Criticism of Celtic’s record developing young players is wide of the mark

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The Celtic Star

·31. Dezember 2024

Criticism of Celtic’s record developing young players is wide of the mark

Criticism of Celtic’s record developing homegrown talent is wide of the mark. Our contribution to the national side in recent years proves that…

Ben Doak signs for Liverpool. Photo Liverpool FC

Celtic being successful and solidifying our place as the number one side in the country, whilst the media darlings favouring the Ibrox new club go into free fall means only one thing, it’s time to look at the negatives where it comes to Celtic.

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That negative arrived in the form of our lack of success at grassroots level. Whilst the accusation that we are failing to give youth a chance has some merit, it’s also a rather wide of the mark.

Yes we may not be producing players capable of becoming first team regulars at the moment, but our record in that department is not as bad as it’s being portrayed.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts alongside Ben Doak of Scotland during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Scotland and Portugal at Hampden on October 15, 2024.(Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images)

Just look at the Scottish national team at the present moment. Kieran Tierney is an important part of the national set up, as is young Ben Doak who also came through our youth ranks before deciding to continue his career at Liverpool.

Anthony Ralston scores for Celtic against Motherwell at Celtic Park on 19 December 2018. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Tony Ralston who has become a regular under Steve Clarke recently is of course also a product of our youth system, whilst in years gone by Callum McGregor and James Forrest were important players in the national side.

There’s also David Marshall whose save in the penalty shoot out in Serbia seen Scotland qualify for their first major tournament in over two decades.

There’s also many other examples to be had of players who haven’t made the cut at Celtic Park but went on to have decent careers and even contributed at international level.

Yes our record of producing homegrown talent may not be as good as we would like, but it’s hardy the worst. We do our bit for the game in Scotland, despite the accusations levelled at us Scotland’s biased and bitter hacks.

28th February 2024 Celtic Park, Scottish Premiership Football, Celtic versus Dundee Daniel Kelly shoots and scores for 7-0 in the 63rd minute Photo ActionPlus David Young

Ben Doak, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly were all targeted by English sides over the past few seasons and Celtic tried but failed to keep them at the club after they were developed at the Celtic Academy. All three players rejected good offers and Ange Postecoglou and then Brendan Rodgers did all that they could to persuade these young players to remain at Celtic.

All three opted to go to England, just as Kieran Tierney did later in his career and Celtic recouped £25m on developing him into a top class player.

Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

Celtic’s current system means that all five substitutes will be used and the first job of the manager is to win the games. He cannot be faulted for the way he has set about doing just that in 2024. Celtic is the best team in Scotland and this is a team with growth ahead not decline. The bar is high for young players and that is what they have to strive for if they are going to break into the team.

Ideally Brendan will start having young players on the bench on merit and game time will hopefully follow. But it must be achieved on merit and merit alone, not a box ticking exercise to shut up some hacks. They’d just find fault in Celtic in some other way.

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