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……
681 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 18
- »
GEORDIE MUNRO
That’s a cracking image!
Peak of our reach?
Way beyond our reach more like. How we have attracted this calibre of manager to scottish football is incredible.
MacJay
Its biblical justice time.
Locusts, Snakes, and the Ten Commandments.
The Huns worshipping the Golden Calf,….wait till Moses comes down from that mountain, he wont be pleased.
Cut to the parting of the Red Sea…..Egyptian Huns drowned.
Last scene…..Brendan standing on a rock, fist raised to the sky, and shouting….yeez are getting it:)
HH
Hmmm – think you might be a bit harsh on Klopp there, Paul. They look a better team now than under Rodgers earlier in the season. Who knows where either would have finished if they had been there the whole season?
MacJay
You will have a ringside seat.
You will see it unfold.
Nae jumping aboot mad though:)
HH
TheRooster
Yeah thanks. I figured it out just after I posted.
16roads
Have u a link for that interview .. ?
Bit of shift in power in west Belfast few weeks ago with young Carroll. Can only be healthy ?
right…noo that’s done
get Ibrahimovic, De Rossi and Jordan Larsson in….then I came roon from my drink induced delirium
but TBH the bhoy Larsson should be a shoe in.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 19TH MAY 2016 12:31 PM
And verily I say unto you ………
You can stick yer orange banners up yer …………..
TheTimReaper 12:18
No mentions of the OF or the R word please, let’s make sure we’re on the front foot with public relations.
———-
Hmmmm. Wishful thinking I reckon. Hope I’m wrong though.
Brendan Rodgers receives formal job offer from Celtic as former Liverpool boss ponders return to management
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3598707/Brendan-Rodgers-receives-formal-job-offer-Celtic-former-Liverpool-boss-ponders-return-management.html#ixzz496JP24Zt
Big Pedro will shurely be spittin’ the dummy oot? No longer the top earner at the club.
This isn’t over the line yet and there is a bit to go and things could change.
Still, the fact that it has gotten this far is reasonably incredible.
Still a twist here. Go canny.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 19TH MAY 2016 12:34 PM
MacJay
You will have a ringside seat.
You will see it unfold.
Nae jumping aboot mad though:)
HH
===================================
My ” I phone ” at the ready to ma wee mhan ………
who , along with his Aussie mates , shared our minor disappointment over the hun game.
MacJay
Mind…yer no allowed tae scream like a lunatic for no discernible reason.
The locals will think ye have lost the plot:)
HH
No Bobby,
Broony has had top earner tag for some time now
HH
Always been a fan of King Brennie
He does have a hell of a lot in common with Ronnie though. Will wind up all the same people.
Is this supposed to be confirmation that bar the ink BR is the new Celtic manager ?
Many a slip twist lips and pen methinks.
Weeminger from previous blog
Weeminger, I’d say it was the safest and most logical way to make the decision, the US do not have a great track record on foreign policy or intervention in other countries domestic affairs, they approach every decision with respect what is best for the US and its business interests. Currently the ITTP is the biggest trap ever set for Europe brexit would compromise it, it would also require the US to rethink its strategy on controlling its allies as all the major allies in the one European basket is easier to handle than a fractured Europe, when you consider that the euro govt in Brussels mostly govern without an elected mandate and there is no uniform manifesto to judge them against its no wonder things like the ITTP can be negotiated without consent from the euro parliament and imposed by unelected Eurocrats.
A very simple example of what the ITTP brings
A pharmaceutical company gets a license from the US FDA to produce a drug, it then is shipped to marketed in Europe, the European licensing authorities are bypassed.
The drug turns out to be unsafe and addictive, the European authorities tell the company to withdraw the drug the company refuses on the grounds it’s FDA approved, the European authorities ban the drug, the company has the right to and will sue the European authorities for loss of earnings, that’s it in a nutshell across all industries signed up it the ITTP.
This contract makes governments and the EU powerless in protecting their people and markets.
Broony’s on more than a £1m a year ???
Doubt it.
Maybe a wee friendly v Liverpool as part of any deal?
Can’t decide where I stand on this one. Would have preferred a continental manager – someone to build an infrastructure and get us really onto the European page and away from the OF guff.
Of all the names mentioned however, Rodgers was by far the stand-out choice for me.
Think he suffered a bit from the ex-Liverpool players mafia in the media. They had him down as the messiah when they looked like they would win the league. When they blew it they turned on him. And when he left Gerrard out v Real Madrid they really went for him. So he should be switched on to what he might expect from the MSM here!
RobinBhoy on 19th May 2016 9:57 am
Hope Big Yogi gets a gig soon, always liked him as a player and he’s done well with a limited budget at Inverness
*as long as it’s no at Parkheid, soup taker. “It’ll be good tae see coisty, durranty and the boys” just prior tae his team doing a mullet led FCM in capitulating to a mcsleekit led sevco side.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 19TH MAY 2016 12:40 PM
MacJay
Mind…yer no allowed tae scream like a lunatic for no discernible reason.
The locals will think ye have lost the plot:)
HH
=========================================
Can`t imagine why this decision means so much.
Probably my disillusionment with our unacceptable current state of affairs. Two bloody years.
We deserve better.
Hopefully this appointment will come to pass.
Got to hand it to the Moustache there is no doubt he’s stepped up to the plate on this one.
I’ve wanted Brendan since his time at Swansea. Exciting times. :)
CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 19TH MAY 2016 12:41 PM
That’s sound reasoning but it’s just one aspect of the whole thing. I was referring more to the more simplistic idea of “If America wants A, I’ll choose B”.
I know plenty of people that have simply looked at who’s supporting Brexit and decided that they can’t possibly be trusted, so I’ll vote remain. Personality politics. Never a good idea.
TTIP looks unlikely to succeed now anyway – clicky
So its a done deal, but the deal isn’t done…..?
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 19TH MAY 2016 12:48 PM
So its a done deal, but the deal isn’t done…..?
======================================================
Finding that hard to believe myself.
:-(
RRDH- his height must remain classified until the appointment is confirmed [GCHQ protocol].
‘We are standing on the edge…’ is a quote from NTV after then rookie manager N.Lennon lost to Ross County in the Cup.
And that worked out O.K., in the main.
If B.Rodgers is appointed then obviously I wish him well; working with Suarez and Sturridge will be excellent rehearsal for taming the Cole/Kazim Richards goal juggernaut.
If BR has a chat with his countryman MON with regards to goings on up here re SMSM etc, that would be helpful.
White smoke comes out the back of the CQN server
Macjay
Hope Brendan is the man.
Celtic supporters everywhere, deserve a good manager.
I will be smiling if this one works out.
Here’s hoping.
HH
NO BOBBY DOES IT PETTA on 19TH MAY 2016 12:43 PM
£25k/week+bonuses supposedly.
“Can’t decide where I stand on this one. Would have preferred a continental manager”
Glasstwothirds,
In the words of the great philosopher Stephen Stills, ‘if you can’t be with the one you love. Love the one you’re with!’
:))
HH
Glass- the nonsense he had to put up with from Saurez and Sterling was ridiculous,he handled it very well IMO His biggest mistake was seeing Gerrard as a threat,he should have added him to coaching staff,if he had,he would probably still be at Anfield.
Mr Stills I presume:))
https://youtu.be/HH3ruuml-R4
Would be a terrific appointment. Here’s hoping. Will stick a bottle of Rotkäppchen in the fridge this evening.
Tontine Tim
Yeah I remember that. Also said “I believe Glasgow Rangers belong in the top flight”. Maybe get a job at Sevco!
Brendan Rodgers would be a 5* appointment. He would have a real xfactor amongst the wider support and would generate lots of positive free publicity for the club.
One of his great success stories was getting Gerrard to play in a slightly different way than he’d done his whole career and still get a great performance from him.
That augurs well for the future…