Brendan Rodgers is a master of what to say and what not to say. Blame, well, “I can’t fault the players”. So not the players then. He adds, “However, if you want to progress, then, as I said, you need to bring in quality.” Is that pointing the finger of blame? There’s plausible deniability; I’m sure if asked directly, Brendan would wax lyrical about the support he received from Dermot and Michael, but plausible deniability does not cut through publicly in football. You, me and Brendan know that.
Martin O’Neill made it clear at an AGM 20-something years ago. With Dermot Desmond sitting a few seats along from him, he explained that it was not his job to worry about development, finances or sustainability. His job, as he saw it, was to campaign for better players. It was up to the board to hold their line and worry about what they needed to worry about. Martin was always charmingly frank.
The upshot for today is a degree of urgency which means the manager will inevitably get what he wants, just like last summer, when we spent £26m on Idah, Engels and Trusty. Celtic have the money to back Brendan like this again, I fully expect they will.
468 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 13
- »
Philbhoy on 25th July 2025 8:25 pm
My first visit to the Shipbank this year did not disappoint!
Great patter and exceptional company and a big turnout too!
Thanks ghuys! (Too many to mention)
Looking forward to the next one!
……………..
So great to see you again PHILBHOY.
So glad that you had a good time yesterday.
All the best to you and the family.
HH Mate.
As it stands our starting 11 for the new season will include Ralston (AJ not fit), Murray (CCV not fit), Yang/Forrest (Kuhn not replaced, Idah (Kyogo not replaced – maybe Yamada?)
We demonstrably weaker than last season in the positions mentioned and while added some quality in KT and BN we are overall weaker. For a club with our resources that is frankly a disgrace. I don’t care who is to blame but it is mismanagement plain and simple and not only that it’s a really smart way to piss off your supporters/customers – good work Celtic👍🏻
The chronic lack of ambition within the board will be our undoing.
Moisey17. You are correct and the saddest thing about it is that the majority of us are not surprised in the slightest. It happens every window. We are a money making goliath that has forgotten where the money comes from.
BIG JIMMY
Gosh, you are up early Jimmy!
Great dayoot and great to meet up with friends old and new!
Loved it!
Family are well thank you and so is their taxi driver for the weekend! (ME!)
It was good to see you and in top form!
Take care!
We’ve lost a hell of alot of assist and goals in the last year.
O’RILEY, KYOGO & KHUN we will no doubt replace as without these you don’t win games of footy.
Idah Maeda and the new lad Benji will supply provide but need major help and we know they’ll be here soon.
🙏😆
Lions to win by a distance as they find other gears to beat a stronger Aussie team. Pity they can’t field more RL players and make it a contest.
Transitional and inexperienced India to capitulate after fighting hard this series.
I hope I am wrong with both these as I love a sporting context.
I really hope I am wrong with my thoughts re Celtic. I don’t ever recall Ange whinging and playing games about what he had to work with and needing quality. He got on with it and turned the mess around. Our guy inherited a winning team with potential. All we have heard is need to improve. Ange wasn’t a game player he just did the improve thing.
I really really hope I am wrong re Celtic and we get back on track today and less whinging. We are in 2025 and not 2005 where Martin moaning about money was a thing. We have plenty money we just need a manager to use it well. I really hope he does.
Maestro
We spent £20m on a striker and a midfielder last year and we signed Jota.
Not disagreeing but anyone suggesting we are not prepared to spend is bonkers.
Spending it properly is key. Not sure this is happening. It is not easy though. As Brendan has found out these past 3 windows when he has had control.
Burnley we sure did but since have lost 3 major contributors for assists and goals and my point is the side squad needs to be improved the earlier the better for all the obvious reasons we stated.
We will surely buy a least a couple more first time players hopefully.
B78 @ 09:08 am.
Last week’s Lions test match was the strangest I think I’ve watched.
You could almost feel the lack of jeopardy in the stadium.
A low key procession.
(I’m old enough to remember the 1989 Battle of Ballymore – bloody hell. Literally ! )
Also, caught the highlights of England vs India from Old Trafford and recalled your post about attending.
If you don’t mind me asking – how much does a ticket to an international cricket test played in England set you back?
(never been, quite fancy it)
Good morning
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Gibb
Worth a read, IMHO.
I don’t know what has happened in the background since the scores of journos wrote the mass letter.
But even one glance at recent BBC News output tells you something has shifted.
His brother wisnae much of an mp either .
bournesouprecipe on 25th July 2025 8:10 pm
Stadium of Light
Should be copying this if on a less grand
……
Went a few years back, tour guide asked who suportered, celtic says I, next thing i know phone out phones up, tour guide with partner and friends in full celtic regalia. Tour was great talked about stadium and development, youth training complex, walked around stadium etc. Museum was also very good.
Would say stadium of light is not easily accessible if on foot. Lots of bridges and a large tunnel for suppoerrers. Celtic triangle area is possibly larger than area stadium of light is on and not so hemmed in. I don’t think we need the football pitch outside the stadium given that we have bardowfield just along the road. However, it does show what can be done a bit of ambition and investment.
HH
Drambowiecelt on 26th July 2025 2:26 am
been down the cross a few times and knocknair looking for you.
good to see you on.
changed phones and lost your number
gies a text when you can
Of course, it’s the manager who spends the money…….utter nonsense
Drambowiecelt
Good to see you posting
Lions getting mauled,van der Merve should be playing
Stephenbhoy
The more Celtic fans see these stadia the better, for the future.
A lack of imagination is the only thing visible in the present day Celtic Footprint, a bit like the transfer market and buying players. Full scale redevelopment costs money, that Celtic say they don’t have?
Estade da luz is a living growing example of what supporters should expect and deserve, as we know, Celtic Park isn’t keeping pace with East End Regeneration which helped drag us to where we are now. Celtic Way is fine, but didn’t cost much, the muralling and original artwork round the stadium was good, not any more. Glasgow City council blame Celtic and vice versa, for proposals like Fanzones. Especially when you consider Title days and their frequency it’s clear neglect for the supporter, Celtic don’t care. We don’t know how long we’ll need a ticket office thanks to technological advancement, so that’s likely to stay as is temporary, necessities like a lot of things the Museum and Hotel are somewhere in the long grass with the Fan Survey.
Turn up next Sunday and spot the long term investment.
Back in it😑
BSR- They have that much money, they don’t know how to spend it
So glad to be wrong about the rugby. What a match.
Bada Bing
So you honestly think Rodgers is not in control of the player acquisitions budget and that Celtic plc are stopping him spending money on the best players he can find who want to play for us.
!!BADA BING!! on 26TH JULY 2025 11:53 AM
BSR- They have that much money, they don’t know how to spend it
—————————-
True dat
We’re invited to agree that spending £26m on Trusty, Idah and Engels is poor strategy but nickel and diming it on project duds like Kwon, Holm and M Lawwell’s wide array of misfits is smart strategy?
I suppose that’s true if you’re happy going to Ibrox in April knowing a loss means the league is likely gone (Lawwell Junior model of success).
Not so much if you think having the league wrapped up by Xmas, coming within penalties of a treble and within seconds of taking Bayern to extra time in the ECL represents a huge return on investment.
Don’t let them gaslight you. The Board prefers the Lawwell Jr model because it’s all about minimising their view of risk. Those with a modicum of sporting ambition know better. Give me 2024 any time.
The old guard in the Boardroom are up to their old tricks this year. No reason we couldn’t have brought in the 3 players we need for the play off. They’re risking that for tuppence ha’penny. The boys from Antwerp and Go Ahead Eagles might cost a few hundred thousand more to buy now. So what set against what can be gained?
They’ll know all about it if the worst case scenario materialises. Lost at Ibrox, lose play off and huns work a miracle and qualify for the ECL. All whilst sitting on well over a hundred million in the bank and sitting on their grasping hands ‘to see if we qualify’.
More power to Rodgers, less to P67’s ilk.
Sensational finish
Rodgers being in full control of player acquisition presumably means he’s publicly directing himself to show more ambition.
He needs to have a word with himself. Oh that’s right, he already has.
What and ending to win it 🦁 🏉
That was a classic
Sport at its best 👏👏
B78- you said that the manager spends the money,not true,he (hopefully) identifies the players, Nicholson deals with the money. That’s where I think Brendan’s frustration comes from, not getting guys in early enough, in order to save a few quid,to answer your question, Brendan basically admitted he had never heard or seen Inamura. IMO we need a Director of Football type role,to overhaul the scouting, and to buy and sell players, and set player valuations. Nicholson, Lawwell are not in any way qualified to do any of the above. If for example, we know scouts are looking at our RB,then we prioritize getting a replacement in before we sell,it’s not that difficult. A few years ago on here,I was ridiculed for saying Brentford are a property run football club, in relation to scouting and selling players…..look how much they have made in last 7 or 8 seasons, we still.look like we are floundering from 1 target to another , with no cohesion or structure in the transfer market,we look very amateur to me.
Only caught last 15 minutes of the game.
Sounds like it was a proper test match.
Looking forward to watching a full rerun
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 26TH JULY 2025 12:47 PM
We’re invited to agree that spending £26m on Trusty, Idah and Engels is poor strategy but nickel and diming it on project duds like Kwon, Holm and M Lawwell’s wide array of misfits is smart strategy?
———————————
Trusty, Engels, and Idah whether they represent good value or not made significant contributions in winning trophies. The strategy never changes from the spend which is around £20M plus. All of BR signings are infinitely better than those scattered to the wind, at present he stopped that caper sharpish. Yang is literally last man standing from that particular group, he’d be gone too were it not for winger shortage, or suitors.
I hope you’re wrong regarding ‘old board tricks’ .
Time will tell how difficult a market it is, if we’re still “ scrambling around in the last week” BR might have had enough after three years, but the question of whether we have a top class professional recruitment strategy will remain.
HH
well done the Lions !
great game of rugger
great show by the Irish lads
Paul Tisdale is head of football operations. That probably equates to being director of football (I don’t know). Hibs, Hearts,Huns etc. all look to be improving (maybe). We definitely are not. What our board are brilliant at is causing disharmony amongst the support.
https://youtu.be/NdUBxn-_V1k?si=D-LFVOdkdjUeWp4S
Recent huddle breakdown provides some benchmarking against Europeans (out with the heavyweights). Watch from around 42 minutes.
Lions leave it late…..what a game 👍
“Trusty, Engels, and Idah whether they represent good value or not made significant contributions in winning trophies”.
So did AJ, Scales, Taylor, Hatate, Kyogo, Khun and Maeda. Arguably Bernardo and McCowan chipped in as well.
I’d be surprised if the cumulative transfer fees for that lot is much more than £26m.
The notion that value should be ignored is nonsense. Keep doing it and you’ll quickly go broke.
Never mind bedwetters,the Board have it all in hand.We will be getting our two wingers,probably,this week 🙄.No idea what all the fuss is about.If BR would stop telling Nicholson to” Put your money away,theres no rush”they would be here now. 🤔🤔🤔