Luca Connell

Very good judge of all things English lower level footy told me a few weeks ago he reckons Connell will be a Championship footballer regardless of them going up or not. Hope he’s right. 

Roca Vatta was playing for them at 17 and is getting a run out these days.

If your good enough you'll get your chance.

Think this lads in general a more deeper lying CM then Hourihane. Be interesting to see what happens. 

Way too simplistic and Vatas contract still hasn’t been renewed due to expire in 12 months. 

Again call me cynical but I just don’t trust Celtic in terms of player development. Actually screw that factual evidence shows the way they manage their Academy is atrocious. 

My issue with Connell is the lack of effort/plan to develop him to the point he might eventually be ready. 

Look Afolabi wasn’t likely good enough even with Connell every chance he wasn’t remotely ready. 

It was the lack of effort to develop Connell in particular was the issue. It’s happened with high profile Scottish talents too like Ben Doak. These players and the people around them are not stupid they see this too. 

With Vatas contract not signed yet and still an issue for them again I’m not saying he should leave Celtic myself no opinion on it but it’s telling the contract has been up in the air for many months and I would view his first team minutes in the context of that.

With Celtic there was just too many players ahead of him, a lot of Celtic fans are bewildered that he didn't get an opportunity. As he was over looked by a number of managers.  But the reality is that if you are good enough you will get our chance.

Connell is no loss to Celtic. But it's great to see him doing well at Barnsley.

Chelsea are a completely different animal, so it's not a fair comparison. 

Any chance it's Vata who is delaying the signing of a new contract, rather than Celtic stalling over offering him one - I'd be very surprised indeed if Celtic didnt want to keep him, but not so surprised if the lad himself wants to keep his options open. Vata is very good, he looked the best of our highly touted U19 attacking players in the last tournament imo, much better than Zefi for example. He has already been handed first team opportunities at Celtic at the tender age of 17 (he turned 18 last month), so I dont think there are any real similarities with the Connell situation at Celtic. 

It should also be pointed out that Connell failed to really shine in an extended loan period at Queens Park. Maybe he just wasnt ready and that experience has enabled him to kick on this season at Barnsley. I like Connell, he has a very good left foot which is always coveted by clubs. It will be interesting to see how he gets on next season, hopefully in the Championship. There is room in our squad for a deep lying playmaker.