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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Jurgen Klopp’s middle name is Norbert.
TGM: Hello….is that you your holiness.
PF: Awe naw, whit iz it this time.
TGM: Secret is safe wi me big yin….naebody has a clue, that ye are really fae Maryhill.
PF: Sooo, whits this aboot
TGM: Right…noo this is serious….whit aboot that pack of Falkirk nobody’s voting tae help the Orange Order oot wi a few quid…..whit are ye gonny dae aboot it?
PF: Dont you be worry aboot that, it will be sorted
TGM: Hell and Damnation?
PF: Aye, a right good skelp fae the Unseen Fenian Hand…nothing to dae wi me….get it?
TGM: Nice wan….and BTW, can ye have a word wi that Frankie Boyle….keeps nicking my gags.
Anyway….Laters.
PF: Dont forget to say thank you to the man upstairs.
TGM:….Nae Borra.
HH
Marching in Argyle St…..Justice 4 Jannies * big long line of them *
If we get this over the line the board deserve the praise , no mean feet to be honest .
Someone mentioned that it should revive the Irish support to travel in large numbers again , I certainly hope so. I’ll be aiming for
Cana
Eric????
I wouldn’t be going as far as praising the board IF we get Brendan over the line.
This is down to The Great Moustachioed One, IMO.
After all, the need to impress on the golf course is seriously important so it is.
Pep Warburton gives Celtic the OK, the guys a five card trick
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36335289
PHILBHOY on 19TH MAY 2016 4:18 PM
Who do you think the manager should be after the manager who replaces Brendan leaves? (Or gets sacked)
There’s an really outstanding young Norwegian Manager called Donny Reila we’re keeping tabs on -:))
Good Evening Timland.
So it’s Brendan then.
I notice that the Petrofac Cup has been renamed the Championship Cup, who’d a thunk eh, next they be telling us BR learned all he knows from the Stoke market broker.
If we do get Brendan why not Lenny for his No 2 he knows all the players especially the ones coming back from loan deals
Yogi as assistant and Barry Robson on the coaching staff??
Jude
Barry Robson….Get him in.
Balls of Steel.
Dig, Dig, Dig.
HH
I must say there are plenty about, that’s for dam sure.
https://johnjamessite.com/2016/05/19/a-scurry-of-squirrels/
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 19TH MAY 2016 5:13 PM
Marching in Argyle St…..Justice 4 Jannies * big long line of them *
Leaving a long trail of sawdust fae their buckets?
DENNYTIM on 19TH MAY 2016 5:30 PM
If we do get Brendan why not Lenny for his No 2 he knows all the players especially the ones coming back from loan deals
_________
I’d be delighted with that but I don’t think NL would want 2nd manager salary
QUONNO on 19TH MAY 2016 4:30 PM
‘I still stand by my previous position that the eventual outcome, still some way down the road will be an amended OB Act. ‘
##
How many ‘previous positions’ do you have on this issue?
I can recall you saying that Labour wouldn’t include in their manifesto a commitment to repeal the legislation and when that turned out to be wrong you said that they wouldn’t try to implement any such commitment.
Way to Go Celtic. Brendan….be still my beating heart. Ya big handsome dancer. I dare to dream and the dream became reality (apart freom that bassa “usual caveats” he’s a bad ass).
Paul67 I would have to say it is not just in recent weeks that it became known Brendan is a Celtic man. I’ve known that for years. Always spoke well about our club and our beloved Tommy Burns. I think you might say he lety it be known he wouldn’t expect EPL salary. However I doth my cap to DD on this. He read my facebook page and acted accordingly.
This will surely unite our fractious faithful. No happy clappers or mind shafters. Just Celtic fans…supporting our team.
You’ve got to love the Hun. First they give us a century’s worth of gloating by committing suicide, then the new club’s best result in their four year history finally jolts DD into the action we craved.
tonydonnelly67 on 19th May 2016 5:24 pm
Pep Warburton gives Celtic the OK, the guys a five card trick
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36335289
Aw, that’s awright then… if Brendan is good enough for the anointed one, then he’s good enough for me!
But seriously, why does this guy get even an inch of column space? He’s a fuggin nobody! Can you imagine the shit he would have got if Celtic had appointed him and his “history”? Geesus, even Sevco have a longer and more distinguished history than the ex-City Trader?!
Talk about double standards…
DENNYTIM on 19TH MAY 2016 5:30 PM
‘If we do get Brendan why not Lenny for his No 2 he knows all the players especially the ones coming back from loan deals’
###
Because Brendan wouldn’t want Lenny waiting in the wings poised to take over if things doesn’t work out.
It’s happened before.
Who’s names go in the envelopes then?
T G M
Always admired Barry!!
Glendalys
If I was a Jedi this no 18 bus to R’glen wouldn’t be any hassle.
JUDE
Barry was a player i loved.
Gave his all, every time.
The bhoy has got heart and soul
Do you think he would let any Celtic team down tools against the huns.
No way Jose.
Hard as nails.
HH
BSR
Anagram when he writes to his Freund, Leopold Netzer Rotmeier.
“Regret job no kupp, LNR”.
Tgm,
You’re some stuff.
879 posts telling us we’re getting lenny or a similar disappointment and now you’re claiming you told us months ago it was gonna be an epic one.
Yerra chancer so ye ur :)
HH
Bournes
They allow light sabres on corporation transport??!
Geordie Munro
Im in at the top floor of the mineshafting narrative.
I did not think for one moment Brendan would be the new manager.
Happy to admit that.
Well done to the big Irish fella.
Brendan will skoosh it up here.
Respect to the man with Golden Putter.
HH
The exiled Tim
Maybe DD did take it out of the boards hands I’m not sure but either way it’s positive .
And maybe DD is only doing it to impress his golf mates but I don’t care, let’s just sin from same sheet on a good appointment and hopefully some good transfer business before the qualifiers.
Oh look Frankie’s back:)))
Tgm,
I’ve a feeling in my water you won’t spend the same collum inches happily admitting it ;)
HH
Geordie Munro
Ah…we shall see:)
But imo….Brendan is a huge step up in terms of ambition.
I can only applaud that.
If anyone at all, at any point….can be voted Premiership Manager of the year.
They must indeed be talented.
Brendan is the right man.
No doubt.
Cue.. Neil Lennon:)
HH
WITS
YOU ARE A LEGEND SIR!
well played on the tip (s) and thanks for supplying the info.
Grizzel wins the races,
Maith thú WITS
HH
Call MA at sports direct see if he will give you a deal, I’v heard he’s very approachable these days with all things Celtic and Irish.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/coiste-cuimhneachain-an-gorta-mor/
WITS.
Top man. Nice one. HH
Grizzel wins at 6/1, finally catch one of
WITS tips.