There’s a very interesting article in the Sunday post last week that I keep going back to after last night.

The article went in-depth with Brendan Rodgers in a whole variety of issues but one of the main talking points was how the manager dealt with moving players on when they were done or dropping players who underperformed regardless of status. The new Celtic boss was straight to the point and admitted to needing a ruthless streak if you want to see your team evolve.

Speaking on a specific incident while at Swansea, he had to drop a good servant to move forward but knew it needed to be done.

“WE HAD JUST GOT PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE, AND GARRY (MONK) WAS MY CAPTAIN, THE MAN WHO HAD LED US THERE. HE HAD BEEN BRILLIANT FOR ME OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW SEASONS.” SAID RODGERS

“BUT I DROPPED HIM AND PUT A 19-YEAR-OLD KID, STEVEN CAULKER IN HIS PLACE IN CENTRAL DEFENCE.

“I MADE THAT CHOICE BECAUSE I KNEW HE COULD HELP THE TEAM. YOU TAKE THAT EMOTION OUT OF IT AND YOU JUST FOCUS ON THAT ONE QUESTION – WILL THIS ACTION HELP US?

“IT WAS TOUGH FOR GARRY, AND I KNEW SILENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DEATH SENTENCE IN THIS CASE,

SO I EXPLAINED IT SO HE COULD UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHY I WAS DROPPING HIM.”

Since then Gary has moved into management and still calls on Brendan Rodgers for advice from time to time.

Of course, this was at Swansea but Rodgers says he will have no qualms about utilising the same philosophy at Celtic Park.

“BUT LISTEN. IF THE SAME SITUATION ARISES HERE AT CELTIC, THEN I WILL DO THE SAME THING AGAIN.

“IF I FEEL THE 17-YEAR-OLD IS BETTER THAN THE 27-YEAR-OLD, THEN IT WILL BE THE 17-YEAR-OLD WHO PLAYS – BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE BEST OF THE TEAM.” RODGERS PROCLAIMED.

These comments were made before the loss to Lincoln Red Imps on Tuesday but if Brendan is a man of his word then some of the Celtic players who let him down last night should be very worried about their future at the club.

Nobody in that dressing room should feel like their position is guaranteed, not even our captain. The reaction to this game and what Brendan has learned will come into full focus on Wednesday night when the manager announces his starting XI.

 


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9 COMMENTS

  1. The captain should be the most worried.He is supposedly the on field leader and if last season and yesterday are anything to go by then he is not up to it.

  2. totally agree and as for that twat Ambrose WTF he could not perform in Sunday bloody league get shot of him now

  3. janko, brown, bitton, rogic, Forrest and ciftci from last night and commons, mcgregor, Henderson, mackay-steven, boyata, fasan, O’Connell, Johansen, izzaguire and fisher all need to go as either not good enough or past there sell by date
    We need quality centre half, right back, central midfielder, winger and a cover left back and another striker and keep Gordon, Tierney, sviatchenko, Allan, Armstrong, Christie, Griffith’s, Roberts and dembele with youngsters mccart ralston, Atchison and ajar

    • Fisher hasn’t had a chance. He hasn’t let the team down when he’s played. Blame with Henderson. Didn’t get a chance after Wrongy Deila came in. Blame with commons. Deila didn’t like him, and complains about him not doing anything when he’s come on in the 82 minute, or first start in 5 months is silly.
      Janko was brilliant before he got injured and missed the rest of the season.
      I think you’re just pluck in names out, that you heard being criticised, becaus you’re angry.

      • *same with Henderson.
        He was great for hibs. I’d have him in the team every week, with Allan and Armstrong as a 3.

  4. Sorry, but if he manager thinks if a 17 year old is better than a 27 year old, then how the fuq was ambrose even in the squad?
    How the fuq did he not see 10 minutes into the game that ambrose needed replaced URGENTLY?
    I can’t think of a worse Celtic defender in my lifetime, and I’ve seen some bad ones.
    Brown struggled last year because of injury. IMO, the previous years, he was one of the most important players we had. He wasn’t technically gifted, but the teams attitude was better when he played. The fact last years apathy has come into this year, worries me. Perhaps it’s time he was left out for a while. I’d accept ANY offer for bitton and johansen, and if pay up the rest of Forrest gumps contract and tell him to beat it. Mulgrew should have been given and extension. Efe should have been released years ago.
    Allan, Henderson and Armstrong should get more game time.

  5. Good post Degsy, but there was no 17 year old good enough to try out, although I think Michel Lustig should have played, although it’s possible that BR did not play him taking the pitch into consideration and him being injury prone.

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