Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, has adeptly used the mainstream media this week to counter the narrative that blames the club for the loss of their most promising young talents to other teams.
This issue has become a thorn in Celtic’s side, with fans witnessing a succession of potential stars leave before they have the chance to shine in the first team. This summer alone saw Rocco Vata move to Watford, reportedly for an eye-watering salary, while Daniel Kelly, with six months left on his contract, found himself on the receiving end of Rodgers wrath for his current contract stance.
The departure of young talents has become a recurring theme for Celtic, creating a growing sense of frustration among the fans. The most recent and publicised instance is that of Rocco Vata, who opted for Watford. His move highlights a broader trend where clubs from more financially robust leagues lure away Celtic’s budding stars with lucrative offers. This has left many questioning the efficacy of Celtic’s youth system. The last significant success story from the academy was Kieran Tierney, who now plays for Arsenal. This long drought of academy graduates making a substantial impact on the first team raises concerns about the development and retention strategies at Celtic.
Rodgers’ recent media engagements suggest a calculated attempt to reshape the narrative. By openly addressing Daniel Kelly’s situation, Rodgers has shifted some of the scrutiny away from the club’s policies and onto the players and their representatives. He publicly stated that Kelly has been sidelined for not agreeing to a new deal, one which Rodgers deems fair considering Kelly’s current role and potential within the team. This move serves a dual purpose: it signals to other young players and their agents that the club will not be held ransom by demands and it attempts to retain the moral high ground by framing the club’s offer as reasonable.
The criticism levied at Celtic’s youth system is not without merit. There is a palpable disconnect between the club’s need for immediate success and the development of young players. The immense pressure to win every game often means that young players rarely get the chance to prove themselves in critical matches. Daniel Kelly’s lack of involvement during last season’s title run-in is a case in point. While it is understandable given the stakes, it also underscores a lack of trust in the youth. This hesitancy can stifle the growth and confidence of young players, making them more susceptible to overtures from other clubs promising immediate playing time and better financial terms.
The financial disparity between Celtic and clubs from larger leagues poses a significant challenge. Young players are often enticed by the substantial wages and the promise of playing in more prestigious competitions. This financial lure is hard to resist, especially when agents and representatives are involved, often pushing for the best immediate financial deal.
Rodgers’ stance indicates a frustration with this trend, but it also reveals a systemic issue within the club. The failure to retain young talent cannot solely be attributed to the players’ impatience or the allure of money. There is a need for Celtic to present a more compelling case for staying—both in terms of professional development and financial reward.
The core issue lies in balancing the immediate demands of success with the long-term development of players. Celtic’s current approach seems to prioritise immediate victories, often at the expense of nurturing young talent. This strategy, while ensuring short-term gains, risks long-term sustainability. To remedy this, Celtic needs to integrate young players more seamlessly into the first team, giving them meaningful opportunities to showcase their talents and develop within the competitive environment.
Celtic finds itself at a crossroads. The club must reassess its approach to youth development and retention. Brendan Rodgers’ media strategy has temporarily deflected criticism, but it does not address the underlying issues. A comprehensive overhaul of the academy structure, better integration of young players into the first team, and more competitive financial packages are essential steps towards reversing the trend of young talent exodus.
Ultimately, the goal should be to create an environment where young players see a clear path to the first team and believe in the club’s commitment to their development. This requires a concerted effort from the entire organisation, from the boardroom to the training ground. Only then can Celtic hope to retain its most promising talents and restore the faith of its supporters.
So, just so we’re clear, you’d turn down a job that was going to pay yi 4x yir present wage?
Aye right lolol
The gap between lowland league and top of the SPFL is massive in development terms?
Especially within Scottish football there remains nothing in between for our younger players?
Clubs within Scotland, couldn’t even finance a reserve league?
We remain as the only club within Scotland, prepared to try and take youth development seriously, especially as its a requirement for ourselves in trying to form a 25man squad, with a third of it consisting of a 8 homegrown quota, and outside of the 25man numbers can be boosted with academy products, who would be within our B list for CL also?
That’s where we currently are as a club, and will give credit to Rodgers in finally trying to address a situation that has remained idle within the club, for many years now?
The only opportunity really available to ourselves at present, is having to use the loan system as we did with lawal last season, and maybe having to do the same with Dane Murray this season, along with maybe a few others?
Get a full season behind themselves at a much higher level, will potentially put themselves in a far better position, to actually start taking up a position within our 25man squad, and not really an alternative plan available to ourselves in development terms either imo?
You only need to take a look at where we currently stand in regards a situation that has been idle for many a long year in productivity for ourselves?
Calmac and forrest are hardly getting any younger these days?
Uncertainty regarding weather Taylor will actually sign a new contract, especially with growing calls upon an upgrade within the position is still required for ourselves?
Which could demote Taylor into the Ralston, Welsh, Bain, Mikey Johnston currently as only regarded as 2nd choice player’s and filling our 8 homegrown quota?
An area within forming our overall squad, that tends to go unnoticed and overlooked in general?
Only lawal available to ourselves by the looks of things now for next season by the looks of things now, especially as a massive set back looks to have occurred with the decisions of, Vata and now Kelly with the process required for ourselves going forward imo?
Dane Murray, could be another hopefully for ourselves in the making, but his development has been hindered massively with injuries to date also?
So we are hardly in a strong position for a few years down the line either imo?
Even for next season, we are still possibly in a situation of having to look to bring in Scottish players to still address the issue that still exists within our squad still?
Yet we remain with a certain amount of snobbery within our support, if we do have to sign such players as we can’t resolve a problem within the club?
Mckenna, Tierney, Armstrong and McGowan are such names getting mentioned to address the problems that still exists for ourselves?
For example would Scott mckenna be a potential better solution in the shorter term, or Dane Murray potentially in the longer term, both within the same position, is the sort of dilemma that Rodgers has to be making decisions upon, and what could be the best solution for ourselves?
Armstrong or McGowan is potentially another one in the making also?
Yet would we be jumping for joy if such signings were already made to resolve a problem that exists, without even giving academy players an opportunity whatsoever, especially within pre season games?
Not surprised Rodgers is looking for patience during the summer, especially within an area within our squad, that’s not even resolved for ourselves currently?
Actually believe Rodgers is looking at the bigger picture moreso than the easier shorter term solutions that we have operated upon, for way too long now, and hardly helps that younger players can get blinded by the money available on the shorter term, which is a strange choice for them to be taken, especially when far more money would be available to themselves if they opted for the bigger picture with ourselves in career development imo?
Nothing Rodgers can do regarding such decisions taken by the younger players?
Not much the club can do regarding the current situation within Scottish football either?
The real debate is weather we should be looking at bringing in far better development coaches, than using the ex players route taken in trying to install the requirements that’s required to be playing at 1st team squad standards for ourselves imo?
The maths is very simple, as if we haven’t got 8 homegrown up to standard required for ourselves, along with the extra keeper within our squad?
Only leaves ourselves 16 players to play a game at CL level with the 5 sub rule in place?
Hardly covered for any injuries for when they occur either?
We aren’t in such a position yet, but shows also the importance of the 8 homegrown quota that required for ourselves at CL level football also?
Success can’t be expected and ourselves to move forward at such a level, if we continue to ignore the existing problems that exists for ourselves?
Rodgers has identified the problems, but hardly simple solutions are easily found currently, especially with the amount of obstacles that stands in our way also imo?