One of the most satisfying things about watching Celtic right now is the clear development in several players under Brendan Rodgers. Many of these players were performing well before his arrival, but under his guidance, they’ve hit new heights.
Take Matt O’Riley as an example. The changes Rodgers has made to his game helped secure his Premier League move at a very young age, where he now seems poised to fit right in. Liam Scales’ transformation is even more extraordinary. When Rodgers inherited him, Scales didn’t appear to be anywhere near Celtic standard. Now, the difference is staggering.
Daizen Maeda is another who has been reinvented.
Ange Postecoglou, who knew Maeda’s strengths well, never got this level of performance out of him. We all worried when Jota left, but Rodgers seemed to know immediately that Maeda would step up even though we had another option in Palma. He’s been tearing defences apart down the left ever since, and it’s clear Maeda is a better player now than under Ange.
Adam Idah is another great example. He doesn’t look like the same player who caused such frustration among Norwich fans. After watching him score last night, they must be wondering why they never saw that version of him. The answer, at least in part, is Brendan Rodgers. And when a player feels the support of the fans, as he does now, it helps tremendously too.
Arne Engels, our record signing, is destined to become a superstar, and it’s obvious Rodgers will mould him into the complete player. The improvement is clear across the squad, with almost every section of the team looking better than it did before. Even Kyogo, who some say has lost a little bit of his edge, hasn’t diminished under Rodgers—he’s just playing in a different way. He’s still banging in goals, and that’s ultimately what matters.
Rodgers isn’t the type of manager who relies solely on spending money to improve a team, even though he enjoys strengthening squads. He has a proven ability to develop the players he inherits. We’re seeing the benefits of that.
Here’s a crucial question for Ibrox fans: which Ibrox manager, in the last decade, has genuinely improved the players already at the club?
They come in with big reputations, but how many leave behind all that many players who are better than they were? You can barely name a single one because it’s just not happened. Their answer to every problem is to spend more money, but where’s the development? Where are the footballers taken to a new level by these managers? It’s a glaring issue.
This is possibly the biggest reason they’re so far behind us. Celtic have continuity and development—many of our players have been together for years, improving all the while.
Across town, on the other hand, every manager’s solution is to clear out the dressing room and bringing in players who don’t seem to improve once they arrive. Clemont even mentioned Celtic’s continuity the other day, using it as an excuse for why we’re so far ahead. He claims that he now has the players to take the club forward … but do they?
Their success will depend to no small extent on what he can do to make them better; some of them are still pretty raw. Where’s the proof that he knows how?
Rodgers knows how to take a player and make them better. It’s one of his standout abilities, and I don’t think Clemont—or the managers who came before him—has it. Any manager who makes clearing out the dressing room his first priority has given up on developing the players already. At Celtic, improvement is visible across the board, while at Ibrox, it’s conspicuously absent.
That’s why the idea that their new Moroccan striker will blossom into a star seems farcical. None of the players Clemont inherited have shown significant improvement, so why should anyone believe he’ll develop the ones he’s brought in?
What we saw last night was a team elevated by a manager at the peak of his powers. A lot of us were seeking confirmation that what we’ve been seeing wasn’t just some grand illusion. We’ve now got that assurance after an outstanding 90 minutes of football.
The real gap between the two clubs might be that Celtic’s managers improve what’s already there, while Ibrox managers constantly write off everyone and set about rebuilding. It’s an endless cycle of squad overhauls, with no lasting development. There always has to be a core group of players you can get more out of, whether through new tactics or helping them refine existing skills. You either teach them to do new things, or you help them do the current stuff better.
The really good managers can so transform people you would swear that you were watching them in an alternate reality. Kuhn gave me that feeling last night. So did Scales.
If Clemont could improve just one player like Rodgers has done with multiple individuals, his club would be in a far better position. He’s not got it though, and he never will.
James Hoping to read this blog in a couple of seasons where rangers are not mentioned as a comparison but some other European teams are in the comparison discussion showing Celtic’s progress.
Rangers being a non-entity. Cannon-fodder to the Celts on derby days. Hopefully King there to see the carnage first hand, probably fleecing fans and money going out the back door to South Africa.
Mon the Hoops.!
I agree. The huns are now an irrelevance, or at least as relevant to us as the mini huns or Aberdeen.
Aye – And a deceased non entity at that as well JimBhoy !
While I’m usually a blethering Rebel Rouser – This time I’ll keep it simple…
THANK YOU ETERNALLY MR BRENDAN RODGERS !!!
All salient points. Last night’s performance and result shows we are not hear to make up the numbers. I am so looking forward to watching players like Arne and Adam develop as we progress in Europe.
One particularly pleasing aspect from last night,among many, was that the substitutes did not allow the intensity to drop.
It’s always interestin tae see what BR can bring out of a player. It’s definitely a gift. Although Liam Scales deserves the credit he received last night and well done to him, ah think the real test for specifically himself and Gregg Taylor, will be these next 3 games. Big test not only for them, for the team itself. That performance last night can only help the confidence.
The only two progressive type managers capable of improving players to occupy the home dugouts at Ibrox in my lifetime were LeGuen and Van Bronckhorst. All the others were either of the staunch ex-player ‘battle fever’ type, ‘chequebook’ managers or crackpot appointments like Pedro, Beale and the current clown. LeGuen was hounded out in no time at all by a militant dressing room for trying to ban Monster Munch from the menu at the training ground and Van Bronckhorst by a militant fanbase despite considerable achievements domestically and in Europe largely on the back of some right tankings in derbies. Neither were there long enough to do much improving beyond the menu at the canteen, although I suspect GVB may point to Bassey changing hands for big fees twice and playing in the EPL (despite no discernible talent), and maybe to Nathan Paterson, although even these would have to be regarded as qualified and rare successes – nowhere near the level of improvements to existing players brought about by Brendan, Ange or even Ronny Deila.
What stood out for me this morning after last night’s incredible performance from Celtic in the highest and most prestigious stage possible at club level ,is the fact that the SMSM and their nodding dog biased poodles are broken..beyond repair . Last night’s seismic ,outstanding play has burst the hacks’s bubble .. completely . They may give the impression that they are ‘happy ‘at the result and display from the champions , but you and I know they are crying , uncontrollably into their Blue Nun’s and Curacao drinks ,drowning their sorrows. My God ,they are jealous , squirming and severely oppressed at the marvellous condition Celtic FC is in now ,on and off the pitch . As Celtic improve and advance forward under Brendan Rodgers , those people in the media of whom daily sales are disastrously low in particular , shall not be enjoying the success of Celtic FC ,one little bit . And it’s only the beginning of the beginning for their dreariness and for Celtic’s success and prosperity …the night they drove the press into distress .
Pleasing no doubt -but let’s take a breath. James keeps calling BR an elite manager, and this season I think I agree. The transfer window although it seemed chaotic, and I like many gave out about it, on reflection has been superb. This is now his team. Engels is class -Matt who? – For those of us blessed to see the Celtic of 64 -74 in Europe, it was great to see Celtic play the Celtic way like they did last night.
The real test will obviously be Dortmund in the next couple of weeks. A decent performance there might give us grounds for optimism. There was a bit of switching off last night, we wont get away with that in Dortmund, or Bergamo or Birmingham for a start. But credit where credit due to the team and BR.
The thing I love about Scales is his fight.
Every player he plays against has to fight for every inch.
Look at the times he’s running with Dessers: he just leans in and fights for every inch of park until Dessers just falls over looking for a foul.
He did the same last night in the second half in front of the main stand.
Great desire.
@ just-s. Can’t fault the guys commitment. 100%.
Dont think Celtic should be bothering about the Rangers as they are now also rans
Totally concur with your summation of our manager!
I was pleased when he returned, delighted when he showed his qualities to get us over the line last season, and increasingly impressed with the continued development of our team.
You can fully understand why it took some time, before our players fully got to grips with his requirements. Joe Hart has alluded to that in some of his recent comments.
Thankfully, his managerial qualities are once again, shining brightly, and he is being equipped with the tools that will allow him to do his job properly, and in the way that he intended to, when he was re-hired!!!
It would probably be grossly unfair to compare the present Ibrokes incumbent, and his (in)capabilities with our manager.
As although every recent Sevco manager has had the benefit and support of a very biased and sycophantic media…all of them, including big Phil, have done nothing of note, to merit our smsm’s one-sided adulation.
Another note to our media…”the truth is out there!”
“But so are lies!”
In Brendan we trust !!!
HH