Youth Cup Final: Celtic player ratings

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14861576.post-1147375369664863252006-05-11T20:20:00.000Z2006-05-11T19:22:49.763ZYouth Cup Final: Celtic player ratingsSCOTT FOX: A great game for the talented shot-stopper, who made crucial saves at crucial times - much as he has done all season. Young Scott reminds me of Jim Leighton in that he occasionally looks ungainly, but his talent is there for all to see. I was pleased to hear he has made it into the Scotland Under-19 squad, although he faces a battle to dislodge the Hibs keeper Derek McNeill, who had a sensational game against Celtic's youths earlier this season. Scott will have to work hard on his physique and his technique on cross balls. May benefit from a loan move to get some first-team experience in the First or Second Division. PAUL CADDIS: Stricken by cramp late in extra-time, this talented attacking full back displayed great courage by continuing to give 100 per cent while clearly in pain. Didn't get forward as much as he usually does, mainly due to him being against a tough customer in Andrew Driver, who had destroyed Rangers at Murray Park in the cup quarter-finals. But on two or three occasions Paul showed the great skill and blistering pace that has made him a stand-out all season. A great wee player, but Hearts used that "wee" bit to their advantage, aiming a lot of their high balls to his flank. Paul slipped to give away a great chance to Mole in the first half, then the same player easily outjumped him for a free header in the second half. Paul has another season at this level, and it is to be hoped he has a growth spurt of Charlie Mulgrew proportions. Otherwise, he may have to consider a switch to a midfield role. DEAN RICHARDSON: Not as flashy as some of the other Celts on display, but a solid and reliable customer who had one of his best games for the youth team until his tired header in 88 minutes set up the Hearts equaliser. That was unfair on the sturdy left back, who had been seldom troubled up to that point. Dean, however, doesn't have the pace or trickery of Caddis to make much impression further up the park. He will need to show total dedication to developing his physique, fitness and pace if he is to have a long career in the professional game. May well benefit from a loan move next season. SCOTT CUTHBERT: He needed to be big and brave if Celtic were to withstand Hearts' aerial bombardment - and he was. Didn't miss a header all night and showed good pace and strength when the Edinburgh side tried to play the ball on the deck. Didn't hang about with his clearances - at one point actually clattering the ball off the roof of the South Stand. And at times his distribution could have been better. But the Scotland Under-19 captain is a fierce competitor who will undoubtedly force his way into the first team squad for the start of next season. One of the key men for the Celts in this final. An athletic stopper in the John Kennedy/Stephen McManus mould. DARREN O'DEA: The Irish centre-back also needed to have a big game - and he did. Didn't miss a tackle, and competed well in the air. Some of his interventions were absolutely crucial. Big Darren had a couple of old-fashioned sclaffs along the way, and could do with a tad more composure in his clearances and distribution. But this fearless Bhoy is a born winner. Could perhaps do with a few months on loan to get first-team experience, but this is one player no striker would enjoy playing against. CHARLIE GRANT: The cheer that went up when wee Charlie cemented the much-taller Calum Elliott in an aerial challenge summed up how quickly the large crowd had grown to appreciate this midfield battler's incredible tenacity. A real Man of the Match performance from this tigerish ball-winner, with the added bonus that his ball retention, passing and composure is also improving by the week. His incredible fitness was exemplified in the last minute of extra time when he won yet another tackle, then jinked inside a man before setting up Mark Millar for the clinching goal. Think Neil Lennon with more strength and pace, plus harder-tackling and even playing forward passes. A cert to be pushing for the first team squad at some point next season. And once he gets in, he'll stay there. MICHAEL McGLINCHEY: A largely disappointing performance from the talented teenager, who got little change out of Hearts left back Lee Wallace when on the right of midfield, then started to suffer from cramp after being switched up front. But then he goes and snatches the all-important second goal! Michael is very talented, with two good feet and a bit of pace. But he is very small and slight - only slightly bigger than Maloney. He will need to follow Shaunaldinho's lead and work extremely hard in the gym and running track to get the strength and extra pace he'll need to make an impact against six-foot-plus defenders. Next season will be a crucial one for him. SIMON FERRY: I was delighted that a sizeable crowd, plus TV viewers, got the chance to see why I have been raving about this brilliant midfielder all season. Hearts put a lot of effort into stopping him, yet he still bossed the game and made some quite brilliant runs. None better than the incredible effort that set up the opening goal. Found it hard at times because Hearts were playing a lot of back-to-front football, but was never slow to get back to help out his defence. Challenges for every ball in the air and is almost as hard a tackler as Grant. Tried to play on with a painful groin injury, but was forced off. And he earned a big plus in my book for being the first Celt to break off from the after-match celebrations to shake the hands of every one of the distraught Hearts players. I can find no reason why he shouldn't go straight into the first team squad for the start of next season. Why waste millions on a replacement for Petrov when the solution is staring us in the face? TEODOR BJARNASON: A surprisingly poor 90 minutes for the big Icelandic player on the left of midfield, with many of his deft flicks finding maroon shirts. He wasn't helped by the fact the rest of the Celtic midfielders and forwards are predominantly right-footed, with their first instinct being to head for that wing. Battled away without seeing much of the ball, and got forward well to notch the first goal after superb work from Ferry. But Teddy came into his own at the centre of midfield in extra-time after wee "Si" limped off. A tremendous engine and bags of skill. May benefit from a wee loan spell to toughen him up. I reckon a few SPL clubs would be very interested in snapping him up. JIM O'BRIEN: Non-stop effort from the big frontman, who ran his legs off for the cause without enjoying much luck in front of goal. It was no concidence that the two Hearts central defenders were struggling with cramp long before the end, having had to chase this rangy Bhoy for two hours. Didn't get a clear-cut chance but showed some wonderful skill and some great first touches. If he can work hard on his upper-body strength and convince Strachan that he has the hunger to make it to the top, big Jim could be starring for the first team before long. PAUL McGOWAN: After the excitement of making the bench for the first team last Sunday, wee Gowser suffered a largely disappointing night as Celtic struggled to get forward with any fluency for long periods. Showed great skill and plenty of running, but made the wrong choice of pass on a few occasions and was generally outmuscled by the big Hearts defenders. Was a bit greedy towards the end of the 90 minutes when he tried a 20-yard chip when he had options right and left. Paul has made incredible progress this season but will have to do even more if he is to make the next step. Needs to work hard on his pace and physique and look to make an impression at Reserves level or out on loan next season. MARK MILLAR: Capped off a fantastic season with a wonderful third goal which displayed his pace, skill and self-confidence. This 18-year-old lad has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few months, to the extent that he must have felt unlucky not to have made the starting 11. Showed great positivity on the right of midfield, repeatedly driving forward and showing no signs of being intimidated against his taller and broader opponents. Will surely take a stretch and fill out a bit over the next 12 months, and will be a key player for a totally new Under-19s squad next term. If he continues to progress at the rate he has done over the past six months, then Mark could go very far indeed. RYAN CONROY: The tricky left winger transformed the game after coming on early in extra time. Beat his man time and again and put in several great crosses. Now in the Scotland Under-19 squad, but has a bit of work to do in the gym before he can expect to challenge for the first team. I wouldn't rule out seeing this talented lad at left back at some point next season. DIARMUID O'CARROLL: Can't quite work out why the big kid from Killarney didn't start the game, as his no-nonsense style and physical presence made him ideal for this type of opposition. Didn't get much of a chance in the few minutes he was on the pitch. But big Dermo has been on fire lately for the Youths and Reserves, and I hope to see him make the breakthrough into the first team squad next season. Could well do his chances no end of good by shining while out on loan to an SPL side. Subs not used: Paul Skinner (Irish goalkeeper), Andy Traub (Scottish-born centre-half)Celticbloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11594960752264520028noreply@blogger.com