A flash of pearly whites and the Prodigal is back

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He was our North, our South, our East and West.  Then he was someone else’s in the Midlands, but he’s back, he’s ours, and he’s here for…., well, at least three-in-a-row!  With a flash of those pearly whites, the Prodigal Manager, Brendan Rodgers, has taken over as manager of Celtic.  He joins legends Billy McNeill and Neil Lennon as men who have been permanent Celtic managers on two separate occasions.

It is easy to forget how far the club came in less than three years when Brendan was first in charge.  Tarps were taken from the Lisbon Lions stand, replaced by a season ticket waiting list.  Champions League football returned after a hiatus, and the entire professionalism of the football operation leapt forward.

The Celtic he returns to in 2023 is vastly improved that when he found it in 2016, or even when he left in 2019.  Already in the Champions League, Brendan will find a united dressing room, backroom and supporter base.  We should all try hard to keep things this way, self-indulgent schisms do nothing for Celtic.

Work starts now.  We must win the league and improve performances and results in the Champions League, and to do the latter, we need additions to the squad.  Brendan will also hope he can again improve the performance of players he inherits at the club.

After all that went before, it takes balls come straight back to Celtic after his stint in Leicester.  At 50, he is at the start of what should be his most productive decade in management.  His ambition was never in doubt, so strap in and enjoy the ride.

Welcome to Celtic, Brendan.

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290 Comments

  1. BELFASTBHOY0 on 19TH JUNE 2023 2:15 PM

     

    I will support him (no capital S thou) but I’ll never Love and Trust him, he’s just another passing through merc, I’ll be surprised if he’s there in 4 years

     

     

     

     

    The same goes for all of them. It’s purely business. When they are here, they help us push on nd be successful, then everyone’s a winner. As professionals, they will go. Don’t get too close and clammy.

     

     

    HH

  2. Siempre Celtic (formerly Traditionalist88) on

    Daniel Amartey linked

     

     

    Source: TEAMtalk ( so thats one we can score off the list)

     

     

    HH

  3. SAINT STIVS on 19TH JUNE 2023 12:30 PM

     

    But Peter doesn’t want him.

     

     

     

     

    And the staff are all leaving.

     

     

     

     

    And Ange is coming for our best players.

     

     

     

     

    And the Japanese are not coming back

     

     

     

     

    And we don’t have an indoor pitch

     

     

     

     

    And the south stand is a hunner years old

     

     

     

     

    And the supporters busses are banned from the extended low emission zones that go to Celtic park on match days

  4. A lesson for the GB

     

     

    dont sing songs about managers or players, they always leave you in the end.

  5. The salary would be prohibitive for any recently ex-EPL players, not the fee.

     

     

    I’m hopeful of the transfer committee doing its job anyway.

     

     

    Bright young things with the touch of Zidane, speed of Shergar and muscle mass of a young Arnold please.

     

     

    HH

  6. Siempre Celtic (formerly Traditionalist88) on

    Wilfred Ndidi linked

     

     

    Source: Daily Mail (so another one we can score off the list)

     

     

    At this rate we’ll have them all ruled out by the end of the day

     

     

    HH

  7. Peter wanted Brendan gone. I don’t think he was Peter’s choice in the first place.

     

    Things have changed and hopefully Peter has little or no influence today.

  8. Someone asked how many of the Invincibles would get in the Ange treble winning team.

     

    I think Big Wavy gave a near same list as i would have, and was it 6 you picked.

     

     

    Even more for me, as brilliant at this season was, and as brilliant as the Invincible side was, there is I think a bit of recency bias going on, as my own personal benchmark for the best ever in my supporting time is still Martins treble team.

     

     

    For everyone that played since then, only Craig Gordon for Rab gets in.

     

     

    And Martin is still my favourite manager.

     

     

    There I said it.

  9. Allthough an honorable mention for Kyogo, some of his finishing last season was Larssonesque , now if he can just start adding penalties and more headers (his goal for Japan btw)

  10. SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 19TH JUNE 2023 2:35 PM

     

    Wilfred Ndidi linked

     

     

     

    Source: Daily Mail (so another one we can score off the list)

     

     

     

    At this rate we’ll have them all ruled out by the end of the day

     

     

     

    HH

     

     

    ……………………..

     

     

    Is Wilfred Ndidi related to Yes Ndidi?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I’ll get my coat.

  11. Siempre Celtic (formerly Traditionalist88) on

    THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 19TH JUNE 2023 2:41 PM

     

     

    :)

  12. Siempre Celtic (formerly Traditionalist88) on

    First home game vs Ath. Bilbao or any home friendlies likely beforehand?

     

     

    HH

  13. Yes Ndidi is yes indeedy related to Willfy Ndidi

     

     

    brought to you by awe naw an awe no productions

  14. One thing that stuck in my mind about Brendan Rogers, was his post match tv talk on how the game went. The guy just seemed brilliant at analysing different aspects of the game, as the tv pundits looked on in awe. We’ve recruited a top manager twice, who probably wouldn’t have come had he not been a fan. Great appointment.

  15. garygillespieshamstring on

    My initial reaction when he left was that I wouldn’t have BR back under any circumstances.

     

     

    However of the candidates mentioned, he has the best track record.

     

     

    If DD, PL and the rest of the board members are prepared to have him back, then I am behind him.

     

     

    Fair play to them and BR for being big enough people to do what they think is best for the club despite whatever had gone on before.

     

     

    Also good to see John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan staying on. That should help continuity.

  16. Grand Afternoon Celts…

     

     

    Bringing in an experienced manager, with an excellent track record, and a CV that says he can improve and excel every aspect of a football Club is very rare for Celtic FC.

     

     

    To do so on the back of a successful manager leaving is unheard of.

     

     

    I’m very, very surprised that our backroom staff are in place – Harry Kewell we all thought was Ange’s man obviously really embraced the Glasgow Celtic way.

     

     

    I’m really pleased that this is the case, yet it is well known that Brendan likes his technical experts and we shouldn’t be surprised if the backroom staff grows.

     

     

    Most of us loved Ange the charismatic, he certainly brought an interesting dimension to the party but there is no doubt his methodology, although mainly effective, was simplistic – we were scratching our heads at what he had in mind to improve our chances against the better teams and our European prospects.

     

     

    That is Spurs’ problem now.

     

     

    We know that Brendan will be looking for top quality players to improve our first eleven

     

     

     

    He will change his tactics, formation and personnel to get the results we need.

     

     

    He will need to make a mark in Europe to be once again acknowledged as a top manager.

     

     

    Brendan has got a lot to prove and putting Glasgow Celtic where they should be on the pantheon of European Clubs will do that for him

     

     

    And it will bring the joy and success, the Celtic support want and deserve.

     

     

    Well done all involved, Brendan gets to invest the Seville money.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    .

  17. I’m neither overjoyed or Grumpy about Brendan’s return, but I am relieved that at last we have certainty and the key work of off loading players surplus to requirements and bringing in a few fresh faces can begin,

     

     

    Next week or two should be interesting.

  18. So Chompers it is….and he gets a second bite at the best Cherry around……………………………..

     

     

    HH.

  19. WHAT IS THE STARZ on 19TH JUNE 2023 12:44 PM

     

    Welcome back Brendan

     

    It’s nothing personal….its just business…

     

    God Bless Peter Lawwell, keeping the green flag flying despite the begrudgers and naysayers and malcontents

     

    ————————-

     

    Nurse!!

  20. Belfastbhoy0 on

    Soon we’ll be linked to Manfred Mann Ndidi – which I won’t mind, as long as he – Do wah ndiddy, ndiddy, dum ndiddy do

  21. Who’d have thought they’d lead you

     

    Back here where we need you

     

     

    Welcome back welcome back welcome back

  22. the long wait is over on

    All these terrible jokes about Ndidi are just making you guys seem , err, needy…

  23. What is the Starz on

    Peter Lawwell is a conundrum of an enigmatic complex character..He constantly is involved in bringing top quality managers in ….and then immediately starts to undermine them..in order to have them sacked

     

    .we of course on CQN have seen through his machaevillian master plan for years..Amazing that those with their finger on the pulse in the boardroom.havent seen through him

  24. of all the potential replacements for the irreplaceable Ange – the huns would not have wanted Chompers to get the gig ( again)…………..thems were hoping for a risky punt (sp?)…………a shot in the dark…..an edgy ……choice……a left field….Sergio Gaggini or a Carlos Fandango……………………

     

     

    Lets keep the foot on thur throats……

     

     

    HH

  25. chicagobhoy1967 on

    So grateful! I think we must recognize club leadership. Celtic lost a wildly successful manager and — with time of the essence — secured a new manager of immense quality while keeping all other coaches who will help lead a (hopefully) smooth transition.

     

     

    Players, coaches, management, and ownership deal in transactional relationships in sport. Assets are asked to stay, liabilities see the door. No loyalty whatsoever.

     

     

    For fans it’s emotional. Brendan Rodgers will win, and I will care about nothing else.

  26. What is the Starz on

    Lawwell is behind this….He has been given assurances that Brendan will jump ship in January allowing The Mighty Gers to capitalise and gain much needed Champions League income next season…The man is an evil genius

  27. I had a wee peek at Fallow fallow last night. Just before my shower.

     

    Based on their over reaction and supreme confidence that Mickey Mole’s signings will return them to their rightful place, I’m satisfied that we have appointed the best professional manager to continue the GOD.

     

    That was a long sentence.

     

    Some of the mainstream journalists need to take a real good look at themselves. You couldn’t scorch their necks with a blow torch.

  28. Garngad to Croy on

    How much Did Brendan spend in his first season at Celtic ? Expect more of the same !

  29. Garngad to Croy on

    Brendan’s first season signings

     

     

    Moussa £500k

     

    Kolo Toure Free

     

    Scott Sinclair £3.5 million

     

    Cristian Gamboa £900k

     

    Dorus de Vries Free

     

    Eboue Kouassi £3 million

     

     

    Total spend approx £8 million.