Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Brendan Rodgers admits he felt his Celtic squad was short of four quality players when he re-joined in the summer.

The champions of course sold Jota for £25m, while the likes of Aaron Mooy retired from the game.

The Hoops boss insists his aim was to add to the squad that was already in place from Ange Postecoglou's tenure.

The ex-Liverpool and Leicester City manager says the club is working hard to address the recruitment of 'established' type players over the next few transfer windows. He hopes this will help the club achieve its goal of progressing in the Champions League.

"The squad will come down to numbers," admitted the Irishman. "Obviously, like I say, we need to add quality.

"There's no dressing that up for the group, they lost some really quality players in the summer, so, that's something over the coming windows that we will look to improve on.

"I felt that when I came in during the summer, with the squad that was already in place from last season we probably needed four players - quality players - to add to the squad.

"To continue to improve and to grow you also need to have players that are established. The next step is the European side and that's why I came back, to hopefully be able to fulfill that in my time here."

 

Find it difficult to believe he wasn’t given assurances when he first joined, otherwise why would he return?

That said, we desperately need a couple of first team quality players in the door in January. That’s before we even discuss next summer which will require a major squad upheaval. No more excuses.

 

Soooo..we get players in January - lose a few more in the summer and then get more players in next January (when we're out of the Champions League) Make it make sense!

 

Just a personal opinion - I wish Brendan all the best and I hope he's gonna achieve greatness again while with us, however I won't be crying when he leaves (hopefully contract expiry)

 

We're no out the champions league come January next year. New format

 

So we still needing 3 quality players then? Surely Palma is only one who can be seen as close to quality at this stage.

Should we expect to see 3 quality players added in Jan?

 

Woo..the bank account likes this post!

 

For me that's the final warning he has fired to the board!

 

I don't take it like that. I think it was 4 quality additions from when he came in. Jota, Mooy and Starfelt were part of the squad at that point.

Most of us would probably guess that the 4 original additions he wanted would have been GK, LB, DM and RW(that would be my guess).... so if he lost Starfelt, Mooy and Jota, you'd assume he wanted 7 additions from that team when you include a CB(Starfelt replacement), CM(Mooy replacement) LW(Jota replacement)...

I believe we thought Nawrocki and Palma were quality additions to the squad, so that's a CB and LW replacement. You still have 5 positions where we replaced them with projects like DM, CM, RW(Kwon, Holm, Bernardo, Yang) or not bothered our * to strengthen other positions badly needing addressed in GK and LB.

It's * farcical. Not one person will sit here and say the club were wrong for accepting a £27m bid for Jota. It's too good to turn down. And no one can account for Mooy retiring early and Starfelt following some sweet walls to Spain/Portugal. However, to ignore the positions we needed to strengthen originally, to strengthen other areas, while bagging £33m in transfer fees... it's gross negligence.

Are we stronger as a squad? Maybe. Do we have as strong a starting 11? I'm not convinced we do.

 

I don't get it with him at all he came back and made a thinly veiled dig at the board with the comments about the recruitment having improved with things he suggested in his first spell being implemented now and has since had a couple of comments and arguably subs which it feels like were to prove a point to the board. Then at the AGM basically stood by the board and the recruitment as much he can't slaughter them it's bizarre he backed them as much

 

You know the script by now we'll get them in January and bed them in for the European campaign next year ... until we don't. Then we go again in the summer

 

Embarrassing coming out saying all that after we have been scudded all over Europe. Yous took the risk and it back fired just admit it. He’s knows he’s not getting any quality in Jan too by the sounds of it. Couple Asian projects and they’ll be our lot.

 

I'd suggest just getting a LB and GK. It's his fault Kwon was okayed- might as well use him and Iwata in Scotland. Yes, people want a good DMF, but if we're not getting true quality, it's better not to waste money.

 

Bob: Daddy, can I have an ice cream? James and Lizzy and all the other kids have one!
Dad: Well, if mummy thinks there's an opportunity there at some point to try to buy you one at an affordable price, then she will always like to do that.
Bob: So no, then?

 

I don’t think we are. Look at that bench the other night. We have a bloated squad made up of mainly projects or bang average players. It was a scandalous summer transfer window.

 

Brendan Rodgers reckons Celtic need first-team ready stars in the mould of legendary skipper Scott Brown and Kolo Toure. And the boss is adamant the Bhoys will land the experienced recruits he is targeting to take the club to the next level.

Rodgers insists the Board and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond share his vision of where he wants to take the club as he prepares for the winter transfer window.

The gaffer is prioritising experienced heads to bolster the energy of his young squad - and help drive their potential. The Northern Irishman said after Tuesday’s Champions League exit to Lazio that the need for quality was glaring. And speaking ahead of the trip to face St Johnstone he highlighted the importance of bringing in older heads. Only two of the 10 summer signings including loan deals were over the age of 23 - Nat Phillips and Tomoki Iwata both of whom are 26.

And Rodgers, who also wants to reduce his bloated squad to 25 first team players, said: “I felt when I came in here in the summer, with the squad that was already in place from last season, that we probably needed four players. By that I meant four quality players to add to the squad.

“There were players that were earmarked to come here prior to me coming here. That’s absolutely fine, we have got young talents here that will develop and grow and that’s the model of the club.

“But to continue to improve and grow you need to also have players who are established because they help bring those players up. And I am very, very confident that we can do that over the coming windows.

“It doesn’t necessarily all have to be in January because the right players might not be available. If in January we can do that then I’m pretty sure the club will give us every chance to improve the team."

Rodgers highlighted the role of Scott Brown and Kolo Toure in bringing the best out of Callum McGregor and Dedryck Boyata in his first spell as boss. He said: “You cannot just have a team of really young players. You’re never going to extract that potential out them unless you have that experience beside them.

“Also for the level of games you play. If you solely rely on young players for game after game after game then they don’t have the games in their legs. You’ll find they will break down. It’s balance because I enjoy working with young players and seeing them grow and develop. But equally I love working with senior players who can help bring them through.

“Being here the first time, Scott Brown was a massive influence on Callum McGregor when he was 32. Kolo Toure was a great role model for Dedryck Boyata and the other centre halves here in helping them get through games. You definitely need that experience in games. Listen you can be 23 or 24 and be experienced. It doesn’t always have to be an older player. But certainly throughout the balance of our squad we can do that.”

Desmond was in Rome along with director son Ross to watch the 2-0 defeat to Lazio. Asked if the majority shareholder was on board with his plans, Rodgers said: “Yeah. The club are clear on that and where we want to get to. In terms of our level but Dermot is keen for us to progress.

“Dermot was one of the big reasons I came back. My relationship with him is very strong from the first time I was here. He was the main influence in convincing me to come back.

"My communication with Dermot is very good, We speak on the phone, he was in Rome for the game and I saw him at the Blessing. I didn’t have too much interaction out there with him but it was great for Dermot to be there, along with Ross.”

Meanwhile Rodgers has urged Mikey Johnston to show he deserves a spot in his team by producing every day in training. The winger impressed in his cameo off the bench against Lazio, saying afterwards that he feels he can make a difference to the team. Rodgers said: “That’s what you want to hear! But they get a chance every day in training and in the games. You do your talking on the pitch. That’s where you’re judged.”

 

I thought when Rodgers came in the first time he had the board by the balls, Big name manager who could demand what he wanted to make a dent in Europe . We all know he done amazing but the 3rd season was shocking. I never wanted him the seconded time but thought he would have learned from the first time but no he hasn't.

I have the opinion that Rodgers wants a quality of player that we will pay the transfer fee for but can't or wont pay the wages for that quality because of our wage cap.

My opinion is that Rodgers has taken a higher wage at Celtic to work with with what he is given. We all know Rogers is money orientated & i don't see any reason why he would come back to us as he's win everything in the league but has made no leeway in Europe.