A tweet from Matt McGlone seemed to sum up the confusion that most Celtic fans are feeling about the position of their club.
A five point lead at the top of any league in the middle of December is very desirable but on the back of last season there is no denying that Celtic have declined sharply under Brendan Rodgers.
The magic that the Irishman brought to the club in 2016 has disappeared, there are many factors involved in that but by any metric there is no denying at Celtic fans are watching a vastly inferior product to a year ago with little in the way of excitement, entertainment or enjoyment.
Flashes of inspired play are becoming less and less frequent. Rodgers takes heart from being competitive in stages of all Champions League ties, in one of the weaker groups Celtic have one point from five matches to add to the other depressing statistics from previous seasons.
Not quite getting this interview. It’s not on the same planet as many of the supporters views. Last week he made a big public thing of how angry he was – and now this! I’m getting the impression of a man not quite on it and psychologically going from pillar to post! https://t.co/PTeUqJhpr4
— Matt McGlone (@MattMcGlone9) December 10, 2023
While the form of the team fluctuates so to does the media comments from the manager.
In the bigger picture he distanced himself from recruitment during the summer, putting his trust in the brilliant judgement of Mark Lawwell to deliver the players required to make progress.
With only one player from that batch earning pass marks and the rest barely getting near a first team jersey Rodgers has taken ownership of the disastrous summer recruitment, playing up his involvement and how he had the final say with any of the prospects put in front of him.
After last week’s win at St Johnstone Rodgers was keen to tell the media of his half-time anger, how the players had responded and turned the match around.
Yesterday he delivered a very muted reaction to another defeat at Kilmarnock. He watched his players wilt in the second half, there was no change in tactics with the substitutions made having no impact on the match.
Offered the get out of new signings in January Rodgers neatly diverted the conversation to getting players back from injury.
Perhaps he has been told that his requests for experience and quality next month have been turned down- that it will be another diet of projects or nothing for the Celtic boss to deliver the SPFL title and a Champions League pay-day for the Balance Sheet Bhoys in the boardroom.
I’m wondering if what the club pitched to him before he took the job hasn’t materialised…
Clearly the summer signings weren’t his, think he’s made that pretty clear.
What happens in January could be make or break for him if he’s not backed with players HE wants🍀
— TheHoops🍀🏴🇮🇹 (@67_Celtic_1888) December 10, 2023
Not much makes sense presently Matt. Team way off it. Selection bizarre at times and wonder is it all to try prove a point. Willing to lose some battles to win the war. Strange behaviour and worrying title now a worry
— mark anderson (@marky01) December 10, 2023
You are 100% spot on Matt. The board have him in the pockets it’s very clear
— celtic jaime 🍀 (@jaimelawson08) December 10, 2023
I thought that. After the anger of last week which was justified to this meek acceptance.
— M🍀 (@67Marty67) December 10, 2023
Bite the bullet and pay him off now. Dont lets have another Lennon saga
— Expensive Green Place (@ExpensivePlace) December 10, 2023
The whole thing has been a shambles from the moment he was appointed. Squad is a mess, transfers were a mess, playing “style” is a mess, subs are a mess, mentality and desire from everyone is a mess. Covid season written all over it
— Paul Smith (@celticviews67) December 10, 2023
He’s obviously been told to reign it in. He’s most likely also been told there will be no major signings in January. Our board aim to come out of each transfer window ‘richer’ not ‘stronger’.
— ジェームズ (@HatateCSC) December 11, 2023
Not sure he can keep going public or he could lose the dressing room
— wyatt (@renic777) December 10, 2023
You can only play the angry card so much. He’s tried it and it lasted all of a week. In my view, this squad was built specifically for how Ange played and it had to be supplemented significantly last summer.
— TeeMack (@mishtakeshurely) December 10, 2023
You are 100% spot on Matt. The board have him in the pockets it’s very clear
— celtic jaime 🍀 (@jaimelawson08) December 10, 2023
Agree Matt.. all the hallmarks of a man & team distracted.
VERY reminiscent of the failed 10iar season.. when there was a horrible vibe emanating from the pitch & dugout.. no one seemed happy.. no smiley faces..
There is SOMETHING in the collective that is NOT right 🌟
— Rory MacLeod (@OnThe4and) December 10, 2023
Never ever want this guy back anywhere near our club after the way he left. Taken and good team and went backwards. No way he’ll be here for 3 years, imho, his choice not ours.
Scunnered after today’s result— JamsieBhoy (@InternetBhoy) December 10, 2023
I’ll never understand why he took the job especially as it seems he never bought any of the players signed in the transfer window.
— Des 🏴 (@johndes123) December 10, 2023
Matt he has won 1 important game against the dead people and that’s it he has taken us back years and years
— nobodys child (@GanginMichael) December 10, 2023
He’s not on the same planet as the fans and that’s the issue, he’s the man who has the power to pick / change the team / tactics when it’s not working and is failing in his choices.
I still go back to playing Yang for 90 mins against Motherwell when he was nonexistent 🤷🏼♂️
— Davie 🤓🏴 (@Davie_1967) December 10, 2023
The quote “we are working with the players we have now” tells you everything.
He clearly doesn’t rate some of them.
He will hopefully sort out the mess in Jan
About a dozen need to be shown the door and we need GK LB CH more physicality in Mid and Upfront.— Brian Caplan (@CaplanBrian) December 10, 2023
He’s clearly been told to reign it in in terms of the we need quality comments and the I work with what I get narrative,we have in place the most nepotistic financially motivated PLC around and this and this alone is killing everything in terms of progress except the bank balance
— brian flynn (@brianflynn2) December 10, 2023
