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Brendan Rodgers; "I was born into Celtic"
Topic Started: 20 May 2016, 05:06 PM (2,288,414 Views)
Zurawski 7
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Brendan Rodgers took his first training session as Celtic manager on Monday but already he must address a sizeable casualty list as he prepares for the team’s entry to the Champions League qualifiers in three weeks’ time.

Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic, Mikael Lustig, Emilio Izaguirre, Gary Mackay-Steven, Kris Commons, Nir Bitton, Stefan Johansen and Charlie Mulgrew are all casualties from last season and Rodgers has begun to look for reinforcements to be brought in before Celtic meet either Lincoln of Gibraltar or Estonia’s Flora Tallinn in mid-July.

“I would hope to do business before the first Champions League qualifier,” the former Liverpool boss said. “The club have been brilliant. I’ve spoken about a couple of targets and Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond have been great in trying to progress those.

“I would hope they could be done, but it’s just going to take time. None of those will be determined on whether or not we qualify for the group stages.

“It’s not easy. You come in and want to look at and assess the players. The honesty is that, from afar, I didn’t know a great deal about a lot of them.

“I tried to analyse as much as I possibly could when I knew I was coming here, but you still like to see them close-up and then you get a different perspective.

“Obviously not all the players are back at this moment nut a majority of them are back. Certainly I know what I want to work with and everyone would agree - and people within the club agree - that the squad is way too big. It’s not about the players it’s about the quality of the work you can do.

“You can’t work well with a group that size, you can’t work with quality, hence the idea of having to cut it whilst also assessing the players. I’ve now worked with the players and I think they have been very good in the first couple of days. I have to respect them because they are the champions and they showed that last year.”

Mulgrew is also out of contract at the end of the month but although Rodgers would prefer to have the former Scottish Player of the Year in his squad, the issue is still in the balance. ‘There is no progress that I am aware of,” he said.

“He is a player I have spoken to, a player we would like to keep, of course, but that depends on how contract talks go. There is no update on it.

“We had a real good conversation. I always liked Charlie, watching him from afar. He has good balance and looked a good professional and a Celtic fan from what I hear, so the club means a lot to him.

“I think everyone respects that he is at a stage of his career where it could well be his last contract. I always respect that with older players at 29 or 30 years of age.

“This is arguably the most important contract of their life, so they have to take their time to assess that and look at that.”

Rodgers also confirmed that he had spoken to his Rangers counterpart, Mark Warburton. “We have a friendship that goes back a number of years so no matter how you people try to portray it, or might want to work it, this is a friendship that doesn’t change.

“Obviously the clubs are rivals but he’s a good guy and it’s always nice to talk to him,” said the Celtic manager.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/21/sizable-celtic-injury-crisis-looms-over-brendan-rodgers-ahead-of/?


Quote:
 
Brendan Rodgers has stressed that he will look to trim the current Hoops squad – since he believes it is impossible to properly work with too many players.

There are more than 30 first-team players at the club at the minute, but Rodgers will look to cut that to around 22 or 23.

“I know what I ideally need to work with,” he said. “Obviously not all the players are back at this moment, a majority of them are back.

“Certainly I know what I want to work with and everyone would agree, and people within the club agree, that so hence the idea of having to cut it whilst also assessing the players.”

However, while there are players who will be moving on, Rodgers was careful to stress he has every respect for their achievements at the club.

“I’ve come in and I’ve worked with the players and I think they have been very good in the first couple of days,” he said. “I have to respect them because they are the champions and they showed that last year.”

And he has insisted that he doesn’t need to sell before he can buy.

“No,” he said. “That’s not the case. It’s just out of a way of working. I work with a small group of players but I have to respect that there are players out of contract. That process started a few weeks back and that will continue. I have a way I want to work but it takes time.”
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/celtic/14571340.Brenda_Rodgers_will_wield_the_axe_on_current_Celtic_squad/?
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Zurawski 7
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Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, has not been told he is working within a strict salary structure as he seeks to build a squad capable of taking the club into the UEFA Champions League.

His budget as he looks to make quality additions to the Celtic squad will be tempered with financial commonsense - “I can’t go out and get Luis Suarez” – but the expectations that he can introduce players with considerable weight will be strengthened by his assertion that a ceiling on wages has never been discussed.

“I understand the market,” said Rodgers. “But I know that the club will push to get the best possible player that we can and that’s what they have done. In any of the meetings that I had, that [salary cap] was never spoken about.”

Celtic have been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Joe Allan whom Rodgers worked with at Swansea and again at Liverpool. It has been suggested that a weekly salary of Ł40k could be prohibitive to the move, although when asked if he would go for a player with a wage higher than normal, Rodgers was keen to confirm.

“Yes, absolutely. That’s the case.” He was coy on Allan but did say "Joe is a wonderful player. I always look at all my former players.”

His hand in the transfer market could be aided by progression into the group stages of Europe’s premier competition since the financial rewards amount to an estimated Ł20m. Rodgers, however, has stressed that he has been assured an opportunity to work within the transfer market over the coming months without that particular stipulation on his shoulders.

“I would hope to do business before the first Champions League qualifier,” said Rodgers. “The club have been brilliant. I’ve spoken about a couple of targets and Peter and Dermot have been great in trying to progress those. “I would hope they could be done, but it’s just going to take time. None of those are determined on whether or not we qualify for the group stages.”

Rodgers will look to introduce players of genuine craft as he also trims a current Parkhead squad that is bloated and imbalanced. There will not be a scattergun approach to new signings but rather a considered approach to bring in players who can genuinely elevate the standard.

“All I ever want is the highest quality,” he explained. “To me, it’s not about numbers. I need quality over quantity. When you have a level of two or three players that can really lift the group, you find they raise the bar.

“Of course, you inherit a group high on numbers and that needs to be cut, but you need to bring a couple in who can improve the squad. The squad is way too big. It’s not about the players it’s about the quality of the work you can do. You can’t work well with a group that size, you can’t work with quality.”

Celtic’s business model of seeking raw and young talent, developing it and selling on for profit has, on the whole, been a satisfactory approach. The imminent move of Kenyan internationalist Victor Wanyama to Tottenham Hotspur will bank Celtic a further Ł1.5m on top of the Ł12.5m they made on the midfielder in 2013, although Rodgers has hinted that while he buys into that philosophy in the long-term, he will look to bring in immediate experience.

“They all want that [develop younger players],” he said. “But, of course, you need experience around that. There is no question about that. You need that quality of player. If you are a young player and then you have an experienced player who has been there, seen it and done it,,that will improve you. You need your squad balanced with youth and experience. The no fear of youth is great and I love it, but I also like the experience.”

“It’s always great when you come back in. Obviously the last few weeks since joining have been busy behind the scenes, with the staff and Peter and all the others. On Sunday we had a staff meeting, which was great, and I outlined our way forward and hopefully our way to succeed and then meeting with the players yesterday and starting to work over the last couple of days has been great. I have to say they have been welcome.”

Some of that experience could come from close to home with Charlie Mulgrew believed to have been offered a three-year deal at the club on reduced terms than what he has enjoyed previously. “I always liked Charlie, watching him from afar,” said Rodgers. “I think everyone respects as well that he is at a stage of his career where it could well be his last contract. I always respect that with older players at 29 or 30 years of age. This is arguably the most important contract of their life.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14571354.Brendan_Rodgers_insists_there_is_no_salary_cap_at_Celtic/?
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ciaranbelfast
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One next week supposedly. Mikey or Carnlough will confirm i'm sure
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paulthetim
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one worry he said our recruitment was good :rubeyes:

maybe wanyama virgil forster yeah

but for a wanyama ye get a bangura and pukki
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paulthetim
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ciaranbelfast
21 Jun 2016, 11:09 PM
One next week supposedly. Mikey or Carnlough will confirm i'm sure
for heading to slovenia seen a rumour there was a braga player at lennoxtown yesterday
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Zurawski 7
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paulthetim
21 Jun 2016, 11:11 PM
ciaranbelfast
21 Jun 2016, 11:09 PM
One next week supposedly. Mikey or Carnlough will confirm i'm sure
for heading to slovenia seen a rumour there was a braga player at lennoxtown yesterday
former rangers wonderkid aaron :suspect: :lol:

hassan looks ok. have we been linked with him in the past?
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ciaranbelfast
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paulthetim
21 Jun 2016, 11:11 PM
ciaranbelfast
21 Jun 2016, 11:09 PM
One next week supposedly. Mikey or Carnlough will confirm i'm sure
for heading to slovenia seen a rumour there was a braga player at lennoxtown yesterday
striker
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ciaranbelfast
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still 4 or 5 to do one supposedly
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ciaranbelfast
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4 told to find new clubs
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ciaranbelfast
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If possible, if not they will be welcomed back as first squad members
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specialbhoy
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Sun say we want Scott Sinclair
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Fascinating Rhythm
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Are you reporting this live?
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nowonder
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ciaranbelfast
21 Jun 2016, 11:26 PM
If possible, if not they will be welcomed back as first squad members
Couple more updates and we'll be building the team around four or five gtf's
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Zurawski 7
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QUALITY not quantity is Brendan Rodgers’ motto as he starts his Celtic revolution.

The Hoops boss took charge of a 20-strong squad for the first pre-season training session on Monday.

And that was without NINE senior stars missing through injury or international commitments.

Rodgers has already axed Colin Kazim-Richards, Carlton Cole and Anthony Stokes in his early weeks at Parkhead.

And he admits more will follow out the Parkhead exit door as he makes space in his bloated squad for a couple of top additions.

Rodgers said: “All I ever want is the highest quality. It’s not about numbers.

“I need quality over quantity. We are working on bringing a couple in.

“When you have two or three players that can really lift the group, you find they raise the bar.

“Of course, you inherit a group high on numbers and that needs to be cut, but you need to bring a couple in who can improve the squad.

“I know what I ideally need to work with. Obviously not all the players are back at this moment — a majority of them are back.

“Certainly I know what I want to work with and everyone would agree — and people within the club agree — that the squad is way too big.

“It’s not about the players, it’s about the quality of the work you can do.

“You can’t work well with a group that size, you can’t work with quality.

“So hence the idea of having to cut it whilst also assessing the players.

“I’ve come in and I’ve worked with the players and I think they have been very good in the first couple of days.

“I have to respect them because they are the champions and they showed that last year.”

Asked if he has to sell players before he buys, Rodgers claimed that was “not the case”.

He said: “It’s just our way of working. I work with a small group of players but I have to respect that there are players under contract.

“That process started a few weeks back and that will continue. I have a way I want to work but it takes time. You have to assess. You are relying on games and reports before you come in.

“But I’m always one to assess it for myself.”

Celtic have opted to buy younger players in recent years but Rodgers could go for experience in the coming weeks.

He said: “From my talks and speaking to Celtic, they all want to develop younger players.

“They would get one in, develop and improve them and, of course, at some stage they will then move them on.

“But, of course, you need experience around that.

“There is no question about that. You need that quality of player.

“If you are a young player and then you have an experienced player who has been there, seen it and done it, that will improve you.

“It’s balance, like everything. You need your squad balanced with youth and experience.

“The no-fear-of-youth is great and I love it, but I also like the experience.”

Kris Commons was one of the absent players on Monday and injury could limit his early involvement under Rodgers.

The Celtic boss also confirmed Jozo Simunovic is out until August, while Dedryck Boyata has a hamstring knock.

Gary Mackay-Steven is also injured, while Emilio Izaguirre, Stefan Johansen, Nir Bitton and Mikael Lustig will meet Celtic in Slovenia.

Yet there could also be space on the flight for free agent Charlie Mulgrew — with Rodgers confirming contract talks are ongoing.

He said: “Charlie is a player I have spoken to. He is a player we would like to keep, of course.

“But that depends on how contract talks go.

“We had a real good conversation. I always liked Charlie, watching him from afar.

“He has good balance, looks a good professional, a Celtic fan from what I hear — so the club means a lot to him.

“But I think everyone respects as well that he is at a stage of his career where it could well be his last contract.

“I always respect that with older players at 29 or 30 years of age. This is arguably the most important contract of their life.

“So they have to take their time to assess that and look at that. But I am sure his agent is talking with the club.”

Rodgers was speaking at a 2016/17 league season preview event organised by the SPFL and its title sponsors, Ladbrokes.

He met up with Rangers boss Mark Warburton and insists the Old Firm rivalry won’t change their long-term relationship.

Rodgers said: “We have a friendship that goes back a number of years so no matter how people try to portray it, or might want to work it, this is a friendship that doesn’t change.

“Obviously the clubs are rivals but he’s a good guy and it’s always nice to talk to him.

“I respect the league and the clubs and I understand it, but my focus is purely on Celtic.

“I will try to initially get us through some tough qualifiers for the Champions League and ultimately then to take on the challenge of winning every trophy that we possibly can.

“It’s great to be back in. On Sunday we had a staff meeting, which was great, and I outlined our way forward and hopefully our way to succeed.

“It’s 12 weeks until the opening games of the Champions League group stage — and that’s where we want to get to.”

The 2016/17 Ladbrokes Premiership, Championship, League 1 and League 2 seasons all kick off on the weekend of Saturday, August 6.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/celtic/7202980/Brendan-Rodgers-Its-not-about-quantity-its-about-quality-of-squad.html
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Haitch
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ciaranbelfast
21 Jun 2016, 11:22 PM
still 4 or 5 to do one supposedly
Hopefully Ciftci, Ambrose, Boyata, Forrest and Commons.
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Arsene Parcelie
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Heard BR on the radio this morning, when asked about the league being a two horse race (Kelpies pun), he said the dreaded phrase "Now that's being disrespectful to the other teams..."

We now know where good friend Mark got it from. Watford bastards.
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egan46
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Rodgers saying "this is arguably the last/most important contract of Mulgrew's life" suggests to me that reduced terms have been reluctantly offered almost as a favour for being a good servant, but Rodgers is also saying to Charlie "you could go and earn a fortune in the prem for a few years... go and do that"
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markybhoy
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Totally agree with his comments about a better quality of player lifting the others. MON is credited (rightly) with improving the vast majority of the squad he inherited but I don't think it can be overlooked just how much impact bringing in Sutton, Valgaeren, Thompson & Agathe had. Talk about a quality group!

If Rodgers could sign 4 players of that calibre (even relative to today) we'd be a team transformed.
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Hairytoes
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egan46
22 Jun 2016, 09:54 AM
Rodgers saying "this is arguably the last/most important contract of Mulgrew's life" suggests to me that reduced terms have been reluctantly offered almost as a favour for being a good servant, but Rodgers is also saying to Charlie "you could go and earn a fortune in the prem for a few years... go and do that"
This is the type of wrong thinking that gets in the way of any real progress.
Let him go, as we should've with Commons.
He's been rewarded enough for his contributions, it's not as if he plays for free (when fit).
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egan46
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Hairytoes
22 Jun 2016, 10:54 AM
egan46
22 Jun 2016, 09:54 AM
Rodgers saying "this is arguably the last/most important contract of Mulgrew's life" suggests to me that reduced terms have been reluctantly offered almost as a favour for being a good servant, but Rodgers is also saying to Charlie "you could go and earn a fortune in the prem for a few years... go and do that"
This is the type of wrong thinking that gets in the way of any real progress.
Let him go, as we should've with Commons.
He's been rewarded enough for his contributions, it's not as if he plays for free (when fit).
I agree, would rather see him go. Just sounds like he's been offered a contract which the club hope he turns down, then we don't look like the bad guys.

I don't think Mulgrew will be here next season
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