Have you lost your minds?” Board the problem, not Rodgers argues Bob

Have you lost your minds?” Board the problem, not Rodgers argues Bob

Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell and CEO Michael Nicholson during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday

 

Anger at the Celtic Board is mounting as this season unravels with Celtic now in second place in the Scottish Premiership, badly out of sorts on the park, with a manager who seems unable to contemplate changing a system that clearly is not working and a fanbase who are well aware of how we got here and who is to blame.

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership,Celtic Park, 17 February 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
An article on The Celtic Star yesterday, titled Celtic’s Gathering Storm, looked at Brendan Rodgers’ role in this mess and suggested that he wouldn’t stay around of Celtic lost the league – he actually promised the support on the steps of Celtic Park last June that he’d be back in the same spot come May celebrating another title win. He had after all just taken over a treble winning squad.

One of the comments on that article from a chap called Bob, reckons that our writer, indeed The Celtic Star as a whole, has lost our minds and didn’t want to hear about Rodgers being the problem but wanted to highlight the real reason we are in this mess and it’s according to Bob, down Lawwell & Co in the Celtic Boardroom.

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson in the directors box. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
The Celtic Star is a site for Celtic supporters and we always welcome supporter input and allow everyone to express their views provided that they are within the scope of what is publishable. Bob was well supported in his reply in our comments section, so to do his contribution justice – and his view is clearly shared by many supporters – we thought we’d publish it as an article in it’s own right.

So here’s what Bob had to say in reply Just an Ordinary Bhoy’s article Celtic’s Gathering Storm…

My god, talk about short memories, have you lost your minds? Sack Rodgers? He wasn’t properly backed in January never mind last summer! Lawwell & Co are going out of their way to shaft him (as he wasn’t THEIR man, he wasn’t THEIR pick for the managerial role).

Rodgers is being set-up to fail, to help cover for their incompetence, to have him removed in order to put in place another ‘YES Man’, that won’t rock the boat and does what he’s told!

What about Sack the Board, where are the calls to have Liewell & Co removed, for they are the root cause of all of this sudden upheaval? Lawwell is only in the door a year and look what’s happening.

They’ve deliberately gone out of their way too caused division among the fanbase by stoking the fire, they had the Green Brigade removed, and now they are using Rodgers as a scapegoat to protect themselves and their money hoarding operation from within Celtic Park, to line their pockets and starve us of any sort of success on the European front.

Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell and CEO Michael Nicholson during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
Our pitch looks like a cow-field, our recruitment department is full of wasters, we have a youth academy that doesn’t work (hasn’t worked in years) but systematically destroys the fragile careers of any aspiring Celtic first team teenager, we’ve £70 million (or more) in the bank, with an additional £15 million line of credit and they claim they can’t afford to buy players.

And while all this is going on, we have a board simultaneously handing themselves millions in pay rises, just to stay a hair breath ahead of Newco, seriously but what the hell? Open you eyes, the board is the problem, not Rodgers. Lawwell & Co are going out of their way to steal your hard-earned cash every year, in order to manufacture a false sense of competitiveness with our city rivals, to prop them up and push them on, to save them and the SPFL long term, in order to negotiate rubbish sponsorship deals that have us the laughing stock of European football.

Do you remember when Lawwell & Co (along with Lennon), screwed us over with the 10 in-a-row and when the fans righty kicked up a storm, they attacked us, the fanbase, with the following actions.

Celtic v Kilmarnock – The Celtic board after the match on Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
The Board:

Celtic fans backed us during a global pandemic, we flushed £35 million down the toilet and blew the 10IAR, we the board erected barricades, we the board ignored you and we the board used the blue nose tainted elements of the British media to insult and labelled our fanbase (Celtic fans) with untrue, deceitful slurs of ‘entitled’, ‘mob’, ‘scum’ & ‘dirt’, yet, after all that, faithfully blind as they are, they still came back for more of the same, renewing in their thousands? Beggars belief, they cant see the woods for the trees when it comes to this club. you want Champions League fitba, aye right, we’re downsizing! now shut up & give us your money, idiots.

Lawwell, The enemy within, Celtic’s keyser soze

1. He constantly interfered with the recruitment process
2. He continuously undermined managers to pursue his own agenda
3. He flushed millions on project players and journeymen
4. He held back on money needed for European qualifiers
5. He and the board have regressed Celtic to a joke and a laughing stock of European football, to the point we’ve become the whipping boys for Europe’s smaller clubs
6. Under his mismanagement, we’ve only qualified for the Champions league twice in the last eight years
7. Under his mismanagement we’ve lost out on £280 million of much needed champion’s league revenue
8. Under his mismanagement he and the board flushed £35 million down the toilet, blown the 10iar & called it progress
9. Under his mismanagement, theRangers have been resurrected to save the ‘old firm’ brand & the long-term financial future of the SPFL.

Bob

Do you agree with Bob or would you like to outline a counter argument? Please feel free to have your say in the comments section below…

 

One big Celtic problem has let Rangers flip the script as ‘unique’ title tussle takes another twist

 

The Light Blues are now in the driving seat having moved top of the table at the weekend.

Celtic and Rangers in action during recent Old Firm

Mark Wilson believes Celtic’s strongest team would still beat Rangers as he branded the title race shift this season ‘unique’.

Philippe Clement and his troops hit top spot after another weekend of drama in the Scottish Premiership. The Hoops lost a last-gasp leveller at home to Kilmarnock meaning a win for the Light Blues in Perth against St Johnstone would allow them to leapfrog Brendan Rodgers’ men in the standings and open a two point lead. They delivered with a 3-0 win as they continue their fine run of form under the Belgian boss.

It’s been quite the turnaround in fortunes after Rangers found themselves struggling in the early part of the season under Michael Beale and well off the pace. But since he was sacked and replaced by Clement, his side have shown a real consistency with only Celtic defeating them in the most recent derby and Aberdeen picking up a share of the spoils at Pittodrie. A combination of that run of form and a slump from the Hoops has opened up a real fight for the league crown this season with Rangers now in the driving seat.

The Glasgow rivals meet twice more this season with the next showdown at Ibrox on April 7 before a Parkhead battle when the league split fixtures are confirmed.

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There is plenty of football to be played between now and then but former Celtic defender Wilson is convinced his old club are still better player for player in an XI if they are able to name all their key men at one time.

He told Sky Sports: “I think with the strongest teams out I still believe Celtic have a better starting XI when everybody is fit and playing. But that has been the problem. Getting that starting XI all on the pitch at one time. If they can do that, and the players are up to match speed, I still believe Celtic have enough to win that game but again it is a long time to go before then.”

On the drama at the top and the huge changes in fortunes for the two clubs since the start of the season until now, he added: “It is quite a flip from the start of the season. You look back at September/October and the Rangers players found it incredibly difficult to play in that environment at Ibrox. The atmosphere from the support really took away from the players performing on the pitch.

“You get the sense of that happening here at Celtic Park. That is quite unique for that to happen in one season between two top teams. But the Celtic players have to suck it up and get on with it.

“They’ve been brought to the club not only for their ability but how they can deal with high pressure situations. In the coming weeks it is going to be high pressure every time they set on the pitch at Celtic Park.”

 

Under-fire Brendan Rodgers brutally told Celtic star isn’t even good enough for Kilmarnock

For months and months, Celtic fans have been seeing the writing on the wall and now reality has kicked the team right in the face.

One of the main talking points this season has been the recruitment under Brendan Rodgers, both in the summer and then the very little action concluded during the January transfer window.

There was that late loan move for Adam Idah from Norwich City on transfer deadline day, but the money the powers that be at Celtic did spend was £3 million on winger Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna.

It’s fair to say that life hasn’t started as well as the 24-year-old would have liked, but it’s not like he has walked into an environment where things are going well.

Either way, from what the versatile forward has showcased, it hasn’t impressed Stephen McGinn and he brutally stated that he wouldn’t even walk into Kilmarnock’s team ahead of Danny Armstrong and Matty Kennedy.

Nicolas Kuhn came off the bench during those dropped points against Killie, with Celtic-mad Stephen McGinn adding that his arrival last month was ‘strange’, as he told The Scottish Football Podcast.

Brendan Rodgers has started the club’s new face in one Premiership game this season, the abject display against Hibernian, but he was swiftly back on the bench over the weekend.

Nicolas Kuhn’s impact at Celtic so far…
“The wingers at the club aren’t suited to the way he wants to play,” said McGinn. “Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada, they did a great job with the way Ange Postecoglou wanted to play and the pace. The one-touch and across.

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“There is more control under Brendan Rodgers’ game. I felt it was an area of the park they really needed to strengthen.

“I just find they did two bits of business in January which was strange – Nicolas Kuhn, when you talk about spending millions on a winger to improve a team. You have been in a changing room when a signing has come in and you think ‘is he going to play for us?’ And right away, you get a buzz over ‘can he play for us?’.

“On the evidence so far, Nicolas Kuhn doesn’t look like he would walk into the Kilmarnock team when you look at how well Danny Armstrong and Matty Kennedy are playing.”

Celtic FC v Ross County FC – Cinch Scottish Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Pressure building on Brendan Rodgers…
Look, there is still a lot of football to be played, including that trip to Ibrox, but this is whether the fans have belief in the team and the manager.

In truth, given what Celtic fans have watched so far, you can’t blame them for having very little belief in what they are seeing or will continue to see during these final few months.

All of this just puts an even bigger spotlight on Rodgers because, whilst many were surprised that he returned to the club when Ange Postecooglou left for Tottenham.

You can be pretty sure that not many will be surprised if he is booted out if the title isn’t delivered in May because no-one will sympathise with him.

 

 

Greg Taylor reveals crunch Celtic dressing room title talks as below par stars reach two clear conclusions

 

Taylor wasn’t for dropping details but suffice to say a few home truths were told amongst Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

Greg Taylor applauds the fans

Greg Taylor has revealed Celtic held crunch dressing-room talks after another title slip.

The Parkhead defender admits it’s been laid on line to all that improvements simply must be made as they aim to stay as champions. Celtic were booed-off after losing a stoppage-time goal in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, which led to an instant and frank post-match inquest.

Taylor kept precise details of the talks in-house as, when asked if there had been raised voices or if it was calm during the discussions, he said: “It’s probably better just to leave it in the changing room.”

But, on a general theme over having the chat, he explained: “Yes we did. It’s important to realise there are still 12 league games to go. But we obviously need to improve, that’s clear, in terms of performance.

We want to hit the levels we know we can hit, so we need to do that. We’re a team, coaches, manager, players, we’re all united as one and want to put on a better showing for the fans, that’s clear.

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“Dropping points is disappointing and I feel for the supporters as they expect so much more from us and rightly so. But you have got to have perspective, it’s only February at the moment, there is still a long way to go, so we do need to find a level of performance.”

Taylor is amongst the senior stars within the dressing room, but says everyone within the unit has to grasp what is needed. When asked if the newer faces understand and get-it as regards the demands of Celtic, the full-back made it clear it involves every single member of the squad and not just certain sections.

Taylor said: “When you have leaders like Callum McGregor, Joe Hart and even myself, they have to (get it). It’s not a case of the new lads, everyone needs to understand.

“It’s not a case of just boys coming in and a case of boys that have been here, it’s everyone as a collective having to understand that this club demands success, it demands a way of playing. And, when you don’t hit those levels, then the supporters are rightly disappointed.

“At this club, even a draw like that feels like a defeat, definitely. Any time you drop points, that is the way that it does feel.”

Taylor says more talks will take place today in the hunt for solutions and improvement. He explained: “We’ll do a debrief on Monday, we need to see where we went wrong in this game and where we can improve, and we’ve got to take that into the final part of the season.”

 

 

 

 

Celtic ‘move forward’ in Prospect talks after summer scouting missions

 

 

 

 

The Celtic January transfer rumour mill has thrown the name of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward, Fabio Silva into the hat.

The 21-year-old was once a £35.6 million club-record transfer for Wolves, but now he is struggling to come off the bench for the bottom-half English Premier League side.

 

With Brendan Rodgers wanting attacking reinforcements next month at Celtic, the name of Fabio Silva has been mentioned, as reported by TEAMtalk.

Andy Walker has shared that in Brendan Rodgers’ first spell at Celtic, the one-time wonderkid was linked with the club, as he told Go Radio.

But given his struggles at Wolves, it now seems like he will be heading for the exit door in January.

 

Approach made: Celtic ask about move to sign “highly talented” £15M striker, they’ ve had a reply

The Scottish Premiership side are looking to bolster their attacking ranks in January.

Celtic have made an approach to ask about a deal to bring one of their long-term targets to the Scottish Premiership, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Hoops eyeing Kvistgaarden

Ahead of January, Brendan Rodgers will be assessing his options in the market to see if there are any players he could strengthen his squad with. One recently identified is Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden if claims are to be believed.

The Bhoys are reportedly preparing an improved offer for the striker having seen their opening bid turned down over the summer, but should a deal for him fail to come to fruition for whatever reason, the hierarchy appear to have alternative centre-forward targets.

Sturm Graz’s Szymon Wlodarczyk only put pen to paper at his club during the previous window from Gornik Zabrze where he’s so far made 28 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Wlodarczyk statistics), but he was on the board’s radar long before his most recent move.

Back in January, Mark Hendry first claimed that Poland’s youth international was of interest to the green and white stripes, though a switch hasn’t yet taken place, hence why he moved elsewhere, and it still sounds like the 20-year-old won’t be making the trip to Glasgow anytime soon despite new efforts.

Celtic submit enquiry for Wlodarczyk

According to Football Scotland, Celtic have asked about signing Wlodarczyk again next month, but after learning his price tag in a response from Sturm Graz, have decided that they couldn’t afford to complete a deal in January.

“Football Scotland can also reveal Celtic reached out to Sturm Graz in an effort to revisit another former transfer target, Szymon Wlodarczyk, but were told his valuation has sky-rocketed to around £15m which would financially be out of their reach in January.”

Wlodarczyk is a “highly talented” striker

Since joining Sturm Graz, Wlodarczyk has racked up 11 contributions (nine goals and two assists) from 28 appearances, displaying how prolific he can be in the final third, and he’s able to pose a constant threat to the opposition’s defence in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Sponsored by Adidas, Walbrzych’s native has recorded 32 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any other of his fellow teammates, highlighting what a standout performer he is in front of the net compared to his peers (FBRef – Sturm Graz statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 2, Rodgers’ target is also able to provide a real physical presence up top with his height, with his ability to win aerial duels making him a real handful for any backline to deal with, alongside how dangerous he can be with the ball at his feet.

Described by football scout Jacek Kulig, Wlodarczyk is a “highly talented” player with an extremely bright future ahead of him, but with Celtic not set to splash the cash to get their long-term target in the coming weeks, it could prove to be a blow considering the positive impact that he may have been able to make.

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Chloe is an experienced football journalist and podcaster having worked in the sports media industry for the past three years.

Combining her love of the beautiful game with a passion for writing, Chloe started out creating and editing articles for Our MFC before going on to cover the Euro 2020 tournament with Overtime Sports Online.

In March 2022, Chloe was selected to join the academy team at Snack Media and later secured the role of freelance writer for The Transfer Tavern before moving over to the company’s flagship site, Football FanCast.

Chloe is also a huge Stoke City supporter having been a season ticket holder at the Bet365 Stadium for over a decade.

 

Celtic hero Chris Sutton blasts SFA over ’embarrassing’ mic ruling

Celtic hero Chris Sutton has blasted the SFA for their decision to block Hibernian boss Nick Montgomery from being mic’d up during the Edinburgh derby, calling it “embarrassing”.

 The Easter Road manager had agreed to fans watching on Sky Sports at home to hear him throughout the fixture after Hibs agreed to a request from the broadcaster.

It would have been a first in Scottish football along with Montgomery’s assistant Sergio Raimundo wearing a body cam.

And Sutton, who provided live commentary for the game, did not hold back when giving his thoughts on the decision.

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Writing on X, he said: “Nick Montgomery was open and happy to be mic’d up for tonight’s Edinburgh derby.

“It would have been fascinating to hear how he worked and his mindset ingame. But for whatever reason the SFA blocked it.

“The SFA are an embarrassment and stuck in the past. Dear me…”

READ MORE: Why Celtic’s Luis Palma is the club’s most dangerous player

Meanwhile, Celtic coach Harry Kewell is poised “to leave the club in the coming days”.

This is according to the Scottish Sun who claim that the Australian “edging closer to being appointed as the new Yokohama F. Marinos boss.”

Kewell did not travel with Brendan Rodgers’ side on Boxing Day as the Hoops defeated Dundee 3-0.

Reports in Australia  state that John Hutchinson, who worked with Ange Postecoglou at Marinos, is expected to be his No2.

Rodgers previously confirmed that he would not stand in the way of Kewell joining the former J1 League champions.

He said: “”Harry has already managed before, so it is not new to him. He has had a taste of it and I am always one that if staff members want to broaden their horizons then I am very encouraging of that.

“It is also a sign that you have talented people if other clubs want them.”