I should preface this by saying I'm a fan of Brendan Rodgers and his style of football. What he has done with us domestically has been outstanding, breaking record after record. I also think a generation of Celtic fans have been spoiled by how well we did in Europe under Strachan and O'Neill and might have unrealistic expectations so this is not calling for change of manager.
However, when he was brought in the general consensus was he would be judged on what he did in Europe. He has gotten us to the Champions League twice so it's not as bad as some might make out, but he must have the worst record of any Celtic manager in the Champions League proper. He has gotten us Europa League football after christmas twice, although we stumbled over the line.
There are many factors in this including the growing gap in finances between us and the bigger leagues, although another factor is undoubtedly Brendan's unwillingness to compromise his principles to the point where it's just plain stupidity.
Against a team like Valencia, for us to attempt to play possession football with our keeper and knock the ball about in our own box is fecking delusional. We've also been completely dismantled at times in the Champions League which has dented our reputation. To be honest, I never really expect us to win games in Europe any more but I do expect us to at least put up a fight. Losing 5-0 at home, or 7-0/7-1 to anyone is unacceptable.
He's griped at the board (sometimes justly) to be more ambitious and back him with cash to improve the squad but he needs to prove it will pay off and in European competition he's not done a lot to suggest that it will.
I've been critical of the board at times too, however you can begin to understand their point of view. How much money does he need to have us play this style of football effectively against top European sides? As our highest paid manager ever, is he really doing the best he can when he refuses to try different approaches? And why spend the extra money if the manager has underperformed at European level due to his own dogmatism?
With some of his comments there has been speculation that he could leave us in the summer as he can't achieve what he wants to achieve. If that is the case I'm not sure it's entirely our board's fault.
Rodgers
posted on 15/2/19
Why not start that way and when it clearly wasn't working and they were pressing from the front try one over the top. So much pace in your team and plan A hadn't worked.
Seems some people can't see mistakes with him.
No doubt he's a good manager and has swept all before him domestically but things get dangerous when you are above criticism <SNPSMILEY>
posted on 15/2/19
BR is not about criticism and many on here, me included have fished it out. I don’t think
Playing Izzy and then not subbing him was a smart move. Our players passing was rank last night and we lost possession too easily and that presented Valencia with easy chances. BR is learning too so will not get everything correct 👍
posted on 15/2/19
•without (not about)
posted on 15/2/19
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 3 minutes ago
So, thinking we might be better off against top level opposition if we stopped fecking around with the ball in our own box and deliberately putting our keeper/defence under pressure is unrealistic now?
Not one person is saying we should have won, plenty saying we can't play Valencia the same way we play St Johnstone. Obviously the most basic tactical acumen is too much to ask.
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Better than long passes and giving possession right back at them.
There is a reason teams play possession football these days. Its shown to bring more success.
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There's very little evidence that a smaller team with the odds stacked against them can play possession football against a top team and compete.
Everyone defending our approach last night is doing so by saying "we're playing far superior players" and I agree, we were. What I don't understand is how you then think we can go out and compete in the game against these far superior players by pinging the ball around them at will and outclassing them.
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We would need luck to beat these kind of teams. Macgregor buries his chance its a different game.
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You make your own luck. Our poor tactics put us under pressure from the off and they capitalised on our cheap loss of possession with our defence wide open.
McGregor's big chance was a snatched shot from 20 yards, Christie had one similar. Both in the first 5 minutes and our only two shots on target against a weakened Valencia team.
posted on 15/2/19
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 8 minutes ago
BR is not about criticism and many on here, me included have fished it out. I don’t think
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we know that mate
I think it's the heat.
posted on 15/2/19
comment by Magnum (U16400)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 8 minutes ago
BR is not about criticism and many on here, me included have fished it out. I don’t think
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we know that mate
I think it's the heat.
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Hook line and sinker
posted on 15/2/19
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
comment by timmy (U14278)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Nir Bitton - Cursed by my username (U13244)
posted 3 minutes ago
So, thinking we might be better off against top level opposition if we stopped fecking around with the ball in our own box and deliberately putting our keeper/defence under pressure is unrealistic now?
Not one person is saying we should have won, plenty saying we can't play Valencia the same way we play St Johnstone. Obviously the most basic tactical acumen is too much to ask.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Better than long passes and giving possession right back at them.
There is a reason teams play possession football these days. Its shown to bring more success.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There's very little evidence that a smaller team with the odds stacked against them can play possession football against a top team and compete.
Everyone defending our approach last night is doing so by saying "we're playing far superior players" and I agree, we were. What I don't understand is how you then think we can go out and compete in the game against these far superior players by pinging the ball around them at will and outclassing them.
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Ala Falkirk under John Hughes... Remember ajax n barca saying they try n play good football and how impressed they were with them after playing them in friendlies... Then they got relegated
posted on 15/2/19
Nobodies saying just hoof it up.. But u need to mix it up. Valencia last night pretty much played a 2-4-4 formation as they knew u were refusing to play anything direct at all.
Try and play your type of game yes but if u are unable to play your way past the press of valencia then look to try and exploit the space they are leaving in behind and channels. If u get any success with that the opposition would then have drop back a bit then in turn making it easier to then play more possession football.
posted on 15/2/19
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Magnum (U16400)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 8 minutes ago
BR is not about criticism and many on here, me included have fished it out. I don’t think
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we know that mate
I think it's the heat.
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Hook line and stinker
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ftfy mate. We are Tims after all!
posted on 15/2/19
comment by Magnum (U16400)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Magnum (U16400)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by MaHeed'sNippin aka I’m the competent Wullie Collum (U3633)
posted 8 minutes ago
BR is not about criticism and many on here, me included have fished it out. I don’t think
----------------------------------------------------------------------
we know that mate
I think it's the heat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook line and stinker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ftfy mate. We are Tims after all!
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“I don’t believe it”