On This Day in 2018, Celtic hosted AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers. The game finished 1-1 but before kickoff, it was announced that longtime transfer target John McGinn had agreed to join Aston Villa.
After two years in the group stages of the Champions League and six domestic trophies, manager Brendan Rodgers wanted his side to move up a gear. McGinn was one of the standout players in Scotland the year before, operating with Dylan McGeouch in Neil Lennon’s engine room at Easter Rd.
The deal appeared to be straightforward enough. Hibs had an asking price and the player was keen on the moving, owing to the significant family connection to Celtic. Rodgers supposedly met the player and it was all but agreed. No deal could be reached between the clubs, allowing Steve Bruce’s Villa to sneak in with an offer that was deemed acceptable and the player headed to England.
The frustration exhibited from Rodgers after the game made it clear that he wasn’t pleased the deal hadn’t been done. Moreover, the Celtic fans realised that if the Irishman wasn’t backed then he would likely end up departing.
A banner was displayed saying ‘Back Rodgers or Lose Him’, as the messages across the media airwaves were clearly picked up by the support. There have been no such worries this summer but the manager wants quality and the Board need to be ensuring that they deliver on the manager’s wishes.
Six years later, Celtic are in a similar position whereby it is clear the manager wants to strengthen but there is an issue with getting quality through the door. Paulo Bernardo joined Kasper Schmeichel and Vini Sinsalo in becoming the new arrivals. Although, it is clear that the manager wants two strikers, a left sided central defender, a left back and, potentially, a replacement for Matt O’Riley.
Rodgers said that he wanted the club to make a mark in Europe and in order to do that, the club need to be willing to spend big to ensure that they get the quality they’re looking for. Admittedly, Matt O’Riley was signed by the club from MK Dons but he represented good scouting. The support are conscious that there have been only a few transfer links in recent weeks, with only the lingering Adam Idah transfer of any substance.
They have done not too badly without signing him, so your article is pretty shabby to say the least
Cannot believe your going on about McGinn,we missed out on him because of the board,but I remember his grandfather being in charge at Celtic what a mess he made of that if truth be known under no circumstances was chairman of Hibs going to sell him to us as he believed, that we had stolen a few players from them in the past. Personally I think he is overrated.
The only comparison that can be made, is Rodgers was forced out the door in order to keep the scum in business and relevant at the time imo?
Don’t believe whatsoever that a similar situation is in existence within our club at present?
As much as we are looking at trying to finalise our 25man squad with the CL campaign in mind, I still wouldn’t be looking at a comparison from 6 years ago?
6 days can be a long time when the transfer window is open and drawing closer to shutting?
6 years ago Rodgers had to play 2nd fiddle to an overpowering PL taking charge of proceedings?
Many still think that’s still the case within our club, personally think it’s utter nonsense of a claim imo?
Rodgers, I believe is having a much bigger influence upon the recruitment side of things within the club currently imo?
How successful negotiations are going to be rests with Nicholson, but he’s going to get the blame if it’s not to our liking, yet Rodgers will get the credit if things are to our liking?
So isn’t the only comparison that can be really made is that our supporters in general, seem to have the same outlook regarding the club at present?
Strange really, when I’m struggling to see the same comparison in operation whatsoever at present imo?
Lawwell lost us McGinn and he will not lift a finger to help Rodgers second time around.
Anyone who thinks Lawwell will help us is totally delusional.
We (Scottish football) are heading to oblivion via our deplorable ranking, the only way out is by making progress in Europe (ha!) or an invite to any European Super League as cannon fodder for any European giant, of which we used to be one!!!!!!
I personally think that you are blinkered. You have a dislike for the one man who is the very reason we are in such a strong financial position today. Peter Lawwell, like it or not, is a financial wizard!
If you don’t believe me, look at two things since his arrival.
1. Our bank balance and share values versus that of our closest rivals across the city.
2. Our trophy haul/success rate as a club.
Peter Lawwell is NOT making the decisions he was making before. He is a voice. But he is not making the decisions with the same control he had before.
Also, do not overlook the fact that it was still John McGinn himself who made the final decision to reject Celtic in favour of Aston Villa because he was given a guarantee of games by their then manager Steve Bruce!
He has openly said this on multiple occasions.
John McGinn would have struggled to get game time in place of Broonie, and he knew this! I believe this is what swung it for him. The fees between clubs were exactly the same and acceptable by Hibs. The salaries were actually higher from Celtic, according to McGinn. But the promise of game time was from Villa, not Celtic. So the player chose Villa. Lawwell didn’t LOSE him like the “Lawwell haters” such as yourself, prefer to preach!
Lawwell has done great things for our club! You should be grateful. Look at the trophy haul. The results speak for themselves!
Player power is a strong lever if Mcginn really wanted to go to Celtic he would have dug his heels in when at Hibs but anyway I would not swap any of our current first choice midfielders for Mcginn in my opinion he’s overated
He has made a career out of buying fouls
John McGinn could have come to Celtic at any time we were interested. Villa did not pay Hibs any more money than we offered. The Hibs chairman was happier that John McGinn went to Villa but he was no richer, he was happy because it wasn’t Celtic.
John said he had offers to chose between Celtic and Villa but chose Villa because Steve Bruce told hm he was guaranteed a first team spot whereas Brendan told him the truth i.e. that he liked him and considered him first team potential but first team spots are earned and never guaranteed. We could blame Brendan for failure to flannel John’s ego enough but I don’t because what John said was his reason for joining Villa was a cover story. there is never a guarantee. Steve Bruce was sacked shortly after John joined, so whatever worth Steve’s word s were made of, they were scrapped then.
John joined Villa for the same reasons another great Tim supporter joined Arsenal- more money and a more prestigious playing environment. It’s a short life and you want to play at the highest level you can, and the money is better there too. I thank Kieran for the job he did for us and for the money we got from his willingness to sign a Celtic contract. I thank John McGinn for nothing. He was never a Celt and is unlikely ever to be a Celt any time soon. He is welcome to go back to our terraces as a supporter as he is one but, when it comes to backing McGinn’s story over our manager and our club, well I’m just not into scapegoating our own by overlooking the truth.
Totally agree the player has the power in the end , and mcgin chose England. I also reckon it was no loss he been a squad player at best best his old grandfather connection wasn’t good for the optics either as he along with the old board held us back for decades! So I like many I lost no sleep over it, he basically wasn’t the Celtic MSN he made out to be , he was no loss to us at all and he is as many have stated here overated