The case for Rodgers’ return to Celtic. Just how well would the Prodigal son be received?

We have awoken to the news this morning that Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay flew to Mallorca yesterday for face to face talks with Brendan Rodgers.

Stephen McGowan broke the story in the Daily Mail this morning and usually when McGowan has a scoop, he’s always on the money when it comes to all things Celtic.

It would appear once again that what Dermot Desmond wants, Dermot Desmond is going to get.

Well, he’s going after what he wants, whether he will get it or not is down to Rodgers himself.

By all accounts, he is going to be informed the job is his if he wants it.

Bookies have now suspended betting on Rodgers, which would indicate a deal may be close.

I spoke in my last blog about gut instinct.

Well, remember when I said my gut instinct was telling me that Ange Postecoglou would leave?

Now it’s telling me that Rodgers will be unveiled as his replacement in the coming days.

I just get the feeling that this one is going to happen.

Opinion is going to be very split about a return for Rodgers.

Some people cannot forgive the way he left in February 2019, but there seems to be an air of inevitability that this could happen.

So, how well would Rodgers be received if he decides to accept the terms Nicholson and McKay are offering?

And what are the pros and cons to a return for the prodigal son?

Well firstly, we have to bear in mind that Rodgers has gained another 4 years management experience in the EPL.

It may not have ended well, but the club’s performance up until his last season at Leicester was the most consistent in it’s history.

With the exception of the 2016 Premier League win, of course.

Consistent decent finishes in his first three seasons of 5th (twice) and 9th, before last year’s poor campaign, showed Rodgers punched above his weight at Leicester.

Add an F.A. Cup win, the club’s one and only, along with a European semi-final and you get the impression he did a decent job.

He was vocal at the outset of last season that he did not get the backing he wanted in the transfer market, and was threatening then to leave the club, so it wasn’t as if he didn’t see trouble coming down the line.

Either way, Rodgers has gained invaluable experience during his four years in the EPL.

This will benefit Celtic hugely if he takes the job.

Secondly, he knows the club and it’s environs very well.

He also knows how to win trophies in Scotland, and suffice it to say, he would be inheriting a much stronger squad than the one he inherited back in 2016.

Continuity would not be an issue.

Nor would continuity of the levels of professionalism Ange Postecoglou introduced back in 2021.

As a supporter, I would be interested to see how Rodgers would get the current squad to play for him.

I have no doubt he would have the measure of Michael Beale.

In fact, I believe tactically he would outsmart Beale in every way.

The only issue I would have is the pace Rodgers’ teams play at, as we all know, it’s a more possession based game and toward the end of his tenure, it became a hard watch.

This is not to say that he would not continue Ange’s style of play, while adding his own tweaks to it.

Which in and of itself, could be an exciting prospect.

So what are the cons?

Well, there are a few.

Quite a few.

If we go with Rodgers, well, we’re taking what could be construed as a backward step.

Instead of being progressive and going out and seeking a new and exciting managerial prospect, we’re going for the tried and tested.

This particular tried and tested did not get us any progress in Europe.

That’s not to say he wouldn’t this time around, but that’s something we won’t know for sure until we play in the Champions League.

Effectively, the appointment of Rodgers could be seen as just taking the easy way out.

To all intents and purposes, going for a safe pair of hands, just like we did with Lennon when Rodgers left in 2019.

I don’t need to break down how that worked out.

Then there’s Rodgers ego.

We know how that clashed with Peter Lawwell’s ego.

Is there someone else within the walls of Celtic Park at the moment, who’s ego he could also clash with?

Mark Lawwell perhaps?

Will his ego make room for contrition when it comes to the way he left the club last time around?

Rodgers knows Celtic fans are not mugs and they won’t stand for being taken as such.

He would have to go a long way to win us all over completely, myself included.

Then there’s his transfer dealings, all of which reeked of short-termism during his last tenure.

Jeremie Toljan, Oliver Burke, Timo Weah, Charlie Musonda, to name but a few.

We’ll never know for sure how much the de-facto Director of Football handicapped him in this particular area but my guess is, Rodgers will demand full autonomy in transfer dealings this time around.

I’m not so sure that level of power is a good idea, and I think this is why we need to appoint a Director of Football.

However, despite all of the above, hiring Rodgers would slam the door on the hope currently springing from across the city.

It’s the one appointment Ibrox fans do not want to see happening.

They know Rodgers had their number and the likelihood is that he will again, should he decide to return.

But you can see why his appointment would split opinion.

Finally, there’s the loyalty factor.

Hypothetically speaking, let’s just say we hire Rodgers and he excels in Europe?

What happens then when the next big offer comes his way?

Will he just jump ship again and leave us in the lurch?

This is the big question.

We all know Rodgers is loyal to nobody but himself and his bank balance.

Do you see that changing?

I’m not so sure.

Things are moving fast, just this evening Rodgers has jetted into London to meet Dermot Desmond.

You would envisage this is to facilitate those final guarantees that Rogers is looking for.

It’s looking more and more likely that this is going to be announced in the coming days.

A step forward, or a step backward?

I’ll let you decide.