After Tuesday night’s defeat, questions, doubts, debates, and criticisms were inevitable. This is perfectly normal. It’s fine for these discussions to happen.
I’ve been critical of the manager in recent days, but I’m still standing by him. Why wouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t those of us who believe in Brendan Rodgers continue to support him? He’s earned our respect, faith, and confidence. Domestically, the football we’re playing is the best we’ve seen in years, and our performance against Bratislava was excellent.
I’m still confident we’ll see European results which meet our expectations. Yes, he needs to adapt his tactics for tougher opposition, but the general direction remains positive. Objectively, Rodgers has improved this team and helped some players reach new heights.
While I’ve gone into detail about tactical mistakes, there’s another factor often overlooked: many of our players barely know each other yet. This squad functioned perfectly in our last domestic game, but some of them were signed too late to be fully up to speed for a match of that magnitude. The idea that waiting until the last minute to complete transfers is smart is a fantasy, and it’s neither tactical nor clever.
Rodgers knows this too. He’s fully aware that players need time to bed into a side, and that a perfect understanding of their teammates only comes with time and matches together. If we hadn’t lost Cameron Carter-Vickers to injury, he would have partnered Liam Scales in central defence, and Austin Trusty could’ve been eased in more carefully. Our midfield also lacked cohesion, which showed in how they were pulled apart by a superior opponent. Once they’ve developed that understanding, I believe they’ll become a formidable partnership.
This isn’t about letting Rodgers off the hook but recognising that there are extenuating circumstances. Ignoring them would be foolish. Confidence in the project has taken a hit but hasn’t crumbled. I still believe Rodgers is as well-placed as anyone to get this right. There needs to be a shift in our approach to these big European games – a bit more caution, more defensive discipline – but his overall vision for the club remains sound.
Most Celtic fans who’ve watched our performances before Tuesday will acknowledge the progress we’ve made. The difference from last season is clear, and most will give the manager the time and space to develop this squad and get them where he wants them to be. Ultimately, his judgement will come from the home games more than the away fixtures, as that’s where our fate will be decided.
The old adage that there’s no easy game in Europe rings true. While on the surface we might seem well placed to progress, it’s going to be anything but straightforward. We’ll need to be at our best in every game, no matter the opposition or venue.
The 15-point target I’ve set remains achievable.
Four home wins and beating Zagreb away should be within this squad’s capabilities. However, RB Leipzig will be a tough test, even at home. Dinamo showed against Monaco that they’re no pushovers either. Perhaps they’re stronger than many assumed; they too suffered a crushing defeat having come up against a German side in terrifying form.
So, these games won’t be as simple as first thought. We’ll need to be on high alert at home, not just against the Belgians, but also against our Swiss opponents.
It’s in these games that we’ll measure how much progress has truly been made. If we secure 12 to 15 points, it should see us through to the knockout stage.
Do I believe Rodgers is the right man for this? Absolutely.
My confidence was shaken slightly the other night, but it remains strong.
I don’t see a better candidate out there to entrust with our future. Yes, we all want tangible European progress, and we’re frustrated this hasn’t yet materialised, but let’s not forget the importance of continued domestic dominance. This success is what secures our place in the Champions League, and as the Scottish coefficient inevitably takes a hit, only one club may soon represent Scotland at Europe’s top table.
It’s vital that club remains Celtic, and I feel more confident in that with Rodgers at the helm than with anyone else. He’s earned that trust.
As I wrote in last night’s “Fear and Loathing” piece, those I’ve spoken to since full-time have handled this setback with calmness and intelligence. There’s no panic, no over-the-top criticism, and no venom directed at the manager.
We’ve taken the disappointment on the chin. It hurts, and it will for a while, but it will pass. By the time the international break is over, we’ll be back to watching a better Celtic team than the one that started the campaign – a team better than many expected when last season ended.
Rodgers promised us the real Celtic. I have no doubt he will deliver because yes, he is an elite manager, and yes, he’s proven it before. He will do it again.
Maybe somebody should ask brendan if the signings he got in transfer window were really his choice.15 points in champions league group james wow you keep dreaming mate this could be last time in this competion for a long time and its aw our own fault
15 points! I’ll have some of what James is smoking!
The word “naïve” has been bandied about regarding Tuesday, but, it’s totally wrong to say that. It was arrogance, disrespect and hubris combined, which melded into what Alan Morrison called “an abysmal tactical failure”. Either these players cannot be coached into functioning as a defensive unit in Europe, or the manager is incapable of coaching them into functioning as a defensive unit in Europe.
Of course BR is the man to lead us forward, and it would be hugely disappointing if there were a majority that thought otherwise.
Tuesday’s performance and result delivered a reality check, and crystal clear realisation, that we have a long way to go at this level. Most of us were hugely mindful of that, even when all the reports suggested, it was a ‘favourable draw.’
It’s also very important to separate some of the dross thrown at our fanbase, alluding that we were cocky going into this game, and getting it mixed up with the delusional & habitual attitude of Sevco fans.
Two different tournaments, two different levels and ultimately two different expectation levels. Let the Ibrokes hordes gloat about our result, till they have to swallow their own bitter pill, and wake up to the continual living nightmare that is, supporting Sevco FC.
I agree with you that our manager has to change our approach, in these elite ties, to avoid further embarrassment and prove that we have learnt from previous errors.
I also concur that our policy of signing players at the last possible minute is a disgrace and has to change. They have to be in early, to integrate and have a full comprehension of how our manager wants the team to play at ALL times, but especially at the top tables of Europe.
We all know that playing St Johnstone ( with the greatest respect,) can’t equate with lining up in the same manner, against last season’s beaten CL finalists.
Rodgers is the man to lead us forward and improve us, month by month, and long term! It is essential that our board support his vision and supply the requisite talent, that is needed for European top tier football, and get them in the door a lot, lot quicker!!!!
We, the fans, will undoubtedly support him, if we can see continual improvements and his acknowledgment ( by on field performances,) that proverbially ‘there is more than one way, to skin a cat!’ when performing in Europe.
The domestic improvement from last year is illuminating…we watch with interest, to see if this can be achieved at the higher levels!!! HH
Aye – I’m very much in Camp Brendan as well going forward…
Especially the way we are playing domestically as well –
END THE PATHOLOGICAL SURVIVAL LIE SOON PLEASE BRENDAN…
Europe is altogether a different animal of course…
I reasonably and rationality expect defeat v Atlanta – They are The Europa League Champions of course and I wouldn’t be so arrogant as not to respect that…
They probably have a better budget than Celtic and most definitely play in a far better league than The Hoops do which is the utter laughing stock of world football…
It was good before a taxpayers thief took over ‘Rangers’ in 1988 before murdering them !
There are four of five teams in Europe that we need to consider an adjusted way of playing them when we are the away team. Roger’s has to know this. These teams do demand respect and a more defensive set up. What happens if we go out and try and press them – they rack up 4,5,6 and even 7 goals. He must know this. Atalanta will be a very good test of our ability to learn and compete away.
Tbh I really don’t know what Brendan means when he talks of the real Celtic. That in itself seems an unrealistic statement.
I totally agree with the thrust of your argument in this article. My trust remains in Brendan, certainly domestically improvements are obvious. However I’d like to see him input some flexibility with the squad particularly in relation to structure. He needs to show more nouse on the CL front. Hindsight isn’t a new thing that needs to suddenly come into our thinking. He’s had plenty of time in his career overall and in his period of Celtic managements to learn lessons.
Foresight is what I’m looking for now. We know what we’re up against with the elite teams and as you quoted in your previous article “Fool us once ….”. What about no more fooling around. Stop with the same Ange like rigidity to structure. I can accept to a limited degree that some of the players are new and that the squad needs settling in time but if you keep doing what you’ve always done you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.
Team structure and adaptability for the harder than domestic games is necessary to not look like complete amateurs in the big league. Sometimes 5 at the back and/or 5 in the middle is needed to fill those so easy to find gaps in our current structure. My football mind tells me adaptable players helps player development and thus improves the team.
Simply said we have a good manager and he deserves our backing but he needs to step up to show he’s more than just that at a domestic level and maybe then we can see, whilst having to accept we do have limitations within those obvious financial constraints, the real Celtic.
I’m hoping for a good performance tomorrow and some mental resilience after the lesson we’ve been shown and what has been a massively disappointing midweek slaughtering. HH