We know Chris Davies well from his time as assistant to Brendan Rodgers first time around. Chris left Leicester with Brendan two years ago and instead of an expected return to Celtic, joined Ange Postecoglou to be his assistant at Tottenham. Ange also knew the influence Chris brought to Celtic, their only season working together was productive in London.
A year ago Birmingham City offered Chris his first managerial role. He earned promotion to the EFL Championship in May, aided by Tomoki Iwata. Now Kyogo has joined him at Birmingham. Like everyone else who has worked at Lennoxtown since 2016, Kyogo will know all about Chris and Chris will know all about Kyogo. Unlike the player’s unproductive term at Rennes, his stay in Birmingham will be a genuine chance to recreate his glory years in Glasgow.
Chris, Ange, Tomoki and Kyogo all had the luxury of making well-informed decisions on who to work with. Celtic took a well-informed decision to re-hire Brendan (and Neil Lennon), but that’s rare for us. Most of our recruitment decisions are based on scouting, a few references and, of course, the metrics.
A real deep dive into a player’s potential is impossible unless you have worked with him or watched his dozens of times. Getting ever-closer to a club, or even a league, will deliver insights which cannot be seen in stats alone.
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My alarm is set for the Cork game today to get a Celtic fix.
Wednesday eve.
Hope BRRB can fit a wee adult beverage in.
TEXASTIM up bright and early!
Aipple – not that bright but kinda early.
Still in my kip!
John McCormick
Laid to rest today
God Bless his soul
Hail Hail
God rest his soul AT.
Genuinely unsure about lead article.
Is Chris Davies being praised for signing a 30 year old, with recent and ongoing fitness considerations?
Is the preferred approach still the plan, development and all things analytical?
Not a criticism, I just cant understand the point being made.
Read between the lines GLENOWEN. There will be an anti Brendan sentiment in there somewhere.
Wonder if Paul 67 is thinking Chris Davies would be a good choice for the next Celtic manager if Brendan decides not to renew next year.
I think Stebhoy is talking about the Balikwishas from Govan.Very well known.
But not for their speed or wing play.Easy mistake to make.
Paul67
What larks Paul – What larks
“A real deep dive into a player’s potential is impossible unless you have worked with him or watched his dozens of times”
I’m with that.
Metrics are a key ingredient.
Scouting (not by the manager) and recommendations add another layer.
The manager’s nose or gut – based on having seen a player (including seeing him play against that manager’s team / system) is another layer to be considered.
BTW – I’ll happily admit to being in that apparent minority of those who were largely unconcerned by Tomoki’s departure.
Great athlete, great attitude, seemed like a good guy.
But a guy who does not have the speed of thought needed to operate at OUR level at age 26 ?
…is unlikely to acquire it when he is 27.
iWATA was poor at start but beginning to get >> better after decent run in team IMHO.
He has said himself Celtic style although he enjoyed it
It didnt suit his style which was about winning ball back think he was suggesting so dominant
in domestic game they didnt need a ball winner as thats what he saw himself as.
ps I also struggled to get what Paul was on about today. Usually see the wee digs at Brendan but
even reading between the lines didnt get it maybe i have to go back and read again
Back to Basics…
Re Iwata…
“But a guy who does not have the speed of thought needed to operate at OUR level…”
Can you give examples of this lack of speed of thought? And how do you measure it?
Certainly didn’t wake up this morning wishing Tomo Iwata was still playing for us.
No disrespect intended
Tottenham, Newcastle and Napoli are all monitoring England midfielder Jack Grealish after Manchester City set an asking price of £40m for the 29-year-old.
__________________________________________________________________________
I ownder what metrics any of these clubs are using? £40M for a 29 year old (30 in September) who has been decidely hot and cold at his time with Manchester City
Paul67 has mentioned some time ago how influential Chris Davies has been under Brendan and he should take credit for that because Chris Davies has now become successful as a manager. Always good to have a potential manager if things go south.
Josep Guardiola has ruined Jack Grealish as he ruined Agüero, De Bruyne, Ibramovich ……
Well informed on Lennon 2.0?
I doubt it…..
https://celticfc.tv/videos/80026688
WBC – cheers.
Put simply … by watching him play the deep lying midfield role for Celtic.
Particularly in games at Celtic Park (there weren’t many).
Caught out a few times in dynamic situations where space was opening up behind him.
You could almost see his brain thinking “Instincts vs coaching. Gulp – go with the coaching. Action !”
Split second stuff.
Sometimes his physical speed got him out of trouble. Other times not.
“A real deep dive into a player’s potential is impossible unless you have worked with him or watched his dozens of times. Getting ever-closer to a club, or even a league, will deliver insights which cannot be seen in stats alone.
Well that’s a very different take from the moneyball recruitment narrative we are used to hearing in a CQN lead.
GOOD!!
It was interesting to hear Brendan Rodgers say that he spoke to Michael Essien before we signed Benjamin Nygren.
Micheal was of course a sublime midfield player in his time who coached Benjamin.
I’m sure that chat would have been ×100 more useful than the reams of data, metrics and analytics at BR&CO’s disposal.
Chris Davies would have been able to chat to Ange and Brendan and realise what a great fit Tomoki would be for Birmingham.
The lhad maybe isn’t up to first team starter at Celtic or Spurs, but if he wanted game time the move to Birmingham was a win~win.
Kyogo I’m less sure about, we all hope our talismanic Japanese returns to form but my feeling is his bargain price tag might be the reason he is in the midlands – has supersub writ large upon this move.
Chris Davies is a top operator, some suggested Brendan would flop without him when he came back, when it was actually Ange that found his absence more difficult.
BTW: I didn’t think for one moment Chris was coming back and it was no surprise he went to Tottenham, several times Daniel Levy had tried to tempt Brendan and Chris to Spurs, last time being 2023 when Antonio Conte left.
Hail Hail
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on 8th July 2025 9:35 am
ScillyBhoy
“Thanks for the clips of Balikwisha. His movement looks excellent. Brendan wouldn’t sign him if he didn’t have pace.’
%
We heard all of this about Khun, who did ok till he got sussed out with the opposition defenders doubling up, low block, etc, and Brendan standing on the touchline watching on, clapping like a seal, telling Khun to: “Run Faster, Run, Run, Run, Run, Clap, Clap, Clap, etc.”
Good afternoon all.
Afternoon BRRB, take a break and have a drink.
Aipple
Not today, soda water and lime. Driving duties.
BRRB as designated driver shocker.
Bet that makes the front page of Glasgow Times.
History Nerd
@_HistoryNerd
“80 years old cartoon that is still relevant…”
https://x.com/_HistoryNerd/status/1942395711771058579#m
Back to Basics…thanks for reply.
Perhaps I interpret it as ‘reading of the game’ but I get what you mean.
KevJungle on 8th July 2025 2:59 pm
….and, unfortunately, will be relevant for many, many years to come.
Liking the No 5 seed
Fritz….a grand old team
Leggy (far right) and the lads in Cork.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ok212YxYrbkpeZ3U9
bigrailroadblues on 8th July 2025 4:42 pm
Leggy (far right) and the lads in Cork.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ok212YxYrbkpeZ3U9
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Love the photo. Looks like a nice evening for the game.
HH
CELTIC: Sinisalo, Trusty, McCowan, Kenny, Inamura, Engels, Summers, McGregor, Murray, Forrest, Donovan.
Subs: Doohan (GK), Clarke (GK, Rice (GK), Osmand, Montgomery, Frame, McPherson, Robertson, Ure, McArdle, Hatton, Turley, Welsh, Isiguzo
Hot Smoked on 8th July 2025 3:26 pm
KevJungle on 8th July 2025 2:59 pm
“….and, unfortunately, will be relevant for many, many years to come.”
%
It will only end when NATO is dismantled. Vote the WPB as the Scottish Government, and they’ll get rid of the Nukes in Scotland, and they won’t accept under the table “brown envelopes” to keep their mouths shut about it. Then they’ll expose the Scottish Media and how much they are being paid to cover this up, how much the Snp has been paid to go along with it, as well as a lot of other things that they cover up.
Then WPB will do things for the Scottish people that the Snp have lied about, FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS, being unable to do, like dig for our oil and coal and gas, etc, and using that wealth to totally transform Scottish peoples lives to the point were they are dancing in the streets singing George Galloway’s name.
And then, the English, Welsh, Irish, Europeans, US, etc will see this Euphoria that has taken over Scotland, and before you know it….WPB will be the Government in all of these other places as well, with hope in they’re hearts.
Why do you think Kyogo has REALLY gone to Birmingham?
https://nitter.privacyredirect.com/pic/orig/enc/bWVkaWEvR3ZWemhyeVhJQUVYX0RvLmpwZw==
bognorbhoy
Thanks for posting the starting eleven.
Hoping Brendan’ll get a tune out of Donovan…..
MON the HOOPS.
JUST DAE IT CELTIC.
HH.