Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

So this year.

I do think we've went backwards a bit since the start of the season domestically at least.

Rodgers is being too arrogant domestically - can't always leave it up to St Mirren and Queens Park. Definitely needs to adjust things which he hasn't.

Aye, League and do well in Europe is what makes it a success next season.

 

Those that downplay the result because we are 13 points ahead, need abit of a reality check.

Every game against them is big and we should be showing we are far superior. Every three points we can add to the gap is important. Keep the champions mentality is important, why give them any sort of belief or momentum.

Whilst it been decades gone by now, we been in the position where they were running away with the league but we beat them here and there. We know we used that a barometer as to how we measured for the season to come. They will be encouraged by the last two fixtures against us and realistically, they fix the issues they are having against the likes of St.Mirren and Queen Park, then these fixtures take a whole different context.

We have the better team but I fear we got a soft underbelly here. When they are launching direct balls and outmuscling us in the 50/50's then we do need to be concerned and we do need to get it fixed. They won't change what they ate doing now, they'll feel they have us figured out.

We need to adapt to overcome the high press and long ball crap they play, or this could become an issue next season

 

Again, mate, it's not that I think we don't have multiple plans, it's the lack of training time on those plans and the inevitable drop off when the pivot is not our captain.

This is not to say that we'd have been coasting with McGregor. Far from it, these games have mostly been extremely tight for a year now and that would still have been the case if CM had been fit; but they are decided by fine margins and McGregor's absence was a blow for us.

I think we agree on quite a bit, though. I agree that it is a pattern in these games. We've struggled in 5 of the last 6 derbies and I'd personally add Young Boys to that to make it 6 similar games against teams that play with that kind of physicality. It is a problem and it does need to be addressed. I just don't see Rodgers as the issue (not saying you do).

I don't want us to change too drastically, though. The Rangers way of playing might get good results against teams that are a single level above you (in the EL and against us); but in the CL, it mostly gets you absolutely horsed (as Rangers found last time they were in it and Young Boys found this year). I like what Rodgers is building.

That last point is the crux of the matter. If we win the treble, this will easily be my favourite season since the Seville season. Our football last autumn was the best I've seen here since we had better players the quality of Larsson or Lubo. The Leipzig game was my favourite European performance since MON. We eventually went out in the knockouts to a single late goal at Bayern Munich. The league was essentially over by February. The league Cup is in the bag and we're 2 games away from a possible treble.

Nothing that happens in these two dead rubbers against the mediocre club across the city makes any difference to that IMO.

 

i didn't get the Jota sub at 2-2, but maybe he's still not 100%.

 

If he leaves in the summer, I wouldn’t give two * to be honest.

His arrogance coming into these games is not a good look when he’s failed to put on a good performance in the last 3 games against the Huns.

His comments pre and post game both questionable.

 

I love the style of football but i think yiu can change system while keeping your principles, i felt like all day we were on a hiding to nothing in that shape with no CM

 

I wouldnt underestimate the significance of these fixtures. In a league that offers so many dross fixtures these are showpiece games that resonate massively with the fanbases involved. Just because they may not cost us a title this season shouldnt downplay their importance.

Had we won the last two games against them - the entire club would be toxic right now. Their support would be slaughtering their players and each other. They would feel completely deflated about their chances of catching up to us. Negativity would be coursing through the club. Everyone involved would be feeling the pressure.

What we have done now is given everyone at Rangers a massive lift. We have given their players confidence that they can beat us anytime, anywhere. We have given their fans a lift to really get behind their club again. If we dont get a result in last Old Firm, which is a real possibility, and the gap narrows to single digits by the end of the season - then they go into the Summer and next season feeling optimistic about their chances having lost any fear factor they had of us. It makes the job next season that much harder for us.

 

Gave it all the talk this week he must be feeling pretty silly to be honest. Don’t wanna hear another sarcastic remark from him about them until he beats them again by the way. Needs to get it right next time

 

We knew the tactics he didnt change.

If we get skelped again in may against them then thats unacceptable and regardless what he may win this season he has to go.

I can accept them maybe winning a 1 off but thats 3 in a row at 3 different venues they have scored 3 goals against us.

They should have been out of sight in the LC Final. They destroyed us in Janaury and today a guy who was a go radio pundit until a month ago schooled him using the same clement tactics.

Our players are a * disgrace also.

Schmeichel abysmal
Johnston beyond bad
CCV * clueless
Schlupp offered * all
Mccowan for 80 mins looked dundee level
Engles we have been robbed for him
Khun thought it was fatigue clearly took nip at jota being signed.
Idah dont see what he brought today

Shambolic management again from the Arrogant *. Treble or double or worst case only the LC, he is done here for me if he gets skelped off them again this season.

 

Same vibes off him again though - players didnt do plan A well enough

 

Old quote you win the derby in midfield and that's were we failed again today and I would go to say we need 2 big signings especially in midfield and who a big physically and who a dominant on the ball .
We need a few players in the summer to have a squad with depth as that bench today was a disgrace especially with the money we have and sevco late 3 subs got them the win .

 

I am not sure how much of today can be pinned on him, look at that squad today, it literally had 12 players he is happy to play and that didn’t include one of the centre backs who started out of necessity (not that he played badly).

It also isn’t his fault that you have individuals failing to do the basics of the game, like pick up your man who you physically outmatch at a corner. Pass the ball to a team mate rather than straight to someone in a blue shirt and your main man centre back going walk about in the box when there was only one guy to mark yet you leave him free. Then to compound that losing a goal straight from a goal kick aimlessly punted right down the middle to be misjudged by that centre back and your right back fall on his backside before their striker gets the break of the ball of the other centre back, then fires it in.

Only for us to actually create an absolute sitter of a chance of a move we have regular played getting Hatate to whip that deep ball in round the back for the late run. Even both our goals came off pretty common patterns of play for us, so it shows we can score goals playing our way, the players just need to do it right and cut out the calamities.

Yes they block up the middle of the park and make it difficult to play through but they weren’t even that good at that, it was more on our players complete in ability and lack of bravery on the ball to play the right pass. Anytime it got chipped in behind either of their wingbacks and drew the centre backs out it caused them issues but we would just knock it back, hold the ball too long then knock it back and then someone would take a slack touch or misplace a simple pass and the ball was turned over.

Essentially I feel it’s the players who need to take a long hard look at themselves and ask if they want to be here next season. If the answers no, then they need moved on.

 

What about the Old Firm before that?

3 on the spin now they have had major joy with how they set up against us

I dont think our players became cowards in the space of a season. What changed is how Rangers started approaching these games and the lack of answers we have had to it.

 

Backed him all the way for a long time now, was so happy when we got him back in.

But now it starting to feel a bit different for me, can’t lose the way he has against the dogs and not call it out. If he walked in the summer then it wouldn’t bother me now.

 

It's not been a stale season, bit daft to say that tbh

You can criticise our recent performances against them and even be concerned, but if you really think a season where we're on the brink of a treble and qualified for the last 32 of the CL is stale, then you need to re-evaluate your expectations.

I think it's a mixture of fatigue and complacency recently. The former obviously doesn't mean as much considering they had a 120 minute game midweek but it's definitely affected us this season.

Regroup during the break, come back and pump the diets and work on how we're going to set up against them at Ibrox, if we play into their hands again then I'll start asking Rodgers questions.

 

He doesnt have a plan B when plan A doesnt work. He cant always rely on being able to outspend his rivals.

 

Rodgers needs to act when complacency starts to set in.
Our performance was littered with errors in possession and errors in our positioning and defensive set up.
Part of me wonders if Rodgers struggles to
motivate the team. Does he have the fear factor and presence.

 

Saddest thing today was I wasn’t surprised.

Obviously I hoped for a good victory and performance, but as put earlier, that’s now 3 games in a row against them where they’ve had the upper hand.

Brendan has shown he can adapt in Europe, and now he needs to address this against them.

Not a good look to be outsmarted by Ferguson, McCann and the rest of them.

 

Considering the torrent of abuse that i got in this thread a day before the game for stating, i quote, Rodgers was " a * dummy" for * talking Sevco before the game I find it very surprising that theres seems to be a lack of that in here now. In fact, its the opposite.

Im * gutted. Absolutely sickened. I feel like calling in sick ffs.

Being proved right isnt near enough of a balm after watching us get horsed, AGAIN, at the hands of that mob. 45 minutes of sheer incompetence.

This is exactly what I was afraid of with Rodgers. Complacency, and no plan b.

Three games in a row against that muck he has surrendered the midfield. Hasn't learned a fuckibg thing, and still chatting out if his *.

Hes just been tactically bossed by a belgian moron and now a * sportscene panel. Elite manager.

So yeah, i said this after the 3 nil, ill say it again now. Leave.

Wrap up the title, and go. Before the rot really sets in and we lose our grip on this league next year.

Not sacked. Ffs, ive had that bullshit accusation for months. Just go. Leave with your winners medals and clap on the back.

If you can be tactically figured out by a sportscene panel, led by a gormless, LITERAL * chimpanzee then you've no business being Celtic manager any longer.

 

I feel its mainly an ego / overconfidence thing with Rodgers.

Hes accustomed to coming up against poor quality Rangers teams and enjoyed many big wins over them. I dont think he feels he should have to adapt anything to play against them.

Hes built a team capable of playing very good football when given time and space. But its a side that can look pretty ordinary when denied time and space. Our defence is generally weak in possession when pressed or when passing channels are closed. They inevitably start misplacing passes themselves or forcing passes to marked players who then turn the ball over.

You could see the messages coming from a Rangers dug out with an army of failed lower league coaches - press, press, press. And we made mistake after mistake.

It was clear, especially after mid week, Rangers wouldnt be able to keep that going for a full 90. So we just needed to be smart about our play. Be prepared to go longer or play into he space that the Rangers press was leaving. Then when they began to tire we could play out from the back with more room. But tried to force everything and gave Rangers a 2 nil head start to sit on when they began to run out of steam. Frustrating to watch.