None of us are particularly focussed on Tynecastle tonight, so you can imagine how players who have worked for and with Brendan Rodgers for over two years are feeling right now. They have all the excuses in the world for a reversal, but they have to find it in themselves to put all off-field distractions aside and beat Hearts.
Brendan, Chris Davies and Kolo Toure have left the building. Neil Lennon has been away less than five years but he worked with few who are likely to feature tonight. The most important element of consistency we have is Scott Brown. He has seen it all in his 12 years at Celtic and worked hand in glove with Neil during the latter’s four years as manager.
Yesterday I gave Brendan credit for his honesty, but something rankled in his later comments at Leicester, “I’ll give my life to make the supporters proud of their club.” No, you won’t, Brendan. It’s just a gig. If Tottenham come calling you’ll be off. We all know this, so be straight with the people of Leicester.
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So Brendan has left, thank you for the 7 trophies we won and especially the Invincible season. Celtic will continue and you will in sit in your old age and wonder “what if”. You sullied your reputation, and I for one don’t care about boardroom politics only MY Celtic football club.
I hope NFL continues with our domination at home and if he leads us to No. 8 then 10 then the gullibles will be lining up at the Squinty Bridge to jump off.
HH Neil Lennon the celtic family are with you.
Off to bed get some sleep before bouncing oot oh bed aroun 02:15 preparations for game on tele. HH
thanks guys. seemed an odd time, so I thought maybe it was a typo.
People need to stop feeding that fat rat Dembele as well.
The kid posts one word on twitter and about 20,000 mugs/sheep respond like it’s the word of God.
I expect the players to be 100% focussed tonight.
The loss of fellow players and managers – sometimes at day’s notice is part and parcel of a footballer’s life , especially with the transfer windows and the fact that they seem
almost inevitably to result in last minute deals.
I also think it’s distinctly possible that the external shock and surprise at the suddenness of BR’s departure isn’t mirrored internally at the club or by the players.
We’ll also never know to what extent some players MIGHT be glad to see the back of him.
All told, we simply don’t know what effect the departure will have until we’ve played 90 minutes tonight and in games over the next few weeks.
We’re still comfortably the biggest and best squad in the country and I , for one, am certain the players will want to demonstrate that.
FWIW , the more BR has to say about his time here and what he intends to do for Leicester the less the sincere he comes across as being.
He would be better advised to say nothing.
Good old Police Scotland indulging in their usual whataboutery about tonights match.
Warning Celtic and Hearts fans about their behavior.
Are they hoping Lennon does not bring another assault on himself forcing an Edinburgh jury to give justice to the perpetrator?
Or they just telling the clown who threw a clear punch at SS when he scored on his debut to be more sleekit like most in the best wee country?
Im focussed on tynecastle….with no disrespect to BR……for goodness sake a least get yourself a new suit as youve worn it since the day you arrived and your still wearing it.
..
‘None Of is are Particularly focused on Tynecaste Tonight..’
Hmmm..Maybe Succulent Lamb is on the Menu..【ツ】
Tommy Burns was always the Celtic Supports William Wallace..
Brendan was always going to end up being Robert he Bruce..
Peter Lawwell.. The Leopard without the Spots and Father Of Robert the Bruce..
Well Bhoys I’m Focused for Tonight and the Rest Of The Season and Looking Forward to The Green Brigades Tifo for The Hibs Game..
KTF✊?
001
so, who is gettin up early on Sunday to watch Watford/Leicester?
(too early?)
:)
We often talk about players who leave Celtic because they think they can do better elsewhere
failing to live up to the hype.
Genuine question – have any of our ex managers really gone on to bigger success than they had here?
Scumbag who spat at the priest in Glasgow during the orange walk last year gets prison time ….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-47387094
Guid enough fur’ him!
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 2:40 PM
Genuine question – have any of our ex managers really gone on to bigger success than they had here?
===========
YES…
On 16 September 2008, John Barnes was appointed as manager of Jamaica announcing Mike Commane as his assistant. Barnes guided his new Jamaican charges to a first-place finish in the 2008 Caribbean Championships, qualifying as the top Caribbean side for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
So there!
HH
TLWIO
To be fair, most successful managers move on to teams playing in bigger leagues …. so, not sure it is fair to compare one to the other
Up to a certain level, I was great at certain sports … won the regional tennis title at school,in college football, scored goals for fun ..
LiaminToronto, in comparison, was always a bit of a plodder in both … as a full back, he was no frills, …solid but never a star…
but, whereas I reached a level in both sports where I plateaud, he continued to play football longer and at a higher level than I did … he wasn’t a star, but he could complete at a higher level of football than I could …
what works in Scotland doesn’t necessarily work in other places ….
much like the ‘pressing game’ BR had Celtic play in Scotland worked because it wore down teams that were less fit and less skilled than Celtic …. it didn’t work in Europe, where teams were just as fit, and often better with the ball, and could counterattack well …
horses for courses…
I think BR is a good British manager (with dreams of being a good European style manager) ,… I think he will do okay in the EPL.
It seems churlish to criticize the tactics of a amanger who won every domestic trophy possilbe, and delivered an unbeaten season ….
but, its a blog, I’m amongst friends, so what the hell?….
I thought BR’s strategy of wearing teams down by passing around the back was misguided … it did work at the SPL level…. BUT
Europe is where the money and the prestige is now, and we should have been using the SPL as practice for Europe (especially when we had no real competition) …
Europe is all about being able to move and pass quickly… we should have been doing more of that in the SPL to allow us to be prepared to do so (and even to face it ) in Europe ….
in the SPL, if we have the fitness advantage, press that by running the ‘amatueurs’ hard from minute 1 … they will collapse after 20 minutes …
and, if they sit back, short passes with forward movement is how to break that down ….
one of the benefits of seeing most games on TV is you see the whole pitch, so you can see the passing lanes … they are there …. but, too often, we take a second to trap the ball, and then another second to look up and see what is on … by which time the chance is lost ….
If I was NFL, I would be working on one touch football …. with the players we have (if some dont adapt, replace them, but there are enough good ones), we would continue to dominate in the SPL, and would be better prepared for Europe….
Can anyone remember if we were any better at corners when Lenny was in charge
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 2:59 PM
Can anyone remember if we were any better at corners when Lenny was in charge
====
Ask Barcelona…
HH
Has Lee Congerton left with Rodgers and if not why not? Oh and can he please take Compper with him. 2 total and utter wage thief’s.
I haven’t been on CQN this much since 2012…. some really good points in posts, cavansam, 16 roads and fanatic and Matt Stewart… that was ? Clodagh… can imagine that outfit must have caused quite a day in 1971.
Also someone mentioned that goals conceded in Liverpool season under Rodgers – 50 – very interesting stat… it’s that that cost them the title but more importantly in my eyes is not the slippy G slip… it was the 2nd last game of the season IIRC… away to Palace… 3-0 up and drew… that’s the game that cost them the title. Also… we had VVD at the time… Liverpool clearly needed defenders!
On the board and PL and the abuse he gets. It’s wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I despise capitalism and all that PLC stand for but we can’t change the environment. Either the financial one, or the league we are in – so we have to do the best with what we have. It seems to me that BR needed or wanted a budget and wage bill comparable with epl clubs maybe championship clubs. We simply cannot do that. The figures don’t add up. Neil Francis on limited resources gave BR a game every time we played them – maybe now he’s experienced that, then what Celtic can now offer him is like all his Christmas’s come true…. Cos…. he really really does love the club.
And maybe PL said to BR in the summer…. “we’re not signing those players, at that outlay and those wages when a lot of the guys you’ve brought in can’t even get a game and are already sooking a living from this club. You’re a coach.. a top coach… get them playing. And what about the youth… Ralston, Christie, Henderson….”
Just a thought and my take on it. I don’t get this big bad PL thing. I’m also glad that I didn’t slag off BR… he’s actually done his character no favours, whether that will affect him long term or not… who knows. I do have to thank him for the past 2 seasons achievements. They have been unprecedented and extremely joyous. Quite champion actually ?
I also think he has to be criticised for:
A) the performances in Europe
B) the way he didn’t stand up for the injustices
C) his team selection at Ibrox
There’s a few others and they’ve all been mentioned on CQN over the past 2 days but this ‘quick’ post has gone on too long.
I’m buzzing for tonight and can’t wait til kick off. Been a long time since a day has so dragged on.
Rodgers is gone. I’ve already forgiven him, it’s his loss. It’s old news.
Celtic have a game tonight. Please 3 points but win, lose or draw… just put on a show
And every single one of us, whether we be on the pitch, in the dugout, in that horrible atmosphere of a stadium, in the pub with your mates, watching on the telly 1888 miles away…
Roar us to victory!! Come on Celtic COYBIG ????
Good luck Lenny and the Bhoys.
Off to get some shuteye as it is 23:23 here. Alarm set for 3:30, 15 minutes ahead of the game.
https://postimg.cc/6TkWVJHL
Mike in T
I take your point on comparisons but even allowing for that I don’t recall
any ex- manager really tearing up trees after us – other than John Barnes as Trad88 above points out!
I guess we’ll see over the next few weeks how we do without BR and over the longer period, vice versa.
I agree on BR’s tactics in Europe – The home game against Valencia – a good but not great European time- was utter torture as we passed the ball across the back 4 then into midfield and back ad nauseam.
larssonse7en on 27th February 2019 3:20 pm
Excellent Post
time = team
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 3:26 PM
Joking aside, good point – most just go back into the managerial mixer where the same handful of managers are involved in a merry go round when one gets sacked. Or they reach a good age for international management after which their shelf life as a club manager is limited.
HH
LARSSONSE7EN
Great post I’d say your surmising of this summers discussions might not be too far from the truth.
I had no idea that the Danny McGrain story, he told to a packed audience during his book Q & A was a complete lie!
I wanted him out because of the style of football, if i had known he had made up stories to sell his book, i might have been more vocal! :-)
HELP
My son is in Leicester tonight ( I know, I don’t believe it either ) and was looking for any recommendations of where to go to watch the game tonight. Leicester CSC seems to be defunct, maybe wrong but can’t get any contact.
Thanks in advance
HH
So he made up the Danny McGrain story. Made up a story that a Celtic legend basically begged for a job to sell his book. Utter fraud and what a weirdo.
Wee snippets of info appearing. Seems as if Rodgers threatened to quit if Boyata was sold to Fulham. Obviously unable to confirm the veracity of such claims but it does clear up a few questions as to why PL missed out on £9 mill for a player entering the last year of his contract. Was it worth keeping him? In hindsight no given we were pumped out of the CL anyway as The Belgian was in the huff and refused to play.
PAUL67
Maybe you could ask your pal Mr Lawwell if he could be straight / honest with the CELTIC fans for a change…naw a didny think so .
Hope your health and family are fine , otherwise i cant understand why / how your not focused on Celtic and LENNYS job in hand tonight , if anything i think it has galvanised the support …….for how long , who knows.
Anyway , tonight of all nights calm heads on and off the field.
3 – 2 the TIC
Ooooooo aaàaaaaaaaaah :-)
Now that was an interesting day lol
Thanks for the part you played in our history
Celtic goes on.continuious history eh what ye like.:-)
Catnan keep on keepin on :-)
Clashcitybhoy am grinning too.:-)j
Hearts tonight,go to work Celtic,a title is the goal,strongest team Neil / John :-)
Celtic HH
Oglach
I would say thats true but tbh i wouldnt actually blame him for that as we didnt have anyone else brought in
B-)
Hi DAVID17 – what’s that about the Danny McGrain story? Missed the start of that conversation.
HH
BGFC
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 27TH FEBRUARY 2019 2:59 PM
Can anyone remember if we were any better at corners when Lenny was in charge
———-
Well there was a goal against Barca!!!
Depends on good delivery. Mulgrew was excellent a delivering a cross then. Armstrong sometimes since. Current crop, not so much (and I’m being kind there!)
Don’t even get me started on throw ins!!!
HH jg
I know there is vast animosity towards Rodgers, and rightly so. Plenty of emotion attached to most fans responses on the issue.
On the matter of long term successor, I do believe we need to continue to aim high.
Neil Lennon as a Celtic man, I love the guy. His passion, his honesty. He is absolutely a safe pair of hands between now and summer.
Thereafter however, we do need to land as high a pedigree manager as we possibly can. And personally I don’t think Neil Lennon, should be our long term answer.
One thing I don’t want us to let slide, is the professionalism of the sports science side of things, and the performance analytics. In all seriousness, from Rodgers time at Liverpool he brought a lot of know how about operating at the top level. We cannot allow this know-how to dissolve. Decline over time.
We need to retain the high standards
MIKE IN TORONTO
I think BR is a good British manager (with dreams of being a good European style manager) ,… I think he will do okay in the EPL.
The problem is success in the EPL is no guarantee of European wins.
The Burnley – Aberdeen encounter was a good barometer on the level of coaching in EPL.
Brendan fits this profile.
His European results demonstrated that he is not a top tier coach.
These type of coaches remind me of being a kid and seeing the Cryuff turn for the first time.
After the game was over all the kids piled outside to try and replicate it with varying degrees of success.
No matter how Raphael we were at it for a fleeting moment we all thought we were Johan Cryuff.
This is my feeling about all the Pep aficionados who do not have the skill or detail to replicate it.
Strange to me as this type of football has not brought success in Europe for Pep in about 8 years.
As an aside that bloody Cryuff turn injured more ankles than John Greig but i still love it.
Hearts are still 5/1. Sevco, however, have tightened from 1/6 to 1/10.
Has it been announced that there will be no cameras at ibrox?
JJ
When Deila took over from Lennon, I recall Deila having a wee pop at the fitness levels of the players he inherited. Deila had his mad bacon diet, and we’ve since witnessed that players like Mulgrew and Brown didn’t feel fit under Deila’s watch.
Rodgers came to Celtic, and took the whole fitness / sports science side of things to a massively different level.
You look at the work that has been done with Brown, Forrest, K.T, Ajer etc… their physical development these last couple of seasons is clear for everyone to see. This can’t be allowed to let slip
Is Calum fit for tonight?
tonight is our biggest game of the season!!!! my biggest concern is the ref – who is it?
My team fo Tynecastle:
Bain.
Toljan, Ajer, Boyata,Tierney.
Forrest McGregor (?) Brown,Henderson,Hayes.
Edouard.