Elfideldo

What time ? I'll see if I can make it.

My report on today's game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/second-half-goals-secure-points/

Report on this morning's 17's game against Hearts https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/easy-win-for-17s/

Report on today's 15's and 17's games against Killie https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/youth-round-up-6/

Liam has been the standout player for the 17's this season. He is not a striker but is an attacking midfielder.

The change in the youth setup since Craig Mulholland and then Mark Warburton coming is has been fantastic. Not only is there a change in style for the better but there now actually seems to be a plan there wasn't there in recent years. The atmosphere among players and parents at all ages is much better with us going from a dated football philosophy to a more modern and attractive style. Ironically now that we actually have some sort of plan, results at this level become less relevant. Players improve by playing at a higher level and where as we won't win the Development League, the game time 16 and 17 year olds are gaining will be a longer term benefit. The idea of casting the net wider is great, but Academy football has changed so much that it is not that simple and would incur a cost that we don't have at the moment. We have around 20 youth scouts but unless things have changed we don't have any scouts in Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen or Inverness. So it is the central belt , one in Northern Ireland and I believe one in the Midlands that has resulted in signing Kane Hemmings, Jordan Hamill and most recently Jordan Gibson. I gather that the record of quite a few of the scouts leaves a lot to be desired, with few if any of their recommendations being signed by the club. The commitment of travelling to Murray Park four/five times a week can have a big impact in both time and financially, especially if the alternative of Hearts/Hibs are on your doorstep. A look at the current Under 17's squad is a good indicator, of the 25 players I have listed on the blog 23 are from Ayrshire and West Central Scotland and only 2 from the East of Scotland. This really shows the commitment needed and shown previously by the McCrorie family and Ryan Hardie's family travelling many miles from South Ayrshire and Stranraer over the years. One small point to make is the 13 internationals in 13 years quote is a bit misleading. The criticism has been of the previous regime, he had little or no input in the development of these players, most had already played for Rangers first team before he arrived. As yet none of the 20 so players he paid a development fee for will play international football or play in Rangers first team. Thankfully those days are behind us and we can look forward to producing first team players and future Internationals.

Report on tonight's Glasgow Cup game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/glasgow-cup-win-at-lennoxtown/

Of course its all about opinions but the obvious answer is the three U16's that didn't play Friday but started for the 17's on Sunday. Scott Gray, Jack Thomson & Zak Rudden, you can add Jordan Houston to that as he would have started for the 17's but is injured at the moment. Stephen Kelly is a real talent and will feature for the 17's a lot this season, misses out a wee bit as he is physically kind of in between. Players develop at different rates, I really like Michael Hewitt but comapred to most of the 17's he is physically at a big disadvantage and most of his game time will be at 16's this season

He played two half games

Round up of this weekend's games against Thistle https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/rangers-v-thistle-youth-round-up/

The next target for these players id to make the U20's. Zak is only 15 and is a real handful for defences, there are a few rough edges there but hopefully he is in the right place to get them polished. Jack Thomson is also 15, but played at 17's the second half of last season. 16 year olds Liam Burt and Jamie Barjonas have already featured for the U20's. Grant Nelson also impressed at the recent Liverpool tournament.

Report on today's 15's & 17's games https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/youths-double-header-against-hibs/

Both Ross Lyon and Josh Jeffries are really benifiting from the changes at youth level. Prior to this season it was unusual for a 17 year old to start in under 20 games. Now half the team are and two of the subs who came on last night were 16 year olds. Josh had a tendency at times to run with the ball beat two then lose it. Coaching is now taken effect and he moves the ball quicker and as a consequence is a better player. I'm always a bit sad when a youth player is released, I think in Danny's case it may not be entirely down to ability.

My report on tonight's game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/20s-share-spoils-with-well/

His own article probably says more than anything I could add, so I'll keep it brief. If Sinky did such a great job at Rangers when he left the only way for him would be up....................so he is now at Queen's Park !!!! He never signed any of the players he claims credit for in the article. Anyone who has watched the youth teams in recent years will have seen massive improvements in style, attitude and a general feel good factor among players and parents since he left

Report on today's game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/08/29/17s-win-at-ralston/

My report on tonight's game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/comfortable-development-league-win/

Jim Will (Arsenal) As stated in the previous post Jim was awarded the Adidas Golden Ball for player of the tournament. He never made an impact and left in 1995 to return to Scotland and Dunfermline Athletic. He again failed to make a break through playing only a handful of games and if my memory is correct he joined the police force. Billy Dolan (Celtic) Never made a break through at either Celtic or St. Mirren, who he Joined in 1994 on a free transfer. I believe he became a postman after leaving full time football. Jim Beattie (Celtic) Jim never played a first team game at Celtic and was freed in 1993. He has short spells at St. Mirren, Ayr United and Albion Rovers. Then had a long junior career with Petershill. Eddie Conville (Dundee United) From what I remember he was a pal of Duncan Ferguson, never made a footballing impact at Dundee United though. Kevin Bain (Dundee) Captained the team at the finals and went on to play first team football at Dundee, including a League Cup Semi Final against Hearts in 1996. A short spell on loan to Portadown was followed by a brief spell with Rotherham United. Kevin went on to make over 200 appearances in a career with Stirling Albion, Brechin City, Peterhead & East Fife. Gary Bollan (Dundee United) One that needs no introduction to Rangers fans having spent three years at Ibrox. Made of 50 first team appearances with Dundee United before moving to Rangers. Then played for St. Johnstone & Livingston and briefly returned to Tannadice in 2003-04 season. This was followed by spells at Motherwell, Clyde & Brechin. Gary is currently a coach and Head Of Youth Delvelopment at first division Clyde. Neil Murray (Rangers) Neil played over sixty games in Rangers first team. The highlight was scoring in the 2-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Aberdeen in 1993. He them became a bit of a football nomad, playing in Switzerland, France and Germany as well as spells in the UK with Dundee United, Grimsby Town, Falkirk and Ayr United. Now on Setanta as a summariser on their Bundesliga coverage and is also a football agent. John Lindsay (Dundee United) Never made a first team appearance for the Tannadice club. I seem to remember he did player in the lower leagues possibly with Arbroath, I think injury then forced him to retire from playing. Craig Flannigan (Rangers) No first team appearances for Craig, although he was a regular scorer at youth and West Reserve League level. He played for Clydebank and Albion Rovers after leaving Ibrox. With brief spells at Partick Thistle, Queen Of The South and Queen’s Park. Kevin McGoldrick (Morton) Looked the part during the tournament and went on to make 15 appearances for Morton. By the age of 19 he was featuring in an article in the Daily Record, a couple of stone heavier and playing amateur football in Paisley. Paul Dickov (Arsenal) The most successful of the squad, going on to gain 10 full international caps and scoring 1 goal (against The Faroe Islands). Paul has now played over 300 games in the English leagues, most notably with Manchester City, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers. Returned to Leicester City this season signing a two year contract. Martin Dickson (Kilmarnock) As second choice goalkeeper Martin had the distinction of being the only player not to feature in the tournament. I’m afraid to say I haven’t a clue what happened to him after the finals. Brian O’Neil (Celtic) The second of three players to go on and play at full international level, gaining seven caps. Made over 100 appearances for Celtic but struggled a bit when he moved to Aberdeen. A transfer to Vfl Wolfsbug gave his career a spark again. After a brief spell at Derby County he went on to player over 100 games for Preston North End. Tom McMillan (Dundee United) Like John Lindsay another I can’t remember too much about after this tournament. Dropped into the lower leagues for a spell with Abroath, and maybe it was Tom McMillan who retired through injury. Never played for Dundee United top team. Ian Downie (Aberdeen) Failed to make the grade at Aberdeen, he had short spells with Forfar Athletic and Arbroath. Ian is now a postman in Kirkcaldy. Andy McLaren (Dundee United) Okay, who got him as the third player to gain a full international cap ? One cap as a substitute in a friendly international against Poland. Often more in the news for his off field pursuits than on field. His still managed to tot up around 300 games and nearly as many clubs. Well not quite, only Reading, Livingston, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Morton, Dundee, Ayr United as well as Dundee United. David Hagen (Rangers) Didn’t make a lot of first team appearances, but did play in the Champions League, as a late substitute for Ian Durrant against Club Brugge in 1993. Nearly had as many clubs as Andy McLaren After leaving Rangers. Turning out for Hearts, Falkirk, Livingston, Clyde and Peterhead. Scott Marshall (Arsenal) Brother of Gordon Marshall former Rangers reserve (and later Celtic) goalkeeper. He made a few first team appearances at Arsenal, his brief loan spell at Celtic is remembered fondly by Rangers fans. His career after that was confined to the lower leagues in England, playing with Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers.

It was a post on the blog from January 2010 https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/thomas-madigage-augustine-makalakalane/

I went to a few games but not many of them were Scotland games. Kevin McGoldrick was a striker and was big and powerful (for an Under 16)as I say in the article "Kevin McGoldrick (Morton) Looked the part during the tournament and went on to make 15 appearances for Morton. By the age of 19 he was featuring in an article in the Daily Record, a couple of stone heavier and playing amateur football in Paisley."

Former Rangers player who played in the 1989 Under 16's World Cup in Scotland https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/fifa-under-16-world-cup-scotland-1989/ https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/claudio-reynas-debut-in-scotland/

Report on last night's Under 16's friendly. https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/friendly-win-for-16s/

Played in front of the back four, as per Halliday in the the first team.

My report on tonight's game https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/come-back-win-for-under-20s/

The three English sides were "English" Under 16's. Liverpool had two 2001's in their squad. The Rangers squad consisted of seven 1999's and Eleven 2000's, so the age profile would not have been far away from the English teams, maybe slightly older.