The last few days, since Tuesday’s game, have seen the volume turned up in a big, big way for the start of the January window, and the manager could not be clearer if he tried. He has high expectations for that window, a traditionally tough one, in which a lot more can go wrong than right. But he’s talking like a guy with it all worked out.
Crucially, he has sung the praises of Dermot Desmond and said that he’s one of the reasons he came back to the club. In talking up their friendship, Brendan sounds a lot like a guy trying to short-circuit other influences. I may be crazy. But that’s an important statement he made the other day, and he isn’t making all this noise because it’s fun for him.
When he spoke to the media after the Lazio game the frustration in his voice was obvious and the message crystal clear; he won’t go into next year’s Champions League games with his hands tied, no chance of it at all. He won’t go into the second half of this season depending on the current crop of “fringe players” either. He wants deals done, big ones.
He’s talking like a guy who expects it, and if it’s not that then at last, at long last, he sounds very much like a man who is preparing to fight for what he needs. Brendan Rodgers did not return to Celtic to let someone else control his destiny here.
He has a plan. He has a vision. That plan may succeed or it might fail, that vision might take us to the promised land or it might be a road to nowhere, but if they weren’t willing to let him follow it through then they had no business bringing him to the club again.
We could have hired some yes man and dispensed with the window dressing. The board doesn’t get to bring this guy in and then use him as their human shield.
If I’m right, the big decisions have been made already and the change of gear has been factored in. Lawwell dropped the first hint when he wrote the intro to the accounts, and the manager has said repeatedly that he expects to see quality arrive … even the players have taken his side on this one, and that’s significant as well.
Hey, Brendan Rodgers has either been given the guarantees he’s looking for or he’s getting ready to fight and if he has the dressing room, the fans and the largest shareholder in his corner accepting what has to be done then that fight is over already.
You know what? I’m looking forward to the January window. I think we might get a big surprise, and not an unpleasant one. Rodgers is sounding a lot like a guy who has won the critical battle, or at least someone who knows it’s only going to go one way and that’s his.
The big question is ,, who are we going for and who’s available, then we need to keep key players who are all ready at the club
I sincerely hope you’re right, but I’ve been supporting Celtic for a few decades now and have grown accustomed to the regular “January is a difficult window to get good business done” soundbite rolled out to paper over our boards unwillingness to spend big. Hopefully BR gets what he wants this time around. We need to ensure this title is won and CL qualification secured.
I hope you are right, James. I am still extremely disillusioned after the Summer transfer window. I thought, as did most Celtic fans, that Brendan replaced Ange so quickly because Celtic had it all planned out. Surely Brendan was given reassurances that he wouldn’t be pissed about by Lawwell again.
The rumours are, as you obviously know, that before Brendan left last time, there was a physical altercation between him and Lawwell and they had to both be restrained from attacking each other further. These two guys do not like each other. So why would Brendan come back unless he had reassurances from someone up high? Those reassurances would have to come from either Lawwell himself and / or Dermot Desmond.
After that total disappointment of the Summer transfer window and, yet another, piss poor showing in the Champions League – Celtic fans need the club to do something to keep us on board. Not only do steps need to be taken to ensure we win the League. We need to see signs of a strategy being put in place to guard against us making a complete tit of ourselves in next year’s Champions League. Even if it’s 3rd place and a decent crack at the Europa. We just want the European nights back. Give us that Celtic, we deserve it.
Unfortunately due to the changes in the champions league next year, there will not be any europa league if we fail in the big cup.
There’s a 3rd option here too. He’s seen the script and decided to telegraph his reasons for leaving.
I hope you’re right rather than me though, for many reasons. I’d rather a culture change at the club than a red flag to potential new managers.
But Rodgers needs to get it right too, if backed. If he arses up recruitment and we don’t see an improvement, it sets us back a long way.
Good piece James! We really need quality and ASAP. I cringed when I saw our line up on Tuesday. Some real quality would improve us big time. We aint really far away from a good team, particulary in domestic competitions, and should be better equipped for europe next season.
No more Gems, Projects or Fantasy Team players. The club is bereft of experiences quality. Mooy came in and made a difference and we need a few more like that. The Asian run of players has halted and gems such as Bernabei need to be binned. The club has traditionally done well with a core of British/ Irish players and I’d like to see us bring in a few of this ilk.
Watching this game and we are absolutely garbage, Joe Hart should never wear a cetic shirt again
Taxi for FTF!!!
Send the useless piece of $&@? back to Leicester. He couldn’t coach a team of school kids to break down a defensive outfit. Get a set hart needs to go immediately
The type of player they need will only be attracted to Celtic if they are sitting comfortably
at the top of the league in January with a certainty for CL football next year.
A take it YYY not a Rodgers fan. A multiple trophy winner on his previous tenure and arrived this time when Ange remember him his signings were agreed I believe and almost in the door. Rodgers already called that out at a previous interview, Proof comes in January if he gets the players he wants or not
Just sign players please that aren’t made of GLASS like most of the current Celtic lot !
I take it you didn’t watch the first half droopy drawers ya bellend.
He’s also since commented that if it doesn’t happen in January he expects things in the summer. So I wouldn’t get too optimistic. I reckon we might get a couple of decent loan signings to get us over the line, like Burke and weah
Rogers hasn’t looked happy since he returned. He is interested in one transfer only: himself to his next big pay cheque. He’s the day before yesterday’s man. We should be scouting managers as well as players.
Luis Suarez? Celtic need someone to drive this club forward in training. Lack of money is beating them in European, but having enough steam for only 60 minutes of high octane football is ruining many potential results. Suarez is a 10 out of 10 on the training ground, one of the few on the planet. He’s older now, thus attainable. The relationship between himself and Rodgers may create this opportunity. We need his example, experience, wisdom, swagger, and arrogance. He will help solidify us mentally, and while a sports psychiatrist would help, Suarez would make a big impact. His drop in ability due to age is irrelevant. Still serviceable, the rest of what he would bring to the club is priceless. Even Callum’s fitness would improve, which says it all. Celtic’s biggest detriment is a lack of pure arrogance and ruthlessness. Suarez will bring that and spread it, sprinkled in with a dose of dark arts. Absolutely, bring in ready-made quality, trim the fat off and lower the numbers, but start with a massive mental asset who will lift everyone to a new level.