I like to dive deep into complex issues.
I enjoy reading all the different arguments and seeing all the different sides of a debate.
But there are some issues which only appear to be complex until you properly do a little digging. The question about what’s gone wrong at Celtic would have a hundred different answers if you asked five hundred people, but in fact it’s fairly straightforward, because the truth of it was evident yesterday out on the pitch.
The team that started the game was materially weaker than the one which finished the last campaign. The team that finished the game was an embarrassment for a club which has so much wealth sitting in the bank. Of the eight permanent summer signings, two were in that squad and one of them, I’m convinced of it, is the manager trolling us because Kwon shouldn’t be near Celtic Park far less on the bench for the first team.
David Turnbull started the match although the club has not offered him a new contract. Mikey Johnston started it, I think to prove to everyone watching that he should never have got his last one, and if we’re not in his final few weeks as a Celtic player that will be appalling because he’s nowhere near it. Bernabei, I had forgotten was even at the club and it’s inconceivable that he’s going to be here much longer. That’s what the manager was working with.
The manager did himself no favours in the way he’s set the team up. There’s no movement to open up space, we continue to fumble about at corner kicks to an extent which has become like a bad joke. The only person surprised that Hearts scored from a corner yesterday appeared to be Joe Hart, who I cannot be bothered even trying to defend one minute longer. His positioning for the free kick … oh wow.
We spent a good bit of money on the summer transfer business; we brought in ten players and most of us found that virtually incomprehensible. But in fact, the needs of this squad are obvious and we do require major reinforcements. But the moment the manager stated openly that he would “work with the players I’m given” we all knew we had a problem.
He doesn’t rate a single one of those players. Perhaps not even Palma, who I get the feeling is in the team for the same reason Mikey Johnston is; lack of other options. The sale of Jota left an enormous hole on the right and left sides of the team and we’ve come nowhere near to replacing him. The two project punts that Brendan got stuck with instead … it’s dreadful.
The recruitment has been horrific, and you could not get a clearer example of a club being run by people who are completely at cross-purposes. The manager does not like the hand he’s been dealt, although presumably he had some idea of what that hand would be when he came in.
But nobody should be defending the head of recruitment on the basis that the manager isn’t, after all, simply prepared to work with what’s in front of him … his verdict on the summer business could not be any clearer if he spraypainted it on Lawwell’s company car.
This is not a breakdown in working relationships here. There don’t seem to be relationships here at all. There is no coherence. There is no structure worth a damn.
This whole thing is a complete shambles and that was always going to end up reflected out there on the pitch, and when you look at the squad, he picked yesterday it doesn’t take a genius to see what’s wrong here … when Mikey Johnston is starting games for want of a better option who do you blame for that?
When the club brings in ten players and we start with a weaker team than the one that finished the last campaign, whose fault is it?
And that question sort of answers itself, doesn’t it?
This article despite being a fluff piece really seems like a confession now. Not good with analytics but good with “relationships”, “more players like Bernabei…”
https://theathletic.com/3399455/2022/07/26/mark-lawwell-cfg-celtic-transfers/?amp=1
Fair enough James. But when Brendan is banging on about lack of quality in the team, it’s hardly going to inspire the players that are in the squad.
And I spent all last night trying to figure out why Brendan came back if the problems between him and Lawwell hadn’t been resolved. Because, clearly, they haven’t.
The Lawells need to GTF, this shambles has got Lawwell senior’s fingerprints all over it.
I feel too many of us have become complacent, we look at the mess across the city and the lack of any real challenge from anybody else and just assume everything will be okay. I honestly believe this is the malaise that is running through the club. We should be bringing in quality to ensure they can’t win the league and at the same time try to improve in Europe. I know this is stating the obvious but the fact it’s obvious to us all is seriously worrying as the board can see this as well and doesn’t seem to care.
It’s a fair point James. But I would counter that the manager is failing somehow to get a tune out of players who should be good enough to beat Hearts. And that makes me wondering he has lost the dressing room
Indeed. Some of our players aren’t good enough and that’s evident, but 7 of the starters yesterday were regulars in the team which strolled games last season. We recruited badly, but we lost yesterday because our “good” players look lost, hopeless, disinterested. 2021 Edouard basically
All clues point to Lawwell Jnr. I always thought his father was thick and he has been around Celtic Park far too long. But how can we sack the Chairman’s son?
An utterly scandalous position to be in indeed…
The team are lightweights and bullied all over the bloody park by hammer throwers that get away with it in rancid Scottish Football –
But it’s the way that it is so why not tackle it head on…
Brick for Brick – Boot for Boot – Bottle for Bottle…
But no – Celtic are to wishy washy, woolly and nicely nicey for that –
I’ll tell you what though…
If Sevco do – and there’s tragically now every chance of it – Win this title – us Celtic supporters are in for one helluva sore decade of Lawwell and Co’s failures coming down the pipe to us at an alarming rate –
Their directors will ALWAYS put our yellow spineless bastards to utter and eternal black burning shame !
Very difficult to escape the conclusion that the board led us here by design, not accident, its difficult to interpret their actions any other way, given the situation and facts, resources, needs etc…
The manager said, he would work with what he’s got, but, since then he has single handedly named and criticised players, Turnbull, Johnston, Kyogo, to name a few . For God’s sake, put your arms around them and get the best out of them until you get better, it’s called man management, a thing, I thought he would be good at. I said already, I think Rodgers has chucked it , I still hope I’m wrong but I see no signs of it.
well said james….i am dismayed at the state our club is in…how much lower are they gonna allow us to sink ???…and we are sinking…fast.
i just cannot fathom what rodgers role in this is….why he came back….his second season – the football was awful….but there was no local competition to push us….
we have all said it…..the arrogant bastard that is lawwell(and now, plus junior)….the common denominator when we are engulfed in chaos…fuk him to hell and back….
The board blah blah blah.
Ange had these players organised and motivated. Rodgers hasn’t and therein lies the problem. The players might be in a huff or it’s the tactics but on the field is where the problem is and not the boardroom, however lax they were during the Summer window..
All the stuff about the board is only giving Rodgers an excuse and he is milking it.
Decent article James..it’s hard to discern where this begins and ends ! Is it Rodgers doing as you say to enforce the signings he should have got in the summer or is he just looking to work his ticket now ? Did he publicly come out and tell everyone that his relationship with DD is very strong, to highlight that it’s others who are the problem…namely Lawwell etc, causing issues?
It has to be clarified/resolved very quickly or the season could start to resemble the Terry Munro campaign. ! I’m always positive, but like thousands of fans, that had to endure yesterday’s dreadful performance, we deserve better…especially from a supposed position of strength !!!
How much longer are you going to keep defending Rodgers for the job he’s currently doing James?
Given him the excuses since the summer and injuries have helped him also to a degree, but what’s the excuses for the shit show he’s contributed hugely in creating?
Established treble winning players, playing shite, who’s fault is that?
Had enough within every game within the SPFL to date, including yesterday to be delivering far better than we are getting?
All we have turned into currently is nothing more than a club looking for scapegoats.
No longer are we a support that actually wants to give support and encouragement to the newer players, because the established players are allowed a free pass still?
What nonsense to allow such a situation to arise and getting worse by the game within the SPFL?
Good players, serial winners, playing and showing nothing is no longer an issue that can be ignored any longer imo?
No longer is it acceptable for a manager to play to the galleries with his constant whining and demeaning of the player’s he’s inherited and made worse with his methods?
What is his defense for his rank rotten decision making and continuing with things that aren’t working and no signs they ever will either?
Are the player’s playing in such a manner with any respect towards the manager?
Not a chance of it happening, when this egotistical arsehole can run to the media and blame everyone else bar himself?
Our club has always has to depend upon a development programme, as we don’t operate within a transfer market that allows for the completed finished players?
When they become the more finished article as a player, they usually move on as better financial opportunities become available to themselves within the game?
As a club not much we can even do about the model in place within the club, yet are we going to let Rodgers continue to destroy it and cost ourselves millions by wanting players to leave for under the value they are worth, as a manager with his methods is actually taking there careers backwards?
Are we actually preparing to allow Rodgers to be making decisions in January, when they are currently rank rotten currently?
So what was his own actual involvement upon the decision making during the summer?
Rodgers has become nothing more than a wrecking tool within our club, and his bull and blame game no longer cuts it upon the failings of the job he is currently doing so badly also?
Needs to be removed from his position ASAP, before he helps create any more damage than he’s already done imo.
He’s become nothing more than a whining git who’s not interested in the job whatsoever, and why so many like yourself James is allowing him a platform for excuses remains beyond me presently?
GET RODGERS OUT NOW
elite manager and coach my hole
Good analysis. I am hoping that we have a long term plan and that some of the guys getting pitch time are being given a last chance to prove their worth. We are weaker at the back, weaker in midfield and weaker up front than last year. We desperately need a keeper who will command his box as Joe Hart seems to be rooted to the spot.
Charles Donaghy,
I think you’re on the money and it’s easy to see why when the manager is telling the players their not good enough.
I’ve never heard a manager whine as much as Rodgers, he has more than enough cattle to beat these teams. Perhaps a good look in the mirror is what he needs to do.
While I agree that the summer signings has a lot to be desired the tactics we are deploying are abysmal, they’re one dimensional, slow and lack imagination.
Hopefully we can get some good players in the next window who can turn this around but I won’t be holding my breath with the skinflint board of money hordes we currently have.
Aren’t Hearts and Kilmarnock weaker squads ? Frankly, if the manager wanted to set the team up for a defeat I’m not sure what else he could’ve done.
Rodgers looks, and talks, as if he is so pissed off. He only mentioned 3 players yesterday who were good, but I am worried that he keeps saying we need quality, not good for dressing room morale. We have good enough players to beat Hearts at home, but not if we have baggage like Mikey Johnston, Taylor, etc. so in that sense he is 100% correct. As for Lawell, should never be at Celtic.
I warned you all years ago..This man Lawwell would rather have a pocket full of cash than a Trophy Room full of Trophies..As soon as his son was given given his Temporary seat on the Board the writing was on the wall..Big Ange never trusted him and that’s why he left..The only was to get that fat arse out of there is “Stop Buying Season Books”..
I didn’t need to be “warned.” I soured on Lawwell before almost everybody. And for years I wanted him gone, and for a brief period he was, and then suddenly his son had a crucial job and he was back as chairman. And I wrote then what a disgrace BOTH of those appointments were and I’ve been saying it ever since.
Apologies for commenting yet again today but I am frustrated and angry. Listen for to start with allow the GB back in attendance. It’s a quick fix plus it won’t cost the club a single penny. Imagine going into a Celtic v them without backing, it’s a no brainer
if we cannot win a match against a very poor hearts team with the players available and without the GB then we are of course in serious trouble
Whilst we can all debate the root causes of the club’s current situation,
there are a few positions which probably won’t alter – regardless.
1) The Board.
Nothing is going to change.
The Directors stick their hands in the sand and carry on: that’s what they do.
2) January transfer business will underwhelm.
The boy Lawwell didn’t exactly set the heather on fire during the summer,
so, it ain’t happening in January either.
That’s it.
3) BR is not going anywhere.
PL will never fire a manager on BR’s salary – and length of contract remaining.
BR will tough it out until the summer, at least.
BR could still turn it around, but the title chase might even go to the last game?
4) The supporters should keep the momentum going.
The chants yesterday were all the more striking in the absence of the GB.
This was your average punter vocalising their displeasure at the Board / Lawwells.
5) A convincing reaction is desperately needed against Livi.
If our team doesn’t turn up against Livi, then it will be meltdown for the club,
and just a week before the crucial derby game.
Typically, managers don’t survive long, when they’ve clearly lost the dressing room.
BR will bumble along to season end, but we ‘should’ still edge it in the league?
The SC might be a lost cause, but that’s OK.