After one Champions League defeat too many Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he was sold short by Celtic’s Recruitment Team.
The Irishman quit Celtic in February 2019 soon after the infamous comment over ‘a million wingers’ when he was asked about the likely arrival of Marian Shved.
From the summer of 2018 when the club failed to sign John McGinn and came up with Youssof Malumbu instead there had been friction between the manager and executive over the extent of the club’s ambition.
Surprisingly in June Rodgers returned to Celtic, much of the same faces are still in place but it seems that a change in recruitment policy had convinced the former Leicester boss that the club could make an impact in Europe.
On June 22 The Sun reported Rodgers saying:
One thing I’ll start by saying the recruitment team – Michael [Nicholson, CEO] took me through the structure.
Since I was here I can see the clear change in the infrastructure and the team behind the football team.
Mark (Lawwell) has done a brilliant job with the recruitment – you can see the market the club is operating in. He’s done a great job bringing in the players which fit the profile of Celtic.
On last night’s evidence the recruitment or profile is clearly not ready to play in the Champions League.
An off form Lazio sitting in the middle of Serie A and on the back of a defeat against bottom placed Salernitana on Saturday only had to raise their game for 10 minutes to secure full points.
The reality dawned on Rodgers last night, assessing where Celtic stand in European terms he told The Sun:
It’s the overall quality. We need to have our very best players available going into this competition.
We have been competitive but what makes the difference is that bit of experience and genuine quality.
That’s something we can hopefully resolve over the next couple of windows.
This group has gained more experience and shown they can compete in some games but we need to add quality. That’s the glaring thing that stands out.
What do you expect from Celtic's January signings?
More projects
We'll go for quality
With the January transfer window opening in less than five weeks there is a quick opportunity for Lawwell and the Recruitment Team to deliver the quality required to make Celtic competitive in Europe.
Every fan knew this should’ve been done in the summer with a GK, LB & CF. With 3 marquee signings and we’d still be in Europe. The ‘projects’ look impressive at times but we went to a gun fight with a knife.
Typical Rodgers always ready with an excuse. My impression is that we need a better quality Manager as Rodgers record in the Champions League for both Celtic and Liverpool is shocking . I was also quite amused by his comment that we were competitive in every game, Athletic 6 Celtic 0 says it all.
Editor: Do you honestly think that a better quality manager will put his reputation on the line working with the recruits brought in by the even less talented son of a former CEO who trashed the club in Europe? Lenny knows the city.
Not going to happen while Liewwell and Son are at the club. I also think that Nicholson is just Peter’s stooge. Until they and the Desmond’s gtf nothing will change.
Everybody knew that the summer transfer business was inadequate IF
the club was serious about making some sort of progress in Europe.
But, off the back of a Treble, and with a new manager, maybe we just gave
the Board and BR the benefit of the doubt?
This CL campaign has been a disaster – as many expected.
Let’s not sugar coat it with “played well for periods”: the CL table doesn’t lie.
What will January really bring?
We all know now that PL and the Board have not changed / evolved in any way.
The pressure is on BR to ensure we start bringing in better quality players.
The concern is that he was in the strongest position to DEMAND just that
in the summer – having conveniently saved the Board from another embarrassing,
amateurish recruitment chase for a new manager.
…you can guess how this could be panning out, again! 🙁
Peter was quick to tell us last week at the AGM in relation to the increase in Executive wages that “you get what you pay for” and “its no coincidence” that on the financial field Celtic plc were performing strongly. Can he not see that the same logic applies to the playing staff??
Editor: The team and players are there to support the Executive structure and hangers on, the Board provides the team with SFA as the disastrous summer recruitment illustrates.
The main problem for me is the continuous benchmarking of ourselves against a club across the city who haven’t a pot to pee in, just doing that little bit more to stay ahead of them, and we as fans/mugs lap this nonsense up.
There will never be any change to what we are seeing with poor investment in the team until DD sells up and we get rid of Lawwell and his cronies out the door, and lets face it that isn’t happening anytime soon.
I’m absolutely scunnered with what I am witnessing and I fully expect Rodgers to walk in the summer if he, as expected doesn’t get the players he wants and needs.
Celtic are like kids playing against men in Europe, team is small and lacks muscle.
Lawell is back driving his way at the club, after the failed 10 in a row the guy should be out.
DD seldom makes any appearances at Celtic or director meetings.
Brendans return has also brought back the possession football that achieves nothing.
Pass pass pass pass and nothing created.
Expect to fall behind The Rangers in next few months, just same as before.
Lawell should have learned after the fans demonstrating at Celtic park, but he’s to full if himself to learn.
Time for the fans to once again demonstrate by no one turning up for last European home match.