Brendan Rodgers’ decision to sanction Sead Haksabanovic’s sale to Malmo may appear to be just another transfer window transaction for Celtic. However, to others, it shows he’s fully in charge of the football side at Celtic.
Haksabanovic’s departure comes amid claims that Celtic’s board wanted to retain him, showing there was a split of opinion at Celtic, and the decision that was taken was the stance held by Brendan Rodgers.
The backstory between Rodgers and Haksabanovic adds layers to this decision. Last year, Haksabanovic voiced his discontent publicly via social media, hinting at feeling undervalued at the club. Rodgers’ response was measured and professional, emphasising respect and communication from his side but also subtly pointing out the generational differences in how players and managers interact today.
For fans who might think that figures like Peter Lawwell or Dermot Desmond wield excessive influence over Celtic’s football decisions, Rodgers’ recent move serves as a counterpoint. It’s a declaration of his autonomy and an assertion that, when it comes to footballing decisions, he’s the one steering the ship.
Never really bought into this nonsense that the board weren’t backing Rodgers as manager imo?
Last season was very much a transition season, as it turned out, even if successful in the end.
When you consider that 4 big players left ourselves, at the start of Rodgers return (including Abada as he never got going whatsoever under Rodgers)
6 squad players under Ange, weren’t up to the standard Rodgers is looking for?
Hako was only the first of them.
3 from last summer recruitment by the looks of things, along with question marks regarding another 2 imo?
So 15 odd players in a season, and that’s not even included the likes of Mccarthy, shaw etc etc.
Yet only hako was dismissed by Rodgers nearly straight away?
Course the board would look to get some sort of return upon him, hence the loan to stoke?
Even then hako wasn’t able to produce by the looks of things?
Now the question remains as to just how much money the board are prepared to invest within how Rodgers wants to set his squad up for next season?
Believe Rodgers will be able to stamp his look upon how we are going to be set up, moreso next season, especially as we looked far better last season when we had more of an Ange look about ourselves, in the second half of last season imo?
Of course that would require players who Rodgers feels are going to settle into his plans, far easier, than what we invested in last year?
The big difference should be that Mark lawwell is no longer involved thankfully.
Would like to think that it’s back to how Nicholson and Ange worked together moreso?
Yet that is possibly going to involve getting more involved within the very competitive European markets, moreso than the Asian markets that he seemed to prefer?
Like most managers, if the recruitment process doesn’t work out, usually there job follows suit?
Rodgers has a free reign in that regards last season, but that won’t really apply next season, especially as I would expect Rodgers to be having far more involvement this summer in actually identifying the players he hopes to bring into the club?
Identifying players and actually being able to recruit them, is a totally different process involved.
So hopefully Rodgers working closer with Nicholson over the summer, might bring about the general success that Ange managed in general?
Will be interesting to see how it should all unfold over the summer,
even if I think it could well be until the following season before Rodgers gets the overall squad and the structure of the club, up to where he intends for us to be heading imo?