Earlier I wrote about the need for the club to show faith in our Academy, no doubt the lateral move of Stephen McManus to oversee the B team will help with this, but for youth to flourish there’s a responsibility on the youth players to fully live out their potential.
Firstly, we no longer live in the generation of the Lisbon Lions, being a Celtic fan no longer means a lifelong contract at the club. Just ask Kieran Tierney. Agents will be in your head, social media, the press all telling you that you are too good for the SPFL and your talents would shine brighter and your wallet bulge more in the promised land of the EPL.
Too many young players, not only at our clubs are lured by promises and big wages without considering how these clubs will develop their talent to the fullest. As much as we have a responsibility to promote and place our trust in youth, they in turn must place their trust in us that we will continue to develop them into a player who can progress beyond our game in Scotland.
Talent doesn’t justify success, loyalty isn’t something that will keep a player here anymore. In order for our Academy to flourish and for players to make it to the first team, there must be a commitment by both the club and the player to reach their potential, and when an opportunity presents itself, the player needs to grab it with both hands.
Call yourself a true Celtic fan? How well do you know the European Cup winning season? Take the quiz and challenge your friends and family to beat your score.
Have we given players a chance?
Liam Henderson is 26 now and has played 38 games over two seasons in Serie A. I think he’d be a squad backup at least if he stayed and would count as a Homegrown player for European competition.. Would he be an inferior option though to Ideguchi? Would he be more expensive than McCarthy?