30 Jul 2025 09:33:17
I thought about this today and realized we have'nt successfully brought any youth players through to our first team since Anthony Ralston.
Anthony Ralston turns 27 later this year.
That is incredibly disappointing.
Something seriously needs to change to both improve the quality of youngsters coming thru and also to stop our better youngsters from moving south.
30 Jul 2025 09:38:43
We also have Dane Murray and Stephen Welsh but I agree that there has not been many.
30 Jul 2025 10:26:00
I've long said its a waste of time and money our youth setup. We are basically developing players for other teams, most players end up in the lower leagues in Scotland, anyone with any promise heads to England as soon as they get a chance. So what's the point?
Also, it's jobs for the boys, don't get me wrong some very well meaning people and some good players in their day, but if you were setting up a proper academy you'd scout the world for talent (including coaches) our selection process seems to be if you were an ex-player or relation you can have the job.
30 Jul 2025 10:58:29
The point is, it is a requirement for a UEFA license, which is a requirement to play in Europe and also a requirement for SFA membership.
30 Jul 2025 12:35:22
Guys you can moan about the club all you want in respect of young players, but how many of them, firstly have been good enough and secondly jumped ship to teams in PL, Bundasliga or Chamionship in Engerlund.
The pathway is high here for a reason, like many other clubs, only the best survive, we cannot be sentimental.
They need to have patience as getting into the first team should be set at a high bar.
Many have found out that it is even harder to get into the first teams in the clubs they left us for. Grass and greener comes to mind.
Lowering our standards to keep our own young players is not acceptable and we all would be moaning about the overall strength of our squad if we did this.
McGowan is a squad player and we all rate him. None of our own young players are at his level, none of them.
30 Jul 2025 15:19:38
Let's get it correct, the young lads don't get much of a sniff and if they do its normally when we are over using fringe players in games rather than bedding one or two in each year, mcardle fir instance looked fine in his end if season cameos while playing in an team of established players, that's what brings them on.