Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Nawrocki, Lagerbielke and Tillio 3 guys he had no clue about but were forced on him. Yes I know he says he has last say on signings but we all know he has to say that.

£10m pished down the drain when we should of been buying 1/2 players for that. Celtic way is sell your best players and buy 10 projects in the hope a couple work out. End up with a bloated squad and which is 75% bang and below average.

 

HE was bloomin’ raging on Sunday in Perth.

But Brendan Rodgers has revealed he treats his Celtic stars like FLOWERS.

The Hoops boss admitted his half-time fury during the win over St Johnstone was the angriest he’d felt as a manager.

Normally the epitome of the modern gaffer, for years he shunned the old-school raging-bull response in the dressing room, refusing to toss tactics boards or tea-cups like the generations who went before.

But after seeing standards plummet in 45 miserable minutes against Saints, he gave his stars a clattering.

Rodgers got the reaction he wanted as they emerged 3-1 winners in the second half.

He said: “Praise and criticism comes hand in hand.

“I always say it’s like a flower. A flower needs the sunshine and the rain.

“Give it too much sun, it dies. Too much rain, it dies.

“Players and people are just the same. Too much praise, it hurts them. But it’s always in balance.

“I always have a very positive outlook in life and football. But it’s all about timing and the intervention. It worked for us.

“I always say it, a pat on the back is only about 20 inches from a kick in the backside.

“I’m also conscious I’m not someone who’d psychologically abuse a player.

“That would go deep for me, and something I’d be really uncomfortable with. I’ve never been that person, or that father, or whatever.”

Rodgers was on the receiving end of rollickings when he was a player, that’s exactly why he doesn’t regularly employ the same tactics.

He added: “Yes I was, but that’s why I don’t do it. Sometimes you have to be harsh to be clear.

“The game on Sunday was nothing to do with tactics. It was clearly in need of an intervention at half time.

“This generation of player now is totally different.

“Certainly some of the things I saw when I was younger I wouldn’t see now.

“But the game has shaped my way of working as a manager because I didn’t see how that benefitted me.

“There are certain times where it can have an effect, as long as it’s honest and clear to the point.

“Sunday wasn’t normally how I work. That’s because we normally have that intensity and the physicality, and then it’s about tactical solutions in the game.

“But you can’t talk tactics if you don’t get your physicality and intensity right. It was just a feeling in the game of what was required.

“These guys have been brilliant, but every now and then you just need a reminder that Celtic’s a club where you don’t ever go through the motions. Either as a staff member or as a player.

“We went through the motions in the first half.

“This is a club with expectations and demands in every single game. I haven’t won anything since I’ve been back here.

“I want to win back here again like I did the first time.

“I know what it takes to win, and what the demands to win are at a club like this.

“So if I see it then I’ll call it. When it’s needed I can bring it out.

“I don’t overthink what I’m going to say, but it’s a feeling you have within the game.

“It’s always that bit more difficult when teams are camped in the final third.

“That’s the challenge because you don’t have the space.

“There are quicker and shorter combinations, but it still has to be there. There still has to be those transitional moments, that speed through the pitch, that pass and run forwards.”

Rodgers got a reaction of a different kind from Mikey Johnston, whose half-time introduction helped spark the Hoops into life.

The winger was 18 when he was handed a 2017 debut by Rodgers, ironically against St Johnstone, but he was given an ultimatum from him six years later.

He said: “The first thing I said to Mikey Johnston in the summer was, ‘You’ve got to show you’re fit’.

“He’s at the age where clearly he wants to play.

“But he was injured a lot, so he had to show that robustness. He’s done that.

“Mikey’s virtually always been available and he’s trained really hard. He looks more robust in his body now.

“The second thing I wanted to see was if he could tactically participate in the game. That’s the big challenge for him because in a one v one duel, he’s outstanding.

“Mikey can beat a man but football’s more than that. You have to be able to press the game, be synchronised with your team.

“Certainly, he’s shown he can come into a game and make a great impact. Mikey’s impact on Sunday was transformative for the team.

“Hopefully now he can show himself at 24 because he’s not a young player anymore. I gave him his debut at 18.

“If he can show he’s able to participate in the game then he can have a really bright next decade.”

Tomoki Iwata also came on for the final few minutes, and Rodgers admits he’s considered playing the Japanese ace more since Reo Hatate was crocked.

There could be more game time ahead of him with Hatate now struggling to make next month’s Asian Cup.

Ahead of Wednesday’s clash at home to Hibs, Rodgers added: “It’s one of the areas in the team I want to improve.

“We’ve got David Turnbull, whose strengths are to play against low blocks when we’re trying to nick a goal.

“Getting around the pitch is maybe not his strength. When you go into Champions League games you need that ability to run. So Paulo Bernardo has played in those games.

“It’s finding that complete package. Callum McGregor has played in that deeper role for a few years, but it’s something I’ve thought about for sure.

“Tomo would have played in Rome if he was available, but sadly he missed out.”

 

The flower analogy

Ffs Brentan

 

He said: “Praise and criticism comes hand in hand.

“I always say it’s like a flower. A flower needs the sunshine and the rain.

“Give it too much sun, it dies. Too much rain, it dies.

“Players and people are just the same. Too much praise, it hurts them. But it’s always in balance.

He’s gone full on David Brent here.

 

Yet another one for the scrapbook

I think he means it at this point.

What a guy.

 

Ffs that's full brendan right there.

 

It's a bit early to write these three off mate, they've barely played ffs. Why would they be forced on Rodgers and why would he lie about it?

 

Being reported he handed these out to the press afterwards...

 

I get that, but if they are not doing anything with it then it needs to change, he’s changed it up, and gave them a bollocking which clearly changed the game.

 

At least there’s signs of the old Brendan Rodgers coming back

I thought initially he was far too reserved and almost timid at times, like he was walking on eggshells.

After the game and how raging he appeared to be was encouraging, and the fact he said going a game and a half without scoring against St Johnstone was a disgrace was good.

We need him to be that arrogant * who knows he’s by a country mile the best manager in the league in charge of the best players in the league and he needs to show that ruthlessness that hasn’t really been there, outwith a handful of games.

 

I think it's weird to signal out Lagerbielke and Nawrocki when Kwon, Bernardo (albeit a loan), Tilio and Yang seem worse value for money. Nawrocki been injured ofc and there's always behind the scenes but still.

Either way there was a significant improvement second half. I don't think the football will get much better during the rest of this month, but add a GK, LB and ST in January and it 100% will.

 

Only reason could be that those you've mentioned might be working hard but just not good enough, whereas the other two came in with a bit of a reputation and a higher price tag and maybe aren't working hard enough in training?

Speculating here but as you say it's weird to dig them out, particularly Nawrocki being injured quite unluckily given he was in the team and performing okay at the time.

 

Kwon, Tilio, Yang, Holm, these players were obviously lined up before he came in, but to suggest players like Lagerbielke and Nawrocki were forced upon him is nonsense. Regardless, writing off Nawrocki in particular is insane, the boy's barely played five games.

 

I actually thought Nawrocki looked good. Lagerbielke on the other hand was like a fish out of water.

 

I think the question was asked in a way which only mentioned Lagerbielke and Nawrocki? I've read this interview on the Celtic Way, and there, they included the questions.

 

Get rid of Rodgers and bring in a good manager who knows how to properly set up his players to compete in Europe and is able to motivate them to play properly for him.
Then back him up properly with player investment and get rid of the deadwood.

 

I totally get how it looks and why you are laughing; but to be completely honest, it made perfect sense to me.
I'm not sure what that says about me!

 

Great post!