YOUTH CULTURE
Ex-Norwich coach Holt salutes Rangers plan that will see Ibrox kids take on Europe’s best
GARY HOLT knows all about the school of hard knocks that Rangers are about to sign up to by opting out of the SPFL Development League.
But the former Norwich firstteam coach believes the Ibrox side are right to explore a youth programme which will see them go in against the cream of Europe’s elite talent.
As from next season, the Light Blues academy kids will meet the likes of Manchester City, Benfica, Ajax, Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid and Manchester United in a bid to accelerate their progress to the first team.
Holt has his own experiences of pitching his Canary kids in against the best of their continental peers as part of the Premier League International Cup competition and he insists it’s a bold step for Rangers who should brace themselves for a few batterings.
He said: “Our Under-23 side were involved in games against German, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese sides and there were some harsh lessons.
“It’s a great idea, thinking outside the box by trying something different. Rangers are looking to progress the development of their youth players and they will relish the lessons on offer as long as they are willing to accept they will get a few humpings along the way. As that’s what will happen.
“It needs to be used as a tool to test them against players who are often better technically.
“Young players from Germany, France, Portugal, Holland and Spain are better technically, it’s an indisputable fact, and this should be a positive step to try to bridge that gap.
“This will give kids a taste of facing the best players around and you want them to experience that.
“It’s OK saying you want to cross borders, play internationally, but you also need to accept that if you face Bayern Munich, Barcelona or some of these top teams then you could take a hiding.”
Rangers plan to formulate their fixture list in the coming weeks with games played home and away and Ibrox being used for some games against the biggest teams.
Former Scotland midfielder Holt admits it will allow young Rangers players the chance to brush shoulders with serious teenage talent and be a huge eye opener.
He said: “I remember we played PSV two seasons ago and they had Luciano Narsingh in their side, who had been playing for the first team in the Champions League and joined Swansea for £4million in January.
“The teams were allowed three overage players and they also had Georginio Wijnaldum who had played for the Dutch national side at the World Cup. It was our Under-21 side that faced them and the experience for our youngsters was unbelievable. But there was a downside, we were battered 5-0 and it was going on 10.
“The game was at Carrow Road which also provided the boys with a chance to play against a different culture, different techniques and tempos but at a proper stadium rather than an academy pitch.
“It was fascinating to see how our players would match up, they were buzzing before games. Rangers’ boys will be the same. They will lift their game for this big challenge.”
Holt is adamant it will also give kids an insight into why players of their own age on the continent possess a superior skill-set and a more rounded game knowledge.
He said: “It’s not just about
technique with foreign kids, it’s about the style of play and how the continental sides pass the ball.
“These teams play in a different climate as well as culture so their style of play is obviously going to be different.
“People look in awe at young foreign sides and admire some of their kids who are technically brilliant but the tempo they play at is also completely different to the Scottish game.
“It’s about movement and when to pass and when not to. Decision making is also massive as is doing the simple things well. That’s what top players do.
“The weather helps these sides enormously as it allows them to work with their players a lot more.
“If I’m working with a group of youth players in Spain, we could work on shape and tactical aspects with them all day long. The players aren’t cold, they aren’t getting soaking wet and there’s no hail or snow.
“There’s no way you can put on that same session in Scotland and ask boys to stand around for an hour when it could be below freezing and pouring with rain.
“The weather is a help to foreign sides when it comes to working with their kids on tempo, shape and technique.” It’s a radical step by Gers which Holt applauds but he insists a club of their size shouldn’t have to look beyond these shores to find proper competition. He said: “I endorse it if it’s done in the right way. A club of the size of Rangers will have enough players to easily have a side in the Development League. “They could support a development team and one that plays games against foreign opposition on an informal basis. Along with Celtic, they have the pick of the best youngsters and could easily service teams to play domestic and international games.
“I believe the Development League still has a place, I’d like to see a proper reserve league which is one step more. We should have an Under-18 league and the next step should be a reserve league which provides competitive games.
“Reserve games have a cut and thrust about them, there are usually senior players involved as they come back from injury and it allows youngsters to come up against better and more experienced players.”