Noah Dosser

Good wee debate going here re the development angle. For what it's worth I see it more along the lines of once the 'boys' start getting paid to play football it becomes incumbent on them and their coaches to win matches. They are playing in a league, which doesn't happen until U/20's level, and in a cup competition (ouch !) At the end of the day it is their job of work and they are having to be prepared to step up to the 1st team, given the less than sensible lack of a reserve league. The big question for me is when should the development stop and expectation to produce results take over. Personally I would maintain development sides until U/18's(think this is now the case from this season) then promote the boys into the 'real world', any exceptional prospects obviously move up when deemed ready by coaching staff. I have to say as an old fashioned type of football follower, I am not entirely sure that the removal of tangible rewards for the development sides pre U/20's is conducive to producing pro footballers. I would probably like the boys to play a cup competition just to hone their competitive side until they start getting paid. The simple fact imho is that this country has decided to try and take the best bits of development and youth coaching from the most successful footballing nations, most of whom have a far greater pool of talent to call on. Perhaps we should look at the Belgian or Scandanavian models or even more radically tear up everything and use our own system developed by the more insightful youth coaches who work with the boys day in day out !

Probs a bit of eveything. To be honest I think some of the youngsters have been thrown in this season without proper preparation. The disgrace of not having a coach in place for the start of the season has left the boys about 6 weeks behind the other teams. The young lads who came up from the 17's, have imho, been let down by the club given that they are now playing pro football and were left without games and Bobby Jenks and the physio Stokesy taking pre season. The older ones who have been with the 1st team esp Carswell and Hetherington looked rusty, which isn't surprising given their lack of game time. There is also a lack of consistency of selection as, rightly, older players need 'a run' leaving the younger ones on the bench on a regular basis. In today's game only 1 or 2 of the team were willing to take any responsibility and the lack of urgency shown by a couple of individuals was shocking. You are right the Reserve League should have been re-instated, but the guys have just got to get on with what is in place. I reckon it's going to be a long hard season ahead for this group but some of them really have to have a long think about what they are producing.

Just back from arguably the most abject display I have seen from the Well u19s or U 20s. There was a total lack of composure and clinicalness from the forwards, a lack of graft and guile from the midfield and a lack of drive from the defence. I would like to be able to say East Fife produced a great battling, backs to the wall performance to earn their win, but in all honesty they were utter gash and had this win gifted to them by what I can only describe as an inept Well showing. The Fifers had possibly 3 shots in the game, I reckon, and one of them was the penalty. I am having to eat a large slice of humble pie after touting 3 players from this group yesterday ! Aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhh :angry::angry: As a wee aside, I forgot to add coz of my rage, the hospitality at Bayview provided by the EFFC staff was outstanding, well done to you !

I've read a lot of posts regarding the last 2 defeats and feel now is the time to add my tuppence worth. The team is bereft of leadership on the pitch. No offence to Laz but there is a lack of the ability to drive the team on as a captain. There is a clear lack of cohesion and organisation at the back. Obviously Craigen was doing this and no-one is picking up where he left off. Much as Randolph is playing out of his skin perhaps he should start doing it as the back 4 seem unable to do so. There is a distinct lack of fight and belief coursing through the team which is a not unsurprising effect given the foregoing deficencies. McCall has made mistakes with his team selections and has, it would appear blindspots when it comes to certain players. Cummins has been found out recently re his lack of pace, marking and his desire to clear balls from the line rather than attack them in the box. Kerr is a centre half not a full back and IMHO has been hung out to dry a wee bit, but this is indicative of McCall's strategy. Ojamma is an impact player and should only be used from the bench until he can prove his consistency. Hateley should be at right back. There are people posting on here bemoaning a lack of fight/ dig or whatever you would call it, yet when it suggestions are made re player/s at the club, albeit young and inexperienced, who have this in spades, some posters then decide they would rather have a Cannavaro or a Maldini, who statistically made 1 tackle per match. All very well but these guys had some seriously tough and committed teammates alongside them and are with all due respect rare in football. I'll give you 3 young players who are full of heart and are no respecters of reputations or players who earn more; Asghar, Moore and Murray. They are not the finished article by any means and may or may not be world beaters but by God anyone playing against them knows they have been in a game. It would seem looking in that SM only fancies players who are English or who have played or been through an English Academy ( cue sour grapes, axe grinding etc etc) despite having home grown players at his disposal who are as good if not better than his favourites, and, probably more importantly, have a desire to win at all costs.

Ramsden will play in front of the back 4.

Sorry wasn't meant to be a detailed breakdown of the player's attributes. Just meant that he would easily fill in for Page. From what I have seen of him the boy is a leader on the park and hates losing. He is a good all round defender with bags of pace who reads the game well and rarely loses his man. The point I was making re his tackling is that his will to win shows through and he looks the type who isn't fazed by reputations. Given that Page is obviously out of McCall's plans it does seem the best all round solution to bring him on a bit given the lack of depth in the squad.

Forgot to mention U/20's defeated a French side in a friendly by 2-1 at Ravenscraig yesterday. Goals from Moore and new signing Axel (not sure of surname) Good show from young Well side.

Don't see Page going as too big a problem, anyone watching the U/20's will know Murray is more than capable of replacing him. Tough no-nonsense player who 'likes a tackle' and wouldn't have been laughing and joking with McCulloch at the end of a game he played in and lost !

Bad news re Erwin, he was scheduled for an op on his knee tonight. From what I heard seems it's his cartilage that has 'gone'. Best wishes for a speedy recovery ! Wee reminder the U/20's are in Scottish Cup action on Sunday at Methil with a 1pm KO.

Funnily enough his da is called Bobby

No, he's Calderbraes, Uddingston born and bred.

U/20's did well given the conditions and ending up with 10 men and Page in goals. Dundee were neat and tidy but never really troubled the 'Well backline and only some wayward finishing kept the result in doubt. Hollis's red card was harsh to say the least. Dee player was forced wide, Hollis dived at his feet and seemed to get a touch plus Murray had made it back onto the line. McCall nearly blew a gasket, which prompted some less than complimentary shouts from the local 'peh eating' neds

U/20's scheduled to play Dundee @ Dens Park tonight 24th. 7pm KO. Weather permitting I reckon

2-1 defeat for the U/20's last night in Paisley. Really sore one for the youngsters (I really mean youngsters) as St Mirren scored from a dubious, to say the least, free kick in the last minute of a largely entertaining match. 1st half 'Well looked a bit rusty, not a surprise given the fact this was the 1st time this team had played together, against a well organised Saints side. 'Well had no 'overage' players in the squad and had 1 U/17 in the line up + another 2 or 3 on the bench. First half was fairly even with St Mirren just about worthy of their 1 goal advantage. Second half saw more cohesion and belief from 'Well helped by a cracking finish from Moore almost from the kick off. Unfortunately the youngsters just couldn't get the 2nd goal and were really hard done to not gaining at least a point .

Young 'uns take on St Mirren at their stadium tomorrow night 7pm KO. Best wishes to L Erwin who is away on International duty and won't feature.

Interestingly I think he played for Hertz against 'Well in the 'bounce' game last week. Did ok, if it was him. Certainly better than the Greek chap for M'well.

Thoroughly enjoyed the game tonight with 2 teams going for the win. Hollis was super for Well in goals tonight and had several good saves. 1st 25 mins of the game Well were a shambles in midfield and at the back. Managed to get this sorted out and started to deal properly with the movement of Caldwell and Handling especially 2nd half when Well went to a diamond formation. Draw would have probably been the right result but on another day Well would have surely scored 3 or 4.

Omar got his visa and joined the squad shortly before take off. Had to go to the Spanish Consulate for it opening this morning and then driven straight to Glasgow Airport.

Doubt it, more likely McCall and Black, as the players are technically the reserves.

Humphrey, Daley, McHugh, Page and Hollis all featured today. The first 2 mentioned were abject in the 1st half as Hearts pounded the Well goal. Humprey did go off towards the end of the half limping slightly. Much better 2nd half performance from Well saw them secure a 1-0 victory thanks to a Bob McHugh goal. For info there was a trialist playing in midfield, fellow is Greek but i couldn't get his name. Nothing special imho and wouldn't add anything to squad. ( I know it's hard to judge on 1 game but as I say didn't really stand out)

Do you honestly believe what that rocket spouts ?

This is a particularly strange one ! When Devlin went on loan to Stenny last season he had just returned from a bad injury and was not fully fit. Despite this he was voted Young Player of the Month and had Stenny fans praising him to the hilt. Compare with this season hardly features in any 1st team pre season game and punted out to Dumbarton for a 28 day ? loan period. Saunders is a problem as well; he wants to play CB but McCall sees him as a right back so maybe not all sweetness and light there,even allowing for his current injury. Page, imho, is almost completely out of the picture and I would not be at all surprised if he left before the end of the transfer window.

Well U/20's lost by 2-1 tonight V Ross County in Dingwall. 0-0 H/T Appears Well had best of 1st half but couldn't convert. RCFC had better 2nd half and scored twice. Murray netted consolation in last minute. From what I'm told RCFC had a strong team out with 2 or 3 players with 1st team experience.

For info (esp Northern based Well fans) U/20's take on Ross County @ Victoria Park, Dingwall tonight (21/8/12) 7pm KO.

Your summary is about right, but to add some perspective to this result, this was far from celtic's strongest line up. 4 of their squad played for Scotland U/19' this afternoon and with the likes of Watt and Philip Twardzik (the really good twin) weren't listed. 'Well had arguably a very strong team playing and possibly only Erwin ( on Scotland duty as well) and Murray unused sub might have added something. Think it might be a fairly long hard season at this level as the delay in appointing a dedicated coach looks like catching up with the team. Fingers x'd things improve and some of the youngsters can step up to the 1st team squad on a regular basis.