Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

I think either way we will see the benefit of having a stronger bench this season and second half of games we will likely get over the line in these types of tricky games after Europe. 5 subs and lots of quality (either regular starters being rested or backups raring to go) will be too much for the other teams to deal with, especially tired defenders.

Could argue the likes of Bernardo and McCowan could have started against Killie, but I can also see why the Falkirk/Dundee games were a bit of a scare and maybe he'll go with the strongest XI to try get the game sewn up and make subs early as possible.

 

Brendan Rodgers insists he hasn't thought about his Celtic future as he reaches the midway point of his three-year deal.

The Northern Irishman is one of the most successful manager's in the club's illustrious history having delivered two Trebles and a total of nine trophies across his two spells so far. Rodgers made an awkward return to Parkhead as he succeeded Ange Postecoglou in the hotseat, four years after walking out on the club for Leicester City




But the 51-year-old has won most of his critics over after leading Celts to a Double last season. The Scottish champions have also made a flying start to the current campaign both domestically and in the Champions League. And on the day Alistair Johnston committed his future to the club until 2029, Rodgers admits talks over his own contract which expires in 18 months will be put on the back burner until next year


He said: "What did I say on my first day here? Three years unless I get bumped early! Listen, I said I'd be here for three years. At the end of three years, I'll have done nearly six years as Celtic manager which is a long time for a Celtic manager. I haven't really thought about it


They say in life, the biggest currency you have is time. As you get to 51 and older, you realise that. Time around people you love, your family, your workplace. And I would have to agree with that. Where I am at the minute, I'm at a brilliant place so we'll just keep it that way."

 

Needed the changes. Made the changes. Great credit but needs to address that first half performance as pretty much the whole midfield and other than CCV the defence were really poor.

 

Something he’s always been good at is in game changes and subs. So many times this season subs have made an impact coming on.

Think games like Diets, Killie etc away in tight pitches we definitely need to utilise McCowan and Bernardo more. Idah as well but he was poor against Killie so definitely didn’t warrant a start tonight but he was great off the bench.

 

We always look a bit crap after the international break. It definitely disrupts our rhythm and some of the players that travelled looked a bit leggy.

 

He said before it wouldn't be perfect, game went as he said basically.

 

Everyone crying out for half time changes..

Need to learn to trust him to change the game with the personnel he's chosen to start.

 

We would all love the job & salary , but aside of that dream, in context of the reality of players on surreal wages & agents BS, its no easy task for any manager to keep a squad happy.
Brendan is definitely a top manager when it comes to getting most really wanting to be part of a team/squad.

Celtic 2024 is right up there in terms of a team & squad talent & desire, especially in recent seasons .

 

Sure, but we were very lucky not to be behind by halftime. Lots of really poor performances that first half. Rodgers needs to sort that too, particularly if that's his chosen first 11.

 

Plus it's not necessarily a bad thing to have a dodgy performance before a big European game

 

We were poor in the 1st, Hearts were well organised tbf..

Much better in the 2nd, loads wanted Hatate hooked for example ended up MOTM..

 

Brendan Rodgers credited an "excellent second half performance" as Celtic went three points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit with a well-earned victory over Heart of Midlothian on Saturday night.


Following Aberdeen's first league loss of the season earlier that day, Rodgers' team aimed to create distance from the Dons for the first time.

Despite a slow start and being fortunate to be level at half-time - thanks to missed chances from Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland - Celtic turned the tide after the break.

Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring early into the second half with his seventh goal of the season, capitalising on a deflected clearance.

Nicholas Kuhn quickly doubled the lead with a brilliant finish, and substitute Adam Idah added a third after clever passing in the Hearts box.

Although the hosts - who remain one point off bottom spot - showed determination and managed a late consolation goal through Musa Drammeh, Idah sealed the win with a penalty in stoppage time after James Forrest was fouled



Rodgers admitted that Celtic were caught cold by a tactical tweak by Hearts boss Neil Critchley, and revealed how they strived to quickly rectify their troubles during the interval.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Celtic boss said: "It was a very good win. I think when you can come here to Tynecastle and win 4-1. It was an excellent performance - especially second half.

"I thought first half they pressed us well and pressed us in a different shape than what we anticipated from watching Neil and his team. We didn't quite play through as well as we wanted to. But once we figured out and sorted that out at half-time I thought we got through that pressure really well and looked very good going forward and solid behind.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the goal that we concede. But to come here to such a difficult place with the scoreline that convincing then I'm really pleased."

Rodgers knows the title race isn't over yet, just 12 games into the season, yet couldn't help but take pleasure in the fact rivals Rangers and Aberdeen both failed to win earlier on Saturday which has helped extend Celtic's advantage in first place.

"If your nearest rivals drop points then of course you want to take advantage of that," he admitted. "It's still very early in the season but still this early it's good to get the win.

"Everyone would've looked at this as a very tough game but we've come here and managed the game really well and got the three points. So, I'm really pleased and we've just got to keep that focus and keep that intensity

 

Hearts defended well in the first half but I knew they'd tire.

 

Brendan Rodgers says their game against Club Brugge is another opportunity to “show the power” of Celtic Park in the Champions League.

The Hoops host the Belgian champions in the east end of Glasgow on Wednesday, knowing a win will put them on the cusp of reaching the knockout stages of the top competition for the first time in 11 years.

The Premiership leaders have had victories in their previous three Champions League home games and are aiming to make it four in a row for the first time since 2003 when they won five consecutive Champions League games at Celtic Park under Martin O’Neill.

Gordon Strachan’s side won six group games in a row across the 06/07 and 07/08 campaigns, however, they had a 0-0 last-16 draw with AC Milan in the middle of that run.

In their opening four games this campaign, Celtic have defeated Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig at home while drawing with Atalanta in Italy.

Their only defeat across all competitions this season came in Germany when they suffered a heavy loss to last season’s Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund.

Following the game against Brugge, they have a trip to Croatia to play Dinamo Zagreb and a home game against Young Boys before ending the league stage of the campaign v Aston Villa in Birmingham.


Rodgers says reaching the playoff stage is the aim.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the manager said: “In the Champions League every game is tough and this one will be exactly the same.

“We have seven out of 12 points so far and everyone is happy with that and with the performance levels, it gives us confidence.

“We go into the next run of games and we want to accumulate as many points as we can.

“Our objective is to get into the playoff stage first and foremost, and we just have to wait and see what points total we need for that.

“So we are just focusing on this game and looking to keep up our performance level.

“It’s another opportunity for us to show the power of Celtic Park, I am in no doubt that every team will feel their home ground is special, and I respect that, but I know this club and the fans, and I know the stadium, so I know how special it really is and how difficult it can be.

I am really excited about playing at Celtic Park again in the game tomorrow.”

The Hoops are currently in 15th place of the 36-team table, one point ahead of Brugge who are 22nd, at the midway stage.

They are two points off the top-eight and a place in the last-16.

However, the teams who finish in ninth to 24th will reach the playoff stage