Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

What is it with us making heavy rotations against St Mirren? Ange done it twice during his tenure and we dropped points both times, now Rodgers done it, they're a side that always gives us a game.

I think he needs to end the Forrest experiment, he's lost all his pace and wasn't a tricky winger to begin with, and cracking goal aside Turnbull isn't good enough, far too slow and lethargic.

Delighted with the win, but these last two performances have been dire.

 

I think it was @HTG who said to give him til Halloween to judge, and we've just passed it there so...

The positives for me are that despite a bad injury run and a tough schedule he's done very, very well domestically results-wise, Killie aside. We've needed a bit of luck and late goals along the way of course but that's to be expected. Europe too we've put in good performances and have been unlucky to only have 1 point from 3 games. Overall it seems like Rodgers has us playing very well in the "big" games, set up well to perform against better sides who come out and attack us. O'Riley and Scales too have been vastly improved.

The negatives for me are that I still don't really see a clear playing style, that is in terms of rotations, patterns of play etc. Too often we just work it wide to our winger and expect him to do something, which doesn't really work when our wingers aren't the best at going by their full back. I know folk hate bringing him up, but I miss the wide rotations between the winger, 8 and full back under Ange - we always looked like creating overloads and getting the ball to the byline. I'm also unconvinced by a lot of the team selections - why he's picking Forrest and Turnbull ahead of Yang and Holm I don't know, and is there a reason we're starting our emergency loan in place of the young centre half we spent almost £5m on? Kyogo looks poorer in this system too, I feel. Lastly, we all know the board are most to blame for the window but some blame also has to go on Rodgers - signing 8 or 9 players and having just one of them start (plus the emergency loan) in November is a worry.

Overall, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned. Am I convinced we'll sign the quality we need? No. I think we're a bit too easy to defend against when teams set up with a low block. I do think we'll comfortably beat the huns in the games against them under Rodgers, and I'm actually confident going into European games, but I worry for how many games this season we'll drop points just by not quite being effective enough against teams who put 10 men behind the ball.

 

January is going to be absolutely huge. Im just glad lots of the theoretical hard games are out the way.

 

I was at least happy to see us finish with Kyogo and Oh on the pitch. Not advocating 4-4-2 per se, but having them both on gives deep sitting teams something else to think about.

 

Forgot I said that, was just after that abomination against St Johnstone as well.

I agree with most of your points, domestically hes done fantastic, especially with the injuries he's had to deal with. If VAR does its job we beat Killie in the cup as well.

We looked great against Atletico Madrid and Lazio, and if we focused on a few non-projects, we havevat least 4, maybe 6 points in Europe.

His subs have been mostly good this season, but I think his rotations have been poor. Turnbull and Forrest slow the game down to a crawl, and the likes of Holm, Yang, Oh and Iwata need far more gametime.

Overall, he's done good, but it could be better, big window coming up.

 

Fantastic subs tonight by Rodgers SPOT ON!. Maybe yang has turned a corner and also Oh.

 

Oh, Yang and Holm all deserve to start.

 

This

Time to throw these guys in and let them sink or swim. Coming up to a very busy period after the international break and we're going to need 17/18 players to rely on regularly.

 

Brendan Rodgers has opened up on Celtic's recent penalty woes, insisting it is an area his side "have to be better in".

The Scottish champions have missed from the spot on the last two occasions, with Reo Hatate failing to convert against Hearts and David Turnbull striking the post against St Mirren.

And Rodgers is keen to remedy the problem. He said: "We are not good enough from penalties and I have made that clear. Especially with the players who are gifted... we have a lot of technically gifted players here so it is something we will improve on.

"It is a skill you can be better at but you have to practice and get your routine. It is something we do on a daily basis and I cannot deny it is an area that we have to be better in."




Rodgers also detailed the importance of managing his squad, stating that he has "trust" in his players.

The Parkhead side have a quick turnaround after the game on Saturday against Ross County as they travel to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

However, Rodgers feels there is more than enough quality in the squad for the players to get through the busy run of fixtures.

He told Sky Sports: "It is a testament to the players and their mentality because it is very difficult for a player when you are not playing a lot to find a rhythm.

"You know you have to come in and perform because you may not get seven or eight games on the spin.

"The intensity of training means they are ready to come into these games.

"You go into the game and will always pick the team that you think can win but you are obviously assessing fatigue and game time for players and where they are at.

"There is a quick turnaround for the game on Tuesday but I trust in the squad and I have always said it will be about the squad.

 

Brendan Rodgers has extended a hand of peace to the renegade Green Brigade – but warned the controversial ultras not to rip the whole arm off.

The Celtic boss is aware of the fallout behind the scenes at Parkhead with around 200 fans banned until further notice after a succession of incidents at Celtic Park and at away grounds in Scotland and in Europe. The club have also been hit with fines by UEFA for banners and fireworks in the Champions League and the catalogue of flashpoints saw the board’s patience finally snap.

Rodgers wants the support united again – but he insisted the group can’t push their luck after being given the first standing section in UK football. He said: “The club, and hopefully the guys who are out of the club, can find a solution. Because they are amazing, I will say that. I just think in life you always have to be careful. If you offer a hand, make sure they don’t want the arm.



So, you put out your hand to help supporters, and they take the arm, not the hand. For me, our club’s strength is being together behind the team, and hopefully very, very soon we can find that, and we can support the football.

“Football clubs are about football. That’s the simplicity of it for me. When you come to the football, you’re coming to watch the players on the pitch and support the team.

“The social media stuff, gladly I’m not involved in it and I have no interest in it, so a lot of what goes on in and around that I actually don’t know about.

“I’m not naïve, I know what’s there, but there’s no way I am trawling through stuff to understand it.

“But I understand what’s happened, and at any club – especially at a club like here – that synergy is so important because it is such a force, Celtic.”

The Celtic board pointed to safety concerns as one of the reasons behind the ban. Rodgers said: "For most clubs, football is for families to come along, support their team, have a day out and enjoy the football.

“There should never be any risk going to any game of football. Listen, for Celtic, in the main that’s what it’s about. Supporters come from up and down the country here, they come on boats and planes to get to games.

“It’s a brilliant day and if their team wins, even better. That’s the end game for every game and hopefully we can get to that point.”

Off-the-field issues have hogged the headlines while Rodgers has steadily put his stamp on the side in Scotland and in Europe. The Irishman insisted his focus remains on the pitch ahead of today’s trip to Ross County.

Rodgers said: “It’s very simple, I concentrate on the football. I know that 99.9 percent of this fanbase are amazing, the support they give the club and they give the team is fantastic.

“Of course, it is clear we have a situation with a really small group of our support base, with which that dialogue and everything else is there with the board.

“They will speak on that, I will only speak for the club of course, but it’s very easy for me to narrow my focus in on the football because ultimately that is what brings the club together.”

Rodgers has recently been forced to field questions on everything from fan behaviour to Middle East politics in recent weeks but he insisted he’s a manager and not a politician.

He said: “No, and we’re not specialists in it! I don’t know why we get asked about all these things whenever our lives are all about football. But of course, as a manager – and especially as a manager of a big club – it’s multi-functional in terms of what you are required to do.

“When you are experienced, you can also offer your support and experience to players, but it’s very, very straightforward for me in terms of I know the end game for me is to be successful on the field. I can laser my focus in on the football very easily.”

 

Rodgers not convinced with both disallowed goals. Doesn't sound happy with those decisions at all.

 

Got it spot on today. From 1st minute to last. From 1st sub to last. Nailed it.

Will be crucial to getting the points to win us the title again this season.

Give him what he wants for Janaury.