Brendan showing his ruthless streak, he’s an elite manager after all…
Brendan Rodgers comes across as a really likeable guy. Unlike Ange Postecoglou, who prefers to keep his distance from his players, Brendan has no problem interacting with his squad and be seen as ‘one of the boys’. That’s great for camaraderie and team spirit within the squad, but Brendan has also shown that he can be ruthless, something that’s been pretty evident in the past week.
Bosun Lawal and Odin Thiago Holm
Fresh on the heels of his criticism of Daniel Kelly over his reluctance to sign a new deal, Brendan Rodgers was asked yesterday for his thoughts on Bosun Lawal and Odin Thiago Holm and their chances of making the grade at Celtic.
Brendan didn’t sugar coat his words as he said “I think the two boys, (Lawal and Holm) have talent. But I want more. A lot more. Talent’s just not enough. You can play in teams, but not in our team.”
That’s Brendan’s ruthless but direct way of saying that they have to step up a level if they want to even be considered for a place in the squad never mind the starting XI.
If he’s said that publicly you can bet he’s said it in person to the two players, you can bet your life he has.
A make or break season at Celtic for both players
Lawal had a decent spell at Fleetwood town last year, but playing in league one is a completely different level from playing at Celtic. It’s worlds apart in both class and mentality, and Brendan will have pointed that out to him in no uncertain terms.
As for Holm, he too has shown glimpses of talent in his few appearances for the club, but he’s got to step up and show he has what it takes to compete at a club as big as ours. Brendan again will have explained this to him in full detail and this appears to be a make or break season at Celtic for both players.
That’s why Brendan Rodgers is an elite manager
Brendan has personally and publicly demanded more from these two players. It’s his way of improving them, however harsh it may seem. He demands nothing but the best. And they will have seen Daniel Kelly being discarded as a player not worth bothering about. That’s why Brendan Rodgers is an elite manager, and indeed a better manager than he was first time around.
Last season he accepted the projects that the club thought were oh so clever signings. In doing so he delivered the league and cup double but that has not blinded him to the weaknesses in the squad and the signing strategy. That double has restored his authority completely and the players coming in are clearly Rodgers signings while the ones exiting are Rodgers decisions.
Just the way it should be too.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Personally believe that a simple answer is been made into something it isn’t imo?
When you take a look at how our current midfield options are, then it would be easy enough to presume that the 7 midfielders already in place within our squad, and that’s not including Oreily?
Won’t be the 7 midfielder options that would be expected to be within our 25man squad by the time this actual window closes imo?
When you consider the current options in, Calmac, Iwata, Hatate, Paulo, lawal, Holm and Kwon then the balance isn’t correct, if you consider that Rodgers will continue to set the midfield up, the same as last season?
So having such options available for ourselves might be regarded as OK for SPFL standards, but wouldn’t consider it as nearly strong enough for the CL squad imo?
Lawal has the advantage over Holm in regards lawal qualifies as 1 of our homegrown quota, so would be expecting him to secure a place in our 25man squad?
Even so, there could be a chance that other Scottish midfielders such as Armstrong and McGowan could be bought in to address the situation regarding homegrown also?
So potentially looking at Lawal, Holm and Kwon to be having a very impressive USA tour, along with a decent start to the season, before they can be totally convinced that a place within our 25man squad awaits them next season?
Personally don’t believe all 3 are going to get to the standards Rodgers is looking for imo?
But a decent manager in Rodgers is prepared to give them players the opportunity within pre season, before jumping straight in and looking for the replacements?
How it will all unfold, still a total guessing game for ourselves at this stage?
But would be very surprised if the 7 we have currently in place, in the midfield areas?
Will be the 7, we will be having by the time the window shuts?
Don’t think it takes a so called elite manager to be making such an assumption at this stage either imo?
And Rodgers maybe an elite manager at SPFL level, but hasn’t earned the right to be considered elite at European level still?
So his words used, can also apply to himself also, along with a fair few others within our squad also imo?