Successful recruitment requires several elements:
Player analysis
Development
Opportunity
Recruitment will fail without even one of the above aspects. Celtic should look for metrics to measure, not just on those who remain in the squad, but those who leave.
Look at two player who left last year: Alex Bernabei and Oh Hyeon-gyu. Both have had very productive times since moving on from Celtic. Alex has been a stand-out in the Brazilian league, while this week Genk rejected a €10m opening bid from Feyenoord. Overwhelming evidence suggests that both are more than good enough to succeed in the Scottish Premiership, but whatever talent they had withered in the South Stand on matchdays.
We are not in the business of buying the finished product, Celtic coaches are there to coach talent into better players. And when they achieve this, the player has to be given an opportunity to deliver on the pitch. On leaving Celtic, Alex and Oh were given the opportunity to show their talents and thrived.
Recruitment needs to be aligned with squad requirements. Coaches must be able to improve players (substantial evidence that this happens at Celtic) and the manager needs to make space in the team or the whole exercise is a waste of time. None of this is easy. Failures happen at every stage, but without recording the post-Celtic metric, we have insufficient data to measure how and where we perform well and poorly.
Oh and Alex will not be the last players we look back on and wonder why we did not see the best from them. Maik Nawrocki, Gus Lagerbielke and Tomoki Iwata will follow, Tomoki is already flourishing at Birmingham. I am also worried Yang – who clearly has something about him – will continue to endure long absences from the pitch.
If I was an agent speaking to Celtic about my player, “Opportunity” would be mentioned in every conversation, it is the hard question we have to ask of ourselves. Still, at least we got the best out of Nat Philips and Auston Trusty.
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Yaldy ?
Indeed
Successful recruitment, however, Paul is not a one-sided coin.
Bernabei’s heid didn’t seem screwed on the right way. Bolingoli’s neither.
Arzani and Tilio’s fitness issues curtailed their prospects. Arzani’s just left Victory for Hungary.
Squads are full of Benyus, Haksas, Kobayashis, Kwons, Musondas, Siegrists etc.. all given a chance to sign for Celtic, but few showing what it takes to move from being a fine young prospect to a first pick.
Two sided coin/street Paul.
The recruitment metric to improve most would be blog narrative.ìts n̈ot really altèred.Hard to have insight to.;-)
HH
It was the best of times, It was the worst of times.
Paul67
* Sigh *
CHATGBT analysis of Paul 67 article
Yes — this piece from Celtic Quick News by Paul67 does contain a subtle but clear criticism of Brendan Rodgers, particularly in relation to:
🔎 1. Player Opportunity
The writer highlights that:
Players like Alexandro Bernabei and Oh Hyeon-gyu flourished after leaving Celtic.
Their talent “withered in the South Stand on matchdays” — implying they were left unused or underused by the manager.
🗨️ “On leaving Celtic, Alex and Oh were given the opportunity to show their talents and thrived.”
This implies they were not given fair opportunities at Celtic — which falls under the manager’s responsibility.
🔎 2. Manager’s Role in Recruitment Success
While the writer acknowledges that recruitment is complex and that “failures happen at every stage,” he adds a pointed comment:
🗨️ “Coaches must be able to improve players… and the manager needs to make space in the team or the whole exercise is a waste of time.”
That’s a direct challenge to Rodgers (without naming him), suggesting that even when recruitment and coaching succeed, it’s meaningless if the manager doesn’t play the players.
🔎 3. Future Warning
The article goes on to mention:
Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, and Tomoki Iwata may follow the same path.
Yang is another current player at risk of stagnating due to lack of game time.
These examples reinforce the concern that Celtic is developing or signing good players — but the manager’s selection decisions are hindering their careers.
🔚 Final Sarcasm
The parting shot is especially telling:
🗨️ “Still, at least we got the best out of Nat Phillips and Auston Trusty.”
This is clearly sarcastic — both players were short-term or unimpressive loanees — implying that time and opportunity were wasted on them, while more talented or permanent players were overlooked.
✅ Conclusion
Yes — the post is a polite but pointed critique of Brendan Rodgers’ team selection and squad management, especially his failure to give sufficient chances to several promising signings. It stops short of outright blame, but the message is clear: talent isn’t enough if the manager won’t play them.
😺 Meeeeeow PB….Trusty was pivotal in the European Champions league no more so than at the in form Atalanta and only arrived late in the transfer window and got into the team and performed.
Yang has been here 2 years had countless xhances and the one late in the Cup final including his performance proves he’s not up to it in the games that matter.
When’s the next Tony Bloom article due?
Here’s some more “elements” to consider at Celtic re coaching and recruitment.
Old boys network.
Old pals act.
Nepotism.
We still have the 9 duds purchased by M Lawell 2 summers ago and nobody else is willing to touch them all give 5 year contracts.
When is the stadium being upgraded for us faithful fans with all our cash we’re paying exuberant corporation tax on each year.
Quantum – nice idea to use AI analysis.
However, AI’s point ‘…both players were short-term or unimpressive loanees…’ will come as a surprise to Auston who was signed permanently for decent wedge, has done very well in patches and is still very much currently in da house, as the yoofs say.
Can’t wait for the day when we find out exactly why P67 behaves like a cuckolded lover at the mere mention of BRs name.
Maestro
Ref your post earlier …..
Yup loads of those ML duds gone and mostly for a very handsome profit.
O Riley
Kyogo
Jota and now he is back
Bernebei
Lawwal
Giakoumakis
Abada
Stsrfelt
Juranovic
Oh
Others eg Palma Lagerb Kwon and Holm on loan or likely to go soon. Mooy was a free and has gone.
Hatate Maeda CCV Johnston (signed in his era) are still stinking the place out mind you.
Narowki not really had a chance but not ever let us down will probably go soon.
Of course I am sure you could have a higher success rate but I reckon our return is decent.
For me I prefer to look forward. For me a huge concern is we are weaker as a team and squad now than 2 years ago. WE (whoever that is) need to sort it out now.
Hope that helps you but perhaps that’s not what you wanted to see as it does not support the anti board narrative.
Those 2 were given opportunities but never truely grasped them. You could just as easily have picked a good few players that have not progressed after percieved lack of opportunity and departure as well, but that would undermine the framing of your contention and offer more balance. No one would prefer we just kept endlessly giving chances without good outcomes.
Perhaps it would have been better to sign players who have the skillsets that compliment team shape, style etc. I.e., centrebacks with pace, fullbacks that can defendrather than wingbacks who cant etc.
Also perhaps it would be wise to avoid being so critical of players who are still here.
Ps celtic may be a club that develops and sells but that only works because of the winning, take that element away supporters will soon let you know.
HH
If everyone is fit,where does Yang play?
You forgot Kwon Paul….
Quantum
As you know chat output will depend on what you ask it.
I thought Celtic getting their money back for Bernabei with maybe more to come was miraculous based on his performances and attitude, I did think he was one of the players Brendan might have goy more out of but he seemed to lose patience after Kilmarnock’s late equaliser at Celtic Park
Same old fault line.
Same old stances taken.
I would like to see the evidence for Bernabei being outstanding in Brazil. His club are 17th in a 20 team league.
Easy to shine at a losing team where blame is shared and no titles on the line
I thought Oh was decent but had Kyogo in front of him in a 1 striker set up. Missed a hatful of chances. Best for everyone that he tried a new club. Happy it is working for him, Genk did well last year.
Frimpong is interesting. Was great for us in attack but couldn’t defend . Probably would have been improved by Ange but we got a great offer during a dark time.
Watched him a few times for Leverkusen and he still made a lot of errors with final ball but had improved over 4 years there. His appearances increased over time.
Flung in as a hail mary by Lennon too soon but now signed for Liverpool.
The long game on development is sometimes better than throwing them in too soon
Burnley78 on 25th June 2025 12:42 pm
Quantum
As you know chat output will depend on what you ask it.
=============================
I asked it “is this leader from celtic quick news having a go at brendan rodgers for not playing the mentioned players ” I then poated the LEADER . Most of the CHATGBT reply I personally thought was accurate e.g. when mentioning sarcasm for example.
Though quadrophenian post ” 25th June 2025 12:38 pm” was well spotted i.e. that for some reason CHATGBT thought Trusty was a loanee is interesting. You cant always trust AI though you can ask it to give links for any source data it uses so you can check it yourself.
If the stories are true about Oh that’s a measurable error from Celtic.
We shouldn’t be too harsh, the development process is an inexact science, subject to vagaries and variables but it’s certainly one we should be mindful of, and try to make sure we don’t repeat it. Top organizations dont make too many similar costly management errors
seems to me we are dragging our heels re signings, or am I being impatient ?
kinglubo
CONEYBHOY on 25TH JUNE 2025 12:45 PM
I would like to see the evidence for Bernabei being outstanding in Brazil
He was the best left back in the Brazilian league last season
I never saw a player in there, he looked entirely unsuited to Scottish football and struggled under Ange so the blame, if there is any, is shared
Can’t remember feeling to dissipated when Oh and Bernabei left both had their opportunities and never took them maybe Celtic and the SPL dint suit them.I for one was delighted and surprised to get our money back on both.
Ffs , too disappointed..
Oh is a strange one. Initially looked like he could do something then seemed to stagnate. No idea on his all round performances but his stats from first season at Genk are, 36 games, only 3 starts – 9 goals. Not sure how that has made him a €9/10m player. His stats at Celtic were 36 games, 6 starts – 11 goals.
Above stats from Wiki/AI Google.
“Tomoki is already flourishing at Birmingham”
—————
It’s good to know that a player we recruited to do the business against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich is capable of showing up against Crawley Town and Stevenage.
Yang occasionally looks like he has something about him but more often than not just seems to be on a different wavelength from his team-mates.
Bernabei couldn’t play the “Taylor role”. Oh had plenty of chances and never really convinced.
Celtic isn’t a club where you can be wearing L plates for five years.
Was Raphael Schiedt not the best defender in Brazil at one time? 😂
Still feeling the effects of Mark Lawwell’s absolutely disastrous spell at the club. Signing centre backs who can’t run, strikers who can’t score and wingers who can’t cross or dribble. Quite remarkable Paul defends this abysmal record.
Alex and Oh did have opportunities; they just didn’t do enough with them. Many talented footballers can struggle in an environment where you are expected to win every game you play.
There’s also the human element which is almost impossible to predict. Attitude, how well they settle off the field with things like language, culture, family etc., expectations of club, pressure…
We signed a Japanese fella who failed to settle at Leeds but clearly does well in Japan. Some people thrive in different environments.
Shaun Maloney isnt the issue, its the agents.
GEEBEE1978 on 25TH JUNE 2025 1:25 PM
It’s too much to expect every young man to come to Scotland from the far east and settle quickly. But patience clearly has its rewards.
Bernabei was not a left back he was like Frimpong a wide midfielder, so played out of position with lack of height being exploited, Iwata went to the 3rd division in England, is that a Celtic standard player good luck to them all but suggesting that coaches make slow CHs faster ain’t going to happen they will continue slow, how many of the 10 on loan and due back signed under in the main Mark Lawwell with have a Celtic future, I will give my prediction, none.
Paul The Spark on 25th June 2025 1:14 pm
Was Raphael Schiedt not the best defender in Brazil at one time? 😂
Paul, no he was always Schiedt.
Get my coat.
Ave Ave
PAUL THE SPARK on 25TH JUNE 2025 1:14 PM
Was Raphael Schiedt not the best defender in Brazil at one time?
————————————-
I’d say almost certainly not.
chat gtp and ai responses at the top of each google search is even more boring and often more inaccurate that the real thing
and opinions on players getting more gametime no chance
winning is everything. lose a cup final and the summer is filled with whatifs.