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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BADA BING
Liverpool fans idolise Stevie G.
He is like one of the Beatles on Merseyside.
Tough call for Brendan to tell Stevie G that his time was up.
Pretty unfair on Brendan.
If he comes to Celtic, he will canter Scoddish Fitba, too easy.
HH
PROUDBHOY on 19TH MAY 2016 12:34 PM
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 ?
————————————————
Proudbhoy – I’m sorry mo chara, have a link for the interview but it’s from the Daily Reprobate so a can’t post it here because they’ll get hits on their website.
If ye just Google search Brendan Rodgers, Tommy Burns, you’ll find it there.
HH.
Green Brigade next banner I hope
“THANK YOU DERMOT”
Starry,
That’s the one :)
Sorry I didn’t wiki the label it was recorded on. Glad to see you still got there ;)
HH
—–
Here’s Hopin’ It’s No’ Kirk Broadfeet & The Microwave Egg…
All O’er Agin’…..
[ Oh…….The Humanity! Ed ]
~~~~
twists n turns on 19th May 2016 12:59 pm
Green Brigade next banner I hope
“THANK YOU DERMOT”
============================
“WE WANTED MOURINHO”
Brendan was my wish all along. Looks like the i’s and t’s just need to be dotted and crossed.
I am ecstatic about this appointment. So uplifting after the mediocrity of the past few seasons. Brendan comes from a Celtic supporting area on the Antrim coast and “gets” the club and its traditions and history. He knows the passion and pride of the Celtic faithful. He actually was a Celtic supporter!!
I am convinced he will have the team playing an attractive style and playing with conviction and a will to win.
The man oozes Celtic pedigree.
He will bring back the thunder……
Please… no last minute catastrophe’s ..
Hail Hail…
Proudbhoy
Re: shift in power in West Belfast
It is true that young Gerry Carroll topped the poll but Sinn Fein had 5 candidates running so their 1st preference votes were split among them. Had the Shinners went head-to-head they would have polled more than double (nearly 3 times) that of Gerry.
HH
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 19TH MAY 2016 12:57 PM
Brendan Rodgers was always a company man at Liverpool. He allowed transfers to be conducted by committee. Letting Gerrard go was a decision from the top.
Let me be clear, I like Rodgers but all the people who claimed Ronny was too much of a company man shouldn’t be pleased at all.
He’s very much in the Ronny mould and has the same ideas about football. We can only hope he implements them better.
If anything, he appears a better motivator than Ronny.
Got tips for 2 Hannon trained horses today
Repton 1.50 Goodwood (11/1)
Grizzel in the 5.50 Sandown (6/1)
Best of luck
Wonderful news – if it comes to pass. I’ll be absolutely delighted and congratulate Peter Lawell and the Board for showing imagination and ambition. However, until then, I’m paying attention to those caveats. I still remember SuperMo becoming Judas.
My hand is in my pocket but waiting confirmation before I get my money out.
Great scoop for you Paul. Congratulations.
Paul67
Sorry I will not believe it until wikipedia has been
updated along the lines of
“Brendan Enjoys listening to Rebel music to relax”
DoubtingThomasCSC
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 19TH MAY 2016 12:51 PM
Absolutely agree.
The point .
It would indicate an attitude , a determination , an intention .
Sadly lacking recently.
The troops need an influx of belief from on high.
Is Brendan considering an offer to become our manager then?
How much time should he get to make his mind up?
Our need is becoming urgent due to the upcoming CL quallies.
Get a move on mhan!
Very very exciting news. I didn’t think we see anyone of his caliber at Celtic park anytime soon
So the deal is nearly done?
No last minute hitches please.
If it comes to pass I will be delighted.
Wanted him from the start.
Hopes he stays, at least, until we achieve 10 in a row!
Well done Dermot! FFS, I never thought I would ever say that!
HH!!
Geordie Munro
Yeah – very true. Glass now officially full. Well – maybe four-fifths :-)
This will shut the hun bigot mob up.
Scoddish Meeja desperate for Celtic to appoint another project.
Brendan would be a GIRUY to them.
That would be good indeed.
HH
Mon the Cabin Bhoy!
Fascinating appointment which should galvanise our support.
Hopefully Brendan’s left hook is potent enough to sort out the hacks.
Beware Mr Desmond,
Old Neganon will go ballistic if you mess this one up.
Phil Up
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/retail-deal-loophole-found/
Dermot, Peter and Brendan in charge of Paradise.
That should ensure vomit supplies in Larkhall for the next decade.
It will be VERY interesting to see who Brendan brings in to his backroom staff.
Neil Lennon?
Roy Keane?
Steve Clarke?
… Jose Mourinho?!
HH!!
I am hoping Brendan will have learned from previous mistakes
Our basic defensive organisation has been found wanting in this season and has cost us in the big games. His record with such things is pretty poor.
Will he bring his own coaches? I want a coach with experience and some ability to organised a defence like Dolph Lundgren.
It goes without saying that if it is indeed Brendan, then we will all be delighted and optimism will abound; an announcement tomorrow would be just the ticket.
Despite what others say, Peter Lawwell will be a major party in any appointment, anyone who thinks he has been ‘sidelined’ is deluded, however if that’s what ‘floats your boat’, then carry on.
Peter is not only Dermot’s trusted lieutenant, his is the CEO of the club and will need to have a first-class working relationship with any incoming manager. Ronny was fulsome in his praise for Lawwell and their partnership, some of course believe that Ronny was lying( for what reason?) – I don’t.
Just one other ‘little’ caveat. Ronny is a bit of a property tycoon with well over one hundred properties in his portfolio and is therefore a fully-fledged capitalist. Absolutely no problem to me and probably the vast majority of our support. However, how will those who regularly ‘lay into’ Lawwell about his bonus and so-called ‘heated driveway, and brand members of the board as Tories and Lords not in the Brother Walfrid tradition, manage to contort to accommodate our (hopefully) new manager?
We wait and see!
…………..Green Brigade banner?
Until The Last Rodgers!
If BR comes here, it is again an illustration of the devotion our great club gets from the North of Ireland. Why else would he come to Scotland?
Assistant manager Sean O’Driscoll, head of performance Glen Driscoll and head of opposition analysis Chris Davies .
This was BR team at Liverpool. ( and Gary McAllister)
Not Ronny, of course Brendan
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL
C’mon GLASSFOURFIFTHSFULL is just a silly blog name ;)
Meanwhile in a bar in Cork,
A menacing Mr Keane prepares to spill some poor sap’s pint.
O’Driscoll you say
Wont be many get past him when tackled
Dermot, Big Peter, Bhoys……………….
All together now…………..
“Thank-you”
I’m surprised, if this comes off – pleasantly surprised.
The bonus – Sleekit(s)…sick.
It’s good to be a Tim
Gary”McAlly.”…………………
nein danke.
There are no i’s or t’s in “Brendan Rodgers”. Should be a formality.
And you read this pesh, I told you all ten days ago it was a done deal and it was, my source was good, and as I said at the time lets wait and see, but you never know? Don’t be leaving any pints behind the bar in the Brazen for me, I was only to glad to share the good news, and I’m glad it’s true.
HH
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3598707/Brendan-Rodgers-receives-formal-job-offer-Celtic-former-Liverpool-boss-ponders-return-management.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490