The transfer window has closed, but the wounds are still open.
It is no understatement to write that the wider Celtic support feels seriously let down today.
I think it is fair to say that the best manager at Parkhead since Jock Stein feels exactly the same way.
Indeed, one veteran Rodgers observer told me last night that the man he knows very well has already started to weigh up his options.
If he indeed decides to call it a day then it will be a specular piece of collateral damage for Heated Driveway Productions.
The latter had been off the stage at Parkhead since the Antrim man had been hired in the summer of 2016.
At that point, Celtic had conspired to give Sevco the greatest day in their short history.
Ronny Deila was undermined from Day One at Celtic.
The likeable Norwegian was handed a Number Two and then shat on from a great height.
Of course, the job was too much for him as he laboured under an untitled director of football.
Therefore, it was heartening to see Brendan Rodgers decide on who his backroom team would be.
It was the end of the Heated Driveway for the untitled director of football, until this summer…
The recent Dafabet deal was an off field triumph that was rightly applauded.
However, I fear that we can now deduce that it ignited the old Heated Driveway hubris.
Quite simply Brendan Rodgers will not tolerate such a situation.
At the start of the summer transfer window, the Irishman had four signing targets.
He got one of them, Odsonne Édouard.
The others were John McGinn, Cristiano Piccini and Fabian Schär.
Moreover, the young Frenchman was signed to be one of three available strikers in the squad and not as a replacement for Moussa Dembélé.
Rodgers is not without fault in this shambles.
Compper and Musonda were his calls.
As was Kouassi.
It might be pertinent this morning to ask what Lee Congerton does for a living.
The hiring ex-Sunderland scout in March 2017 was very much a Rodgers decision.
For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Congerton clearly had no hand, act or part in the sourcing of Eboue Kouassi who joined the Parkhead club in January 2017.
Another bad call by Rodgers was putting a stop to the sale of Boyata when he wouldn’t sign a new contract.
In fairness to the Celtic CEO, he wanted to avoid the situation where Celtic are now with the Belgian defender.
What should concern the Parkhead support now is that not only is the squad weakened, but the pathogen of disharmony might have been allowed in with the manner of Dembélé’s departure.
Moreover, they have witnessed the manager being undermined from the boardroom.
In summation, from the full spectrum dominance of the Double Treble to the clusterfuck of the transfer window Sevco can now believe that the stars have aligned in their favour.
In business when you mess up you’re shown the door.
Mr Lawwell should clear his desk.
Of course, it is only Dermot Desmond who has the power to make that so.
A source close to the Irish billionaire told me this morning that Desmond is seriously unimpressed with what has unfolded this summer.
My sources tell me that Mr Lawwell has already taken a remuneration hit for the McGinn shambles.
Although that news will not be much of a bonus for Celtic fans.
Of course, the Parkhead club should be out of sight in Scotland and today they are not.
In my opinion, a lot of that can be attributed to one man and it isn’t Brendan Rodgers.
Do it Dermot.
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Edouard signed for a reported £9m, McGinn a supposed life long fan of Celtic elected to take the wages on offer from Villa, he went south for talks armed with TWO, yes TWO agents, a guy that had played one season in the SPFL took
two financial vampires to talk money. Piccini, an Italian, went to Spains la Liga to play for Valencia at a cost of 10 million Euro, Schar, sold for his contract release value of £3m, when the world cup ended elected to go to EPL club Newcastle, Playing the blame game is one thing but in the real world if Celtic Fc and the SPFL can’t compete with England’s 2nd tier how do we compete with La Liga and the EPL, as for Congerton being asleep at the wheel, if he did not identify these players then who at the club did ?
I agree that Lawell should maybe go or return to the background, he clearly has no role out front now.
I’ve said it before, we have a team far and away stronger and with more character than anything else in Scotland and before I leave I must point out that collectively between Roberts, Armstrong and Dembele they did not start over 100 games for us last season. No great loss, I don’t believe we are weaker, we are not stronger than last year but we are certainly not in a bad position.
I thought I was reading the daily record there , why are you fluting to their tune now 4 games into a season…appalling last few posts
This.
You already know my view even before the events of last night. So here goes again – LAWELL OUT!!
I’m not known for my optimistic disposition but heaven’s sake from some of the comments on here you’d think it was Celtic that was liquidated. The press have been trying to engineer a move away from Parkhead for Dembele pretty much since his first game against the bluenoses. It was inevitable his agent would start whispering in his ear too. He had a great first season, did very little last and nothing so far this season. I don’t believe no-one at Celtic failed to see this coming and I feel the signing of Edouard on a permanent deal was with this in mind. I feel also in Griffiths we have a great goal scorer. Only shame is we didn’t cash in sooner when talk was of £40m and used that money to address the long standing issues with defence.
I’m not convinced we needed McGinn and I think a clue was given when BR said “Celtic showing interest alerts other clubs to a player’s ability” (or words to that effect!) In doing so, the one team to give us a scare last season has been weakened without costing us a penny. After the failed Comper experiment, I’m not sure of the wisdom in shelling out for another currently crocked player but speculation did bring Villa calling at the Dons’ door.
The press were quick to big up Warburton and his Magic Hat, Caxman and his Qatar contacts and now Gerard’s gers. One league win in three games so far, another baker’s dozen or so of signings including two former ‘rangers are deid, we’re offski” men. Yes they’ve qualified for Europa League – and sod coefficients, I wished Ufa had knocked them out; still, hopefully they’ll get gubbed every game – but it’s not like they’re setting the heather alight. I expect it might be a tighter affair tomorrow but still expect us to have enough to dispatch them.
Talking of renumeration hits did anyone else notice the fact Peter Lawwells Salary took an odd turn in the previous Annual Accounts?
He’s gone from earning a Salary of £575,429 and Bonus of £406,751(£982,180) in 2016 to Earning a £1.15m Salary and no bonus in 2017.
That one snook under the radar eh?
Where does one even begin with this omnishamble-flustercluck of mammoth proportions? It’s obvious that blame can be shared by all, but agree with where most falls. However, I would frame your premise/recommendation differently.
This situation, and the ultimate decision DD makes, is not about Lawwell or Rodgers now. The decision is about his ownership and will frame the narrative for how the fans will view him.
If he sides with Brendan and pulls the plug on Lawwell then I think the fans will go along and assume that a new CEO and Brendan will work together. Things will return to a more normal basis.
If however, he sides with Lawwell and forces Brendan out, I think there will be a massive uproar from the fans and things will just get uglier and uglier. It will be seen as a decision to have club run as a money making machine rather than as a club. IMO, it could lead to a civil war.
It’s in DDs hands now as to what he wants his legacy to be and how the club moves forward.
Get rid of both Lawwell and Rodgers……..and Congerton.
You forgot Kennedy,HH
Yep, we have went from glory to despair in the space of a few months. The obvious improvements needed weren’t dealt with. The negativity from yesterday will only compound it. We really need to rally tomorrow. Support the team from the 1st minute and hope the team play to their strengths. I really do think Brendan will stay, but there does have to be changes of attitude from the board.
By any standards it’s been a disastrous few months for Celtic and somebody has to take responsibility for it Brendan identified targets and left the job of recruitment to those responsible and they failed miserably so they should pay the price.à I think tomorrow’s game should tell us a lot. Phil I’ve been an avid follower of your blog and have always been impressed by your accurate reporting of the financial shenanigans of Glasgows newest football club but I have to say for a club that’s supposed to running on fumes they are spending a considerable amount of money. Is there anything in the recent rumour that they are being funded from an outside source. But back to the Champions, if this season doesn’t turn out well Celtic fans will never forgive those who failed us by their incompetence HH
They got many millions from season ticket sales and the Europa run (the ticket sales etc for those games home n away brings I some money). They gambled money that’s used pro rata over a season, on gerrards signings….. the gamble has paid off by way of a cash return from Europa league groups.
I think it’s been covered that they have people helping them by way of various stuff. Some money from club 1872 and other re arranging of the deckchairs.
My preference would be for Dermot Desmond to put Peter Lawwell back in his box and keep the band together unless the breakdown in the relationship between Rodgers and Lawwell is so severe that has become impossible. In the event of DD having to choose between BR and PL, then Lawwell should be shown the door. Is it your understanding Phil that the current situation is beyond repair?