Effectively Celtic's third team beat Livingston 2-0 at Almondvale with Kevin Cawley and Danny Lafferty scoring the goals.
VIDEO REPORT
With the first team squad calling up Paul Caddis and Cillian Sheridan, Willie McStay had to dig a bit deeper into his resources to face Livingston but once again came up with a win.
At this level winning is important, that's what is required of Celtic teams, but it's great to see the development in players and continual emergence of new faces that are ready to take their chance.
Into that category falls Ritchie Towell and Danny Lafferty. Towell is a central midfielder that adapted well at right back while Lafferty looks both commanding and imposing in the centre of defence whilst also showing a good eye for goal.
Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan again played with Gravesen looking out of touch as a sole striker during the first half with Riordan playing just off the Dane.
Michael McGlinchey and Mark Millar were kept busy in the first half and put in a power of work in the centre of the park tracking back and pushing forward.
The first half looked certain to end goal-less until Celtic took the lead two minutes from the break through Kevin Cawley.
Rocco Quinn threaded a great ball through for Cawley who, coming in off the left flank, showed a real striker's instinct and composure to slot the ball beyond Livi's trialist keeper as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
Simon Ferry replaced Gravesen at the break and Celtic really had to dig in and work hard for their win.
The second goal came in the 66nd minute when Scott Cuthbert headed down a Riordan corner, Cawlet sent the ball goalwards with Lafferty cheekily back healing the ball into the net.
I had my first look at Ryan Marshall in goals and he looked the part with a couple of good saves, one point blank header and another acrobatic effort that was touched over the bar.
I've no idea what age Marshall is but he's agile and looks a real natural keeper.
The reserves now head over to Ireland where they face Donegal Celtic in Belfast, Newry Town and Shelbourne.
VIDEO REPORT from Livi
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Friday, 18 July 2008
Tommy G and the trialist goalkeeper
To call last night's side a Celtic XI interesting is an understatement.
Albion Rovers 1-4 Celtic
Up front we had the dynamic duo of Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan while on the bench newly signed Matty Hughes got on to make his debut in front of trialist goalkeeper Daniele Giordano.
How those four players will be remembered in Celtic history is anyone's guess.
There is one consistent aspect about the Celtic reserves and that's that they play good football, it's hard not to when you have Paul Caddis, Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley in your team.
Miller and Caddis have been outstanding for a while now and take every challenge in their stride, getting better week by week.
Caddis is really developing into a great full-back. Sharp in the tackle, pacy and comfortable moving forward he's got everything needed to make a big name for himself with the only variable being how he will develop.
I'd guess that every SPL team would take him on loan in a minute which probably would be best for his development because chances will be limited with Andreas Hinkel and Mark Wilson pushing for the right-back spot.
With Joe Doumbe also around there's plenty of cover and it looks unlikely that Caddis will get much first team football in the first half of the season.
Millar is developing at a great rate, has a good engine, essential for any centre midfielder, and can get himself forward into the box and knows how to find the net.
Two years ago Millar found himself behind Simon Ferry, Charlie Grant, Michael McGlinchey and Teddy Bjarnason in the u-19's midfield but injuries and Teddy's departure has given him a chance that he's taken with comfort.
Predictably both Millar and Caddis were in great form against Albion Rovers as Celtic raced into an early three goal lead with goals from Gravesen, Danny Lafferty and Millar.
Riordan scored early in the second half with Rovers getting a consolation from Pat Walker.
In goals for the night was trialist Daniele Giordano, a 17-year-old who has been on the books of Lecce.
He looked a bit older than 17 and had a fair bit of presence without having much to do although that will probably change in Saturday's game against Livingston.
Finally, Matty Hughes played most of the second half after an injury to Scott Cuthbert after signing on Tuesday from Rochdale who Celtic appear to be setting up some sort of informal exchange system with.
VIDEO REPORT
Albion Rovers 1-4 Celtic
Up front we had the dynamic duo of Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan while on the bench newly signed Matty Hughes got on to make his debut in front of trialist goalkeeper Daniele Giordano.
How those four players will be remembered in Celtic history is anyone's guess.
There is one consistent aspect about the Celtic reserves and that's that they play good football, it's hard not to when you have Paul Caddis, Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley in your team.
Miller and Caddis have been outstanding for a while now and take every challenge in their stride, getting better week by week.
Caddis is really developing into a great full-back. Sharp in the tackle, pacy and comfortable moving forward he's got everything needed to make a big name for himself with the only variable being how he will develop.
I'd guess that every SPL team would take him on loan in a minute which probably would be best for his development because chances will be limited with Andreas Hinkel and Mark Wilson pushing for the right-back spot.
With Joe Doumbe also around there's plenty of cover and it looks unlikely that Caddis will get much first team football in the first half of the season.
Millar is developing at a great rate, has a good engine, essential for any centre midfielder, and can get himself forward into the box and knows how to find the net.
Two years ago Millar found himself behind Simon Ferry, Charlie Grant, Michael McGlinchey and Teddy Bjarnason in the u-19's midfield but injuries and Teddy's departure has given him a chance that he's taken with comfort.
Predictably both Millar and Caddis were in great form against Albion Rovers as Celtic raced into an early three goal lead with goals from Gravesen, Danny Lafferty and Millar.
Riordan scored early in the second half with Rovers getting a consolation from Pat Walker.
In goals for the night was trialist Daniele Giordano, a 17-year-old who has been on the books of Lecce.
He looked a bit older than 17 and had a fair bit of presence without having much to do although that will probably change in Saturday's game against Livingston.
Finally, Matty Hughes played most of the second half after an injury to Scott Cuthbert after signing on Tuesday from Rochdale who Celtic appear to be setting up some sort of informal exchange system with.
VIDEO REPORT
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Bernabeu to Cliftonhill
Thomas Gravesen... where did it all go wrong?
Two years ago Gravesen was a Real Madrid player that some deluded Celtic fans thought might become a Celtic player.
As the summer transfer window closed in 2006 Gravesen was a Celt as we prepared to defend the SPL title and make our mark in the Champions League.
The title was won in a canter and we qualified with a game to spare in the Champions League only to be knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan after extra-time in the San Siro.
Before then the wheels had started to fall off the Gravesen bandwagon, by the end of the season he couldn't even get a place on the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline while Teddy Bjarnason picked up a winners medal.
After a failed year loaned back to Everton Gravesen is back and set to play for the reserves against Albion Rovers and Livingston.
Another years salary, perhaps a loyalty payment at the end of it awaits unless an expensive pay-off can be sorted out.
It'll be a mystery how the transfer came about and a bigger mystery how the deal fell apart but for the 1,000 fans at Cliftonhill on Thursday the once Great Dane will be the star attraction.
VIDEO REPORT
Two years ago Gravesen was a Real Madrid player that some deluded Celtic fans thought might become a Celtic player.
As the summer transfer window closed in 2006 Gravesen was a Celt as we prepared to defend the SPL title and make our mark in the Champions League.
The title was won in a canter and we qualified with a game to spare in the Champions League only to be knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan after extra-time in the San Siro.
Before then the wheels had started to fall off the Gravesen bandwagon, by the end of the season he couldn't even get a place on the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline while Teddy Bjarnason picked up a winners medal.
After a failed year loaned back to Everton Gravesen is back and set to play for the reserves against Albion Rovers and Livingston.
Another years salary, perhaps a loyalty payment at the end of it awaits unless an expensive pay-off can be sorted out.
It'll be a mystery how the transfer came about and a bigger mystery how the deal fell apart but for the 1,000 fans at Cliftonhill on Thursday the once Great Dane will be the star attraction.
VIDEO REPORT
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