Brendan Fraudgers!

Brendan Rodgers has called for a full inquest into Celtic's miserable transfer window.

The Friday night sale of striker Moussa Dembele to Lyon for £20million put the seal on a frustrating 12-week period for the Parkhead boss, who saw a series of targets slip through his fingers.

Although the club broke its transfer record to seal the permanent signing of French forward Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain, moves for midfielder John McGinn and defenders Cristiano Piccini and Scott McKenna each ran aground.

Deadline day saw free agent Youssouf Mulumbu sign a two-year deal and Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic join on loan but, speaking ahead of Sunday's first Old Firm derby of the season, Rodgers admits the club's recruitment had not met his requirements.

He will sit down with the club hierarchy to rake over the coals of a period in which the club also suffered Champions League elimination.

He said: 'You have to review - it is important. I felt it was a straightforward window for us, and it was twofold - keep the players we wanted to keep, then add the quality into key areas of the field. I didn't think we needed many.

'But it's never as straightforward as it should be sometimes.

'It's clear it hasn't been an ideal window for us but we'll look at the processes and everything else around it. We'll review it all and try to ensure in the next window we can be better.' Rodgers relationship with club chief executive Peter Lawwell has appeared strained over the past few weeks, while questions have also been raised around the role of head of recruitment Lee Congerton, who was appointed in March 2017.

'It has been a busy period and we will assess it after this period is done,' he added.

'There are clearly things we can improve on and be better at. But, listen, this is management, it is not always smooth and everything going nice.

'So you just have to deal with it and focus and concentrate on what you do, which is the coaching, the preparation of the team and sending them out there to perform at the best level that they can.'


The sale of Dembele, a talismanic figure in matches against Rangers over the past two years, has narrowed Rodgers' attacking options going into Sunday's home game, the first against the Ibrox side with Steven Gerrard at the helm.

However, with Edouard back in full training it is feasible that he could start with the same starting XI that crushed Rangers 5-0 the last time the sides met at Parkhead in April.

'We could have had Odsonne on the bench the other night but it would have meant him missing out on important work that would give him another couple of days' training,' said Rodgers. 'He's looked pretty good, so he will definitely be in the squad.'


Rodgers' main dilemma is likely to be in attack where Edouard will vie with Leigh Griffiths, who scored his 100th goal for the club in midweek.

It's possible both men could play from the start, but Rodgers is likely to find room for Tom Rogic, a frequent scorer in this fixture.

A doubt has hung over the attacking midfielder after Australian national coach Graham Arnold spoke out last week to say he was omitting Rogic from his squad because of an ongoing knee condition. But Rodgers sought to play down the significance of the problem.



Tom's had an issue around that but he's fine and he's available,' he stated.

Like Rogic, James Forrest was rested from the team that started the Europa League qualifier against Suduva in midweek, but he is likely to be restored to a full-strength Celtic side that has been bolstered by the return of Dedryck Boyata in defence for the past two games.

Celtic's decision to reject a £9m bid from Fulham for the defender caused a stand-off with the Belgian internationalist last month. The fallout from that dispute and Dembele's reaction to the club rejecting Lyon's initial offer cast a further cloud over Celtic's window, an outlook in distinct contrast to the sense of renewal around Ibrox.

Celtic's dominance in this fixture under Rodgers exposed Rangers' need to overhaul the squad over the summer and Gerrard has been backed with the funds to secure 14 new signings. Rodgers concedes the opposition look stronger as they prepare to visit, but he is unlikely to be blindsided by a team managed by and stocked with personnel whom he managed at Liverpool.


Tom's had an issue around that but he's fine and he's available,' he stated.

Like Rogic, James Forrest was rested from the team that started the Europa League qualifier against Suduva in midweek, but he is likely to be restored to a full-strength Celtic side that has been bolstered by the return of Dedryck Boyata in defence for the past two games.

Celtic's decision to reject a £9m bid from Fulham for the defender caused a stand-off with the Belgian internationalist last month. The fallout from that dispute and Dembele's reaction to the club rejecting Lyon's initial offer cast a further cloud over Celtic's window, an outlook in distinct contrast to the sense of renewal around Ibrox.

Celtic's dominance in this fixture under Rodgers exposed Rangers' need to overhaul the squad over the summer and Gerrard has been backed with the funds to secure 14 new signings. Rodgers concedes the opposition look stronger as they prepare to visit, but he is unlikely to be blindsided by a team managed by and stocked with personnel whom he managed at Liverpool.



'I think Stevie's done very well,' said the Celtic boss.

'He's obviously had a look at it last season, spoken to the people involved and believed he would get investment to improve the squad.

'In his early steps, he's done very well. With him and Mark (Allen, Rangers' director of football) in there, that's an important combination.

'He's been able to bring in some good players.

'I liked Scott Arfield when he was at Burnley. Young Connor Goldson is a good player who I remember seeing at Brighton and it was unfortunate he was out the team for a little while. I always liked his quality.

'I know young Ryan Kent and Ovie (Ejaria) has come into midfield. I know Jon Flanagan well, too. So he's signed some good players which gives them a bit of physicality.

'They will gain confidence from the European qualification and it's been a good start for them.'

 

I read that as, Rodgers thinks the board has failed him in the window just gone.

 

NEVER LEAVE US !

Saint Brendan the MASTER he's got the voodoo sign over them.

 

Well in sir..

The weight that will have lifted off him and the team just before a break cannot be understated..

He deserves it and more credit again..

3 wins and 3 clean sheets this week..

 

Before you have a full inquest into the transfer windae saga ,, you might want a word wi yer mate Lee who seems to be stealing a very good wage

 

Well done sir!

 

* Dembele. Brendan is the king of glasgow.

Surely we've broke an unbeaten record against them by now?

 

Brendan masterclass. Shame about the last few weeks.

 

BR: "I always come into these games and ensure the players are calm in order for us to play our way. To have a chance of winning we have to perform and I thought we performed exceptionally well."

BR: "Huge credit to the players in how we had to defend. Any moments of danger we were pressing hard and worked our socks off. We had composure on the ball, stayed patient and created opportunities. Outstanding win for us and equally a very good performance.

BR on
@OlivierNtcham
: "I thought we had a host of very good players but Olivier’s a real talent. You seen his power and passing ability. It was a very good goal.

BR on Dedryck Boyata: "Dedryck was outstanding. He was great and he’ll help us for the rest of the season."

BR: "These games are extra special for the supporters. I have to congratulate them. The atmosphere was incredible today. They’ll be happy, the players are happy and I’m delighted with the performance."

BR on Moussa Dembele: "The whole episode was disappointing. I had a really close relationship with Moussa. He was desperate for the move. There was a line over stepped from a behaviour perspective.

BR: "I needed to speak to Moussa and a few other senior staff members. There was a lot of stuff which was said which was not so nice and ironically not true. Moussa got his move. Deep down I know he’s a good boy, he did a great job for us and I wish him the best.

BR: "I think you saw from the performance today that it could be an exciting season for us again."

 

Love him so much

 

Me too ❤️

 

Humble even after what Moussa done and obviously talked a lot of * behind closed doors. Once again proving he has the mentality and man management of a world class manager.

McGregor on the left works a * treat.

 

Everybody knows the board have failed the manager. BR wants to keep adding quality. No resting on your laurels

 

That press conference man. Ghod