Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Celtic v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - July 29, 2023 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
To the outsider it appears that there is very little difference between the way that Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers set their teams out to play.
Both men put an emphasis on fast attacking football, pushing forward at pace to create and convert from the chances being pushed into the penalty box.
Rodgers has the unique task of picking up from a treble winning manager, working with a young, motivated and ambitious squad that developed quickly under the previous management.
It is a world away from the situation that Postecoglou walked in on two years ago when he picked up the pieces with half a dozen players with a race against time to knock the club into a competitive unit in one transfer window.
Building on the momentum of last season while adding new ideas isn’t straightforward with Rodgers telling the Celtic website how he is explaining the change of emphasis and direction to the hoops squad:
This is a new cycle for you. It’s not a continuation, it’s a new cycle, a new manager. A lot of the principles will be the same but there will be changes within that, and if we’re to continue being successful it’s really about proving the point from now.’
I then look at the energy of players, I look at the attitude of players as well as that technical and tactical quality, and that’s something which has been great over the course of this first seven weeks.
Firstly, I’ve always said about working with players, I believe life is about relationships, whether that’s personal or professional.
So, for me, I always want to take the time to build that relationship, just to try and understand what the player’s motives are, what their ambitions are because then, from that, that’s the start point, that’s where the development begins, because even though the guys are in a team sport and it is very much a team, individually they all want to improve and they want to be better.
So you get that through those conversations and understanding, and also for them to understand that it’s their responsibility. We will create an environment here for them to develop and improve but to also understand that it’s not all on the coaches.
With the transfer window closing in just over three weeks fans will soon have a clearer idea of what Rodgers II looks and plays like.
We can only hope the board support him in taking the club forward. That wasn’t the case last time.
Ancient history, he wouldn’t be back if the support isn’t there.
Would feel far happier if Rodgers actually got the defensive set up finalised, even though numbers aren’t an issue, don’t believe a preferred set up has been found either yet.
Plenty of options available within the midfield and forward areas, yet the defensive set up remains unclear still.
Of course it has been hampered by injuries, especially with AJ missing and CCV only returning, yet concerns remain defensively if Rodgers sticks with a back 4 in the full back areas, especially with CL in mind.
Still only think we have 1 full back of CL quality in AJ and he’s currently injured and no word yet when he might become available for ourselves is a growing concern at present.
Also is Hart going to remain as our no 1 for the season ahead?
Questions I would have expected to be answered before the start of the season and starfelt moving on has hardly helped matters either.
It won’t include Hatate I tell you that, Brighton bound be he.
Hatate gives the ball away 9 times out of ten and I think Rodgers has noticed that. He didn’t start on Sturday. Unforunately, the 1 that gets though, smacks of genius and something no one else could do, so all is forgiven. If they can get great money for him then they should go for it.
All last season I was shouting about needing a new goalkeeper and now…
I am waiting for Herod to come and behead me
Actually agree with this and I’ve also been of this thinking for some time.
Ha! If he gave the ball away (/!0, I’d see him off as well!
Thing is he has ability and that’s what you’s folks hate because you can never reach there! Therefore you hate him!
It is easier to hate someone than to understand them. And that’s the option you dickers always take. It is easier to sell your granny, so your grannies are sold. You are the shame of Celtic.
And Lawwell is the one you all look up to!
Got it?
Where’s Rodgers the Dodgers’ credibility when he deserted his players last time round?
Do as I say, not as I do!