Youths on form as they beat Hamilton 4-0

Filip Twardzik was the star of the show as Celtic's u-19 side beat Hamilton Accies 4-0 today.

It was the second week running that the 19's had scored four goals with confidence growing throughout the team as they continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Four wins have come either side of four consecutive draws but there was quality and purpose about the side today with a number of players vying with Twardzik for star billing.

The 16-year-old from the Czech Republic scored the final goal of the afternoon in the 81st minute but almost notched a memorable strike 6 minutes earlier when his shot from the halfway line was inches away from embarrassing the Hamilton keeper.

Twardzik had to wait until the 80th minute to get his reward when he found the net showing the desire that managers demand of modern midfielders.

Filip started the move, passing to his brother Patrik but as he took a heavy challenge from a Hamilton defender the ball broke to Michael Ordish whose low cross into the penalty box was met by Filip who bundled the ball into the net ahead of a Hamilton defender.

SIGNIFICANT

There were other significant contributions from throughout the team with the midfielders and forwards obviously getting the chance to impress most.

James Forrest and James Keatings regularly swapped wings in support of Greig Spence while Twardzik, Calum Bagshaw and Luca Santonocito controlled and dictated the flow of the game from midfield.

Coach Stevie Frail had plenty to be pleased about after the match and is looking for his side to maintain the standards that they have set over the last two games.

He said: "For big chunks of the game last week they were excellent and it was the same again this week. We're trying to play in the attacking style, the way that Celtic sides are encouraged to play, by getting the ball down and passing it around.

"There's more to football though and the back four have been excellent over the last two games. They've been switched on at all times.

“At 3-0 I was shouting at the players that we weren't settling for that. We need that standard to be reached and maintained, we won't accept it if they don't reach those levels.

TEMPO

“They have been given us the right tempo in training, they have taken that into games. The players are looking to win this league, that's part of their education and development.

"If they are to play for the Celtic first team, which is the purpose of this team, they need to make sure that they work hard off the ball as well as on it."

Celtic started the game sharply and took the lead in the 10th minute when a quick free kick from Richie Towell to Forrest ended with a low cross into the six yard box with Spence getting in front of Twardzik to net from close range.

Four minutes later Celtic doubled their lead when Bagshaw sent a glancing header from a Santonocito free kick looping over the keeper into the net.

Hamilton had their chances but couldn't match Celtic's ruthless touch in front of goal with Keatings adding a third in the 29th minute with a low shot from 18 yards out after great work from Bagshaw to create the opening.

IMPRESSED

Frail and Tommy McIntyre spent the second half urging their side to move forward and although they failed to match the heights of their first half performance there was still plenty to be impressed with.

A lot of work is clearly being put in to develop players into first team material with the current crop of players noticeably stronger than previous sides.

Frail explained: "We're enjoying the training, the players are working hard and after these two results they'll be itching to get back in to training again on Monday.

"We work them on the ball in the morning then in the afternoon they are on a weights programme to strengthen and develop them. Ian Coll our sports scientist has put together a programme for the players to work to

"On a Friday they are feeling it in their legs but they know that it's helping them on a Saturday when they are playing and we're seeing the results of everyone's efforts.

CELTIC Giordano; Towell, G.Gallacher, D.Gallacher, Brennan; F.Twardzik, Santonocito, Bagshaw (Lowdon 81); Forrest, Spence (Ordish 76), Keatings (P.Twardzik 80)

SUBS not used: Kennedy, Gormley, Cochrane, Young

GOALS Spence 10, Bagshaw 14, Keatings 29, Twardzik 80

Early start for u19's at Rutherglen

Celtic's youth side have a short journey into Rutherglen this morning to face Hamilton Accies at New Southcroft Park, home of Rutherglen Glencairn, kick off 11am

The young hoops beat Motherwell 4-1 last week in testing conditions but it looks like being a pleasant sunny morning in the South Lanarkshire hotspot.

Last week's win should have given the squad a big boost after four draws in succession with the u-19 table fantastically competitive.

Reaching the new ground doesn't seem as easy as the old ground off Glasgow Road, driving through Rutherglen Main Street towards Hampden and taking a sharp right seems the best bet.

In yesterday's u-19 matches Dundee United won 2-1 at Aberdeen with St Mirren beating Motherwell 5-2.

Last minute penalty seals the points as Ujpest win away to Debrecen

Ujpest Dozsa came from behind tonight to beat Debrecen 2-1 and move into joint top spot in the Hungarian league.

Peter Kabat was again the hero for Willie McStay's side with the last minute penalty that clinched the points.

Debrecen had taken the lead in the the 16th minute with a penalty from Rudolph but Kabat equalised six minutes before half time.

The game looked certain to end in a draw but a late corner kick from the left saw a home defender handle from the cross with the referee pointing to the spot.

Kabat cooly stepped up to send the Debrecen keeper the wrong way and roll the ball into the net sparking off wild scenes of delight on the visitors bench and no doubt throughout the three hour coach journey back to Budapest.

Ujpest website

Hungarian league table

Willie McStay interview

McStay's Champions League challenge

Ujpest Dozsa face their toughest domestic challenge of the season tonight when they travel to Debrecen.

Manager Willie McStay is looking forward to testing his side against Hungary's Champions League entrants knowing that a win will put his side into joint top place in the league alongside Videoton.

The game has been brought forward to tonight to give Debrecen extra preparation time for their trip to Italy to face Fiorentina with the first match between the two sides ending in a 4-2 defeat for Debrecen.

"Every game in this league presents a challenge but we're really looking forward to playing Debrecen," said McStay. "I know that my players thrive on the big occasion and that's exactly what this game will be.

OPPORTUNITY
"We've prepared well for the match and have a good idea of what to expect from Debrecen, they are a team that likes to score goals and that gives us the opportunity to attack them.
"Debrecen play with a lot of passion as they showed against Fiorentina, we'll have to match that and have the players to do that.
"It's great for Hungary to have a team in the Champions League and so far they have been a credit to themselves and the league.
"They played well but lost 1-0 at Liverpool then lost a few bad goals to set pieces at home to Lyon then gave Fiorentina a great game.
"They've had a go and expressed themselves which is good to see, they haven't set out to frustrate teams and have shown that they can play a bit themselves.
"This is an important game for us in the league, there are a few teams at a similar level to ourselves and we want to stay up there in contention.

SILVERWARE
"It's eleven years since Ujpest won any silverware and that's what is driving myself and Joe McBride on. Winning something in our first season would be an amazing feeling.
"We've got a run of tough games coming up before the winter break starts on November 21. Hopefully we'll still be up there in the top three and in contention when the season resumes in February."
McStay has been on a fantastic learning experience since making the switch from Celtic to Ujpest.
A week of frantic dvd viewing was all the preparation that he had for the job before being pitched into pre-season training for a league that he had never experienced.
With Joe McBride appointed as his assistant they went about the task of imposing their own ideas on the game onto a group of players who were equally in the dark about the new management team at their club.

LANGUAGE
Every season new managers takeover at clubs but the challenge of a new country and a new language added to the task facing McStay.
He admitted: "Every manager has to gain the respect of the dressing room, when you don't speak the same language gaining respect is even more important.
"There wasn't any time to adapt, myself and Joe knew the job that we had to do and made quick judgements on the players that we had and what they were capable of.
"We had to work with the players that we inherited, my biggest decision was to retain Peter Kabat.
"From the first dvd's that I watched I knew that he would be central to our plans, he's our number 10 and brings things together in the team.

CAPTAIN
"There was an offer for him from Debrecen but I told the directors that he had to stay with Ujpest and I made him our captain.
"That was important for the team, he's respected by his team-mates and has been magnificent for us.
"We've put a lot of work and effort into training and it was important to increase the tempo that we play at, we've been rewarded by that with a few late goals that have been important.
"The players have been used to doing things their way, we're doing things differently and trying to keep the best parts of the Hungarian game and add it to our own ideas and the methods that I used at Celtic.
"You can't raise players fitness overnight, we've worked on it gradually and the players are feeling the benefits in their performances and results.
"It can get quite intensive but we work with the players on the training ground then show them dvd's of what they are doing, good and bad, and back that up with some visual presentations.
"That's not easy to do and I've had to become a video editor to help get things through to the players.
"Working on the training ground is just one aspect, showing them examples and explaining yourself is just as important and helps their understanding.
"I've had to become very demonstrative to get my ideas through because of the language issue but the players seem to be responding to the work that we are putting in with them."
The game against Debrecen tonight will certainly have an important bearing on Ujpest's season but McStay knows his squad well enough that tonight's match won't be an eye-opener.

JUDGEMENTS
After a decade working behind the scenes at Celtic with youth and reserve team players he is enjoying the challenge of being back in the firing line with judgements being made about him and his team on a weekly basis.
While the Scottish games stagnates and comes in for increasing criticism at the lack of quality and competition Hungarian football seems to be reviving after 20 years or more in the wilderness.
Budapest alone supports five First Division teams with half a dozen clubs having ambitions on the championship and the benefits of the Champions League.
Ujpest have waited a long time for success with McStay cautious about predicting how the season will unfold.

SCHEDULE
The former Celtic boss said: "We've got a hard schedule of games against the top teams coming up before the winter break at the end of this month.
"We've started the season well and are looking to be in the top three when the season resumes in February, doing that and still being involved in the cup is our immediate ambition.
"The Debrecen game will be a great test but I wouldn't say that they are a role model for others to copy.
"They have invested in a new stadium and training complex as well as players thanks to the Champions League money.
"That shows what can be done with success. The other challengers in Hungary want to get the championship and then get into the Champions League.
"If Debrecen win the league again and qualify for the Champions League it will put them into a very strong position.

AMBITIONS
"We want to achieve success and obviously seeing Debrecen in the Champions League gives every other club ambitions.
"This season we played Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League and I learned a lot from that. The players were bold, gave it a go and took a lot out of the matches despite losing.
"They saw what they could achieve and have carried that into the domestic season, hopefully we can build on that and bring the club some silverware this term."
Ujpest are expecting to visit Scotland for a week during their winter break as well as going to a training camp in Austria.
UJPEST website
HUNGARIAN league table

SFA gig for Broadfoot

The SFA have pulled off a major surprise by appointing Darryl Broadfoot as their new head of communications.

It's certainly an attractive job for any newspaper man in terms of profile and salary and offers a lucrative escape from the depressing rounds of cuts at the Herald group.

Broadfoot will be involved in all levels of communications at the SFA and his appointment will add extra spice to the strained relationship between SFA Chief Gordon Smith and James Traynor of the Daily Record and Radio Scotland.

Despite being former colleagues Traynor has been scathing of Smith since he moved to the SFA with the SFA man being drawn into one sided live slanging matches over various issues.

Traynor hasn't been shy to criticise Broadfoot either and recently referred to the youth and inexperience of the Herald's football chief, a title that Traynor once had.

Broadfoot will no doubt be given the task of 'minding' for Smith and George Burley to keep their public gaffes to a minimum against a media pack that doesn't take too kindly to one of their own moving to the other side of the microphone/laptop.

Celtic of course are still awaiting for a reply from the SFA for the criteria and an explanation of the process that brought about Glenn Loovens recent suspension.

Broadfoot will be anticipating a challenging time in his new job at Hampden and can be certain that his newspaper background will be regularly brought back into the public domain when the next SFA crisis erupts.

The Twardzik Bhoys: Filip and Patrik

Last Saturday's u-19 win over Motherwell was the first time that I've seen Filip Twardzik playing and the 16-year-old midfielder made a great impression.

Despite competing against players a few years older and in conditions best described as 'typically Scottish' Filip had the technique and physique to impress throughout the game playing in the centre of midfield.

Alongside Calum Bagshaw, Filip imposed himself on the midfield and was always available to take a pass or to thread the ball wide to James Forrest or James Keatings.

In the final minutes of the match Filip was joined by his brother Patrik who is a striker with both boys making an impact on a visit to Scotland from their German base.

BERLIN

The Twardzik brothers arrived at Celtic in January from Hertha Berlin with the Celtic Academy delighted by the progress that both players are making.

Youth coach Stevie Frail explained: "Both boys are u-17 internationalists for the Czech Republic, they were in Germany when we were alerted to them and will have been in our academy for a year in January.

"Filip showed against Motherwell what he's capable of, he's an all round good footballer just as comfortable at left-back, left midfield, left centre-back or in the middle of the park.

"We were interested to see how he would react when Motherwell equalised on a howling day. He had a wee wobble like the rest of the team but dug in and showed everyone what a good player he is."

IMPRESSED

Frail added: "The two boys were recommended to us, we took a look and were impressed with them, it's great to have two exciting young Chech internationalists coming through the system.

"Their father is in Germany with their older brother at Karlsruhe and their mother is here looking after the twins. That shows real dedication on the part of the family.

"As a club we have to continually be on the look out for players that we can bring in and develop through to first team, we are looking throughout Europe and beyond for players."

The twins older brother Dan is a goalkeeper at Karlsruhe while their father Rene played in goals for three different German clubs.

Celtic's u-19 side are back in action on Saturday when they face Hamilton Accies at the new ground of Rutherglen Glencairn, or The Glens as they are better known.

The match kicks off at 11am which gives plenty of time to take in the 19's match before heading along to watch the first team game against Kilmarnock.

'The modern day footballing circus' by Peter Latchford

Former goalkeeper Peter Latchford is glad that the 70's Bhoys weren't put under the media spotlight that current players face.

Barely a week goes by without some minor incident involving a player hitting the internet then quickly finding it's way into newspapers.

Celtic players have always carried celebrity status but the current crop have a wealth of media outlets interested in their every move with every second person in the street a would be photographer ready to take a picture or video that can quickly become public knowledge.

Earlier this year Scott Brown decided to spend his birthday down in Newcastle, before the last of the cake had been eaten a 'controversial' video of the midfielder on a train discussing something or other was being brought to the nations attention.

The 70's players were hardly angels but lived in and around the supporters, drinking and enjoying themselves amongst the people that paid their wages and with whom they had a greater affinity than today's detached 'superstars'.

COVERAGE

Latchford said: "There was nothing like the media coverage that you get now, it's a circus now.

"The players now live and work in a goldfish bowl, personally that's one thing that I'm very glad that I missed out on.

"Players can't do anything, they can't go anywhere, every day they are scrutinised by the media and supporters. Everything is recorded and debated.

"Thank goodness that didn't go on in my day, it would have got quite embarrassing!

"We did lead quite normal lives and for that I'm very grateful. I loved coming to do my job, I thoroughly enjoyed my job but I also valued my private life, my family and my life away from it.

"My family weren't in the glare of publicity, they appreciated that as well."

RARITY

It's hard to picture an age when live televised football was a rarity, before nightly radio phone-ins, pre message boards and websites and when football was only played on Saturday afternoons or Wednesday nights.

Only the champions played in the European Cup, the Uefa Cup was highly rated, clubs had supporters rather than fan-bases and the club shop consisted of a couple of scarves or tammies that had to be pre-ordered.

Despite the lack of add-ons the Celtic-Rangers fixture was always fiercely competitive with the fabled 4-2 match containing everything and more for the supporter.

Only this grainy cine camera tape exists to preserve the drama of the night, a fixture without parallel as the destiny of the championship was decided between the Glasgow rivals in Celtic's final game of the season.

RECAPTURE

A strike at STV prevented the highlights being shown on television and with Radio Scotland committed to commentating on the following nights Scotland-Northern Ireland Home International match only those that were inside Celtic Park or who played able to recapture the drama of a special Monday night.

Latchford admitted: "Probably because the 4-2 game wasn't on television we can tell more lies about it, Murdo's goal gets longer and longer every time that you talk to him.

"I've seen the grainy video of the match, I really wish that that game had been recorded. What a fabulous game.

"Just to capture the atmosphere in the park that night was incredible.

IMPORTANCE

"The build up wasn't like you get these days but there was no doubting the importance of the game, we needed to win to win the league, it was clear cut.

"Winning the league is always fantastic, to do it against Rangers in the circumstances that we did was amazing.

"It was a fantastic night for everyone involved and one that we'll all remember for the rest of our life's."

Celtic The Supersonic 70s