BONKERS doesn’t even come close.
The press scribes in this country have somehow contrived to bodyswerve naming Brendan Rodgers as the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year.
Is this the same Brendan Rodgers who has won 11 of the 12 domestic honours that have been up for grabs during his two stints as Celtic team chief?
The same Brendan Rodgers who is 90 minutes away from his twelfth piece of silverware when the holders face Aberdeen in the Hampden showpiece on Saturday May 24?
The same Brendan Rodgers who is within touching distance of his third clean sweep of the Premiership, League Cup and Scottish Cup in nine years?
THUMBS UP…Brendan Rodgers after the 1-1 stalemate at Ibrox yesterday.
It would appear to have been mission impossible for the football writers to fail the give the award to the trophy-laden Irishman, but somehow, no matter how implausible, the hacks pulled it off.
I admit I do not know how newspapers work these days. In an earlier life, I worked in the industry that used to be known as ‘the inky trade’.
Contrary to popular opinion, my endeavours in the world of journalism were a good few years after fire had been invented.
For almost three decades, I worked in the country’s two top-selling newspapers, the Daily Record and Sunday Mail. I was never a member of the Scottish Football Writers’ Association simply because I was never a football writer.
For most of those years, my remit was that of Chief Sports Sub-Editor of the daily title and Sports Editor of the Sunday paper and I can reveal I had to deal with some folk who possessed the ability to drive me even more doolally than nature intended.
I am not suggesting for a moment that Rodgers falls into that category, but there was a fair percentage of dug-out dwellers who were strangers to the truth. I am sure more than a few had degrees in telling porkies.
Having said that, you still had to give them credit for their achievements when it was due. They may not be on your Christmas card list, but that should never interfere with objectivity.
I have no idea how Rodgers gets on with most of today’s inhabitants of the press box.
Managing a football club has never been a popularity contest. A team boss’ responsibility is to get the best possible results for the club and maintain a level of success. If he can do so in an entertaining manner, then more power to his elbow.
To my way of thinking, the Celtic gaffer ticks most boxes.
SEALED WITH A KISS…Brendan Rodgers after leading Celtic to their fourth successive title.
Actually, he has made progress with the hacks because he didn’t even rate a mention last year. Back then, the nominees for the “prestigious” gong were Falkirk’s John McGlynn (the eventual winner), Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes, Dundee’s Tony Docherty and Rangers’ Philippe Clement.
All worthy contenders you may – or may not – acknowledge. Last year, while the votes were coming in, Rodgers was steering Celtic towards a league and Cup double in his comeback campaign.
However, his qualifications were deemed not good enough by the press gang and he must have realised he would have to try harder in his second crusade in order to impress the nation’s reporters.
Lo and behold, dear reader, the Celtic boss collected enough plaudits to put him in the running alongside McGlynn and Hibs’ David Gray.
Once again, McGlynn, following the admittedly praiseworthy achievement of guiding Falkirk back to the top flight, was invited to take poll position on the winner’s rostrum.
Rodgers fell short again. Gray, the rookie team chief who managed to turn things around at Easter Road, also had to accept falling short in the eyes of the nation’s sports scribblers.
Now it’s back to the drawing board for the champions’ elite manager. Maybe a Champions League triumph might catch the attention of the country’s press gang?
PS: Congrats to Daizen Maeda for winning the PFA Scotland Player of the Year accolade. I suppose his 33 goals and 12 assists for Scotland’s top team couldn’t go amiss. He had to beat off stern competition from team-mates Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn – plus Dundee’s Simon Murray – for the prize. Well done, Daizen!
ALEX GORDON
