Brendan Rodgers spoke brilliantly this afternoon, sounding like the manager we had the first time around when he could do no wrong with the Celtic support. That admiration that the support had for the Irishman contributed significantly to the huge backlash he had to endure when he left for Leicester City. He understands this himself.
Yet Rodgers has seemed subdued in recent weeks and his side’s performances has mirrored that, causing concern among the support that the title could be lost. Hearing the manager today will certainly raise spirits and optimism that this is going to b a successful season.
Seeing off St Mirren in Paisley was always going to be a tough challenge. Hugh Keevins was saying that he wouldn’t have put two bob on Celtic’s chances of still being in the Scottish Cup at four o’clock this afternoon.
Well, we are in the Scottish Cup and got a decent enough draw, at home to Livingston where theRangers face a tough task of their own, away to Hibs.
Brendan Rodgers took the chance to call out his critics who have been talking down the team and talking up a developing crisis at Celtic. “I don’t think it’s a crisis. It’s obviously a narrative that’s been created outside. But I don’t expect anything less to be honest. We just focus on ourselves.
“We are a winning club. When you’ve won consistently over a number of years, people will look to jump on you and bring you down – and bring me down. I am here to win. For sure we will have our day, and have many days going forward. We’ll get our influential players back and the squad will be very strong to the end of the season. We’ll continue to fight.
“We just have to prove a point to ourselves and our supporters. I think that’s always the best attitude. We are compared to the squad of last season but one, it’s not the same squad as last season, and two, a lot of these players who were starting last season have not been playing all of this season.
“We’ve missed some important players for long periods and we made some changes in the summer. This is a young group of players here who are giving everything, who are looking to develop and improve. I said to the players afterwards that I had great pride in them today.
“It’s a very young team when you take out Joe Hart and Callum McGregor, a very inexperienced group. But how they are reacting and sticking together is very important. There’s a lot of noise around but we continue to win football matches.”
Well said Brendan, very well said.
🔊 LISTEN: “People will look to jump to bring us down and bring me down but I’m here to win and for sure we will have our day.”
🍀 Brendan Rodgers is questioning the ‘negative narrative’ surrounding his team after they beat St Mirren 2-0 to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-final. pic.twitter.com/XNvUbz2X9u
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) February 11, 2024
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Yes we looked like a team that was out to win midfield when asked were aggressive as the defence was won a lot of arial duels
Against a team that thrive on high punts into area our defence coped well even passing from the back were more confident forwards were going forward McGregor was finding space now thus pitch qas terrible but we still played ut on the deck no through balls from defence that never find its target on the pitch I like to bet there roller was not used all week six yard boxes look like pigs have been kept there this pitch is everything that’s against the football celtic play narrow bumpy dead and the attendance of 4,000 was poor considering away fans could have filled it twice brainless Joe Hart brought of a superb save from a overhead kick that 8 times out of 10 hits the corner flag 👏 one of three looks a goal st mirren had all from set pieces we were always in control never looked panicky
Yes Celtic have been overly criticised but as Rodgers says the players have been ask to do slighty different more passing yet our first goals three passes that third into the net that frighten managers they know celtic can do that that’s why the park the bus players getting to know this is not last seasons team we have suffered with injuries players away at the asian cup I can’t remember when Rodgers has been able ti pick same team three games running some players need a couple of games to get up to the pace we play i don’t know if two of front the answer iduh is big but he not a hartson type of player takes the ball in I’d say ho was more of that than him yes we played more confident players beginning to know each other could see that in a terrible pitch
Maybe that late penalty at hibs gave Rodgers the kick up the hole he needed?
Could that spark have been ignited within him now, as seemed to be totally missing for long periods of this season to date imo?
Possible his own confidence took a battering with how things ended for himself at Leicester, and transpired into our team also?
Who knows, but great to hear him talking in a positive manner now, with a growing belief within the player’s he’s got to work with now, which seemed to have gone missing, on way to many occasions this season?
Was beginning to wonder if the player’s actually were buying into Rodgers methods, due to the alarming dip in standards from established players within our squad?
The most pleasing aspect of the performance today, for myself anyway, was seeing kyogo not only scoring a great goal, and getting far more involved within the game, but back to playing with a smile on his face.
Calmac controlling the game for long periods again, and the calming influence of Hart in goals, certainly seemed to rub off upon Welsh and scales in front of him also.
To see the team spirit return, which has been lacking and becoming very questionable within our team, is a very welcome sight for the business end of the season for ourselves?
Rodgers certainly overcome a big hurdle today, but still another good few have to be overcome before the season ends, but at least he now seems up for that fight and talking positively hopefully will help to bring the player’s to follow suit also imo?
Decent day all around, even if its been a bit overdue, but certainly signs of our team getting back on track finally imo