“I don’t do the deals,” with five words Brendan Rodgers nailed the biggest myth used to criticise him.
Since the turn of the year it has been impossible to escape the campaign to discredit the Celtic manager.
It started off in the Daily Mail in speculation about Celtic’s expected transfer business during the January window.
Some fans thought that a corner had been turned during the summer of 2024 with the £3m transfer ceiling broken on the back of the disastrous summer of 2023 that concentrated entirely on projects and punts. Money down the drain. Seven of them, all handed five year contracts.
The opinion piece questioned the impact of Arne Engels, Adam Idah and Auston Trusty with all three left on the bench when Celtic lost at Ibrox at the start of January.
One lazy blogger jumped on that theme, used it extensively while others desperate for ITK status repeated it at every opportunity.
The three players were the primary target but behind that it was an attempt to unsettle and discredit Rodgers despite the positive impact all three of those signings had had on Celtic’s Champions League run.
Trusty and Engels started nine out of 10 Champions League matches and came off the bench in the other, Idah started three, came off the bench in seven, scoring three goals and creating the priceless goal that beat YB Bern.
Regardless of that the campaign to undermine was well underway, it has been used repeatedly to justify Celtic’s decision not to invest in players during the summer transfer window, others would describe it as a managed decline.
At Friday’s media conference Rodgers was asked about the failure to conclude transfer deals. With Jota injured and Nicolas Kuhn sold the Celtic boss was forced to start the match with St Mirren with Yang Hyun-jun in his side.
2 minutes 28 seconds
QUESTION: I think that a lot of fans are asking why deals haven’t been concluded, especially for wingers and in the attacking areas. Is that a complicated answer, are many things needed?
RODGERS
I just think that obviously there’s many things that go into it. I don’t do the deals, so I can’t answer that for you, but I know that behind the scenes, obviously, there’s a lot of work, there’s a lot of discussions that go on to conclude deals.
I’m hopeful that come the end of this window, we will have those deals concluded and we get the players in that can help us go forward. I think the focus now at this moment for myself is to really make sure that the players that are here are in the best possible condition, best mindset to play the games and and that that’s where we’re at at this very moment.
Friday’s media conference appeared mainly to be attended by fan media representatives.
Does Brendan Rodgers have grounds for resigning on September 2?
NO- He must see out his contract
YES- He has been badly let down
Even though the money is there, Desmond, Lawwell and Co don’t have the ambition to see how far our finances take us on the field. They are trying to keep sevco relevant by not replacing key players.
You are on the ball John A. I know for a fact that this is so. When at a function with one of my buddies a couple of years ago, I actually heard one of the directors say that “we cannot do without a strong Rangers”.
Hopefully, this season we will have a strong, Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, St Mirren and a few others. Our club needs pressure from all of these clubs and perhaps some others. That would wipe the smiles off their smug faces.
Its a deliberate attempt to try to make success this season as difficult as possible for BR, if it goes tits up, they are vindicated for not giving him money to waste, if he wins a double or a treble, they are vindicated by saying money didn’t need to be spent.
Either way , they are happy to sacrifice a successful season rather than back a mgr that they obviously dislike cos he’s frequently made them look like dicks.
PL’s ego in particular will not like being made to look a fool, narcissists hate that, and will actually cause harm to win. That’s what they do.
And when we hit a slump during the season, (which we will), and if things get a bit difficult,
how will the players respond to a manager who could be regarded as a lame duck – leaving at the end of the season?
IF our club was ambitious, BR would have extended his contract BEFORE the window opened,
and a reasonable mix of quality and project players would have been swiftly brought in BEFORE the season started.
Alternatively, BR could have been punted at season end, with the Board immediately bringing in their quality, replacement manager
who would then be fully backed around refreshing the squad to his needs.
PL, MN and the Board have done neither.
Back him or sack him?
The “slump” may come quicker than you think.
BOOM! The ball is now burst,bye bye Brendan.
It is interesting how careful Rodgers was being here and how uncomfortable he was being at times. The last time I saw him like this, was when he was about to leave on his previous time here. He seems to fanny about answering questions that need a clear answer.
He also spoke about McGregor being taken for granted, but the only people who are being taken for granted at Celtic are the fans. Why the big deal about McGregor? Why can McGregor not be on the bench from time to time? No wonder other midfielders don’t get enough playing time.
Also, his answer about not playing Shin Yamada against St Mirren was very illuminating. Of course he can only put 11 players on, but that DID NOT ANSWER the question asked. The question was why he did not play Shin INSTEAD of someone else? So he is now beginning to be indirectly untruthful and misleading. I think his days are numbered and he knows it, but he will see his contract out.
I would like to low-ball the price for next season’s ticket and see what happens, but I know Celtic would NEVER accept less than the asking price. So there would be no negotiation. So why do Celtic low-ball other clubs with transfers but still expect negotiation? Utter HYPOCRISY!
The sanctimonious rubbish coming out of Celtic Park hides the truth. Looking forward, I do not see a good future.
I remember a pejorative comment being made, but not where it was from, which I thought was very funny. It goes: “He don’t say much, and when he talks, he don’t say much.”
I’ve thought for quite some time that although Brendan talks freely, “he don’t say much.”
Don’t blame the board blame the fans for funding them,the board that is.
And to think we laughed at sevco and their fans getting chiseled,when all along it was our very own Celtic fans getting DUPED.
This board are committing FRAUD and are being allowed to get away with it.
Agreed!
And I am one of them!
They know that if we chuck it, someone else will take the place.
So it is really the waiting list causing a problem, which is why they have a waiting list.
Too many same club zombies on here your club ceased to exist
Joe, like you i have bemoaned lack of coverage of B team but i have been on BBC football site, scores and fixtures, and they give complete line ups, scorers and subs. I have gone back to B team opener on 25 July. Completely new squad. Apologies for putting it on this thread but I am kinda a techno-illiterate.
Btw, love listening to you and James and Eric on that podcast thingy. .
Here you lousebhoy get a grip,I’m beginning to think you are a Hun in disguise,probably the long lost lovechild of Peter Liewell the way yiu defend him,take a chill pill.
Check my previous posts regarding the celtic board especially the invisible man it is you Ted I’m calling out your club ceased to exist there was no 55 despite the carnage in george square
Not a happy bunny is Brendan- And Neither am I at this point !