Rookie managers and presser grenades

I was told earlier this month that Celtic had been involved in talks with a player’s representatives.

Apparently, the negotiations broke down because the striker wanted a guarantee that he would be an automatic pick if he signed for the Hoops.

Quite simply, Brendan is too experienced to give such an open-ended assurance.

However, it is the sort of misstep that a rookie in the dugout might make.

There are several rumours emanated from Sevco about a tantrum by their Colombian striker.

My information is that Mr Gerrard changed the formation of his team during a practice match.

He had started with a 4-4-2 diamond with Defoe and Morelos up front.

The ex-Liverpool Under 18 coach then decided to change it to his favoured 4-3-3 with only one central striker.

That was Jermaine Defoe and there was no place in the line-up for the Colombian and that was the cue for the toys to be hurled out of the pram.

Now, this might have had some influence on the preferred formation at Rigby Park this week.

Several footie experts I have spoken to since that defeat has stated to me that Steve Davis just doesn’t have the legs anymore to play as one of the Number Eights in a diamond midfield.

Moreover, in playing without wide midfielders he asked a lot of his full-backs.

This was, I was told, was paritucalry problematic for James Tavernier who usually as the assistance of Daniel Candeias on the flank.

For the avoidance of doubt, I have no opinion on any of this.

However, the folk I canvassed on this were all in agreement that Gerrard had picked the wrong formation for this side.

The theory of the Sevco boss changing the shape of the team to keep his two strikers happy does rather fit the evidence.

Of course, we should not be surprised if a debutant manager makes rudimentary errors.

In the sad school of experience, you pay for your learning.

When you emerge at the other end you tend to make fewer errors.

Consequently, I would be shocked if Brendan Rodgers had spoken off the cuff in the post-match presser about the possible signing of Maryan Shved.

That was certainly not the opinion of a couple of folk in the upper echelons of Celtic yesterday.

They considered it another presser grenade from Brendan and referenced his observations in the aftermath of the John McGinn saga.

What was explained to me was that “succession planning” was ongoing and that the Celtic manager was well aware of this process.

Firstly, my information is that there is genuine interest in James Forrest from several English clubs.

Consequently, sourcing a replacement makes sense if it is believed that Mikey Johnston can’t be the main event just yet.

My take away from this was that if such business was done for Forrest it would likely to be in the summer.

The question remains is to what extent is Brendan Rodgers involved in this planning.

What I have is conflicting narratives from very reliable sources.

So I will leave it there for now.

Over on the other wing, Lewis Morgan might still have a long term future at Celtic Park.

I understand that the experience of Ryan Christie being developed on loan is foremost in Rodger’s mind.

It is worth noting that because his playing career was over at only 20 the 45-year-old Celtic boss has had a couple of decades of consequential learning before being unveiled at Parkhead in 2016.

I suspect that the only guarantee Rodgers will give to any of his players is that 100% commitment from them is a basic requirement for selection.