jaggededge

The official site seems to have stop posting the youth teams' scores. Anyone got any results from this weekend - 9/10 June?

Didn't see the youth round-up on the website this week? Anyone know why?

I think the new generation of artificial surfaces are such good quality that the SPL should really consider allowing them. The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow has an artificial pitch, so if it's good enough for the Russian PL ...

I honestly don't know, but it's horrendous to think other clubs would vote for a valuable footballing resource and community asset to be ripped out, simply to disadvantage a rival team. Compliance with the SPL is a consideration though and if Thistle do get the chance to go ahead with this, then it would be best to get that clarified. It would be daft to spend all that money then have to rip the pitch out a year or two down the line.

I see Annan are hoping to put a 3G pitch in. http://www.bbc.co.uk...otland-17743974 I think it would be great for Jags, especially for all the Academy teams now.

Stenny's current U-14s team has been running for years - Thistle's only a season and a half. Stenny also play in the top tier. The U-14s beat Livi on Sunday, having lost to them three times previously so that suggests some progress. However I would always be wary of placing emphasis on results.

It's a tricky one this. I can understand the notion of not posting heavy-ish defeats although there is obviously a kind of double standard with that. In general, there is probably still too much emphasis on results (not from most coaches though). It's also true that having a few more physically-developed players in a team can achieve better results, at ages 13-15 especially. Many boys clubs go down that road and, unfortunately, a few pro-youth teams also. Not saying that's true of e.g. Stenny but sometimes even one big lad who's a good player can be a real handful and make a huge difference in a game.

Very interesting to hear Mark Wotte's take on Scottish football and the importance of youth development. Mark Wotte Press Conference

If you mean that Thistle's teams are in the Initiative Tier rather than the Performance Tier, that's true. But there are still some good teams and players in that tier. The teams are there because of how the club stands in overall criteria for youth development. Thistle are working towards "ticking all the boxes" I believe. Teams like Airdrie and Dundee at U14s, for example, are very good sides despite being in the YI tier.

Yes, great to see that.

It's good to see a majority in favour of the youth system. Hamilton Accies' youth development has been a big part of their success over the past few years and I think Thistle should be capable of being at least as successful as them. I actually believe that it should be mandatory for all senior clubs to have a youth set-up. It helps them be part of the community and forges a bond with potential supporters of the future. Kids are much more likely to feel affinity with a club if they've maybe been in one of a club's youth teams or been involved in their community programmes.

I totally agree about the importance of a good youth set-up and Thistle seem to be moving in the right direction in that regard. The youth teams seem to be doing well and, from what I've seen of the U-14s, the coaches certainly appear to be getting the boys to play football the correct way.