Sky Sports trailed a segment of an interview with the boss earlier, perhaps for their show later tonight. I don’t know. But he’s talking like a man who has big plans, and he’s making it pretty clear that the squad next season will not resemble the one that just finished the last one.
“I think there’s going to be a natural change come the summer,” he said. “A lot of the players will have been here for three years and if you look at the cycle at Celtic then there normally is that change.” He is anticipating that. He is prepared for it.
I suspect that he is ready to sell players few people expect. Perhaps it’s not a great shock to suggest that he would let Hatate go, but nobody is talking about that as if it is imminent; I think it might very well be imminent. O’Riley, we all know about. But what about Kyogo? The story out of Japan is clearly ridiculous, but there will be other stories.
Does Rodgers think Kyogo is the answer? Or does he think that selling him for a decent fee, which he can reinvest in two new players, works out? I’m not saying that I would do this – I know some people will lose their minds about the very idea of it – but Rodgers is very obviously not talking just about moving out last summer’s rubbish; he’s referred to players who have been here for three years, so who is that? He’s clearly discussing a rebuild.
We should be braced for major changes. Ange Postecoglou made it clear that if he had been at the club for the third season that he would have moved some key players on. Rodgers is not talking this way because he’s getting pressured either; we have to remember that Ange’s team was built to fulfil Ange’s needs, and those needs and Rodgers needs are not the same.
I’m looking forward to seeing where we go with this, and I’m determined that I won’t be surprised far less shocked by anything that happens. Rodgers has a plan, and we have to trust that. It’s pretty obvious that if he’s set to break up a title winning side that he needs to be sure that he’s going to get it right … because it’s his head on the block if he’s wrong.
I’m pretty relaxed about it all if I’m honest.
Selling Hatate would be madness, he is always on the front foot looking to get us forward quickly. It’s no coincidence that our best run was when he was back to fitness. I think Hatate, McGregor, and CCV are almost irreplaceable.
I’d like to thank we would very on some “key” players if they won’t fit the system BR is looking for his team to play. Yes it’s sad to see players leave, especially those that are favourites to the fans, but that’s football and nothing lasts forever
I think he’s right to let a lot of players move on but it’s getting it done right you can’t introduce to many new faces in one transfer window as I believe you need your captain along with 4 or 5 of the players who have been with the club for a while to help bed new players in so hopefully that’s the plan but we are on board with the manager he done the business so far in his time at the club and I’m confident in him continuing the good work !
Ange teams did very well but it cud be seen in various matches with his style of play at times Celtic looked tired and short of ideas. Rogers came in to inherit a team and has done well to win a double with both parts of anges team and couple of good loan deals. A lot of deals for players completed before last season started have proved to be unsuitable and probably need moved on. Think Rogers deserves to build his own team & early into his tenure he did state Celtics lack of physically to complete both domestically and in europe hopefully this is addressed and we move onwards to better things if the board allow it.
I think that we definitely need to get a bit more physicality in the squad for sure…
The Sevco Huns are ready to tool up on thuggery and they’ve more than enough as it is –
Sad to say it but violence seems to pay in Scottish Football…
Therefore match them –
Brick for Brick – Boot for Boot – And Bottle for Bottle !
I think Kyogo is a certainty to go if we get a decent offer. He’s at an age now whereby if we keep him much longer there will be little resale value to speak of. Plus last season wasn’t his best thereby forcing us to ask the question if he is best suited to play under Ange rather than Brendan. I think the Asian Cup is another consideration when it comes to our Japanese players. Dare I say it, but could Daizen be offski too?
I am glad Brendan is leading this. Or appears to be. Shit show part 2 has been avoided by the look of things.
Yes, I’m pretty relaxed about probable changes too, because I trust Brendan to do the right thing and improve the squad as he sees fit.
Busy Summer ahead James no doubts, can’t see BR retaining the likes of James McCarthy, Mikey Johnston, Lagerbielke, Oh, Yang, Haksabanovic, Holm, Tilio, Kobayashi, Bernabei, Shaw or, Siegrist. Hart already out the door I’m sure to be followed by O Riley not sure if he is sold on Palms or Nawrocki either? Hatate hasn’t set the world alight since his return from injury and I’m not sure if Brendan will see him as part of the plan going forward.
Time will tell but exciting to watch him build the next team of Invicibles!
Dan you have definitely clarified the situation for me. Who signed all these players you mentioned? Not one of them is Celtic class. The trouble is almost similar to Sevco situation in that who’ll buy them. The mind boggles. Could some of them be paid off?
Kuhn is a talented played but will not go to the byline so he really isn’t a winger. Hatate gives the ball away too much but does try to do that special thing that can turn a game.
O’Reily, an undoubted talent, is an enigma. He was majestic in the second last game against Sevco but nowhere in the last and perhaps that is what got him rebuffed by his National manager.
Interesting times if BR can get some money.
I expect Kyogo to go Spurs and the Aberdeen striker and Idah to come in. Greg Taylor will probably be moved on but apart from that I really dont know
Problem with moving on the players from Asia would be the isolation felt by Maeda if he was the sole survivor.
No idea how good his English is but Im sure having his countrymen around helps him immensely.
He’s an elite manager,and any elite manager will tell you,to stand still is to go backwards.Im anticipating a bit of a revolving door over next 3 months.I am concerned about the conflicted board,no denying it,but to have a summer window like the last two would be utter folly and playing with fire.
Do Celtic need a ‘rebuild’?
I think we need improved and reinforcements in key areas, but the nucleus is there and has won 3 in a row. Ange needed a rebuild, and thankfully his foundations have got us here.
We don’t need to start again, we need to build on what is there. Reo will go nowhere I don’t think. He needs to do more.
A lot to be done though and time to get it done.
I can’t help but be nervous when thinking about our better players moving on because the depth in quality isn’t there and we’d be reliant on the new signings whoever they are hitting the ground running. There’s nothing wrong with that but of course there’s an element of risk. I’d like us to make an early signing or two to prove they’d been preparing for the summer.
As long as the board back Brendan we’ll be fine. But I have my doubts. Surely they know what has to B done.
I’m about the same James, ready for anything and prepared to trust Rodgers. I wouldn’t be opposed to selling Hatate as long as Rodgers brings a replacement in. Think the guys like a man down against rangers and I understand what he brings and it coincided with us getting out groove back when he came back into the team. Ultimately I think this team does need broken up and a new one developed.
Great piece James just like the Idah and Bernardo one. Reading it and comments above make it clear this is going to be a huge pre season, exciting and nervous at the same time. Tbh, Kyogo or Hatate leaving never crossed my mind. Time to back The boss. We can’t make the same mistakes of previous windows.
It will be hugely interesting, and dare I say, very exciting to see what BR has in store for Celtic in this transfer window.
We’ve already agreed that it’s imperative he fully makes his mark with his own signings, and it should be free of interference, from those that have previously messed up.
Our manager has spoken, formerly, about the need for pace and power in his teams, which is a pre-requisite for the modern game. So, taking those principles alone, his signings could, & should be very interesting.
Before we even consider the thought of him selling some of our established players, we have to hope a lot of the deadwood can be released, like a lot of the players listed in previous comments. I’d like to presume that process is already underway.
Personally, I’d prefer to see us retaining Kyogo, Hatate & Maeda, but our manager may have other ideas.
Bottom line, BR should have complete control to improve this squad, and enable us to not only dominate domestically, but make positive strides in Europe, for the first time in years. We all want to see that, as we’ve been whipping bhoys in that arena for far too long.
Our manager and players got this board out of jail, by winning the double, in a very turbulent season. As an elite manager, he doesn’t want us to stand still, and his necessary improvements, should make us even stronger.
As you and others have said, if he’s given carte blanche in this window, he has to get it spot on. The pressure of being Celtic boss, is unrelenting!
The buck stops with him, and he knows that, better than anyone. HH
Hatate should be kept we will miss him if he goes
Certain players have to go as they are not up to the level the fans demand.
Celtic have persistently signed fringe players hoping for a large check when they move on, it’s not happening.
To move on key players would be wrong and completely imbalance the team, Rodgers may get some credit for winning the league but his enforcement of pass pass pass has seriously limited opportunities this season, Rodgers and the board are not off the hook, I feel the players themselves reverted to more attacking football, the interception of the players won the league & Scottish Cup.
I do not like Rodgers style, it is boring with limited chances created, we all seen it first time round and it’s no different, remember he was in charge of Leicester who went from a flowing winning team to relegation.
Think about it.
So you are still not convinced by Brendan I take it?!?!
What more has he to do, is the question I ask. He’s given us through his 2 spells unbridled glory and even if we fail a season(which won’t happen) he’d deserve a chance to rectify it!!
That has to be one of the stupidest questions I’ve ever been asked on this site.
What did you do? Last read something I wrote when he left last time and come back here in complete ignorance?
Do yourself a favour and actually READ what’s on this site if you’re gonna come and comment on it.