Fred

For me the problem starts at the back. They've sat far too deep all season (Dallison is the biggest culprit). This brings our midfield deep, which leaves the forwards isolated. The defence then compounds the issue by launching the ball long whenever they get it. This means the forwards have to hold it up for a long period if the midfield (not the quickest) are ever going to get up in support. What generally happens is the forwards don't hold it up, the opposing team wins the ball then pass through the lines and we're under pressure again. We will never score goals or create chances playing in this manner. The defence needs to push up 10 yards for us to even start to look like a team. The only issue with this is pace at the back, though with Mcghee back in the centre it might be a bit better. As it stands, the midfield have no chance of creating anything and the forwards are getting no service.

I don’t disagree with a lot you’re saying, but I think the elite thing is a game changer in terms of recruitment of players and I can see why smaller clubs are just thinking ‘we’ll pick up the drop-outs’. Clubs like Falkirk need several scouts watching all the elite academy games so they know this market inside out. Personally, I’d keep the big clubs away from the young kids as I think they get a better chance at Falkirk, Livi etc.

But, I think the issue is will Falkirk get these players at pro-youth level now that the elite academy system is in place and secondly Celtic, Rangers, Hearts are all looking to poach anyone you do have before they sign pro forms.

The problem Falkirk and all other teams with academy's outwith the elite are/were going to have is that the elite academies are going to hoover up all the best players, even more so than before. They are going to be sell it that only by playing in the top tier are you going to develop to be the best player you can be. So, Falkirk and all the other non-elite clubs are going to struggle to recruit players and if by chance they do, Celtic, rangers, etc will come along and take them and pay minimum compensation. It'll barely be worth running an academy for the return. Alternatively, clubs like Falkirk can wait on the drop-outs from the elite academies at 18/19/20 and sign them then and give them the platform to play first team football and develop from there. Take Zak Rudden, Andy Irving. They might not make it in the first team at Rangers and Hearts, but they might at Falkirk if they get released. That's where Falkirk and the rest have to look. And, it doesn't cost the running of an academy.

It’s a loan signing. Although, quitongo could be decent if fit.

Young striker will be coming in too.

Dead simple, defence plays way too deep because they’ve no pace through the middle. It results in a massive gap between the defence and the forwards that the midfield (who are not the quickest either) cannot hope to bridge. Dallison doesn’t want to defend, he wants the midfield to do his job for him. No mate, you mark your man, take responsibility. Hartley needs to recognise this. If the defence sits too deep, it concedes the whole park to the opposing team. We should have done that to queen of the south. Dobbie doesn’t have the legs from the half way line.! personally, I’d put Russell to centre defence for a bit of pace, drop dallison and put robson to left side.

If you watched the rangers boys last night they played like an academy team. Good movement, kept the ball on the deck but lacked the aggression and physicality of men’s football. They’re the two things academy football doesn’t have and two of the key components in the men’s game. When an academy boy steps into men’s football he has to learn the difference very quickly and how to adapt. In a lot of cases (ie Sammut ) they’re probably playing with poorer players technically and having to deal with the physicality and aggression. He’d probably have been more comfortable playing in the rangers team last night. He needs to learn quickly.

Took them a while though...

Are they paying the minimum wage yet to their employees..?

I'll give you an example. Kerr McInroy, Jack Aitchison, Euan Henderson, Robbie Deas. All current U20s at Celtic. If they were at Hearts, Motherwell etc they'd likely be playing in the first team. They'd want these boys playing and developing to get a couple of years out of them and then sell them. However, they are currently not good enough for the celtic first team. So, if Scottish football is to benefit, where's the best place for these kids development. Celtic U20s or Hearts/Motherwell/Hibs first teams..? Rangers, Zak Rudden etc would probably be first team at a lesser light in the SPFL by now. Not hoping to be part of a colts team in league 2.

My point is those players would likely have played in someone else's first team earlier and may well have developed better. They certainly wouldn't have been lost to the game.

So, Celtic are doing it to make money..? I thought the pitch was that it was to benefit Scottish football..?

How about celtic and rangers abandon youth football altogether and leave the cream of scottish youths to sign for teams who will actually play them in their first teams. No need to play them in league two, the best ones would be in most SPL first teams. Celtic's real youth system seems to be to raid Man City's academy.