Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Depends on what you class as a rebuild.

We need about 5 players to come straight into the starting team and probably another 3 or 4 to add to the squad. And we should be looking to get shot of about 10.

I’d say that’s a rebuild.

 

The thing that struck me about yesterday was the interminable passing back and forth even when there was about 30 seconds left. We never looked like scoring apart from the Maeda chance where he burst through and the Schlupp shot.

 

There's a difference between a rebuild because something's falling apart/broken and an overhaul because there needs to be wholesale freshening up and improvements... We also need to get top prices for some players while we can...

So long as it's done correctly - calmly, with swapping out and in, the players replaced are sold for true value and replaced with better, I've no issues with an overhaul... We probably need it, because there's a bit of bloat which can't swing games and some who are far too comfortable with the idea that we're #1 and can't be caught...

Definitely don't want to be listening to the immediate knee *, panic merchant, doom-mongers though!

 

It's * shocking the jump on the bandwagon bullshit criticism that goes on in here.

In the past I remember Maeda getting it from all angles. I remember James Forrest, our most successful player ever, used to be the go-to for criticism when things went wrong.

I'm not saying there's not room for improvement. There always is.

But for Celtic to end the season with 2 out of 3 domestically, having had a really good European campaign....and to find people are focusing on our faults and criticisms rather than commending us on another great season....

I think thats strange behaviour

 

There's definitely warning signals there..

Games v the Huns and a real flatness since our CL exit. As if domestic football is below us.. now some of that comes from a lack of challenge, but if that challenge comes next season, we're there for the taking unless we have a good summer..

Question marks remain over his big money signings too.. Idah jury out, Trusty looks poor business if Scales keeps him out and Engels I think is a good one but next season is huge..

In his defence we sold our best ST in Jan and didn't replace him.

Yesterday may be a blessing, now the dust is settled.. as real complacency could set in and that would be dangerous.

Talks of getting rid aren't realistic tho.

 

I hope he can hold his hands up and realise Bernardo and in particular for me Engles are not good enough, Kuhn hasnt played well since xmas same could be said for Mcgowan, i think Idah deserves another season as our midfielders have been so poor. Sevco had the better of us this season, we should be taking full advantage considering the state they are in.

 

Because the "faults and criticisms" are persistent. They're things that have been identified as a recurring problem for months, maybe even for Rodgers' entire two tenures in charge, and NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THEM. Cracks were papered over, the European run made us look good, but the team has been in holiday mode, letting Rangers run riot over them with no Plan B in place.

We celebrated a * draw with them. Something we give them no end of abuse for.

 

It’s difficult not to get emotional and caught up in negativity after yesterday’s result, and performance.

Overall it’s been a great season, with many highs, but….

Recent games against St Johnstone, St Mirren, yesterday and against them all season regrettably point to either a management failure in tactics, motivation or recruitment.

It’s rightfully the nature of football management that you take the plaudits when winning, but equally there has to be criticism after poor form. And these underperformances are becoming more frequent.

With seemingly new investment domestically at other clubs, next season is going to be considerably more difficult.

 

It wasn't celebrating a draw. It was celebrating the fact that the last Glasgow derby was absolutely meaningless cause the league was done and dusted......
If we celebrated a draw at the start of the season, then I'd be concerned.

If you are noticing 'persistent' faults and criticisms about our performance. Then you will also notice the 'persistent' way we win the league every season and more often than not, the treble.

I am not disagreeing with what you are saying. I am disagreeing with that being the topic of discussion. The complete negative and pessimistic outlook of some fans is what i cant work out. Rather than focusing on the positives of the season it's an immediate focus on negativity. That's what I do not agree with

 

I think my main criticism of him (over both spells) is his favourites. He had it with Lustig, Brown and Boyata during his first spell (Harsh on Broony but he was declining and needed rotated a lot more) and he has it with Scales this season.

Nawrocki has came in and done excellent when he's played this year, yet he doesn't get a shoe-in at all. Trusty, who has had his hiccups this season, is far better than Scales is too.

Just don't get it really, Scales has done a much better job for us over-all than many here were expecting, but outwith Atalanta away, he's done next to nothing to warrant a starting place in the squad.

CB is desperately needed next summer if we do sell Nawrocki, going into it with Trusty and Scales as our other two options is suicidal.

 

Agree Rodgers has a weakness for favourites. Not sold on Nawrocki myself but do think the lack of rotation unless forced by injury means there is a complacency in some of those who start regularly.

The squad looks too comfortable to me, we dominate possession so much, but don't have a spark or players with aggression to then exploit it.

This season is undoubtedly a success but we can also do better and there are meaningful changes that Rodgers can look to address - making our possession far more dangerous - adding more hunger and a bit of grit to the squad by rotating more and having a system that can change - replacing whoever leaves with an upgrade

He's done well this season, but things to improve on and address so that next season is even better. Improving us is ultimately his main job.

 

I remember watching a clip of the Great Man giving a team talk after training in the late 60s sometime.

"The referees decision is final..." he says
"Whether you agree with it or not, accept the decision and get on with the game.."

That must have been hard advice to take on with the depth of anti-Celtic politics in the SFA at the time.

Skip forward 10 years - Johnny Doyle crosses the ball...hits the referee in the face by accident.....Doyle gets sent off. Runs by Big Jock raging down the tunnel. Even Big Jock was struggling to take his own advice that day....

 

Which players have improved since he returned?

 

That's a head scratcher. There is at least one but his name escapes me.

Scored over 30 goals this season.

Give me a minute I'll get it eventually.

 

Matt O'Riley another. James Forrest back in from the cold and contributing.

 

Maeda as a winger is a lot better since Rodgers has came in. He plays a more sensible game and better/lower crossing that improves. Also more likely to cut in and find a pass from wide, rather than the previous row Z cross he was doing. Maeda is still much better through the middle though.

AJ 100% is a better player than when he first came in as well.

Yang has started to look a helluva lot better this year as well.


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Maeda, Scales and Yang are the ones that spring to mind.