Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

Brendan Rodgers has jumped to the defence of the under-fire VAR officials who failed to award Rangers a Premier Premier Sports Cup Final penalty, reminding the spot kick snipers that they are not "machines."

SFA refs chief Willie Collum has this week been forced to admit that the Light Blues should have been awarded a stoppage time pen in last Sunday's 3-3 Hampden blockbuster, when Liam Scales hauled down Vaclav Cerny on the line of the penalty box after grabbing on to the Czech as he made his way into the box


The Ibrox club hit back at Collum telling him that the blunder had "damaged the credibility of Scottish football." But Rodgers has tried to offer the Clydesdale House crew an out, following the lead of SFA CEO Ian Maxwell who warned that VAR will "never" be perfect: "I've been involved in 20 Celtic Rangers games now and I always feel there's a narrative sort after the game, in each game," said Rodgers


Should there have been a penalty? Should there have been a red card? Should they have not? Should there have been a goal? Even penalties that are awarded when it's offside! So there is always something in the narrative so I can understand why you would maybe look at it. When I see it and evaluate it, the images that I've seen, it was probably given for the initial foul which was clearly not on the line. But of course it then moves on and goes on to be the penalty aspect.

But the bottom line is, whatever happens in the game, you have to get on with it. We can only control what we can and that was to go on and win the game.


Asked if there was a bigger issue at play with the VAR process not doing what it is supposed to when an error is made, Rodgers told Sky Sports: "It's always been acknowledged that even with VAR, there's going to be human error. The guys are not machine

They're looking in a more calmer position rather than a pressurised one of the game. But it's still about interpretation. Clearly one of the VAR guys felt the initial foul took place away from the incident when it rolled on and that's his specialised opinion as an official, and an experienced official.


The VAR will have that element of human error. Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it goes against you

 

Never been to Tannadice, that surprises me..

 

A night out in Dublin sounds like an ideal way to celebrate winning another trophy.

Brendan Rodgers might have been in the Irish party town but the Celtic boss and executives were in town to meet powerbroker Dermot Desmond to toast the recent success – and get plotting for January’s transfer window. Rodgers allowed his players to let their hair down after Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup triumph over Rangers and took a moment to soak it all in himself as he collected his 10th honour as Hoops gaffer.

The squad got a few days but it was more like a couple of hours for the manager as he quickly got back to business, which meant a hop across the Irish Sea for a summit with the main man. Rodgers said: “When you win an epic game like that it’s a great feeling. The players have done so well and it’s a nice feeling for them and for everyone. Celebrating victories at the right moment and the right time is very important. Otherwise, why do you do it?

“I went back to the stadium, had a nice couple of drinks with the people there and staff, which was great. I went back home. You don’t sleep well after games like that. You go back, you watch the game and you try to analyse and review.

“Monday was more a down day with family. Tuesday, I flew to Dublin to have a meeting with Dermot, me and Michael Nicholson, Chris McKay and staff. Just talking about January and what we normally do.

“Then I got back from that and I watched the B team in the Glasgow Cup Final. Then obviously back into work. So for the manager and the coaches, we’re always looking forward. But of course, after the game and the day after, you have to celebrate.”

It is said success never sleeps. And the Desmond pow-wow could prove significant. Celtic are not going to rest on any laurels and Rodgers insisted fans shouldn’t be fooled into thinking the club’s majority shareholder is some kind of absent landlord. Instead, Desmond is front and centre when it comes to the club’s strategy. Rodgers said: “You don’t wait for the future to plan for it.

“It has been the great aspect of here. We have a board and a major shareholder who are so invested in the club and the success of the club and how they lead the club. You only need to look at over the last couple of decades, how the club has run and organised, which is at the very highest level of any business, how it can be.

“But there’s also a real passion for the team, clearly, to do well as well. So it’s so important. Dermot is absolutely entrenched in his whole role of Celtic as a major shareholder but also as a supporter.

“The first thing he does when he gets up in the morning is think about Celtic. And the last thing at night, he thinks about Celtic. So there’s always that connection.

“There’s always that great level of intelligence on our board and expertise and experience. That’s what we try to use to the best of our advantage. So for us, it’s always about planning. It’s always looking forward.”

That image of Desmond might go against the grain when it comes to some supporter perceptions. The Irish billionaire gets a rough deal from some at times, frustrated at his secretive nature among other things. Yet Celtic have hoovered up 45 trophies in the 30 years he’s been involved at Parkhead as majority shareholder.

Rodgers said: “His passion, his energy and enthusiasm for Celtic, it’s unswerving. His commitment to the club is incredible. He’s not one that wants to be out there and rightly so. But that should not mean that he’s not interested.

“Having worked here twice, I know the passion and the love he has for Celtic and his club and as a supporter. These types of things sometimes come up if the team loses a game. But it’s all a myth.

“He’s so unswerving in his commitment to Celtic. And the support I’ve had from him over my two spells has been incredible. So it was nice really to get spend some hours just looking at where we’re at and how we go forward, January and beyond.”

Rodgers is starting to think about the New Year but he’s not finished with the current one yet. His side have lost just twice in 2024 in all competitions. He doesn’t want to run to end now, with a trip to Tannadice tomorrow.

Rodgers said: “It’s a tough challenge. I’m looking forward to it, I’ve never been to Tannadice or faced them as a manager. I know the history of Dundee United from following Celtic growing up and what they were back then and how tough a place it is to go.

“Jim Goodwin has organised his team ever so well. They mix their game up and we know we have to be really good in the game.”

 

Here's as good as any place...


Was looking back, we've only been beaten once this season so far and only twice so far this calendar year!

Dortmund in October and Hearts back in March - the Yang red card day. Which I don't think the refs were ever gonna let us win that game regardless. Shocking decisions in it.

Excuses aside, that's actually really * impressive that doesn't get mentioned at all!

Only twice this entire year. Have to go back more than 365 days to find another defeat.
Only once this season so far.

Absolutely unstoppable so we are.

Sent from my M2012K11AG using Tapatalk

 

Impossible to win every game..

2 home games now before the Huns..

 

Aye. 2 home games now. Maximum points, pick up a bit of form before the 2nd. All good.

 

Yip. If you're goanny drop points, at least make sure it's no all 3.

Two home wins next two games and we'll be cooking, provided we get players back.

Brendan Rodgers. Here for 10 in a row.

 

Couldn't score against a promoted team, sack rodgers, privileged, me?

 

It's games like today that really show who he can trust. Hopefully pushes the board to get that quality through the door in January.

 

Needs backed in January. The squad depth is very poor.

Going from Kuhn and AJ to Yang and Ralston is mad.

 

Hard to criticise the man but we've been a hard watch for a good 6 weeks now. Never been so bored watching the team.

 

He's spot on . Couldn't hit the target despite getting in to good positions plenty of times especially first half game should have been done .
Could be one of those blessings in disguise to ensure the cheque book comes out in Jan.

 

I'd like to see him change the formation when we're short on players like that.

2 up top would have worked a lot better today than having a man down in Yang and then Palma.

Back the man in January, LW, Kvistgaarden and Tierney, we might need two wingers but I don't see that happening in the one window.

 

As ever the voice of reason .

 

Sometimes a point is massive when it comes to the end of the season.


Can't win them all main thing is we never got beat

 

Briefly did just that when Idah came on, was the first time I felt like we were gonna make something happen. Definitely should be looking to do that out of choice rather than necessity, keeping opposition guessing.

 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expressed dismay after his side's 0-0 draw with Dundee United today (Sunday) through their inability to work the opposing goalkeeper.


The match marked the first Scottish Premiership game Celtic have failed to score in this season, on an afternoon where they missed a handful of half-chances in both halves.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, Rodgers said: "We arrived into all the areas that we wanted to and we're in there often. My feeling in the game was that we didn't work the keeper enough. We had so many opportunities but we were in there and we never hit the target.

"We passed it well through and connected the game. As I said, the keeper made a really good save at the end whenever Arne sort of poked it through the legs and he had to react quickly. We had a great chance with Kyogo as well.

"We were, as I said, in the areas that we wanted to be. Especially in the first half, I didn't think we worked the keeper enough.

"Guys like Stephen Welsh coming in today, I thought was excellent. He was very good. Difficult conditions with the wind and everything. But, yes, it just looked like we couldn't score."


The Celtic manager added: "We had a couple of other moments as well where, again, we got into really good areas, crossed up and we just weren't quite reading it well enough or anticipating the runs to get in there.

"So, I'd just been a little bit more ruthless in our finishing. And, as I said, making the keeper work, that's about accuracy and being clinical.

"But I can't fault the effort of the players, what they gave and some of the quality of the football was very good. Great enough chances. We could have had more possibilities.

"Like I said, it just wasn't to be. [The conditions were] tough but I thought both teams coped very well and give credit to Dundee United.

"They worked very, very hard at staying in the game. Maybe if we put one or two of the opportunities away in the first half, then it opens it up a little bit more for us. But, whilst you don't score and you don't take your chances, then it gives them that little bit more encouragement.

"I thought both teams dealt very well with it. It was tricky. But, for us, lots of fast, low passes helped us in the game

 

Don't wanna be too critical but his hard on for Yang and playing him on the right when his only good performances have come from the left is driving me nuts.

And as frustrating as Palma is in our system, he does score and assist, neither of which Yang does.

 

His best game was on the right against Aberdeen. Think it must have been a stunt double that day right enough because he's never performed like that since.