What Do Celtic Have In Reserve?

It probably wont surprise you to know I do try and track the Celtic Reserves performances as best I can. Data is scarce and I am at the mercy of the official site for match reports and line ups, and Celtic TV for highlights. The excellent Videocelts also provides unrivalled Reserve coverage on their site and on Twitter.

From these sources I can do basic appearance data plus assists and goals.

But I would like to share with you what I have.

Season Overview

This season saw the advent of a Reserve League whereby 18 sides played each other once, 17 matches.

After losing two of their first four games, Celtic then only lost one more match. However, that one proved crucial as The Rangers reserves triumphed 2-0 and eventually won the league on goal difference. Celtic therefore finished 2^nd.

The full final league table can be found here.

Early season entry into the Irn Bru Cup has in the past resulted in victories over SPFL opposition. However, this season, a disappointing 0-4 reverse at Annan Athletic limited the Reserves exposure to seasoned professional encounters to one match.

Had Celtic gained entry into the Champions League then the Youth team would have been eligible for the UEFA Youth League. This would see the youngsters come up against counterparts from the youth sides of the same opposition as the senior side draw in the Group Stages. The lack of Champions League football therefore damages the club from top to bottom and not just financially. The young players are denied incalculable experience of travel, preparation and exposure to elite European opposition.

The Reserve Cup served up further disappointment where the young Celts exited at the initial Group stage following a loss to Aberdeen.

I have not included the Glasgow Cup in my review as the official site only included one match report plus the final so there is no consistent data set.

Overall then a fairly down beat season for the Reserves. Here is a summary of their record:

Player Appearances

Across 21 matches Celtic have to find opportunities for player too old for under 18’s, promising under 18s and first team squad players lacking game time.

Consequently 35 players were used in 21 matches.

Stephen Welsh, a centre back contracted to the club until 2020, was the only player to appear in all 21 matches. Indeed, he played every minute. Midfielder Kerr McInroy and left back Daniel Church both racked up 19 appearances. Ten others registered double figures for appearance.

The full break down for the Reserves as regards appearance data is:

Nine first team squad members were given game time over the season.

Notable youth prospects from the younger sections such as Church, Dembele and Oko-Flex saw plenty of action playing “up”.

Across the squads there are rather a lot of midfielders and not too many defenders!

Goals and Assists

Data over and beyond appearances is limited to goals and assists which only allows assessment of attacking potential. Even then I was at the mercy of whether Celtic TV showed highlights which they sometimes don’t. Then I am relying on assisters being mentioned in match reports on Cetic.net or Videocelts.

So, there may be some gaps.

But with goals and assists I can calculate Goals per 90m, Assists per 90m and then overall Scoring Contribution per 90m.

Goals

Aitchison was the only player to get into double figures with 10. Oko-Flex was a clear second with 8.

In terms of Goals per 90m, I have limited to 10% of appearances or at least 190 minutes playing time. The table is:

Winger Savoury managed 3 goals in just over 300 minutes. But the hitherto more regular forwards Aitchison and Oko-Flex otherwise have the best per 90m rates as well as the best overall total scoring records.

Aitchison’s 0.79 per 90m is very good indeed being higher than any in the first team.

Assists

Using the same 190 minute cut off, the assists per 90m records are:

There was no outstanding assist machine in terms of pure volume with seven players achieving 3 or 4. Calvin Miller recorded 3 in his 3 outings for the reserves and Mikey Johnston managed 4 in 6 appearances.

The much-discussed Scott Allan managed 2 in nearly 300 minutes.

The more regularly played Henderson racked up 4 in 1027 minutes, a more reliable guide to performance given this equates to over 10 matches.

For context, the best rate in the senior squad is Forrest on 0.39 per 90m.

Scoring Contribution

Putting Goals and Assists together we can see overall Scoring Contribution.

Again, Savoury and Miller benefit from few minutes played. The stand out is therefore Aitchison managing 1.11 goals and assists per 90m over 1139 minutes.

You can also see why Johnston and Henderson have been given first team action.

Loan Bhoys

Playing for Celtic Reserves has been limiting this season as explained. Therefore, the use of loan deals continues to be a key pillar in the development strategy. Loans to other Scottish clubs allows Celtic players to return to play in mid-week Reserves matches where there are no clashes with the loaning club. Many lower league Scottish clubs are part-time and therefore youngsters can benefit from training with seasoned pros whilst continuing their development at Lennoxtown in parallel.

Here are the loan moves undertaken this season.

Players marked with an * are still to complete their loans and the data is as at 11^th May 2019.

There are some clear successes here.

Ross Doohan playing in a side competing at the top of the Scottish Championship with Ayr United has managed 46 matches and is now exposed to the pressure of the play offs. This is a great use of the loan system.

Robbie Deas managed 30 appearances in the centre of Cowdenbeath’s defence which will hold him in great stead.

Calvin Miller managed 16 appearances in the top division with Dundee albeit in a struggling side.

Lewis Morgan getting game time in English League One, facing a promotion battle and a Wembley lower league cup experience with a huge club will be beneficial.

Some have not been so successful. Aitchison’s loan spells have seen sporadic appearances and not many goals.

Both Ciaran Diver and PJ Crossan got game time in the Scottish lower leagues as attackers but have not been able tp produce much output from those experiences.

As always, the loan game is a mixed one but will continue to be used as a strategy to give young players game time in more hardened environs.

First Team Successes

The objective here is to produce first team players, and ideally Champions League standard players. This has had success over the years as Tierney, McGregor, Forrest in particular are showing now.

Giving young players from the academy time in the first team is difficult when the pressures at Celtic mean losing 1 game, never mind 3, is a crisis.

As a result, there have been few academy graduate appearances this season.

Only six players have featured in match day squads and three of those (Hazard, McInroy and Oko-Flex) made the bench once only with no minutes experienced.

By far the most successful graduate has been Johnston with 36 first team involvements of which he appeared in 20 matches. Tellingly he has yet to complete 90 minutes this season. He has registered 3 goals and 1 assist. Share on X

Ewan Henderson has seen a mini break through this year with 10 first team involvements and 5 appearances. His 217 minutes have yielded an impressive 2 assists.

Finally, Ralston has seen first team action before this season and appeared in 12 match day squads. He has completed 3 full matches and registered a gaol from right full back.

All this illustrates how hard it is to get near the Celtic first team squad for young players coming through the academy.

Moving On

Sadly, the vast majority of boys will not make the Celtic first team. Some will prove Celtic wrong, like Andrew Robertson of Liverpool. He will continue to be an exception that proves the rule that few will progress, unfortunately.

Videocelts reported the following players have been released, some of whom you will see played for the Reserves this season:

Regan Hendry, Wallace Duffy, Ciaran Diver, Grant Savoury, Kieran McGrath, Ross McLaughlin, Kristi Marku, PJ Crossan, Reece Willison and Thomas Caffrey.

Lewis Bell left in January for Arbroath.

Summary

Not wanting to finish on a down beat note it should be noted Celtic are prodigious developers of talent for Scottish football. Few will make it at Celtic, but many, including the aforementioned Lewis Bell at Arbroath, may go on to have respectable professional careers.

All the best to all the remaining and leaving Celtic youngsters.