Bayern Munich and city in for Kai Kennedy in January window.Todays Papers say.

[Centralbear]

The hoovering up of young talent by teams in the big European leagues really boils my piss.

Due to our geographic mis-fortune, we gain so ittle TV and commercial revenue we are unable to compete for top players and therefore place more emphasis on developing youths, so fair enough.

That these players are then induced on an industrial scale by those teams with huge TV and commercial revenues, who can also afford top dollar for established players, how the hell are you ever going to be a team able to compete at top level if such talents as above and Gilmour are harvested before maturity.

Really this us something that EUFA should be really tight on, we all know, unfortunately they only care for the big 5 European leagues.

 

[Hal B. Goode]

Reads like an agent trying to get a better contract for his young client.

Exactly.

Should be easy enough to see if Leon King and Kai Kennedy have the same agent.

 

[PortoyMortoy]

They are all teenagers and the guys asked why they weren't getting a chance off the bench. Players have been. Middleton another one.

Coming off the bench once then not getting close to coming on again isn't a proper chance. Middleton got a chance and showed he had some talent then hit a patch of rough form, then we went and signed about 50 left wingers since he was dropped and he hasn't been played for us since some development plan that, there's also the fact that Middleton didn't really come from our academy, he was a lot further along his development when he brought him in from Norwich.

 

[happydays]

Exactly.

Should be easy enough to see if Leon King and Kai Kennedy have the same agent.

They don't

 

[55 and counting]

Or they could be good enough for the Ranges team and get in it?

Plenty guys released from these super clubs end up nowhere.

But there's been absolutely no sign and hasn't for years that they will even get a chance at Rangers.So why stay if an English team or big European team want you and are offering multiple thousands a week?Said it elsewhere unless we become a Scottish version of Ajax we've no chance of keeping exceptional youngsters as there no "pathway" as they like to talk about to the 1st team.So you're as well going somewhere paying you thousands not to play 1st team football than stay and be paid hundreds to not play 1st team football.

 

[NDC bear forever]

Exactly.

Should be easy enough to see if Leon King and Kai Kennedy have the same agent.

Can Leon King have an agent? Is he not too young to have one?

 

[Hal B. Goode]

They don't

There we go then!

Hope we fight to keep them and intergrate them into our first team squad.

 

[happydays]

Can Leon King have an agent? Is he not too young to have one?

Has had one for a long time.

 

[jigster]

If he's that good why are we not in a position to give the lad a run out, even as a sub? Genuine question and not a dig.

Bigger clubs are looking at what he might be when he is 24/25 years of age

 

[BlueSeaOfIbrox]

Well he's off then.

We absolutely have to start giving him some game time when we're winning comfortable and offer him that with it increasing as time goes on, because we can't match the training facilities, coaching and money these clubs offer.

 

[Yankeeger]

When likes of Andy King is starting in a development game today in front of youth prospects how an earth do you convince young talent to stay

 

[cooprfc]

But there's been absolutely no sign and hasn't for years that they will even get a chance at Rangers.So why stay if an English team or big European team want you and are offering multiple thousands a week?Said it elsewhere unless we become a Scottish version of Ajax we've no chance of keeping exceptional youngsters as there no "pathway" as they like to talk about to the 1st team.So you're as well going somewhere paying you thousands not to play 1st team football than stay and be paid hundreds to not play 1st team football.

I get what you're saying and actually agree with much of it but my original reply was in response to the idea that there's more of a pathway at these clubs. If he is good enough to play at a decent level, he will find a pathway for him here.

These teams just hoover up anyone with potential. They are quite happy to see them as a business and sell them on without even gettin near the first team.

 

[Tony75tfc]

I think the position Rangers are in just now of going toe-to-toe with celtic, and being under intense pressure to win almost every time they take the field in order to bring home silverware, makes it hard for Gerrard or any coach to risk playing youths. Look at the flak Tav, for eg. has had to deal with over his defensive lapses, can you imagine if a 17-18yr old having to cope with this?

Perhaps one way to integrate the likes of Kennedy and King into the 1st XI is to prioritise the 3 domestic trophies - the League Cup being arguably the least important - and use it to give game time to the top echelon talents from the youth system. Not only would this offer a way to properly assess their capabilities against professional opposition, but it would also provide an incentive to the youngsters by showing that there is indeed a pathway into the regular first team.

Unless this, or some similar affirmative development strategy is put in place, Rangers are destined tio keep losing their elite prospects to some top English or continental club - which defeats the whole purpose of having an academy im the first place.

Ive always said we should treat the league cup the way the EPL teams treat it and blood some youngsters in ,the league cup is shite so why not use it to our advantage and try out a few young lads

 

[dookieno8]

Ive always said we should treat the league cup the way the EPL teams treat it and blood some youngsters in ,the league cup is shite so why not use it to our advantage and try out a few young lads

I want to win everything we play in.

 

[PMB1872]

It's time now to ship out the deadwood surrounding our team and replace with,Kennedy,Kelly,Patterson,Mebude and the rest .If we don't we are going to lose them ,as well as the coaching staff who are doing a magnificent job.Other clubs do it (including the mentally challengeds).Polston,Docherty,King,Barker,Halliday and the likes are simply holding up our youths progress

Agreed. We should be able to have two youths on the bench each match as long as we have adequate experienced cover in the other five players. Then in the games we are three or four ahead we can give them minutes.

 

[daviemc1872]

in bayern , in munchen, in germany.

 

[Geez it]

When likes of Andy King is starting in a development game today in front of youth prospects how an earth do you convince young talent to stay

Because we will be paying a chunk of his wages? He’s not played any games for our first team basically, unfortunately there obviously isn’t an option for king to just go down the road, without us paying a fee/fine probably. These guys can’t just sit and rot doing nothing unfortunately.

 

[Crispy Bacon]

Because we will be paying a chunk of his wages? He’s not played any games for our first team basically, unfortunately there obviously isn’t an option for king to just go down the road, without us paying a fee/fine probably. These guys can’t just sit and rot doing nothing unfortunately.

We are barely paying any of his wages, we took him because it actually was financially worth it. Shame he’s not of the standard required.

 

[Let's roll..]

Well he's off then.

We absolutely have to start giving him some game time when we're winning comfortable and offer him that with it increasing as time goes on, because we can't match the training facilities, coaching and money these clubs offer.

Agreed ,hope they do .

 

[Sebo1872]

With a number of big clubs swarming around our youth teams at present we need to show and prove to these boys that there is a legit gateway to the first team.

Billie Gilmour is getting minutes for Chelsea's first team yet i don't think he would if he were still with us.

 

[Geez it]

We are barely paying any of his wages, we took him because it actually was financially worth it. Shame he’s not of the standard required.

We will be paying him more than we are paying kennedy.

 

[NDC bear forever]

We will be paying him more than we are paying kennedy.

We don’t pay King a penny, unless he plays apparently.

 

[strider]

Just as an aside - Billy Gilmour was absolutely going to be given games for the first team when eligible, but the money Chelsea offered was far too good to knock back.

We shouldn't treat youth players differently from first team players in this respect. There's big money to be made at a huge club, that's a massive draw.

 

[Geez it]

We don’t pay King a penny, unless he plays.

You had a look at his contract?

 

[NDC bear forever]

You had a look at his contract?

Forgot to put apparently. But that’s what some people have said

 

[Geez it]

Forgot to put apparently. But that’s what some people have said

Hopefully that is the case mate as it would be a waste of money otherwise!

 

[Slickrick]

These players need a path. Still way to much utter dross in our squad doing nothing but still in Britain you need to be 23 and God to get a chance it seems.

 

[Blue Tack]

It irks me to know that if a player gets too good then big clubs and money will come knocking and the player will never see the first team ,it puts us between a rock and a hard place ,we can only hope the gaffer illuminates that path for these youngsters

 

[Valley Bluenose]

Hopefully that is the case mate as it would be a waste of money otherwise!

Gerrard described it as 'a fairly unique deal' - whatever the f*ck that means.

 

[Garrioch Bear]

Absolutely pathetic.

As is Gerrard playing non performing
favourites .

 

[cooprfc]

As is Gerrard playing non performing
favourites .

Aye loads of non performing players in our team this year.

Behind in Europe for a total of half an hour over 13 games and two domestic defeats.

Hunners of underperformance there. Littered with it. Definitely cause to change the team repeatedly.

 

[Laudrup11Cooper]

Rangers face a battle to hold on to teen sensation Kai Kennedy with Bayern Munich and Manchester City among the clubs looking to sign him.The 17-year-old has impressed in the youth ranks at Ibrox and regularly trains with Steven Gerrard’s first team, although he is yet to make his debut.

Now Rangers could struggle to keep him beyond his current contract if two of European football’s richest clubs step up their interest.

Kennedy has a deal until the summer of 2021 and Rangers are locked in talks with the teenager in a bid to extend that deal. But if no agreement can be made the club are in a reasonable bargaining position for a fee. Serie A side Roma have previously been in contact over a move and are believed to still be keeping an eye on the diminutive winger.

Kennedy burst on to the scene with impressive performances in the Alkass Cup in Qatar in February as Rangers lifted the trophy and was also vital in their Youth Cup success against Celtic. Kennedy was recently included in the first-team squad for a 3-1 win over Hamilton in November but was eventually left out of the 18 selected.

On the day Gerrard said: “He earned the right to be the 19th man. People look at Kai like he’s this wee player who doesn’t belong with men but he’s trained like a man all week. He’s been the most consistent and he’s a fabulous little player. It wasn’t just a token gesture because he’s a kid. It’s also to send a message to some of the players who are outside the 18 that Kai was next from what I saw the majority of this week in training. He deserved to be out there.”

Rangers could also face a similar problem with defender Leon King. The highly-rated 15-year-old is in talks with Rangers but knocked back an initial contract offer and is interesting Manchester City and Chelsea.

Fkuc it's like ...the Gilmour scenario all over again, in respect we lose out top youth player.
This time with a small compensation.
The way of the world unfortunately.

 

[Skyy Bluenose]

Fkuc it's like ...the Gilmour scenario all over again, in respect we lose out top youth player.
This time with a small compensation.
The way of the world unfortunately.

No it's not. Gilmour had no professional contract. Kennedy does. Anyone who wants Kennedy would have to pay a transfer fee, rather than a development fee.

 

[Laudrup11Cooper]

I know that.
I was referring to us losing our star youth players.
Again!!

 

[Skyy Bluenose]

I know that.
I was referring to us losing our star youth players.
Again!!

If we can develop youngsters who are then sold for a huge profit to the top teams in the world, our youth development program is working. That's the reality of it.

It's the same position we're in with guys like Alfie. You don't want to sell, but it's financially smart to do so.

 

[Centralbear]

If we can develop youngsters who are then sold for a huge profit to the top teams in the world, our youth development program is working. That's the reality of it.

It's the same position we're in with guys like Alfie. You don't want to sell, but it's financially smart to do so.

That's the reality, ideally though we would get a few seasons out of them in the first team and then sell for millions.

Unfortunately, if any of our youths weren"t prepared to extend professional contract, being hoovered up at a young age before becoming an established player, we'd likely be forced sellers for hundreds of thousands instead.

 

[Let's roll..]

No it's not. Gilmour had no professional contract. Kennedy does. Anyone who wants Kennedy would have to pay a transfer fee, rather than a development fee.

So much you think we will get ,my opinion would be around £500k

 

[D-Von]

Less pressure to win in recent years.

And who have they brought through at the age of Kennedy, McPake or the likes that's then stayed in and around the team?

Johnston (who is a few years older than them) has been dropped for a loan player this season when genuine pressure is on them. Frimpong was a signing, and it's been injuries that gave him a chance.

It's not been a huge success rate in recent years.

People can’t say the reason we don’t give players a chance is because of physicality but then say the reason the Tims can do it is less pressure. Surely it’s still the same physical league?
They’ve played the likes of Tierney, Ralston, Johnston in Europe when they were young. Johnston has started 3 games at Ibrox and played in something like 5 cup finals now and he’s just turned 20. The only reason he’s not been starting recently is because he got injured

Frimpong is getting games ahead of both their other RB’s and has been for weeks. You think they’ll cast him aside for making a mistake in a cup final and nearly costing them in their biggest game in about a decade or do you think they’ll keep giving him chances because of his potential?
Every other team in the league gives young players games so it’s not too physical a league
Every other big club in Europe gives young players games so it’s not about mentality
Every other successful club in Europe gives young players games so it’s not about pressure or making mistakes

Some people need to stop making excuses and just say they don’t give a %^*& about youth development

 

[jackstar]

Then why have celtic been able to do it so easily over the last few years against those same hammer throwers?

Great point. If they can we can but I think the niar crap has maybe made the gaffer think again,he has said he wouldn't have a problem playing them,trouble is he hasn't had a chance to blood a few of them because all the games are so vital. I'm all for us doing what they do down south and use the league cup to play maybe two or three of them.

 

[strider]

People can’t say the reason we don’t give players a chance is because of physicality but then say the reason the Tims can do it is less pressure. Surely it’s still the same physical league?
They’ve played the likes of Tierney, Ralston, Johnston in Europe when they were young. Johnston has started 3 games at Ibrox and played in something like 5 cup finals now and he’s just turned 20. The only reason he’s not been starting recently is because he got injured

Frimpong is getting games ahead of both their other RB’s and has been for weeks. You think they’ll cast him aside for making a mistake in a cup final and nearly costing them in their biggest game in about a decade or do you think they’ll keep giving him chances because of his potential?
Every other team in the league gives young players games so it’s not too physical a league
Every other big club in Europe gives young players games so it’s not about mentality
Every other successful club in Europe gives young players games so it’s not about pressure or making mistakes

Some people need to stop making excuses and just say they don’t give a %^*& about youth development

You think I don't care about it?

Celtic have had it easier, yes, due to pressure being less in recent years.

Where's Ralston now? Struggling loads at St Johnstone. Frimpong won't play in bigger games when El Hamed is fit. That's what's happened to Johnston, benched for Elyonoussi (sp?) when the latter had to pass a fitness test for the game on Sunday.

After that in recent years, there's not been much from them either.

I reckon we'll see plenty of our youth prospects in years to come, but right now we're not quite there.

 

[Let's roll..]

You think I don't care about it?

Celtic have had it easier, yes, due to pressure being less in recent years.

Where's Ralston now? Struggling loads at St Johnstone. Frimpong won't play in bigger games when El Hamed is fit. That's what's happened to Johnston, benched for Elyonoussi (sp?) when the latter had to pass a fitness test for the game on Sunday.

After that in recent years, there's not been much from them either.

I reckon we'll see plenty of our youth prospects in years to come, but right now we're not quite there.

We don't do it ,it's simple it's not lies it's fact.

 

[strider]

We don't do it ,it's simple it's not lies it's fact.

We don't right now.

We have, and will do again.

Plenty of encouraging signs for that, so we shouldn't judge in the moment.

 

[Let's roll..]

We don't right now.

We have, and will do again.

Plenty of encouraging signs for that, so we shouldn't judge in the moment.

The moment has been years pal.

 

[strider]

The moment has been years pal.

McCrorie and Middleton last season not count then?

Barrie McKay played plenty.

Even discounting the years in the lower leagues where loads of younger players got numerous games, we had Fleck, Wylde, Ness, McCabe, Kyle Hutton and even Andy Little getting chances in that pre-admin squad.

 

[Yankeeger]

You think I don't care about it?

Celtic have had it easier, yes, due to pressure being less in recent years.

Where's Ralston now? Struggling loads at St Johnstone. Frimpong won't play in bigger games when El Hamed is fit. That's what's happened to Johnston, benched for Elyonoussi (sp?) when the latter had to pass a fitness test for the game on Sunday.

After that in recent years, there's not been much from them either.

I reckon we'll see plenty of our youth prospects in years to come, but right now we're not quite there.

how many

 

[Let's roll..]

McCrorie and Middleton last season not count then?

Barrie McKay played plenty.

Even discounting the years in the lower leagues where loads of younger players got numerous games, we had Fleck, Wylde, Ness, McCabe, Kyle Hutton and even Andy Little getting chances in that pre-admin squad.

No they don't count they played very few n far between consistently then punted

 

[Let's roll..]

McCrorie and Middleton last season not count then?

Barrie McKay played plenty.

Even discounting the years in the lower leagues where loads of younger players got numerous games, we had Fleck, Wylde, Ness, McCabe, Kyle Hutton and even Andy Little getting chances in that pre-admin squad.

The ones you name here what 100 starts between them let's not use 5 min cameo role at end of game as appearances that's for the silly people.

 

[D-Von]

You think I don't care about it?

Celtic have had it easier, yes, due to pressure being less in recent years.

Where's Ralston now? Struggling loads at St Johnstone. Frimpong won't play in bigger games when El Hamed is fit. That's what's happened to Johnston, benched for Elyonoussi (sp?) when the latter had to pass a fitness test for the game on Sunday.

After that in recent years, there's not been much from them either.

I reckon we'll see plenty of our youth prospects in years to come, but right now we're not quite there.

No to be honest, the fact you keep making ridiculous arguments and excuses for not giving youth a chance says it all really

The point is they still gave Ralston a chance. Same with the likes of Watt, Henderson...
That Frimpong started in Aberdeen ahead of the Israeli
Saying they won’t play if a certain player is fit for a certain game makes you look even more ridiculous to be honest. We aren’t even putting young players on the bench against east Fife and the likes. Trying to compare that to players playing in cup finals, Europa league, champions league when first team players are injured is an argument for giving youth players a chance

Trying to compare the two scenarios if honestly laughable. We’re shite at giving youth players opportunities. No excuses.

 

[D-Von]

McCrorie and Middleton last season not count then?

Barrie McKay played plenty.

Even discounting the years in the lower leagues where loads of younger players got numerous games, we had Fleck, Wylde, Ness, McCabe, Kyle Hutton and even Andy Little getting chances in that pre-admin squad.

Surely they don’t count if Ralston being at St Johnstone doesn’t count as giving youth a chance?

You’re tripping over yourself here mate.

 

[cooprfc]

We don't do it ,it's simple it's not lies it's fact.

Ross McCrorie and Glen Middleton played loads last year.

Other recent examples include Myles Beerman and David Bates, granted he was bought from Raith.

And our trip through the lower leagues was littered with young players.

So we do it if they are good enough.