DECISIONS DECISIONS
Rodgers said players made the wrong calls in heat of battle but he must change his thought process Bhoys not good enough to play out from back.. will board spend to match Brendan’s ambition?
BRENDAN RODGERS talked about decision-making among his players in the wake of the Valencia setback.
It’s not just the boys on the pitch who have decisions to make.
It’s the manager himself and the guys in the boardroom.
Celtic received another serious dose of reality against Valencia and like most people it wasn’t the defeat that offered the biggest disappointment. It was the manner of it.
Rodgers has done great for Celtic domestically. He’s still on for a treble Treble.
But when it comes to Europe it’s a different thing and maybe he needs to change.
There’s nothing wrong with principles and trying to teach players to do the right things.
However, for a manager there must surely come a point when you realise that might be asking people to do things they just can’t.
If you keep doing that you’re in the wrong, not the ones who can’t do it.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was at Parkhead so here’s an analogy for you. I’m a golfer trying to beat Rory McIlroy and think the only way I can regularly compete with him is by doing what he does – booming massive drives down the middle and hitting the ball as far as possible.
But no matter how much I practise I can’t hit it as far as Rory because I’m not good enough. So I try to find another way of getting round the course.
As long as I get a lower score than him, does it matter how I get there?
Rodgers wants Celtic to play from the back, do it the right way. I admire that to a point but not beyond the point where it’s been shown time and again the team can’t do it against the better sides in Europe.
Eventually Celtic give it away under pressure. The touch goes and the passes start going out of the park.
You’re just inviting trouble and offering the opposition a comfortable way into the game. Valencia wasn’t the first time.
It’s happened loads. It even happened domestically at Ibrox and Rodgers surely has to take responsibility.
His response will be he’s not just going to hoof balls up to a striker. He’s said that’s what has held Scottish football back for 30 years. He’s not at Celtic to improve Scottish football, he’s there to get Celtic results. I’m not advocating just kicking it anywhere but there are times you need to adapt and change. Take Thursday for example. Celtic started well, moved it well, but there was a 10-minute period when Scott Brown started giving the ball away and it spread through team-mates like wildfire. At that point there is nothing wrong with clipping a few balls up the pitch to try to turn the opposition. You need a breather, to take some pressure off yourself to regain composure even just for five minutes. Rodgers has done a magnificent job in coaching and educating his players but you can do only do so much. If you have Callum
At that point there is nothing wrong with clipping a few balls up the pitch
McGregor’s technical ability to add to that coaching, you cope at the higher level.
But there are those who can’t reach that standard.
And when it’s too many of them it can’t work. Instead of accepting that Celtic just kept inviting Valencia to enjoy themselves.
It was a dream for them, I’m sure the whole experience was.
To me, Celtic Park is a lovely place in Europe now. It used to be intimidating with a raucous atmosphere and a home team snapping at you.
Now it’s about glitzy lights, pretty banners and being allowed to settle into the game and eventually pick Celtic off.
It’s about decision-making and if the players can’t make the right ones it’s up to the manager to make it for them from time to time.
As for boardroom, the question is, where do Celtic want to be?
Rodgers said when he walked in the door he wanted Celtic to be regulars in the Champions League but that takes money.
I’m not stupid. I realise they can’t spend £160million like Valencia did, never mind compete with your Real Madrids.
That’s not on. But spending £8m or £10m at the right times for the key positions when the manager needs them might just help bridge some of the gap.
Loan moves are all right at the right time and I understand they can be great – but not all the time.
Celtic need some serious strengthening in the summer even to compete in the group stage of the Europa League, never mind qualify for and compete in the Champions League. I’ve got nothing but praise for the willingness of Oliver Burke. He grafts and does a shift.
But are you telling me a boy who is a winger and having to be moulded into a striker for major European ties is an acceptable way to advance?
It’s not his fault but he doesn’t know the position properly yet.
There were times when Burke needed to show, or spin, or offer an outlet to help Celtic get up the pitch but it just didn’t come naturally. He just wasn’t sure. You can’t blame him, he’s not an out-and-out striker.
It’s the same with Odsonne Edouard. He’s not an out-and-out No.9 either. And anyway, where is he?
This is the record signing. Bought for games like Valencia. He was fit enough for the bench so why’s he not starting? Is it because he’s a work in progress as well?
It’s fine for boys to learn the trade against St Mirren and Hamilton and getaway it but you won’t against top-level European defenders.
So is that where Celtic are at the moment? Back to being hugely successful at home and not capable abroad?
There are factors outwith Celtic’s control that mean there are games they can’t and won’t win in Europe.
But you at least have to give yourself the best possible chance even when the odds are against you.
And maybe that comes down not just to the decision-making of the boys on the pitch but also the decision-making from those in the technical area and in the directors box.