Brendan Rodgers has given a timely re-assurance that the work is happening behind the scenes and that after a long meeting yesterday with the club’s two senior directors he remains confident that the targets that have been identified will be arriving before the end of August.
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“I had a long meeting with Michael (Nicholson, CEO) and Chris (McKay, Finance Director) today. We know the targets that we want to bring in, there’s still a long way to go in the window,” Rodgers said as reported by Sky Sports.
My concentration is that we know what we want to do, we know the priority positions that we want to improve. Whilst the club are getting on with that, myself and the coaches are really focused on improvement of this team, both physically, tactically and technically.
“So at some point before the end of August I would expect us to have the players that we want in.
“There is nothing new to add, clearly there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes but when there’s any conformation on it we will let you know.
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“I make it clear to the Celtic supporters, we want to improve, we want to get better, we don’t want to just stand still this season. We know that we want to improve the squad and by the end of the window I would expect is to be all of that.
“But until that moment, there’s a lot of great work going on here with the players, some of the younger players who are developing really well. The players now are really tuned into how we are working and they are having a really good pre-season. It’s a really good starting point for the season ahead.”
🗣️ "I make it clear to the Celtic supporters, we want to improve, to get better. We don't want to stand still. By the end of the window I expect us to be that."
Brendan Rodgers says Celtic know their transfer targets as he discusses potential signings ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/awrmMdNivE
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) July 24, 2024
There has been a lack of communication from the club, partially caused by the team being on tour in the USA, and that vacuum has created justifiable concerns that the club would not meet the manager’s wishes and the supporters demands for some of the vast sums of money that the club currently has in the bank, to be spent on the team to allow us to compete in the Champions League.
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Celtic has an elite manager who understands the club and know the limitations that he has to work with playing in the Scottish Premiership with the budgets restrictions in comparison to the big five leagues in Europe. But even accepting that, it cannot be argued that Celtic has been able to match so many teams from smaller leagues who have punched above Celtic’s weight in European competition.
The worry too, in the absence of any recent update, is that the severe problems across the city at Ibrox, will be seen by the Celtic board as an excuse to keep the money resting in the bank as domestic success in the league looks increasingly likely in this coming season.
The are valid concerns and it’s correct that they should have been expressed in the Celtic fan media sites over the past few days. Someone on social media picked up on a paragraph or two written by James Forrest on The Celtic Blog, and savaged him for every word. Remarkable really as there was not one single word that was not spot on.
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In previous times our former CEO appeared to have several of the first wave Celtic fan sites in his back pocket. Criticism was rare and we’d be lectured on financial prudence and the difficulties the club experiences in these transfer windows as moneyball become more important that football.
Even last season Brendan had to work through a large number of project signings to see if he could make anything from the squad he inherited from Ange Postecoglou plus the signing made last summer by the club.
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Now that the manager has won the league and cup and is having his say on the players we need to improve, he has to be backed. The Board according to Brendan are working towards this objective which is great to hear. They will be judged on being able to deliver and Brendan too will be pleased that they do.
Making them aware that the Celtic support broadly wants the very same thing as the manager – and nobody is being unreasonable here – is no bad thing.
The Celtic fan media has over the past few weeks given Brendan Rodgers the support that perhaps he needed and there is little doubt in my mind that during his long meeting with Michael and Chris the supporters concerns will have been duly noted.
That is no bad thing and it’s an example of the positive contribution that the Celtic fan media is making in holding the club to account when necessary.
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From our Special Correspondent for the Celtic USA 2024 Tour, Larry Henry Jr…
READ THIS…Celtic 4-3 Manchester City – Bhoys win Battle of Britain, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Photos…Getty Images
Unique Angle…
Brendan’s post match comments…
Man of the Match Nicholas Kuhn’s post-match comments…
Fans celebrating…
Man City and Celtic Fans celebrating goals in Chapel Hill pic.twitter.com/q6mWvxGGht
— TopBin90 (@Topbin90) July 24, 2024
I suspect the conversation went as follows:
Rodgers: “When’s Bernado signing ?”
Board: “He’s no!!”
Rodgers: “When’s Idah signing ?”
Board: “It’s difficult at the summer window.”
Rodgers: “Can I get any players ?”
Board: “It is always our aim to come out of each transfer window stronger than when we went in.”
Rodgers: “But we’ve not signed an outfield players !”
Board: “We’re talking about the Bank balance, what are you talking about ?”
Rodgers: “The football team”
Board: “We bought you loads of guys last year. You mean you want new players ?”
Rodgers: ” That’s generally how it works ?”
Board: “Really, we’ll need to have a think about that. Now off you pop.”
Who can stomach watching champions league matches? Getting beaten easily because lawwell won’t let go of the purse strings. We should be spending what we can afford on some players ready for the 1st team. We should at least be giving a good account of ourselves.
Our club has to deal with plenty of attacks upon us within the Scottish media and beyond?
Plenty of hun scum cheerleaders within the media leading the charge?
So before so many within our own so called fan media wanting to continue with the back slapping of such a job well done, in acting in a similar manner as a scum cheerleader with attacking our club, I think many should reconsider imo?
Even the scum cheerleaders wouldn’t make themselves look so ridiculous in the accusations being fired around, and if such hun scum cheerleaders were to do so, would the likes be all in agreement with them?
Hypocrisy of the highest order more like imo?
By all means continue with the attacking of the board with the signings, but more of an attack upon the player’s involved, than any board members?
Yet no-one knows what actually is going on behind the scenes, and to what actual involvement Rodgers has within the whole process of players incoming and outgoing within the club?
Think it’s safe to say that Rodgers is currently evaluating his players that he has under contract within the club?
Weather they are going to be within his working squad for next season, loaned out or even in the market for being sold, are the decision making that a manager is expected to be taken at this time of year?
Have possibly identified targeted players Rodgers would like to bring into the club, yet that doesn’t mean that we are going to get them either?
Players with there agents have been holding clubs to ransom for years now, with there approach taken?
Rodgers been around more than enough to understand how the whole process works, yet remains totally relaxed regarding the process at present?
Yet so many who haven’t been involved in any type of big business transactions, suddenly all know better at this time of year?
Trying to promote a lie of saying that the board aren’t supporting Rodgers is nothing more than ridiculous at present imo?
Always said lawwell should never have been allowed to return to the club in any official capacity?
Yet how many were actually standing outside Celtic park, protesting at his appointment as chairman now, after his failings as CEO in the transfer market while in the position?
That’s right no one?
So remains a hate figure within our club, and someone to direct all there frustrations at, yet done nothing regarding the situation when it first arose?
So whining about it now, is nothing more than a spoilt brat attitude, especially when basking in the success achieved in the mean time?
All these calls for change within the club, coming from such who wouldn’t have a clue where to begin if in such a position of power, yet making out they all know best?
I’ve seen nothing to suggest that Rodgers won’t get the backing of the board, by the time this window closes and the finishing touches for the CL squad are hopefully put in place for a successful campaign next season?
In the meantime I will continue to support our players, and not jumping on the bandwagon of so many trying to make out there useless and not worthy of representing our club?
And if the product that Celtic creates, and the enjoyment it brings to millions around the world isn’t to your liking, then why bother supporting the product?
Every football club strives to want to improve year on year, yet it’s not always possible, and we are no different than many a club in the same situation?
Yet not to many have the backup of gaining success at domestic level either, if European football isn’t even an option for themselves?
We are only entering the period of the undisputed most successful Scottish team of all time, that even the scum can’t deny, so the bigger picture is going to involve bigger demands within CL football imo?
Plenty of teams have been 1 season wonders at that level, so a poor excuse to be using them as examples of our failings at such a level, when we ourselves will be looking to make a bigger impact upon a yearly basis.
Especially from now on, with the scum becoming less relevant to ourselves also imo?
So trying to condemn men before the whole process is even completed at present is nothing more than a ridiculous approach taken imo?
What next, if all is a success then the fan media will want to try and take the credit for it being achieved?
But do they really want that, as there favourite subject wouldn’t hold much substance?
So unless winning the CL is achieved by some sort of miracle, then the continuation of attacking board members remains rife, no matter what they do in their roles for the club?
Amazing just how many geniuses we have within our support who like to think that they know better regarding the big business that has to be undertaken within the club, yet wouldn’t have a clue about doing such a role themselves?
Add in the amount of success gained is never enough either?
So why call yourself a supporter when you detest the operations of the club so much?
Certainly not my taking about a role of a supporter?