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Rodgers offers blunt Celtic assessment as he selects greatest winger in the club

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The Hoops boss was talking ahead of Wednesday night’s Premiership assembly with Dundee

James Forrest has yet to kick a ball for Celtic in 2024. But Brendan Rodgers insists the fringe man is the BEST winger at the club.

One-club man Forrest, 32, has made simply three begins this season after slipping down the pecking order at Parkhead. The veteran attacker has struggled to even make the matchday squad in current times despite the Hoops’ struggles in the broad areas. The jury stays out on Luis Palma, Yang and Nicolas Kuhn, whilst Daizen Maeda’s end product leaves a lot to be desired.

Israeli ace Liel Abada is also unavailable for non-public issues, yet experienced Forrest – linked with a shock move to Cardiff City in January – nonetheless cannot get a look-in. Last seen as an unused sub away to Aberdeen at the begin of February, Forrest’s ongoing absence has left a part of followers puzzled.

Speaking today, boss Rodgers verified Forrest is in shape and available however admitted age is catching up with the 32-year-old, who is now in his 15th season with his boyhood club.

He said: “James is available, yeah. He’s been education and been an awesome servant to this club. I’m notably sure over these remaining closing games he can also well have a phase to play in it.

“I assume for me, the factor is looking at the group we want to have intensity, we need to have that relentless mentality. But there may be no doubt of his ability, it’s in no way in question. As a winger, I would say in terms of ability-wise, he is the fantastic one we have. There’s no question.

“But how we ask the sport to be played, the intensity, the constant running, as you get older then it turns into a challenge. But there may be no doubt, there will be a factor over these next 11 video games where he’ll be required. He’s education so nicely and keeping himself ready. He’s a pinnacle professional. He looks after his body and he is himself every day and if he’s required to play then he will do.”

Brendan Rodgers Row: Archie Macpherson on the anti-Catholic and anti-Celtic mentality of BBC Scotland

Rodgers row is a whole lot ado about nothing…

Brendan Rodgers is making the news due to his ‘comment’ in a post in shape interview with BBC Scotland. The interviewer in query was once Jane Lewis who is regarded for her appreciation of another team from Glasgow, like most of the people over the years who have blanketed Scottish soccer for BBC Scotland.

 

This dates lower back decades, for instance Archie Macpherson has spoken about arriving at BBC Scotland in the 1960s and questioning it used to be the 1690s, such was the anti-Catholic, anti-Celtic sentiments that have been openly expressed. Did the BBC ever apologise for that?

“I admit to being hyper-sensitive about deliberate agendas as, when I joined the BBC more than 4 decades ago, I determined myself in a departmental anti-Catholic, anti-Celtic ethos which I had to fight against; successfully, I have to claim, as Jock Stein became a everyday companion of mine as an analyst when previously he would no longer have been viewed dead internal Queen Margaret Drive. This was once no longer completed to curry favour at Celtic Park, although the different facet of the city thinking it was. It was simply the proper war to take on for the sake of integrity.” Archie Macpherson wrote in 2012, as suggested on Rangers Media.

Jane Lewis as all journalists do, was haggling Brendan for a question she already knew the reply too. Brendan is an experienced supervisor and more than held his personal with her. Her take on the sport was once completely bad from a Celtic perspective, evaluate and contrast with Uncle Tom’s gushing interview with theRangers goalkeeper the different day. Tom English, the identical hack that acquired banned from Celtic Park for an attack on…Brendan Rodgers at the start of this season.

The pink tops that used to have a topless model on their third pages – Daily Record and the Sun – can lecture all they desire about sexism – but they’re infrequently going to be taken too seriously.  They’d rather write about and lift photographs of soccer WAGS on their shops as an alternative than cowl the women’s game.

Nor is theRangers support who began the season waving Schutzstaffel flags because Celtic fans have been showing anti-fascist banners as we had Champions League suits towards Lazio, then moved onto flying Israeli flags because of the pro-Palestinian assist from the Celtic support. That’s some shift when you think about it.

Now theRangers support are all politically right after Brendan the day past one way or the other managed to confuse Jane Lewis with a Celtic supporter and called her “Good Ghirl”. That too is every other large shift in sentiment from them however to paraphrase “a Week is a Long Time in Bigotry.”

“Good Ghirl” of the week last weekend used to be Caitlin Hayes, the Irish worldwide defender and stalwart in the Celtic FC Women team. She’s the CCV of the Celtic FC Women group if you like. After the 1-1 draw at Ibrox, in a suit where theRangers cancelled the whole allocation of Celtic tickets the day earlier than the suit (a story broken with the aid of The Celtic Star), Caitlin lifted her Celtic shirt to display a t-shirt below with the message: Football Without Fans is Nothing.

That didn’t go down too nicely with theRangers support judging by using the vile, hateful, sexist abuse that was once thrown her way on the largest of their fan media sites, the one that is an legitimate media partner of the today’s club playing out of Ibrox: “a Week is a Long Time in Misogyny” for these morons.

So if Brendan is a dinosaur he’ll be heading over to The Land That Time Forgot early in April where he can exhibit his magnificent enamel but again at Jurassic Park and in doing so he can terrify these cave dwellers in the stands.  Talking stick for sexism from that lot actually does take the biscuit.

It was the way that Brendan ended the antagonistic conversation with Jane Lewis that has made all the mainstream media headlines. ‘Good G(h)irl used to be the phrase that’s had the two H’s, Hacks and…Horrible Zombies… up and down the united states in a twisted frenzy.

Even in the PC age we live in today, the response has been over the pinnacle to say the least. If he’d said ‘good lad’ to a male reporter do you assume we’d be listening to as much about it today? Brendan certainly said ‘Good Man’ to the chap from Sky Sports, he says it at media conferences all the time. I assume we can all safely say no to that one.

And speaking again about the Women’s game, it’s really worth noting that the players will say “Man On”, Your man”  and so on during video games and every now and then in interviews. Not just Celtic Ghirls however all players. And they are referring to girls? (no), ladies? (no) women? (correct). Should Brendan have said correct woman? Who ever says that as a substitute than good girl. Good woman is a oftentimes used  expression in the context that it used to be used, exact lady is not, and using it hardly ever makes you a dinosaur, Brendan.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is seen at full time after the Scottish Premiership victory over theRangers  Ibrox on September 03, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Had it been the different manager in the title race the reaction would have been vastly different. Brendan shouldn’t feel awful or need to apologise as he completed nothing wrong.

The issue that upset the hacks was once his half-time adjustments that resulted in his facet securing a essential late victory which had Radio Scotland, that nicely regarded retirement administrative center for ex-Rangers employees, supporters and the strange soup-taker like English, feeling a tad upset. Their Sportsound presenter is even a self confessed supporter of the Ibrox clubs.

Was Archie Macpherson correct in thinking that he made a difference? That BBC Scotland, established with the aid of him being both anti-Catholic and anti-Celtic, had honestly changed? Very few Celtic supporters will be convinced that Archie is right on this one.

So there need to be no ethical high floor given to them from anybody at Celtic, past, existing or future.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Rodgers heads straight for Lennon Miller as Celtic manager gives the Motherwell player invisible props.

Miller impressed for Motherwell notwithstanding their eventual defeat and Rodgers made a point of seeking him out after full-time.

Lennon Miller showed Celtic he would possibly just be the actual deal on Saturday and Brendan Rodgers noticed enough as he lavished praise on the gifted teen after his side’s win.

The Motherwell starlet left Callum McGregor for dead on the side of the Celtic box before having the recognition to tee up Blair Spittal, who swept the Steelmen into a deserved first 1/2 lead at Fir Park. Adam Idah’s introduction was the catalyst for a second half turnaround, however Miller made his mark on the recreation as he enjoys an ever developing popularity as a future star.

And Rodgers made a point of congratulating the 17-year-old afterwards. Following their respective post-match media responsibilities and while Well boss Stuart Kettlewell was doing his very own post-match presser, Rodgers made positive he congratulated Miller on his display, and Hoops fans will hope it truly is part of a longer term transfer design for the Scotland Under 19 international.

Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew urged Celtic to snap him up and get him into their midfield straight away. He advised Sky Sports: “You see the impact he has on the recreation today. He’s like a man the way he plays. He is so clever. We see him asking for the keeper to take the aim kick up and flick it on like his dad used to do. What a player. Level-headed boy. Comes from a desirable household as well.

“If I was once Celtic or Rangers I would signal him now and have him in the team. What a participant he is.”

And Chris Sutton posted his understanding on social media after the game: “Sensational second half from Adam Idah. Two brilliant, first-rate finishes Yang exceptional broad on the proper and gave some lots wished danger and quality. Celtic can’t proceed to play for simply forty five minutes each game… Motherwell’s Lennon Miller appears a player.”

‘Missing the context’: Simon Jordan dismantles Jim White’s story about Celtics and Brendan Rodgers

Celtic defeated Motherwell 3-1 at the weekend, rallying from a goal down to impenetrable a morale-boosting three points at Fir Park.

Brendan Rodgers has now closed the gap to two factors at the Scottish Premiership summit and suddenly ended an interview with the BBC after refusing to make bigger on what he supposed at the back of mentioning there is already a ‘story being written’ about the fate of his side this season.

talkSPORT presenter Jim White and his co-host Simon Jordan traded some interesting verbals surrounding the problem on today’s imparting of the radio show.

White started off involving Rodgers’ refusal to explain what he meant, stating: “Who’s obtained an agenda?”

Jordan replied: “He believes that the media are writing a narrative that Celtic are carried out and finished, and he doesn’t prefer to give them an probability to flip round and say to him, I think this is your agenda.

“What you’re trying to do is you’re now not attempting to pay attention on my win; you’re concentrating on Rangers. If you favor to discuss about Rangers, go speak to Rangers.”

White then queried why Rodgers commented on a ‘story being written’ about Celtic, stating: “So why did he say that?”

Jordan: “Maybe he idea better of it due to the fact what’s that historic expression? The pen is mightier than the sword; that’s the purpose why, due to the fact once you open the container on something, there’s no willpower on something about giving it context or nuance.

“The journalist will write what they assume is the fantastic headline to get the attraction, and there’ll be no nuance, no context, no balance because it’s no longer suited.”

White: “Not suited with the aid of who?”

Jordan: “The journalist.”

White: “No, Simon, you’re lacking the point. You don’t get it. This journalist, in this instance, is now not asking the query in the knowledge of the reply she’s going to get; she’s legitimately asking a follow-up question.

Jordan: “You’re lacking the context; his reaction is; why are you guys pedalling a narrative about what Rangers are doing and that Celtic are done?”

Celtic have no room for distractions in their pursuit of a double

Whether human beings think Celtic are jointly subjected to certain remedy via segments of the media or not, it doesn’t matter, truthfully.

Realistically, supporters will solely care about the taking part in body of workers having a fireplace in their belly to go and claim some other Scottish Premiership title, some thing they hope can be joined in the trophy cupboard by way of the Scottish Cup when all is stated and done.

Evaluating yesterday’s victory towards Motherwell, Adam Idah, Tomoki Iwata and Hyunjun Yang, in particular, established their ability to supply in crunch moments.

Cameron Carter-Vickers’ return from damage additionally had a substantial bearing on our increased second-half performance, which many hope can be the catalyst for an exciting quit to the campaign.

Dundee watch for at Parkhead in midweek earlier than a crucial test in opposition to Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle on Sunday.

One suspects the effect of these two fixtures will go a long way towards determining if this Celtic facet has the steel required to make their aspirations into a reality.

Kenny Dalglish emphasizes that he is not a Celtic “disruptor” as the icon receives a prompt response to surfacing concerns

The legendary Parkhead striker is viewed as one of the club’s all-time greats thanks to a report of 173 dreams in 338 appearances.

Celtic icon Kenny Dalglish received an immediate response from his former club after they made amends to a number of of the troubles causing the King strife in their turnaround 3-1 win over Motherwell.

The legendary Parkhead striker is viewed as one of the club’s all-time greats thanks to a report of 173 dreams in 338 appearances in green and white. But the 72-year-old has been unable to hide his rising difficulty over Celtic’s stuttering performances with rivals Rangers leapfrogging Brendan Rodgers’ aspect to sit atop the Scottish Premiership.

And it regarded the side who have laid claim 11 of the past 12 titles were about to sink into a four-point hole but a rousing second-half display at Fir Park. Adam Idah’s gorgeous brace off the bench blanketed a last-gasp strike and the win seems integral with only eleven video games remaining. Rodgers and his Celtic players soaked up the acclaim from relieved supporters at the ultimate whistle.

Dalglish – who has located recent shows flat – proved the a savant with his to-do listing for Celtic earlier than kick-off. Writing in his Sunday Post column, he said: “They want to be extra direct in the wider areas and greater ruthless in their shielding duties all over the pitch. Things can turn very quickly and my thoughts are no longer supposed to be disruptive. I’m simply being realistic and it would not give me any pleasure.

“They have plenty to play for and want to improve. Brendan is aware of it’s no longer been true enough but there is still time to turn it around. Let’s see what they can do.”

Watch: Spectacular, Adam Idah Heads in the equalizer goal for Celtic against Motherwell

Celtic’s Adam Idah celebrates scoring their side’s second goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at Fir Park Stadium, Motherwell. Picture date: Sunday February 25, 2024. PA Photo.

Adam Idah has levelled the scoring at 1-1 towards Motherwell with a powerful header.

The Irishman convincingly headed the ball previous Liam Kelly in the Motherwell purpose from a Greg Taylor cross.

Idah replaced Kyogo Furuhashi at half-time with the Japanese striker unable to make any affect on the game.

Despite questions over Idah’s closing date day mortgage move, he has confirmed himself to be extra than a capable striker who can lead the line when needed.

The goal highlights but another component of Idah’s game: his aerial threat, which until now supporters hadn’t considered simply how fantastic he is in the air.

Idah has quieted any critics due to his hardworking nature and capacity to step up no matter Celtic playing poorly in latest weeks.

If he continues to be fantastic in the front of goal, Celtic will in all likelihood appear to make his loan pass permanent in the summer.

With no option to buy, how a great deal the Hoops would have to pay stays unclear.

Idah’s attitude absolutely stands out every time he plays.

His self belief in the front of intention is certainly imposing to opposition defenders, with his tempo and energy forming a hard combination to deal with.

Peter Lawwell Will break open the Celtic transfer checkbook as Brendan Rodgers admits to spending

Lawwell insists the Hoops hierarchy aren;t hoarding cash and they share punters’ switch window frustrations.

Peter Lawwell is adamant Hoops chiefs are not hoarding cash – and they share fan frustration at failing to splash out in January.

The Parkhead club introduced bumper mid-season monetary consequences with revenues up to £85m and £67m in the club’s coffers. Lawwell revealed Celts had spent £23m since remaining summer amid essential investment in the new Barrowfield training complicated and the first team’s Lennoxtown HQ. But the chairman admitted the winter transfer window wasn’t up to scratch with simply £3m recruit Nicolas Kuhn and mortgage signing Adam Idah touchdown and big targets slipping via the net.

Lawwell insisted Celtic WILL crack open the kitty and he said: “The board recognises the inherent inefficiencies of holding excess cash, and, in conjunction with different money commitments, the significance of investing in strengthening the crew to supply soccer success. The board shares the frustrations of the supporters regarding the less than anticipated exercise in the current transfer window.

“Since the opening of the transfer window in June, we have committed £23.9m in participant investment. Within this we renewed and prolonged the contracts of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liel Abada, Matt O’Riley, Anthony Ralston and Reo Hatate.

“The board’s dedication is to support and improve the enjoying squad in every transfer window and although assets had been available, we had been unable to similarly add to the squad due to the unavailability of recognized targets.

“This was disappointing to us all, and never the intention. The January switch window is notoriously difficult as clubs are very reluctant to let their best gamers go at such a imperative time of the season just as we are. Indeed, we resisted robust activity in our gamers from different clubs.”

Celtic made a trading profit of £32m thanks to Champions League dosh for the second season on the spin. The money glide historically dips in the 2nd half of of the season but Lawwell insisted the long-term approach of improving in Europe is key – alongside with war it out in the the rest of the domestic season.

He said: “We took comfort from a range of appropriate performances (in the Champions League) which will serve our squad well, but our objective is to hold enhancing and competing in Europe.

“Looking in the direction of the 12 months ahead, prevailing the Premiership and the Scottish Cup is our on the spot center of attention and priority. There remains a lengthy way to go and all to play for. We will all unite at the back of the team.”

Brendan Rodgers made repeated calls for first-class before and at some point of the switch window. But the boss admits it’s up to him to spend any cash wisely.

He said: “They (financial results) show that the membership is certainly well run from a business point of view and strategically brilliant. Money in the bank, secure, everything.

“My job is to convince us from a footballing strategic standpoint to improve. Ownership and how the membership function from a enterprise perspective though, I don’t assume anyone can argue with that.

Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers

“What we have to likely look at and ask the question is how we can improve. That’s the key question, how can we be better?

“How can we enhance the soccer and the soccer side, and that’s what I’m right here to do. I’m no longer an accountant, I’m no longer the chief executive, I’m now not a lawyer.

“Michael (Nicholson), Chris (McKay), Dermot (Desmond) and these guys run the club and the business facet unbelievably well and have completed for many years. I came returned here to see if I ought to influence the soccer approach and appear to make the football the very first-class that we can.

“That’s always key. Having a philosophy, having a market, understanding the players that you desire that can healthy into that philosophy, then you’re halfway there. Then, it’s just about discovering them.”

Rodgers insisted his predominant force was once getting Celts lower back on structure at Motherwell on Sunday after stumbling towards Killie remaining week and surrendering top spot to Rangers. The Hoops gaffer – who has Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston again from damage – said: “We are now not top of the league because of ourselves and the factors we have dropped. But we have to analyze from that and be targeted very a whole lot on our own overall performance and that ‘s what the subsequent 12 video games will be.

“We’ve had eight wins and two attracts which probable feels like eight losses and two draws. There’s still been a lot of proper in the video games it’s simply when the end result disappoints and the performance disappoints, then it doesn’t give you a properly feeling.”

 



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