The return of Cameron Carter-Vickers to the Celtic ranks for the new season came as a massive boost. Many feared the American would miss the opening stages of the 2023/24 campaign but his speedy recovery from a knee injury put these notions to bed.
Carter-Vickers made his first competitive appearance for the Hoops since April’s Scottish Cup semi final with Rangers on Flag Day. It was also his maiden league game under the stewardship of new gaffer Brendan Rodgers.
CeltsAreHere asked the 25-year-old what changes he has noticed at the club since the arrival of the Irishman to the dugout. He said: “I think there’s definitely a few tactical tweaks that the new manager has made. A lot of is the same – kind of possessional based, high press so it’s just trying to [get used to] little formational and tactical tweaks that he’s making.”
On the park so far, it can be said that the transition from Ange Postecoglou to Rodgers has been seamless. There have been no cosmic alterations since the former Leicester boss came in the door but he has looked to put his own subtle stamp on things.
Rodgers is making some small tactical changes but overall, the main principles of Celtic’s play are the same as what they have been for the past few years. This will only help the players get through the managerial transition better but as the season transpires, we may see the two-time treble-winning Hoops’ gaffer make more continual slight changes.
Just watched the first half of Aberdeen v Celtic and it looks scrappy from Celtic. Ralston and Turnbull are never Celtic players, and I can say the same for Taylor. They might produce the occasional bit of good play, but generally speaking they’re not up to the level Celtic needs to be at.
Why is Hatate not on the park and why is Joe Hart suddenly punting the ball into the Aberdeen half every time it comes near him? The fluency in play under Ange seems to have been lost and now it’s all running around like headless chickens. The jury is still out on the new boy Nawrocki, he’s been a bit off the pace today. If this Celtic team goes into European competition without serious upgrading of certain players then it will be humiliating for fans. It might even be humiliating at the first old firm game in September. Rodgers certainly hasn’t improved on what Ange achieved, he’s weakened it.