More than a few Celtic players need dropped. It’s Brendan’s job to do it | OneFootball

More than a few players in need of dropping. Question is, will Brendan do it?

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers in technical area at McDiarmid Park. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, 06 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

In the aftermath of yet another defeat, our third in six Premiership matches, questions are rightly being asked of both the players and even the manager.

Maybe mundane domestic football is a big come down for some?

We’ve been inconsistent in our form since exiting Europe in Munich, and with holding such a commanding lead at the top, it seems as if the players are just going through the motions until we inevitably clinch the title. Maybe mundane domestic football is a big come down for some whose season was all about being in the new format of the Champions League. That’s the stage that they want to be on and playing for domestic trophies is below them now.

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at Yellowstone Ranch

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic fans at full-time. Final score St Johnstone 1 Celtic 0. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, McDiarmid Park, Perth, – 06 April 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

Daniels Balodis of St Johnstone celebrates with team mates after scoring to give St Johnstone a 1-0 lead. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, l, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

This is far from acceptable at this football club as they aren’t only cheating their manager, they’re cheating the supporters who follow the team all over the world. Who stood by the team when they got pumped in Dortmund. They need to have a win at all costs attitude in every single game, especially when we need the points to get over the line and with so much at stake. They owe that to the support and yesterday so many of them disgraced the jersey.

The St Johnstone keeper was the man of the match, he wore yellow

The St Johnstone keeper was the man of the match. He wore yellow, that would have been a more appropriate colour for some of those wearing our Hoops yesterday. It was a breach of trust with the Celtic support and a day we will take a while to recover from in terms of our admiration for them as footballers and men.

READ THIS…Brendan Rodgers – Celtic were timid, lacked desire and lacked ambition to win

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

They had no fire in their bellies, unlike the St Johnstone players

The Celtic support was given a massive boost with the result at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon meaning that a win in Perth would set up a title party against Kilmarnock for the second season in a row but this time around 60,000 Celtic fans would get the chance to see the title won.

Usually the team playing after a result that goes their way is encouraged and raised their own game even further. Not Celtic yesterday. They had no fire in their bellies and St Johnstone wanted it much more than us all over the park.

Far too many of our players are guilty of being comfortable in their role within the side, and some look like their thoughts are occupied elsewhere. Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate being the obvious two. No matter the ability they possess, they should be benched for the next game and their place be given to someone who will burst a gut to prove that they deserve a regular starting spot.

READ THIS…St Johnstone 1-0 Celtic – Dear oh Dear. No excuses today

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic fails to score under pressure from Stephen Duke-McKenna of St Johnstone. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

Are we seeing the return of the Celtic Wantaways?

I’d even say the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston should fear for their place as they have also been poor these past few weeks. Those two and Nicolas Kuhn, perhaps Auston Trusty too are the most likely to be wanting a move this summer.

Players like Tony Ralston, Maik Nawrocki, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, Yang and James Forrest deserve to be in contention for a start just to show the so called regular starters that they can’t just be assured of starting every single game.

The question is, will Brendan agree?

Adam Idah of Celtic’s shot blocked by Zach Mitchell of St Johnstone. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Football, McDiarmid Park, Perth,06 April 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

Yes those players might not be posses the ability of those ahead of them in the pecking order, but they would give everything to show that they deserve to be there, they would fight for the cause. Something that most of our current first choice XI are sadly incapable of doing at this moment.

Brendan can send his message in his team sheet for Saturday. Here’s who I think he should start with.

Here’s Sky Sports ‘highlights’ from McDiarmid Park. No Unique Angle today from Celtic TV for obvious reasons.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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