Brendan Fraudgers!

Still early.

 

Quality over quantity.

 

Plenty time for deals to be done.

 

Its harder to improve our squad but im sure we will it takes money and time.

 

Brendan always says need to wait to nearer the end of the window if you want quality also with the English window closing on 10th August this year that will be a big difference to market until ours closes on 31st august

 

This could be one benefit for us, players will know they aren't getting a game or aren't chosen in the final 25man squad and we could take them.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he is as focussed on developing the players he has got as much as he is on bringing new players into the club.

Celtic have added goalkeeper Scott Bain and Odsonne Edouard to the squad so far this summer but further new additions are anticipated. Rodgers was irked last term at the continued references to what he felt was a perceived need for further cover at the back – “I don’t think everyone would be happy unless we had Billy McNeill playing at centre-half,” – and he has warned that the biggest issue when it comes to further new signings is the finances required to improve what he already has.


“Key was to get the likes of Tom and the likes of Odsonne in who we know,” Rodgers told Celtic TV. Like always, there are a few areas that we want to be better in and improve.

“It is never easy because the squad we have is developing very well. But I also like to develop our own players. Everyone talks about bringing players in and signings and more centre-halves. We have young players who are developing very well.

“They will continue to improve and get better but of course we always have to be in the market to bring the best possible players to Celtic. But there are two very important conditions: availability and of course affordability. Can we afford them? But we are always on the lookout to bring players here and keep our progress moving forward.”

The Parkhead side have drawn Armenian side Alashkert in their first Champions League qualification tie and Rodgers believes the experience of previous campaigns is something that Celtic can draw on.

“I don’t know so much about them but before we play I will do,” he said. “But I am experienced now of these games and they are always tricky ties. Whether it is heat, whether it is travel you just have to prepare yourself as best you possible can.

“The first leg is away and we have to deal with it and then we have the second leg at home. The objective is to qualify and at that stage of the season is all we are looking to do.”


Meanwhile, Rodgers has voiced his delight at getting Edouard in on a four-year contract after being impressed with his performances last term.

And he believes that there is much more still to come from the Frenchman.

“With Odsonne I was delighted,” he said. “Coming in on a loan deal, we knew he was a talent and I think he proved, not just over the games, but in training every day that he is an outstanding player. “He has every attribute but he still needs development, still needs improvement. But he came in as a 19-year-old and scored some very important goals. His link-up player, his movement, everything – he is such a talented player and we think this is a great platform for him to come and work at a big club and improve more.”

Rogic won the penalty that gave Australia a point yesterday in Russia against Denmark and Rodgers believes that the experience of being at the World Cup will kick him on to another level.

“I have loved working with Tom,” said the Celtic manager. “He is a big game player and makes big goals in big games. I was delighted when Tom made the decision that he wanted to stay here. He is an outstanding talent and he will get better and better. He will come back with a different energy and different confidence and he knows his future is stable and secure.”

 

Well I wouldn't go that far but I do think that this is Brendan's weakest area. I've been working with a guy from Liverpool lately who was a 20 year season ticket man when he lived there and follows them fervently. He's a sensible guy and was saying that, despite what the Huns like to claim, most Liverpool fans have a lot of respect for BR. However, he was saying that BRs record in signing midfielders + strikers is a real contrast to his record in signing defenders. When you analyse it - that's true, in fact their defence has only looked half decent once they (ironically) ponyed up for Virgil.

When you watch us, there is no-one taking control in the centre of defence! If you watch the great teams - they always had a commanding presence in central defence shouting and organizing (Bruce, Terry, Hansen, Vidic, Adams, Ferdinand). You never see that with us - if there's a mix-up they all just point at each other.

I'm afraid that this is the only area IMO that BR has been poor with Celtic - Boyota, Jozo and Lustig have made a lot of mistakes. Ajer is potentially great but is a ball playing defender, not a "cruncher" or leader. Compper clearly has been a mistake.

IMO we need an experienced strong CB who is prepared to take command in the penalty area.

 

Not only the CB’s who have to take command and bark orders and communicate but the goalkeeper as well.
Gordon has many faults and that for me is his biggest - he is too quiet.
Forster was in his first couple of seasons here and seemed to grow in confidence and you would see him chewing the defence when he had to make a save.
Always remember guys like Khan and Schmeichel running 20 yards bawling at the defenders about to strangle the * for making a mistake. Boruc was a bit like that as well.
A lot of keepers these days are quiet like that.
Maybe it’s the coaching...?

 

BRENDAN Rodgers hailed last night’s 1-0 victory over SK Vorwarts Steyr as an excellent pre-season workout for his players.

In Celtic’s first outing since reporting back for duty for the new campaign, James Forrest’s superb second-half strike saw them prevail over the hosts.

The Hoops boss made 10 changes at the interval and 11 in total during the friendly fixture in order to give his charges much-needed game-time before the onset of competitive football.

And praising Forrest’s clinical finish, the manager took plenty of positives from the dominant win over the Austrian second-tier outfit.

Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, he said: “James has got a real hunger for goals now and he took it very well.

“I thought the second-half team were bright going forward and gave them more problems offensively. But the most important thing was to develop our football fitness and it was a nice step for us at this early stage of the season.

“It was very pleasing to get 45 minutes into the legs of the players. Of course, they’ve only been back just over a week so it was a good exercise and it was good to see the boys back playing as a team again.”

Lewis Morgan had an impressive first outing for the Scottish champions, following his move from St Mirren, in the opening 45 minutes, causing Steyr problems with his purposeful wing-play.

“I thought he was excellent and I think he has settled in very well,” said the manager. “You can see in the short time he’s been with us that he’s a very bright player and can play in a number of positions.

“He was very effective and looked to beat his man. He was nice and positive and he’s settled in really well.”

The Bhoys resumed training today at their base in the Austrian hills as they now begin preparations for Saturday’s meeting with Bohemians Prague.

“We have another couple of hard sessions before Saturday,” said Brendan Rodgers. “You can see the guys still have a bit to go in terms of fitness, but it will be another step up for us and we will be that bit fitter on Saturday as well.”

 

Tom Rogic is out of Celtic’s crunch Champions League opener against Alashkert.

And boss Brendan Rodgers last night revealed key defenders Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig could miss the first two qualifying rounds as he insists on proper recovery time for his World Cup stars.

Rodgers is keeping a close eye on the progress of his Russia 2018 stars while the rest of the squad work at their training camp in Austria.

The opening Euro tie is just 11 days away in Armenia – but the manager has set aside an automatic fortnight’s rest for each player when their respective World Cup campaigns are over.

Rogic and Cristian Gamboa are both out after the group-stage exits of Australia and Costa Rica.

Although Gamboa has been a fringe player, Rogic is a key man in the set-up – but the Aussie won’t be rushed back for the gruelling trip to Armenia.

Rodgers said: “He’ll have two weeks off from now, so he’ll be back when we arrive home from the first leg. He’ll be back training on July 12.

“He won’t be playing in the first leg, it’s a long season for us and he’s just off the back of a World Cup. So he’ll have two weeks free then come back fresh and ready for, hopefully, another exciting season.”

Rodgers is keeping the same recovery time spare for Boyata and Lustig, even though it could mean them potentially missing as many as four ties if either Belgium or Sweden go all the way and reach the World Cup Final on July 15.

Both defenders are into the last 16 of the competition and their manager said: “I’m obviously delighted for Mika because it’s a brilliant result Sweden have had.

“Dedryck has gone in and looked very good in his games and Belgium are through as well.

“That is great and we hope they can do well. Hopefully they can stay injury free, so we get them back fit and ready.

“All the boys from when they go out [of the tournament] have got two weeks.”

 

“Crunch” really? It’s a stroll in the park

 

One of Compper, Jozo or Hendry really need to step up big time in the next few weeks for the Rosenborg game in particular.

 

Going by brendan's comments there will be (at least) Roberts and Armstrong replacement coming in and maybe 1 or 2 others on top of Edouard transfer.



Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes the Scottish champions must strengthen their squad following recent departures, but says he is not in the market for a striker.

Celtic have been linked with a move for Liverpool striker Danny Ings, who Rodgers managed at Anfield, but the Hoops boss says he is happy with the trio of strikers he has at his disposal as the club chase a treble-treble next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Rodgers said: "Danny (Ings) is a fantastic player and has been really, really unfortunate for a few years with injury but I have got the three strikers at the moment and we don't need any more.

"We just signed young Odsonne Edouard on a permanent deal and he is a class act. We also have Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths so with those three we are well covered.

It's a great move by the club to sign him on a permanent deal. This boy has still got a lot of improvement and learning to do but he's a fantastic young talent."

"We were very keen to make the move permanent, he's a real class act, how he moves, the goals he gets, and his football intelligence.

Rodgers is keen to replace midfielder Stuart Armstrong, who joined Southampton for £7m, and winger Patrick Roberts who has returned to Manchester City after a loan spell with Celtic.

He said: "We know we need to strengthen.

"We lost Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts who were really influential players for us in all the years I have been here. We need to at least replace that and if we can also add to the squad.

"There is always speculation and rumour around players coming here or players leaving the club.

"You just have to stay concentrated, that will be a club decision in the end whatever happens.

 

Very very interesting. Promising going by that that more money will inevitably spent..

Sounds like Moussa definitely here for at least another 6 month's. Another winger which we knew and an 8/10..

I think we'll get Adubajo in which only leaves the centre half position to sort..

Clever by Brendan no specifying centre half alerting club's that we're desperate to add 1. I imagine that's the case anyhow..

Moussa staying
Another winger/playmaker in
Another central box to box/playmaker in
Adubajo likely
Centre half
Edouard signed
Rogic new 5 year deal
Ajer 4 year
Ciftci removed
Sviatchenko out
7+ mill for Armstrong with a year left
Few more deadwood to leave

Would be an exceptional window..

 

100% this would be the perfect scenario.

 

Sounds promising