clubs would have to negotiate a transfer fee.

[Clyde1998]

3 hours ago, Burj_Alba said:

Reading all these posts  I thought I would keep track of how many Scottish eligible (SE) players actually played during a week game so devised this scoring system, starting in week 1.

The points system is 4 points if a SE started the match and 2 if one came on as a sub (not if he just sat on the bench for the 90+ minutes). Double points if one of those players is 23 or under.

Not a perfect system by any means as someone like Donovan got about 7 minutes yesterday. Also had to include McGregor who remains “eligible” and, the never will be capped, like Jason Holt or Greg Kiltie.

The colour scheme is an orangey colour for teams who won and blue for draws.

Will see how this develops over the weeks ahead but fancy Motherwell or Dundee United to challenge Rangers for a relegation spot.

 

Might be worth tracking minutes played too. IIRC, Falkirk had the most Scottish minutes (both generally and for young players) last season. I did post some numbers a few weeks ago somewhere on here, but can't remember where.

The fact only one club had more than half of their starting players being made up of Scots is insane, but completely expected.

[GHfaeGTA]

4 hours ago, Burj_Alba said:

Flashscores and others has got him down as Australian, I cannot see a mention of him in the other eligibility threads. Happily change the data if he could still play for Scotland. Likewise any other dual nationality kids out there.

It was mentioned on the tv during the game against Rangers that his grandmother came from Arbroath 

[syecosse]

Regarding the B team loans just watched the highlight reel of Glasgow/Cameron early days but they look unreal, hopefully Rangers send Scally, McGuire and Rankin on a loan also. 

[theabsentee]

On 8/3/2026 at 2:58 PM, er yir macaroon said:

They eat well and don’t carry a bottle of “juice” everywhere they go (except a car when they are compelled to chuck it out the window). 

I have to agree, I'm afraid. The number of youngsters playing football will have dropped alarmingly since we regularly produced top players that littered the top 2 leagues in England as well as dominated the top flight in Scotland. There's no doubt the lack of first team opportunities doesn't help, but it's only part of a much bigger problem. The game has changed enormously since the time we punched above our weight and not enough Scottish kids have improved physically alongside it. Poor diet is definitely a factor.

[Tartan blood]

You know what irks me more than anything - when SPFL teams take youth players from English teams and actually give them game time. 

Hibs are playing a 20 year old and a 21 year old tonight. Both English.

Celtic had a Man City youth for the first half of last season then replaced him with a Bournemouth youth. Neither got much game time, but it definitely negatively impacted on Dane Murray's progression into the first team.

Rangers had an 18 year old from Spurs starting ahead of Curtis, who did the right thing and got himself out of there in time for the World Cup.

I don't believe for 1 second that these 18-21 year olds are significantly better than our own. All we're doing is helping other teams develop their youth and neglecting our own.

[Yosemite Sam]

22 hours ago, Tartan blood said:

You know what irks me more than anything - when SPFL teams take youth players from English teams and actually give them game time. 

Hibs are playing a 20 year old and a 21 year old tonight. Both English.

Celtic had a Man City youth for the first half of last season then replaced him with a Bournemouth youth. Neither got much game time, but it definitely negatively impacted on Dane Murray's progression into the first team.

Rangers had an 18 year old from Spurs starting ahead of Curtis, who did the right thing and got himself out of there in time for the World Cup.

I don't believe for 1 second that these 18-21 year olds are significantly better than our own. All we're doing is helping other teams develop their youth and neglecting our own.

And even if they start off pish they'll be given chance after chance until they finally 'come good'. Young Scots, on the other hand, one poor performance and back to obscurity you go!

Edited August 7 by Yosemite Sam

[Burj_Alba]

An update on playing minutes of eligible Scots in premier league. Much the same as last week with Falkirk using more Scots than any other team. Aberdeen leapfrog St Johnstone into second mostly due to three young second hand subs.

Dundee United head up the table by enjoying their 4-0 thumping by Hearts with only Dylan Tait on the pitch over the 90 minutes. I am aware of Bennie's and Rawlins possible links but still can only see them wanting to represent Australia at this moment.

Week 2 table

Overall table

 

[Tartan blood]

On 8/7/2026 at 6:31 PM, Yosemite Sam said:

And even if they start off pish they'll be given chance after chance until they finally 'come good'. Young Scots, on the other hand, one poor performance and back to obscurity you go!

Looks like Celtic are taking an 18 year old left back on loan from Chelsea. I need a brick wall to bang my head off of.

[syecosse]

27 minutes ago, Tartan blood said:

Looks like Celtic are taking an 18 year old left back on loan from Chelsea. I need a brick wall to bang my head off of.

Not sure if correct but I seen that they also do not have any Coop loans at the moment? All previous have ended, Surely they want to be getting kids out for the benefit of them and Scotland, Morton for example need a few. 

[Tartan blood]

1 hour ago, syecosse said:

Not sure if correct but I seen that they also do not have any Coop loans at the moment? All previous have ended, Surely they want to be getting kids out for the benefit of them and Scotland, Morton for example need a few. 

That would make far too much sense for Celtic.

[csinclair]

1 hour ago, syecosse said:

Not sure if correct but I seen that they also do not have any Coop loans at the moment? All previous have ended, Surely they want to be getting kids out for the benefit of them and Scotland, Morton for example need a few. 

As desperate as Morton are for players, I imagine clubs won’t be keen on sending their youngsters into a relegation dogfight. Looks like it’s gonna be a tough year for them when the manager is coming out and saying he might not be able to field a team