In 2014 Brendan Rodgers was within touching distance of immortality on Merseyside, but Manchester City were on Liverpool’s tail throughout the campaign and snatched the title by two points.
The locals were distraught but loved the incredibly attacking formations Rodgers deployed. Liverpool were back, or so it seemed. Within 17 months, Jurgen Klopp made his availability known to Liverpool and in October last year Brendan was out of a job.
Celtic wanted Rodgers from the off but their major concern from the start was the familiar lure of English and Welsh lucre. Average managers there can command between £3m and £5m a year, getting on for 10% of Celtic’s income – and we pay tax and employer’s National Insurance, remember!
In recent weeks it became clear that Brendan is a Celtic man and was very interested in the job, while an offer he couldn’t refuse from England or Wales didn’t materialise. What went wrong for Brendan in Liverpool, after coming so close to the title, opened the door for Celtic.
The Merseyside team dropped from second to sixth last season, still higher than they were when he picked them up, but the slip worried the club to the extent that they could not resist Klopp’s availability. There’s reason to believe Liverpool were a tad hasty.
Much of Rodger’s success at Liverpool was based on getting the very best out of Suarez and Sturridge. They electrified English football in a manner which just didn’t happen before Brendan arrived, but Suarez fled for Barcelona as soon as he returned from his infamous World Cup, while Sturridge missed most of the following season through injury.
Suarez will be the first to break the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d’Or duopoly. He is one of the world’s truly great players. Remember our own experiences when losing world class players.
We went from double winners to fifth (and sacked Jock Stein) when Dalglish left, and from 26 consecutive league wins to second when Larsson went. Losing one of the best players in the world takes time to recover from. What made Liverpool championship contenders just wasn’t there anymore. This cost Brendan his job, and a little of his reputation.
Before last night’s Europa League final the inane commentators told us, when discussing Klopp, that good managers can always improve players. This wasn’t meant to be a slight on Rodgers, but neither was it a deserved accolade for Klopp. Liverpool finished the season 8th in the league, lower than at any of Rodgers’ finishes.
Good managers can improve players, but only if they are taking over from less-effective managers. Klopp is one of the very best in the business, but Brendan Rodgers bettered him with the same team. He’s a manager at the absolute peak of our reach, it will be a remarkable appointment.
Usual caveats apply, until the lawyers have triplicate copies signed……
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Tony you will be devestated if we employ BR. We might actually compete again
Saint Stivs
Airdrie’s problems at that time worsened when it was revealed that Rangers had arrested the club’s share of the gate receipts for Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie at Dundee United.
Who said this? —–“I feel very sorry for Airdrie and their supporters but we’re running a business. We have given them repeated warnings and felt they were playing on our good nature”.
BeatBhoy,
that would be the invisible man of Rangers’ death – Sir David Murray!
BEATBHOY
Whoever it was I’m sure he was an honourable man….
Sydneytim
Yes 1983 would be right. Some trip. I recall going through the basque region with our basque flag displayed. Someone who looked like Charlie Nic hiding on the bus toilet with no passport when the Spanish police came on the bus. I slept in a brothel! Only room I could get. Happy days:-))
I slept in a brothel! Only room I could get. Happy days:-))
-I bet you didn’t pay for it either.
ST
Re the uni csc is that the same bus wee Jeff h helped with for a few years?
BlantyreTim,
Thanks for the Information.
I really hope the Hibs win the Cup tomorrow – it would be significant in so many ways if they won against the Zombie CHEATS.
Then despite us not being there. It really would be a Beautiful Day.
So Stubbsy get them primed and ready.
The rail seating being introduced to the ground,in the safe standing section is pure genuis.
For European games the rail switches to a seat in a matter of seconds, meaning that the capacity in the ground isn’t reduced.
Simplicity but brilliant the concept is.
HH.
Masty
I was also a member of the Glasgow Uni bus from 1980. Wee Jeff Harris was some character indeed. Dallas Dallas was also a member.
Twists. Lol. Yes and we stopped on Spanish Portugal border town for the night and Charlie Nic came out all dressed up for the jigging
Bordeaux night stop on way there and got pissed in a pub
The ice bricks getting thrown at us during the game
Arrived back in Glasgow early sat Morning then off to Aberdeen next day to get pumped again
Oh the 5 0 was all so sweet
KEVJUNGLE on 20TH MAY 2016 5:41 AM
Hopefully for Timdom, Brendan Rodgers will be the man.
Certainly the talk of his arrival has energized the Celtic fans that I’ve been talking to.
An EPL manager who was a slip away from clinching the title for Liverpool.
Hopefully this isny a sign that he has a black cloud over him ?
He was introduced to coaching by Tommy Burns(RIP).
Don’t know if that’s a guid omen or, a bad one ?
Would BR be like an Irish TB ?
Fancy-wonderful-breathtaking-walking-10-feet-tall-fitba-the -Celtic-way ?(what is that?)
Or,…….
Naive-complacent-easily-mugged-knife-through-the-heart-type-of-fitba ?
There is also talk in the SMSM about BR being able to bring in big money stars ?
Surely the sensible thing for BR or, whoever is appointed would be to evaluate, with his own eyes, exactly what types of players are already at his disposal ?
I smell a ‘big’ squirrel to get the hapless-sleekit-deceitful-hierarchy aff the hook re: all they’re collusion-looking-the-other-way-cheating to try to keep R*ngers alive then, when that failed, looking the other way as the huns were allowed in the back door to – tool-up for revenge!
Jim McIntyre Ar La is the cutest bhoy on the block.
……laters…….
……………………………..
Who is that Positron imposter pretending to be KevJungle?
Have you been sniffin’ those bath salts Kev?
HH
Morning Celts
I wonder if Brendan is out shopping:)
Creative(a real one) centre mid.
Scott Broon might struggle….badly
Johansen….Good player(sometimes)
Bitton(When he can be bothered)
Rogic(Good player…sometimes)
Scott Allan( Not for me)
Christie( Time will tell….signs good, but work in progress…not ready for Europe?
So…i think we need a mid field maestro, that can play football.
Im sure Brendan knows a few.
Scott Broon….might find himself playing elsewhere in the team.
Craig Gordon….needs to concentrate, and be more consistant
Boyata…..a resounding no from me
CKR….No thanks
Jamesy….Bye
Jozo….Who knows
Charlie…..can he stay fit?
Erik…Magic
KT…Magic
Leigh Griff…Magic
So… one centre midfield maestro, and a good supporting striker who can weigh in with goals.
Suggestions?
HH
BMCUW
Ticket office open tomorrow
9.00 – 13.00
HH
DD
I helped him with the European away games for many years,
Leaving from George square originally, them mcnees at Ellington toll then the gorbals
Delaney’s. Lol Jeff Harris. Went to my school. Bearsden academy. Coming back from Ghent he have Brendon Orr a package to take through customs. Brendon had no idea what it was
Brendon was Chief anestatist when wee Sydney Tim was born in Sydney 6 years ago
D D
By feck those 2 nights in the dam were a killer lol
ST
I was on that bus also,
Stayed in the Hans Brinker
Árd Macha on 20th May 2016 10:19 am
By the way, if it Brendan , then I would just like to refer everyone to my prediction last month on this fine site.
*Ahem
Árd Macha
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I’m assuming you guessed it was Brendan?
I miss out a lot of CQN, especially midweeks because of work.
I hope you are doing well Great Celt. We all had an amazing Time that day, thats for sure.
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 20TH MAY 2016 10:22 AM
Tony you will be devestated if we employ BR. We might actually compete again
Seriously? Wit you mean like five in a row isn’t competing,? And I won’t be devastated, he has the job, but keep the negativity going little level 5 helper, you see the thing about me is in anything Celtic, I’m always happy, you? I’ll leave it at that, I’m off up ti ma Wee Ma’s to be even more happy, an she’s another Tim with not one negative bone in her body, so the Apple doesent fall to far from the tree, and for that I’m thankful, wiz your maw a Hun? :) HH
Lurking Huns and level 5 helpers BR is on his way so GIRFUYs
SydneyTim
sure I went to Ekeren on the uni bus
Ffs
Ekeren bus was full off CQNs
I heard a few years ago wee Jeff had passed away, lost touch with him , if I can remember correctly the first bus I went on with him ( Madrid 79) I think he wore a kaftan
TONYDONNELLY67 on 20TH MAY 2016 10:56 AM
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 20TH MAY 2016 10:22 AM
Tony you will be devestated if we employ BR. We might actually compete again
I’m off up ti ma Wee Ma’s to be even more happy, an she’s another Tim with not one negative bone in her body, so the Apple doesent fall to far from the tree, and for that I’m thankful, wiz your maw a Hun? :) HH
Lurking Huns and level 5 helpers BR is on his way so GIRFUYs
I guess that fine wee wummun adopted you then :-]
16 roads – Celtic über alles… on 20th May 2016 10:49 am
The rail seating being introduced to the ground,in the safe standing section is pure genuis.
For European games the rail switches to a seat in a matter of seconds, meaning that the capacity in the ground isn’t reduced.
Simplicity but brilliant the concept is.
HH.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I was hoping for an increase in Numbers to Paradise when you could stand again. Something like 4 for every 3 seats. I know this is unlikely, I’d get round it by squeezing more of said seats into these Junglist Areas
The Young Ones, they want what the Jungle had.
Nothing lasts forever – even Cold November Rain
Dharma/Starry
He obviously ran a very tight ship and demanded that others do likewise.
Masty. Lisbon lions club was formed because the Uni bus refused to via Amsterdam for every away Europe game and guys from uni club tried at AGM to take over the committee
They took the huff and started Lisbon lions club
Tony. You are indeed a piece of low life scum Hun to bring my mother into it
Piss of to ibrox where low life’s like you belong. Scumbag
ffs…Uni bus
our bhoys couldnt even set foot in the west-end without being followed by the CID fae Maryhill:)
We stood out a bit…granted.
Berets, dark glasses and combats didnae go down well in Byres Rd.
Peaky Blinders….would have got battered:)
Happy Days.
Amsterdam never knew what hit it….telling you.
Glasgow Bhoys and Scouse Tims….a potent mixture and much hilarity
Scousers were they only ones to get the Maryhill dialect:)
HH
ST
Wasn’t aware of that, I met Jeff in mcnees when he started living over in the south side, I seem to remember a girlfriend from Belfast I think
Good piece by Paul Larkin on Hail Hail Media re OB Act and the efforts ofFAC to have it repealed. Wonder who the bigoted match commander is/was? HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 20TH MAY 2016 7:43 AM
Celtic v St Mirren 1980 replay
brilliant find bud, havnt seen that in ages, I remember lots from that night, Lennox performance in particular, but I had forgotten how brilliant Doyles winning goal was.
ta.
keep it lit
MASTY 1100
Seems the enclosure at Ibrox for the 4-2 game in 83 was the same!
ST and Masty
JH was keeping poor health for a few years.
Amsterdam on the Glasgow uni were always eventful ‘trips’ :)
Ah…the old euro away games….in the analog days…..Amsterdam
I seem to recall that strip clubs, mushrooms, the smart shop, knock-out weed, and the local version of jellies, were pretty popular with our bhoys back then.
In fact…a few of them are still there:)
HH
D D
He was hit by a bus and dragged I seem to remember in the city centre somwere
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Cheers,bud. I texted my Dad you’d said it was closed-then texted him again that it was open,accord to NYEBEVANSREBELSOLDIER!
So,no chances to be taken. Today it is.
Bmcuwp
I was in the govan stand that day