When Brendan Rodgers spoke to the broadcast media the word braver leapt out to create the headlines.
Anyone on social media would be well aware of the negativity and hostility from Celtic fans as the January transfer window came to an underwhelming conclusion.
When Rodgers returned to Celtic in June it caused surprise among many fans, how could he improve on a record of winning seven out of seven domestic trophies?
European progress was a big part of the attraction, first time around Celtic had taken a few sore ones but Rodgers felt that it was an arena that he could make progress in.
Although there was a long overdue win in this season’s Champions League there wasn’t much to take away from an early European exit from a group that didn’t contain any real heavyweights.
Previously Rodgers had been dealt the toughest of draws with Barcelona and Manchester City followed by a tag team of PSG and Bayern Munich.
With a live SPFL title challenge and problems in the transfer window the European aspect has almost been forgotten but speaking to Sky Sports today the issue was raised.
? “We’ve had some deals that we just couldn’t get quite over the line and that wasn’t the club’s problem”
Brendan Rodgers defends Celtic’s transfer business as he praises new signing Adam Idah, while confirming Reo Hatate will be out for “five to six weeks”? pic.twitter.com/uhc5P6blQh
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 2, 2024
When you listen to supporters and their concerns, they look at the bigger picture of Europe and what was said about the need to add quality. Down the line, will there need to be a significant push in terms of investment and recruitment beyond what you’ve done now?
If you want to improve, then absolutely. It goes hand in hand. Developing players here is something that I have always believed in. The support has the right to demand the ambitions of the club.
It’s also why I came back here, that I can help the club progress and particularly in Europe and make that progression. That’s something that you can’t just do with the click of your fingers. It’s something that we can fix and I want to improve that. Hopefully, over time we can show that.
With a three year contract signed last summer next season will be critical if Rodgers is to achieve his ambition of making an impact in Europe, preferably in the Champions League.
At this stage, winning the League is the most important thing.
If we fail to do that then there won’t be any investment in the team in the summer. It’s the Celtic way don’t you know.
And if we remarkably do qualify for the group stages it will obviously be too late to get deals over the line.
I don’t believe a word comes out of their mouths I knew that they widnae sign marquee signings couldn’t even get that Icelandic goalkeeper Brentford signed him for £2.6 million I’m totally scunnered with this incompetent recruitstaff board and manager want them all out dermott Desmond oot tae
Getting sick of him now, a club with no ambition but to make money for some tory b@st@rds
Spot on John his fitbaw style will never work it’s boring wee kyogo is wasted tae why why doid that lawell come back its like deja vu celtic fans need to boycott games
Before talking about advancing in Europe Rodgers should have spoken to Lawwell. To assume both are on the same page is a stretch of the imagination to say the least.
After the slap in the face that was the January transfer window Rodgers needs to give it a rest on European progression. It simply won’t happen as long as Desmond and Lawwells board are lording it over the club and the fans.
Why doesn’t anyone ask these clowns on the board what the long term plan is? There simply isn’t a plan, it’s one season at a time.
To compete inEurope you need a good team – obviously!
But every time we get a good team together, we sell our lucrative players.
Therefore, can we say we are serious about making a mark in Europe? I don’t think so!
Also, we are not developing our own young talent because we are giving team playing time to
“Project”
players.
Literally, a waste of time because our young players e.g Montgomery, M. Johnston etc. don’t get the experience in the team they need. Instead we pump them out on loan.
Those two could easily fit into the team. Instead we have bought a winger and loaned a striker. So the loanee leaves at the end of the season and we get Johnston back – to try again!
It’s a shambles, if you ask me, with no joined-up thinking!
Brendan Rodgers: “We’ve had some deals that we just couldn’t get quite over the line and that wasn’t the club’s problem”. FFS, Whit? OF COURSE it’s the club’s problem!”
I think he meant ‘fault’ but it’s neither here nor there.
No goalkeeper, no left back cover, a cheap punt on a loan striker and ANOTHER winger. We’ve lost the genuine cover of David Turnbull in Mid, we’re 1 injury away from a ‘keeper crisis and Reo’s out for another spell. FFS!!!!!
Rodgers statement, hat typae pish really riles me. A chance to correct the wrongs of the summer window has passed and any thinking Tim could have told you it’s what would happen and told you they (the Celtic ‘professionals’) would trot that old shite about “couldnae quite get it over the line”.
WE NEED A REBELLION to clear that shite out of the boardroom, including the absent major shareholder (not owner). Organised demonstrations and banners covering the main themes (Sevco deadco, a PLC run like Desmond and Lawwell’s private company etc) would certainly catch the eye of EUFA and the wider press (not the SMSM) and there’s reason within the fraud of the 5-Way to oust them. We need leadership and those supporters who want to can still go to support the team.
Come on Bhoys with the wherewithal, call out those phoney R Soles in the boardroom, demonstrate and encourage world-wide supporters to force change and insert some supporters into the top level. Jeez, I’m fukkin sick of all this……..
I pride myself on wishing no ill will to anyone, but I am finding it increasingly difficult not to apply this to the Celtic board, particularly the Lawwells and that Irish pookah.
Progress in Europe… Bloody Hell –
Learn to crawl (shamefully if it’s achieved that way) to the title before yous walk the walk to talk the talk !
I think he said the same when he came back?