John Hartson believes Brendan Rodgers has already drawn up a Celtic blueprint which will consign Angeball to history.
The former Hoops striker is convinced the Irishman’s second coming as boss will include a variety of tactical plans in stark contrast to predecessor Ange Postecoglou, whose 4-3-3 formation was cast in stone during his two seasons in Glasgow.
As Rodgers assesses the squad he’s inherited from the Australian, Hartson has told the supporters to expect the arrival of top quality signings and a change of on-field tact. He told Record Sport: “Brendan will bring in his own players, some managers inherit a squad and don’t have the budget to change things but the opposite is true at Celtic. He’s coming in with the intention of bringing new faces in and he’ll want two or three into the building who are his type of player. He’ll also tweak things slightly. Ange was stubborn with his 4-3-3 and was very successful with that.
“A lot of people questioned that, especially early on. That criticism was heard when Celtic played in Europe and were leaking so many goals on the counter-attack.
“I spoke to Ange many times before games and I asked him if he would ever change and he said, ‘absolutely not’. He said he believes in the system and he brings in the right players to play in that system.
“He had the full-backs pushing forward and creating an overload with the emphasis to get crosses into the box with a lone striker. It’s now Brendan’s prerogative and he won’t be coming in having been told he has to play like Ange.
“He’s an elite coach and he’s proven that. He won back-to-back Trebles, took Leicester City to a Europe Conference League semi-final and won the FA Cup with them even if it unravelled for him last season.
“I have no doubt he will tinker with that 4-3-3, he has players who have great energy and he is coming into a winning team and Celtic have gone all out for him.”
Hartson admits he was a vocal critic of Rodgers when he jumped ship for Leicester City midway through the 2018-19 season but he’s convinced the time has come to forgive and forget as Celtic have pulled off a managerial coup. He said: “There’s no doubt he’s the best man for the job. A lot of us are guilty of criticising him when he left Celtic and I was one of them. There will still be supporters who will be disgruntled that he is back.
“I was over at a Tommy Burns dinner in Jersey last week and out of a hall of around 200 people the general consensus was that they are happy to have him back. They know what he did before, he won and he’s a serial winner and he brought that to Celtic.
“There will be some who are not happy but if he wins there will be a greater acceptance. Lots of us were critical so let’s not be hypocrites about that. Dermot Desmond is a very clever man, he’ll know he’s getting the same Brendan Rodgers that we saw this time around.
“I heard Brendan’s press conference and we all have a past but he is back now. The past needs to be put in the past, it’s time to move on.”
Some fans may not be able to stomach the return of Rodgers given the circumstances behind his departure to the Foxes. Hartson expects to see and hear protest next season but he also believes there will be an olive branch offered by even his biggest critics if silverware starts to be delivered.
He said: “I’m not surprised Brendan opted for Celtic again. He was available and he looked at it and said he won’t be dragged away again. At that particular time he has his own reasons for leaving. If he wins back to back doubles at Celtic in his first two seasons then does a club like Tottenham come in for him? Will Manchester United come in for him?
“Does he then leave again? I think this time around he’s older, wiser and making better decisions so I think he’s here to stay this time, at least for the duration of his three-year contract.
“I also believe the club will back him as they believe they have got a good manager. I know principles and morals come into play and you may see a banner or two at Celtic Park in protest at Brendan’s return and I understand that.
“It will act as a reminder to Brendan of what he did the last time when he walked out of the side door. It was different with Ange as he stayed for the Scottish Cup Final and won the treble.
“If Brendan finds that winning formula and starts with a momentum then Celtic can ride that crest of a wave. We are not talking about a managerial novice, he’s an elite manager and he’s been over the course.”
McDonalds Fun Football Ambassador Hartson has his own shopping wish list for Celtic ahead of a new campaign and it’s in the attacking department which is his priority. He said: “We’ve not seen enough of Hyeongyu Oh but in Kyogo Celtic have a world class striker but I’d still be looking for another centre forward. They are not cheap but strikers take you up the league tables and win the trophies.
“I’d also be looking at central defence Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have got better as a pairing but I still think they are vulnerable to crosses into the box. Central defence and centre forward, that’s where I’d be looking and if there is £30 million then I’d be looking at real quality. You need that type of quality when you go into the Champions League and take things to that next level.”
*McDonald’s are pledging to provide 10 million hours of FREE Fun Football coaching over the next four years as part of the largest grassroots football programme in the UK. Start your kids football journey by visiting McDonalds.co.uk/Football
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