At a strategy meeting, last November Brendan Rodgers stated his concern that the form of his team could dip in the last month of 2017.
His reasoning was that the same thing had happened in December 2016.
Because of European commitments Celtic play far more games than any other side in Scotland.
Therefore, as the year ends fatigue plays a part.
However, in the invincible season, the Irishman had kept his Bhoys going at a relentless intensity.
The defeat to Hearts and the draw with Sevco are indicative of a squad running on fumes.
Unlike the impoverished “rivals” across the city, Celtic are in funds.
Moreover, the Champions are likely to bring in substantial cash from players departing.
As reports are already indicating there is interest in Jozo Šimunović.
Stuart Armstrong may also bring in offers.
Erik Sviatchenko is clearly not in the plans and a break-even transfer fee should be forthcoming.
Liam Henderson deserves first-team football elsewhere and will probably move.
A source at Lennox town told me yesterday that Moussa Dembélé has trust issues.
He doesn’t believe in his hamstring.
I’m told that this is very common, the problem is psychological, as the player thinks that the injury will reoccur during a flat out sprint.
If he leaves Celtic in this window then the fee will make someone at Fulham cry for a week.
The sell on fee for Virgil van Dijk is a windfall that will be put to good use.
As many as five players could come in if Rodgers has his way.
The names are already out there with Charlie Musonda of Chelsea being a major target of the Irishman.
An 18-month loan with an option to buy the winger is the preferred deal for Celtic.
Also, don’t be surprised to see Jack Aitchison promoted as Rodgers has high hopes for him.
The Celtic that will take to the field at the end of this month after the winter break could be significantly altered.
A Happy New Year to the readers and off course yourself Phil, while I agree with what you’ve said we are still stuck with Boyata and Lustig while we are apparently offloading 2 players imo that are an improvement on they 2, I honestly can’t see what BR see’s in both, both have been atrocious but Lustig does all that fist pumping kiss the badge crap which then makes a lot of fans vent their anger at someone else, I’ve said for 2 seasons that both are the weakest link of that team and will continue to be, also imo Sinclair will be away at the end of the season, with his fiancée due their 2nd kid there’s no way she will want to move up here permanently and that I think is the reason his form has dramatically dipped, we need rid of nearly the whole defence with the exception of Tierney and Ajer as one of the readers pointed out, Simunovic was a decent player yet plays 2 bad games and it’s Armageddon, get him sold and he’s shite !! our managers have always had their favourites that could do no wrong, most managers do, Lenny had Efe, Strachan had Gary Caldwell and Rodgers has Boyata and Lustig, problem is none of them were Celtic class and constantly made massive errors, let’s hope it gets sorted before the Zenit game as I fear an absolute drubbing going into that with the defence we have the now, only shining light these last few performances has been young Ajer who I think will make a terrific player.
Yeah good points Mik – I forgot to mention Ajer, he looks like he could really grow into a top centre half, I think he’d especially suit playing in a back 3, with him as the sweeper. I’d happily keep him, Ralston, Tierney and Compper, then add to that. I’d lose no sleep getting rid of the rest. As for Lustig – spot on, if it wasn’t for his good looks and over the top drama he’d have been chased long ago. Like I said, it’s school boy stuff with him, If I was a winger I’d love to play against him. Between that and the Forrest Gump runs up the touchline. Tierney is in a different world. Now I know there aren’t many Danny McGrain’s/Kieran Tierney’s kicking around, but in that position, – aggression, and an ability to tackle and read play is a must! Even a Jackie McNamara was a far better right back than Lustig. Call me old fashioned but where are all the old school warriors – proper defenders – God I would take a 40 year old Paul McGrath/Tony Adams/Stevie Bruce over a Boyata or Ambrose. Dedryk Boyata screaming at/blaming Ajer for Morelos’ chances on Saturday sums him up – chancer!
One concern that bringing in new players will again highlight is how to ensure the team, and the defence in oarticular, are on the same page in any gameplan. Having a multilingual, multicultural team requires Celtic to attend to encouraging communication in a shared language.. Let’s call it training ground English. It has too often been apparent that even when the defence is working there is a lack of communication with the midfield. This helps explain why some of our best athletes, Boyata forinstance, seem unsure who wants the ball in midfield. This might sound daft. But the PSG frontline that destroyed us was the Marcel Marceau of football gestures. A nod. An incline of the head or dropped shoulder indicated to midfield where to play the ball. I am sure BR will be all over this but it is vital it is addressed. Celtic in play are one if the quietest teams in the league. That is not necessarily a goid thing and may also help explain Craig Gordon’s reluctance to pass the ball and Sviatchenko’s blunders in key matches. Just a thought.u
Happy New Year Phil/your readers.
Yeah I agree big time – it’s been a brilliant year and a half, especially Champions League qualification twice, purely because of the £60 million it’s brought in.
But absolutely the squad needs an overhaul.
The only defender we have, that I truly trust is Kieran, ALL the rest make mistakes every game they play. So I’d happily sell any of our centre halves and buy new ones.
As for Lustig, well any times he faces, even an average left winger, he struggles. God even Barrie MCKay done him last year. Brendan obviously doesn’t fancy Gamboa, so for me it’s a new right back and Ralston fighting it out.
The hard part might be trying to get rid of the dead wood we have.
While Armstrong still has a resale value we have to get what we can for him.
I’d love a proper no 10, a Wanyama type midfielder, because apart from Brown I still think this Celtic team is too soft/not aggressive enough.
And finally another striker, – I like Aitcheson – very technical, I’d just love to see him grow a little/fill out. He’s got a future though.
I think it’s obvious Dembélé wants out(when it suits HIM) Edouard, well who knows, and Griffiths, well for me if we want to really keep progressing, I think we need someone else. I don’t think he’s fit enough, constant calf problems as a result. He’s too selfish, he wants to get a shot off regardless. I know domestically he’s been incredible, but I’m talking about the bigger picture. Even watching him the last few games, I know he’s frustrated, but instead of shouting he’s the f’cking man – I’d like to see him dedicating himself more, training harder, being more of a team player.
You look at guys like Harry Kane, and it’s a joy, because he wants to keep getting better, every day he trains like a dog, stays behind and is never happy.
Constant improvement.
Sutton stating players not tired is knowingly misleading.
He blames Rodgers tactics in selection.
Sutton protects Peter Lawwell’s gruelling twelve month cycles on players. Normal workers in the UK have 5 weeks holiday per year completely away from their employer. Celtic players get two weeks.
Summer is filled with pre season and club promoting tours for business reasons, with no eye on the longer Player performance consequencies. Players agents need to demand contracts with three week’s summer off and two weeks winter off minimum. Completely away from the employer.
And a five day working week with national holidays.
It’s what everyone else gets.
Additionally, Sports athletes need more holidays than joe public. They deal with immense pressures including social media, national media and being famous. Mental pressures in national, European and cup games to win every game.
Also, are we now a club that overworks players to burn out over two seasons, sell them, buy fresh meat, repeat? Is that the CFC board policy? No rest for players? But no worry we’ve Sutton to cover it up in the media?
I can see several faces leaving in this window, (even if nobody comes in). BR’s post match comments are telling.
Erik is off in a matter of days for sure. I’d be very happy if we broke even with him, as the outlay was around £1.5m. The VVD millions are all but secured and every penny will go to BR I suspect.
No worries here as he has the cash to do what he needs.
Erik has gone backwards under Brendan Rodgers as has Dembele and Sinclair. They all arrived on-fire excellent purchases. They played well, then went downhill under this management team. As has Simunovic.
I see a trend developing. Buy players that then excel in piss poor Scottish football. They get worse under you. You sell them on for only breakeven.
Dembele will hardly be a “break even” sale.
Neither will Armstrong.
Dembele has halved his value since December last year. So he’s gone backwards not stayed the same.
I was going to say Rodgers has a flair for buying a good player, but their performances ultimately go backwards. And….. he actually buys lots of average guys that don’t work out. I could stick five names up right now.
Are there three managers in the SPFL better than Rodgers? Is it the massive Celtic cash spend advantage that keeps him 8 points ahead? Would McInnes at Celtic and Rodgers at Aberdeen see Rodgers winning? I really don’t think so. Would Steve Clarke at Celtic and Rodgers at Kilmarnock see Rodgers winning?
Kilmarnock’s last three games have seen them beat Sevco, beat Motherwell and draw away to Hibs. A remarkable management turnaround since sacking Lee McCullouch. Rodgers could not beat Sevco in December, Clarke did it with a fraction of the resource.
Total rubbish. The improvement in Dembele has been marked. He arrived as an emerging talent and he has developed but is going through a form slump at the moment. Sinclair arrived as a broken man and has been a real talent. The transformation in the players who were already here such as Forrest, McGregor, Armstrong and even Brown has been nothing short of astounding. Brendan has also been willing to give young talent a real chance to shine without exposing them too soon. Remember Kenny Dalglish was hitting 20 before Jock Stein made him a regular. I look forward to the likes of Aitchison, Miller, Ralston, Ajer and Kouassi making the big time. Of course Clarke is doing a great job at Killie, no surprise I was touting him for the Celtic job before Brendan pitched up and no one would deny that the money available to BR is a huge factor. You could argue about their relative merits but this is a subjective argument. The only, slim, objective evidence, their respective performances in the EPL, suggests it’s Brendan.
well as uaual out come the defeatest , give the bhoys and brendan a break , look at our achievments , yes we are tired after a grueling hectic season so far , let brendan do his job , he will have his own agenda , and has provided the goods so far , trust in him , so lets give the bhoys and brendan a well earned break , get in some new faces and start doing what we do best win win win ,
I agree with one of the Celtic blogs I follow Phil. Stuart Armstrong has legs and a decent shot but in truth for me he is a bit like a headless chicken at times. He can go for me. Ntcham is 100 times a better player.
I really like Lustig but he made a few errors in the first half against the tribute act. easy big man lol
I suppose we need to trust Brendan on the Dutch centre half. I would be getting another and telling big Boyata thanks for everything, His time is up for me given he will be on a pretty penny.
Musonda would be excellent for me but not as a winger, In the no.10 role.
Surely there must be a wonderkid from say Slovakia, Slovenia etc etc we can snap up?
Come on Brendan. The money from Big Virgil is a bonus here. Lets not use it for 5 or 6 £1m players, Lets take a chance on a right good young player who has excellent technique.
Happy New Year to you and your readers! I can’t say I am a fan of the transfer window circus but Celtic certainly need to freshen up the squad. The achievements since Rodgers took over are phenomenal, but some of the players now look out on their feet and/ or at the limit of their abilities.
Then again, it could just be a case of lost property… If I may share the following appeal for help…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/an-appeal-for-grace/
The pens in overdrive today Phil grey articles
HH
Meant great lol
Aitchison, Miller, Johnston and Ralston *ALL* need to see regular appearances to prepare them for any necessary starts due to injury, fatigue or, in Ralston’s case, becomming first choice next season.
The club is in a very good place. The much needed winter break and the addition of some new faces will ensure that Celtic emerges stronger in the second half of the season. Happy new year and Hail Hail!