elfideldo

A concern about our players in the 17-19 age bracket

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/game-time-player-development/

Report on this morning's U14 game at Murray Park

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/14s-see-off-accies/

I think the only other out on loan is Kyle McAusland at Ayr United

Callum has move to Alloa on loan till the end of the season, Paul Hartley was raving about him after his first game.

Report on tonight's U16 game

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/16s-edge-out-hibsm/

I accept your point your point that on Saturday our team wasn't as youthful as some might have thought, however it did contain a number of inexperienced professionals. Hopefully they'll gain experience in the coming months and seasons

Just taking the four players Montrose have on loan John Gibson, Ricky McIntosh, Leighton McIntosh and Martin Boyle all have less experience than any of the Rangers lineup. None of then have played in a youth International never mind an U21 International, unlike most of the Rangers team. I'm well aware we have a few successes in the past which are now irrelevant, its what happens now and in the future that matters.

Rangers beat Hearts 3-2 in a friendly at Murray Park today with goals from Charlie Telfer (Pen), Travis Gregory and Tom Walsh. I don't know the lineups it was listed as U18, Travis Gregory is either a 1993 or 1994 which makes him a year or two older.

It seems some are misunderstanding the point I am trying to make, I am not saying we should have more young players in the team. What I am saying is that it shouldn't be used as an excuse.

We may have a young team in term of Rangers, but not compared to quite a few other clubs all playing in a higher division.

First of all let me say that having watched the youth teams on a regular basis nobody enjoys seeing a youngster progress to the first team more than me.

A couple have done really well this season and the others have let nobody down and done okay.

The facts are we are in 3rd division and if we couldn't promote a few youngsters then we really would be in a bad way. There seems to be a perception that we have a very young team playing against lower league journeymen, if you actually look at the facts you will find this isn't the case.

Our starting lineup on Saturday had an average age of 24.9 with one teenager in Lewis McLeod, our opponents Montrose average was 23.2 and they included three 19 years olds, Ricky McIntosh (on loan from St.Johnstone), Leighton McIntosh and Martin Boyle (both on loan from Dundee). With most teams in this division having loan players teenagers in the opposition is not unusual, even Queen's Park started with a 17 and 18 year old in our recent meeting.

On Saturday Hearts reached the League Cup final with four 19 year olds in their starting line up, Fraser Mullen, Jamie Walker, Callum Tapping and Jason Holt, another 19 year old Kevin McHattie has been playing for their first team on a regular basis. An indication of where our young players are with Hearts can be seen in the last four youth league results.

5th Nov 2011 Hearts 4 Rangers 3

27th Aug 2011 Rangers 0 Hearts 2

22nd April 2011 Hearts 1 Rangers 0

1st April 2011 Rangers 1 Hearts 4

You have to go back to 14th February 2010 when goals from Kane Hemmings and Kmail Wiktorski gave Rangers a 2-0 in a youth cup tie.

There can be three reasons for this, Hearts had/have a better group of players, they were coached better or a combination of the two. Its probably a combination of the two with a bit of emphasis on the middle one.

Report on today's games at Murray Park

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/youth-updateu/

amms

With the exception of a couple every player you mention was recruited by the previous youth setup and before the "give me an athlete and I'll make him a player" ethos of the current regime.

der berliner

I agree we are in the 3rd divison and don't have a great record on youth development, so we should just accept that and give up ? We could certainly do it a lot cheaper then, the current full time coaches and scouts at youth level are costing around 400k a year, a lot of money for a third division club.

Its a fact of life that all decent players will eventually move to England, but the number that move directly to an English club is minimal. Players can only sign for English clubs once they are 16, those that have come through Scottish clubs systems and chosen to go to England are few and far between probably less than 1 each year, I can only think of Islam Feruz, Darren Ferguson, Danny Galbraith and David Gray in recent years. The last Rangers player to come through the youth setup and sign for an English club rather than Rangers was Brian Hodge who signed for Blackburn and is now at Stenhousemuir, The compensation rules between Scotland and England have changed since then and English clubs would have to pay a significant fee for a 16 year old that has been in the system since the age of 11.

Rangers should be the first choice for the majority of youngsters in Scotland whether we are in the third division or not. We still have the best facilities and should be getting better value on the money we spend at this level.

I just thought it was an interesting article and we should be taking on board anything that appears to work. I am sure we can learn something from them and others that work on a different scale, such as Falkirk, Hamilton, Crewe etc.

I do realise Messi was scouted and bought for a fee.

Our current regime has scouted and bought 19 players from other Scottish clubs, only 4 have made it to pro youth contracts (5 if you include Danny Stoney who was released then bought back). Two are still at the club and may or may not get a contract, the other 12 were released without getting a pro contract. The latest two only lasted 12 months at the club.

I realise its not an exact science but 4 from 17 is not good figures, remember this is not players progressing to the first team but players progressing to their first pro contract.

Just read today the Hamilton's Gary Fraser looks likely to get a move to Bolton, he was released by Rangers joined Celtic before being released by them too.

Three points stick out for me

How important are the results?

A lot. Pep Guardiola says that you cannot separate training and competition. You aren't there not to lose: you are there to win. Winning or losing is part of the comprehensive education and the club looks to win always, but through a set way to play. In this they are ruthless: you have to do everything possible to win, but with an undisputed way of play.

How are the players chosen? What skills do you want?

Technique, tactical intelligence and mental speed. These three traits are the ones that matter. Players with very good technique, who are able to understand the game (not just play, but also understand it) and speed of mind.

Is physical strength and height given much importance?

None. Barca does not care about the size of the player. The three parameters I mentioned are the only ones that matter. Not even if you stand out during a tournament. Indeed, Barcelona often signe kids that have gone unnoticed in a tournament, but have those three potential features.

I wonder how this fits in with Sinky's philosophy.

http://www.blueprintforfootball.com/2012/04/inside-footballs-talent-factory.html?m=1

Standard and style of play are right through the club until you get to U13's, but Sinky will soon change them too.

Look like Rangers could be going to The Foyle cup in July. The report suggests at U15 level, not sure of the standard at this tournament, but the 15's who lost 2-1 to Falkirk at the weekend are not our best age group.

http://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/rangers-to-debut-in-2013-foyle-cup-1-4706625

Report on today's 13's game at Murray Park

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/13s-hit-double-figures/

It will get played, the other outstanding game against QOTS is scheduled for next Tuesday at Palmerston KO 7.30

I have always said we have a good batch of 1995 & 1996's. The problems are 1997's to 1999's where the overall standard is not so good.

The big problem for these players is competitive games if they are not U17 (1996) or in the first team they don't have any competitive games to play in, how does that help their development ?

Charlie Telfer(1995) has been at Rangers eight years, he is a skillful, creative midfielder. Best central or behind the main striker, tends to be shunted to wide right, but better central.

Darren Ramsay (1995) also been a Rangers since a young age, an all round midfielder and probably next in line for a midfield place.

Ryan Sinnamon (1996) another who has been at the club a long time, right-back and if I had to pick one to for the future it would be him. At 16 this season may be just a bit early.

Danny Stoney (1996) I believe Danny was at Rangers then was released and was resigned a year later, best position is just behind the main striker but can play as the main striker too.

Greg Pascazio (1996) A rare success among Sinky's purchases ( at least 11 have been bought then released before securing a youth contract). Centre back Greg joined from Stirling Albion and the progress he has made has been astounding, this season may be just to early for him.

Luca Gasparotto (1995) Luca has been exceptional since joining Rangers from Canada, he has already captained the reserves. At the head of the queue should a centre back chance arise.

Lack of competitive games and the recent "closed door" policy makes it difficult even for their parents to track their progress.

Report on today's U13 tournament at Stenhousemuir

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/13s-at-stenhousemuir-tournament/

At the time Rangers couldn't afford it.

It now been over taken bu UEFA, the 32 qualifiers for next season's CL will be invited to take part in a parallel youth tournament.

http://www.uefa.com/uefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/newsid=1905480.html

how are our 19's getting on in the next gen series? (under 19 champions league)

Our youths don't have a league play in never mind the Next Gen Series

A wee article on former youth player Daniele Fortunato

http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/daniele-fortunato/

For the development games after New Year eight "elite" clubs will play each other home and away from U11's through to U 17's. Elite status is awarded on a number of criteria, including coaches, facilities etc.

I believe only six clubs meet all the criteria so another two will be invited.

Very detailed info. Are you a scout or just a hobbyist?

A hobbyist, been offered scouting work, but to do it properly I would have to give up watching Rangers so didn't take it up.

Slightly off topic but I popped into Cliftonhill on Wednesday to watch Albion Rovers play Ayr while working. A shit match but I heard one of the directors talking about the Rovers number 7 who's on loan from Rangers. I didn't catch his name and didn't want to pester the director either. Anyway, the boy looked a poor footballer and didn't really do much to impress at all. Any chance you would know his name Elfideldo?

 

Also, didn't we have a player on our books named Merenghi a few years back? He was playing for Ayr.

No player on loan unless it was very recent, it was probably Gordon Dick who was released in the summer. He was a decent player coming through the age groups but stopped progressing. Both Ants Marenghi and Adam Hunter joined Ayr United in the summer after being released.

I see what you mean

 

Do our youths have any competitive fixtures left to play at all this season?

 

Having looked at the SFL website I see that the U19's league is now completed ...if you can call it that since half the teams didn't play their full quota of 13 games.

 

I also notice that the U17's league appears to have been scrapped altogether this season.

 

You always hear the same nonsense about having to tackle the game at 'grass roots level' when pundits discuss what's wrong with our game.

 

How can our young players develop without a proper competitive youth structure?

This is another example of where our current setup is failing. We only entered the SFL reserve league. So competitive football above U17's ended with the defeat to Killie in the Youth Cup. There are a group of players like Charlie Telfer, Craig Halkett, Jamie Burrows for example, who are now restricted pretty much to bounce games.

17's still have Glasgow Cup games and Elite Development games start in the NEw Year.