I am for it and against it.

They need to regularly be playing against a better standard of player.

However depending on the rules could it hinder their opportunity to make 1st team appearances when needed or called upon?

I assume they cannot enter the main domestic cups and cannot promote above the Championship should they make it there?

"Project Brave"

http://25.media.tumblr.com/067f943e5bc32bab65a5c94aece6d30e/tumblr_mrch3hauft1qbmz6lo1_400.gif

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Pile of utter garbage and pure deflection from the real issues affecting our game.

Merely pandering to the highest supporter teams in the country in the hope it'll generate more revenue.

Pathetic.

Might be good for our young players but I'm not sure it'll do much good for the game overall.

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Absolute nonsense and another example that Scottish football top brass see Scottish football as being ultimately all about Celtic and Rangers and they'll pander to them and exploit them at every opportunity.

This offers nothing for the whole of the game.

How many Celtic and Rangers youth players have been loaned out before making their way into the first teams of the clubs? Barry McKay? Anyone else?

The crowds at the colt games in the Irn Bru cup were rubbish.

It's utter pash and does not have my support.

All for it personally but I can't see the majority passing it sadly.

There are a lot of positives for it and of course there are some negatives as well but this has worked well for teams in other countries and with there being no ressie league these days it provides a competitive challenge to the best young talent in the country

It's just weak decision making to try and suit everyone but instead suiting no one.

There are a lot of positives for it
_________________________

Such as?

and with there being no ressie league
_____________________________

Set up a proper reserve league and then there's no need for a colt team.

Easy solution that's being ignored because the top brass are looking for ways to milk old firm fans even further.

I seem to remember lot's of moaning from Rangers about the 'hammer throwers' they had to face week in week out while they were on the 'journey'. Now both Rangers and Celtic are happy to pitch their youngsters in against said hammer throwers.

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1 - A competitive league for boys who are considered to be the best in the country.

2 - The chance to win trophies at a senior level from a young age.

3 - Bridging the gap between Under 20 level to the first team.

That's the 3 biggest positives for me and no one is going to convince me that the Development league or a 6 month loan deal to East Fife is the same or better than having the squad together for a full year playing senior football.

The reserve league had it's flaws as well as there were times Celtic and Rangers had 8 or 9 first team squad players starting those games.

The colt teams would be a fixed 21 man squad from the younger boys at the club who can and would benefit from it.

To counter:

1 - they'll be playing in a low standard league without any senior players beside them. Being sent on loan would also provide them with the same opportunity.

2 - given the way the Celtic team was smashed by Livi I doubt they'd be winning very much in terms of silverware. Being sent on loan to title chasing lower league teams would provide them with better opportunities.

3 - what evidence is there that this would fill the gap between under 20s and first team?

If you ask any pro from a couple of decades ago they'll tell you that they learned the most from playing reserve football alongside senior pros.

Give them that opportunity again with a proper reserve league with better limits on senior players playing (ie only 6 over 21s etc).

2 - given the way the Celtic team was smashed by Livi I doubt they'd be winning very much in terms of silverware. Being sent on loan to title chasing lower league teams would provide them with better opportunities.


I like how you left out the victories from their run that year. They were beaten by an in form Livingston side yes but they also racked up a few impressive wins.




3 - what evidence is there that this would fill the gap between under 20s and first team?

It's pretty simple, right now the development league is no where near as good as what the reserve league was. However, you need to find a balance between 2 or 3 boys playing against senior pros and a full squad of younger boys playing against each other.

For me, that's where I believe a colt squad in our lower leagues where they can play every Saturday at 3pm against guys at a senior level will enhance their development.

It would also provide a shock to some of them to see the effort boys at that level put in to having a day job and playing football on a Saturday.

You said they were likely to win things. They were pumped 5-1 by a side going well in the third tier.

They beat Annan 5-1 and Cowdenbeath 2-1.

Rangers lost to Stenny at home 3-1.

Inspiring stuff.

Ivan's raging!!

I'm all for this , especially if it makes Ivan all raging

I think the development league is dreadful, no doubt about it. Totally agree.

I don't think Colt teams are the answer for the Scottish game though.

I have a number of concerns, not least that it may encourage more and more kids to go to the Old Firm rather than to the other clubs. Some of those kids will end up locked into deals with the colt teams rather than playing for a top flight team.

I also have concerns that they'll be used as a cash cow and eventually they'll be shown on tv, taking television money away from other lower league teams. There's no doubt Alba will show them, and that means less money for your Falkirks and Raiths and more money for Rangers and Celtic. That's not helping our game either.

You said they were likely to win things


Did I?

Where did I say that?

"The chance to win trophies at a senior level from a young age"

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