Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

We're still a much stronger squad than them, Ange wouldn't have had us constantly passing back to the gk/cb to hold possession like they were some team to be feared, he'd have burst a * telling everyone to get the ball in the box and force something, I really don't think this team goes two legs without scoring if we stopped * about with Rodgers negative tactics, we should be bombarding their goal from every angle whatever starting 11 we put out.

 

Not a single person would have done that.

It was clear to anyone with two brain cells to rub together that as soon as the fee started going north of £5m or so, we were getting our pants pulled down.

 

If he can't trust Yamada in the final 10 mins of that, then what chance does he have?

 

Where'd you hear that?

I'm assuming Rodgers assumed that, given how * off he was his first 6 months that feels fairly certain. Nothing says any different so far.

 

I agree it's clear Idah was Rodgers number 1 pick and I also agree we overspent on him which isn't Rodgers fault. If we chased Idah for as long as we did and then signed another striker we wouldve been on here slating the board for not signing who the manager wanted.

I honestly just don't understand how there can be an issue with a manager that has delivered us so much success wanting to sign his own players. His recruitment over his full managerial career has been grim it was my main concern when he came back but that can't be used as an excuse not to back him and if the board felt any issue with the value for money on Trusty, Idah and Engels then Rodgers should've been sacked at the end of the season.

What is the plan just now ? To coast this season Rodgers leaves in the summer and we'll see where we are then. That's what it feels like just now

 

Ahh aye, this is the most sensible I’ve seen criticism levelled where it’s due.

Manager is getting criticised for how he set up and approached two games, two massive games, with it being acknowledged he should have had more in the squad but that doesn’t mean what he’s got available shouldn’t win they games. The approach he is being criticised, the lack of any meaningful change tactically when needed. A lot of real, proper, not over the top criticism that is valid.

And the board? They’re also getting it. And both are being treated separately

 

Because the board are incompetent as * and are finally bowing to a bit of pressure, but as per it’s too little too late. They’ve got away with it past few seasons due to guaranteed champions league but this time they haven’t and unsurprisingly it’s cost us.

If we’re being brutally honest, we’re a million miles off a side being able to compete at CL level regardless of who they panic buy in the last few days due to months of * about, but it’s cost them a * load of money and now means someone will inevitably to be sold to make up for the short fall putting us even further behind of where we should’ve been.

 

Rodgers first press conference he outlined that

 

I honestly don't believe Brendan knew for a fact he wasn't getting anyone in before this. The fact that we seem to have concluded the Balikwisha transfer before the 2nd leg shows that this could and should have been done earlier. I think as usual we've lowballed teams trying to get a winger or 2 and it simply hasn't worked, leaving Brendan with no option.

I also didn't hear any criticisms of Brendan's style when we ran Bayern close in the CL. Proof that with the right team and proper backing his system and style can work. Naturally, our team is weaker now that it was then so its much harder to replicate. Had we rocked up to the Allianz with Forrest, Yang and Ralston starting I don't doubt for a minute things would have went down differently.

Problem is you don't get time here to experiment with new systems and formations. The expectation is win every game. Which domestically we have. Had we started changing too much and dropped points he'd have people on his back about that as well. 9 points from 9 is some feat given our woeful attacking options.

 

I’ll agree they set up to counter how we play, which is exactly why Rodgers takes a huge chunk of the blame, seeing as it’s a two-legged tie.

If a team are heavily coached to block the particular way you play, and you play solely that way for 210 minutes, that’s the managers fault.

 

Yes they would have.

 

Zagreb would wipe the floor with this mob, but it reminded me of away to them last season. Moving the ball too slowly and everyone taking the safe option.

 

"We like Adam, but he's one of many targets" - would have done it.

Almost no one was screaming for us to sign Idah. That wasn't a thing.

 

What you've described their could equally be used to describe the cup final so you can't say with last season's squad we'd wipe the floor with them.

Performances like tonight aren't new. We turned in 2 identical performances in the last 2 games of last season

 

The issue I have with that is who was he supposed to play instead that would’ve actually been good enough to break down a very well organised team. They may well have had nothing going forward, but they didn’t need to in order to knock us out, such is our short fall in attack.

We could’ve played Nygren out wide but he was * dreadful tonight in his actual position, McCowan could’ve played wide but again another square peg in a round hole.

He could’ve ripped it up and played a totally different formation but again if that fails people are going to criticise him for that.

The fact of the matter is we were woefully short going forward, through no real fault of his and as a result struggled to break down a poor, but extremely well organised and defensive team.

 

I think this is where some confusion comes into it.

Rodgers is well within his rights to demand the best. We should be trying to sign players that he would class as plan A’s or whatever. That’s the market we should be shopping in.

But we all know, it’s not what Celtic want to do consistently. As * and wrong as it is, that’s reality.

Therefore both sides have to meet in the middle. Because all that’s happening is Rodgers is fixated on those players the board doesn’t want to shell out on, and he is refusing lower end punts. It’s a complete waste of time and results in panic buys and loans late in the window.

Almost wish we’d just have a policy of signing players between £4-8 million and finding the best value for players in that bracket. £1m punts tend to be *. £9m+ come with massive expectations and haven’t been a roaring success for us.

 

I don’t think they’re bowing to any pressure, they’re doing exactly the same as what they would have IMO.

I think the only thing them being there for sack the board and a target last week changed is it has been leaked he’s signing before we usually would.

He’ll be announced last day of the window still I imagine

 

Fair enough, but on that token you also couldn’t say Ange would’ve beaten them comfortably with the same squad. (Not aiming that at you btw).

The warning signs were there, failing to address that and making the required improvements is the main issue tonight.

 

The system works in certain games of course it does, Bayern, Leipzig games prove that but there are other games were it doesn't. There is a * of a lot more space to play in against teams like Bayern who are more open and attacking.
Against half decent teams who want to sit in and stay tight defensively his system has struggled for a while.

No system is perfect and no system works all the time.

We've mocked * like Beale and Martin for their "if plan A doesn't work plan B is to do plan A better" approach.

 

Had a look: https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/...s--celtic-is-a-club-that-allows-you-to-dream/ and similar and can't see any references.

You got a link mate? Not sure how much it changes but still interesting.