Celtic’s statement yesterday had interesting parts to it. First was timing, it was released early evening, after a full working days’ deliberations on what to do next. I suspect the appropriate reaction to the home draw with St Johnstone was under review for much of that time.
The second element that stuck me was the voice, this was “The Board”, not more commonly used “The Club” voice. The Board is more personal, it was a choice to identify with the decision.
Several points stood out:
“understands the importance of winning the league championship this season..
“deliver the tenth championship in a row that is so important to us all.
“operate according to our Club’s values.
“our collective objective is best served by continuing to support Neil
“Neil has the support of the players…
“The Board recognises the range of views expressed by our supporters and the strength of those opinions.
Talk of winning the league this season and delivering the tenth championship in a row is ballsy. I cannot say I’m optimistic.
Some have wondered if the dressing room was behind the manager. It was not necessary to address this, but the statement confirmed it to be the case.
“The strength of those opinions” translates as “we hear you.”
“Our collective objective is best served by continuing to support Neil” alludes to the options that you and I have pondered. Sacking the manager is the easy part, replacing him with someone who will turn things around is the greater challenge.
Operating according to the Club’s values is an opaque statement, you can interpret it as you wish. Neil looks lost in his challenges, but I don’t like the way he has been hounded. He has been through traumas due to his association with Celtic that no one has ever had to tolerate and achieved greatly as player and manager. We do not owe him a living, but he deserves dignity and respect, especially when vulnerable. That’s how I interpreted that part of the statement, anyway.
I suspect if the board were confident any alternative course of action would increase our chances of winning the league, a different statement would have been issued. Pragmatism is greater than sentiment. Instead, they have placed their chips on the man from Lurgan. If he delivers, it will be one of the most remarkable titles in our history.
Celtic: Fifty Flags Plus One, an anthology of how Celtic won each of their league titles, is available now. Starting with our first title in 1893, it details how Willie Maley brought consistent glory, then the sparse successes over four decades before Jock Stein arrived in 1965 and the more contemporary wins since.
It will rekindle memories you had forgotten and give insight into how the leagues were won.
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TimJim
There are some on here who call Brendan Rodgers, Fraudgers, Snake or Rat, and defend Peter Lawwell and our board. I have always thought the latter were the fraudsters, snakes or rats. Seems a few are coming round to my way of thinking.
ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 5:59 PM
You wouldn’t have stooped so low.
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 3:05 PM
Aipple.
I loved your post from last night about Coup’s
Fascinating reading.
Thank you
——
I too found it fascinating.
Thank you.
HH jg
Neil had no bargaing power when he was appointed. That’s why he was appointed. He was unemployed and was unlikely to get a job offer in the near future.
He could not make demands of lawwell. That’s why he was given the job. Neil had no power or influence.
Lawwell is the problem and has always been the problem and this goes back to when he was appointed in 2003.
“Welcome to the slow lane.”
THE EXILED TIM on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:10 PM
Dig it out mate, One thing I’ve learned to see the bigger picture is you need to see it on paper, and like you said once on paper it really it’s home. H H
ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 5:59 PM
answered that question to another poster as diplomatically as I could – it got red carded!
Awe crap there’s two of them … Keep up moderator 2😆
James Forrest
Oops.
James Forrest – Good read today.
MODERATOR 2 on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:16 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 5:59 PM
You wouldn’t have stooped so low.
###
Not sure if that’s a challenge, an insult, a compliment or a cryptic clue.
Hope you had as good a day as possible C.R.C. ,all the best …
Big Jimmy great shout re the nags , the Moores and Fontwell 😜
DD
You do not need to be a fan of Peter Lawwell to consider Rodgers a rat scumbag.
Westcraigs it was economist and former deputy director of the bank of england that told MON it would now be life in the slow lane.
ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:27 PM
Believe me it was meant as a compliment.
BBC Sports web page showing Sevco on top of their Europa League group, despite Benfica being equal in points, having scored 5 goals more, and having a better goal difference by 5. They just can’t hide their bias.
Red Card, Red Card, Is the Moderator that Tory Linesman.
Missed the offending Posts but am glad that at least that Big Jimmy was reprieved & delighted that he responded with 2 outstanding Tips.
Strange time for us all, life as we knew it is very different our beloved Team is struggling and the angst we all feel is coming through in the Posts.
Time to hold back a little & remember what we have in common & what has brought us all on here.
Inq – gives me absolutely no pleasure to say they are right.
Head to head trump’s GD in UEFA competitions.
3-3 away. 2-2 home.
https://youtu.be/SLjcUvjNHiw
Young Harper due a chance as well…
INIQUITOUSIV on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:39 PM
To be fair they are top by virtue of the H2H where they lead on away goals.
H2H is the first of tiebreaker criteria
Clink
I definitely don’t think that Brendan Rodgers is a rat scumbag. I think he is Celtic’s second best ever manager, who brought a professionalism to our club, that we have not seen since Jock Stein’s days. I think he was treated abysmally by our Board.
Strange how the narrative re Rodgers is changing.
I have no doubt he was unhappy with the board but the way he left us will never be forgotten along with his fantasy story about Danny……
ONIL
My narrative on Brendan Rodgers has never changed, if it is me you are referring too. Cannot speak for others.
DD-just on and haven’t looked back yet.I have to be honest I thought he was a rat ,mainly because of the way he left I admit.But it looks like he knew what was coming.
Hope you’re well mate🍀
INIQUITOUSIV on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:39 PM
Uefa give the same positions in that group on their website.
A rule in the head to head section says that whoever scores the most away goals is ranked higher.
They scored one more away goal in the draw in Lisbon than Benfica scored in the draw at their place.
Rule 16.01
https://documents.uefa.com/r/QkpIwlMTBDPJUAZTt6eBCw/rwD6JavJkj1KTYp5ult8rg
DELANEYS DUNKY on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 7:06 PM
Apologies, did not mean specifically you but noticed a lot of comments on social media similar to those of your good self.
Big Jimmy – will you be sharing your winnings with your aul’ sparring partner Big Packy??😆
Oh good there’s Laurie fae Dennistoun oan…😷
DELANEYS DUNKY on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:15 PM
TimJim
There are some on here who call Brendan Rodgers, Fraudgers, Snake or Rat.
*I don’t call him any of the latter 2 names in fact I don’t call any former Celtic employee them, no even the wee trackie seller, who allegedly still regards himself as a Celtic supporter, who IMHO was badly advised by his agent, known tae have tried tae grow Kentucky Blue Grass on his lawn.
I have heard it said of him who’s name should never be mentioned when good mhen meet as “thick as scheidt in the neck of a bottle” and “his brains are in his boots”, great wee player though and the scorer of the finest team goal i have ever seen the Celts score.
However I do feel that the fraud, who did give is some great days and nights, took a lenn of us supporters playing the Tim card.
Good managers sometimes DO get found out, even the Big Mhan, let’s not forget that for a wee spell mcleish had the measure of MON, which included lovetaedive stretching our defense, as well as ebts. However, MON changed our style and we combated them once again.
At Christmas we were singing “Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away this year to save me from tears I’ll give it to brendan rodgers”
Little did we know that 6 months later after completing a back to back treble and breaking our own transfer record for big OE he wanted oot, ironically just after the player that cost him the Premier League title joined sevco.
Once DD called him tae remind him of his contract the toys were out of the pram and we were once again out of the Big Cup by the middle of August and the Europa 6 days before he left
Ok we won the LC but for heaven’s sake it was the sheep with the hapless mcsleekit in charge.
DD being a billionaire which you don’t get tae by being daft had a termination clause inserted intae the fly bassas contract and also alerted PL tae sound out a replacement, might have been only short term but circumstances show that Lenny did enough tae earn a permanent contract.
This is similar tae WGS on Tommy Burns Thursday when with the movers fan at the driveway and some possessions already down south he was offered an extension, I’m a wee bit surprised at this as sentiment has no room in business.
Claud Puel by now was a dead man walking at the King Power Stadium and fraudgers was been sounded out, not offered I hasten tae add, for the job, however, a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge followed by a 2-1 win at home over Man City gave him a stay of execution.
Meanwhile on that same day sevco had their first ever League victory over us and cheaton notwithstanding with his honest mistakes we were absolutely dismal in what the fraud thought was his final game for us.
Our star mhan that day who saved us fae a hiding was dropped on the return fae Dubai, did he have words with his soon tae be “I Ran Away” boss.
So the frauds move tae the King Power was put on hold possibly because the Foxes management team couldnae really justify it and would perhaps get done for a breach of contact.
Meanwhile we head over tae Dubai and a change of thought is required tae make Mr smile a while relevant and when we came back we were firing on all cylinders scoring 26 for and 1 against and even that solitary goal caused a lot anger.
With us leading 2-0 early in the second half RC crumpled to the turf after pulling his hamstring. Big Kriss noticing his team mate’s obvious distress kicked the ball out of play.
Then all hell broke loose as the ‘well player doing a naesurname move nipped in tae intercept the throw in and with our players astounded and in a state of shock the player continued toward goal even though some of his team mates were allegedly shouting at him tae stop but he continued on, Scott Bain actually parried his shot but was unable to stop the rebound.
As I said it was the first goal we had lost in 10 games but also the first at home since October, give roy rogers his due he knew how tae construct a defense, he was after all a former centre half.
Claude Puel was eventually given the tin tack the same day after a dreadful 1-4 performance at home tae Crystal Palace which I watched and was convinced the team through him under the bus.
Meanwhile Mike Stowell and Adam Sandler were appointed acting managers but only lasted 2 days as fraudgers bailed oot on us and was in the King Power Stand on Tuesday Feb 26 wearing a blue tie watching his new side with that big phony grin on his face, watched that gemme tae
Seemingly the rumour was that big Raffa was the manager the Foxes really wanted but he insisted at honouring his contract, now there’s a novel idea, and would stay with the Toon until the end of the season, so our narcissus manager sent word via his rep that he would be there no matter what so FU Celtic, your support and George Michael.
Our much maligned CEO exercised the clause in his contract that ensured we were properly compensated even though he is now being lambasted for that.
While I’m on here lets clear another wee controversy up, Maryan Shevd was signed on January 31 and immediately sent back on loan tae Karpaty Lviv until the end of the season.
The reason, it has been said, for his failure tae make the breakthrough with us is his failure tae master the language.
We got an interpreter for wee Shunsuki but this situation looks a lot like Stiliyan Petrov and Jorge Cadette who were left alone, the latter’s wife bailed oot back tae Portugal, and left tae their ain devices, thank the Lord for the Bulgarian chippy man in the case of the former.
So we should stop stop blaming PL for this transfer, aye I agree he’s no infallible, but why would he give any funds tae a manager that seemingly everyone and their granny in the game, and it is a really small world out there, knew was whoring himself tae any team that would take him.
FB
From not working during lockdown to working too much in the Christmas rush in supplying shops. I know his cousins, went to school with them. The Rodgers family are extremely intelligent, including Brendan who I have met. BR sussed PL and our board very quickly.
ONIL
No probs. I still like and admire Brendan Rodgers, for personal as well as professional reasons.
BACKTOBASICS, SQUIRE DANAHER, CORNELIUS
Thank you for the correction. Every day is a school day!
TIMBHOY2 on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 3:11 PM
Gerry McNee and Jim Delahunt,Oh how we could do with them today…
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My God, what next, Timbhoy, Maurice Johnson for Manager.
,
Gerry, he of the ‘Rangers Fat Cat’ tie, as worn on STV. As far as Celtic was concerned he never missed a trick to sneer at Celtic. McNee used his media organs to hound Billy McNeill then
Brendan Rodgers left the club with the full backing and knowledge of the board, if people choose not to see that, fine, you are 100% wrong, open your eyes FFS.
£9 million tells you that.
Lenny not being the manager of Hibs without being sacked or resigning tells you that.
BR leaving in the morning and being appointed Leicester’s manager the same day tells you that.
etc etc.
But never let the truth get in the way of your hate
Tontine
I have heard that story too. Created by our board. I don’t believe it all, but much of it is true. Brendan and Peter are both highly intelligent men, but with huge ego’s, and both control freaks. They were never going to be able to work together. There could only be one winner, and that was the bigger ego and bigger control freak PL.
Tonetine Tim
Why was Rodgers so desperate to get away from a club where he was worshipped , gaining legendary status , breaking records-and very well paid ?
TT
TIMJIM on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 6:09 PM
James Forrest
Just to let you know until you barr that Hun idiot Ted from your blog I will not
be anywhere near it.
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I really enjoy James’s blog but ted ruins it.
I’ve asked James to block him too.
Hopefully he does it.
TIMBHOY2 on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 3:11 PM
Gerry McNee and Jim Delahunt,Oh how we could do with them today…
________________________________________________________________________
My God, you think you’ve seen it all. What next, Timbhoy, Maurice Johnson for Manager?
____________________________________________–
Gerry, he of the ‘Rangers Fat Cat’ tie, as worn on STV. As far as Celtic was concerned he never missed a trick to sneer and bad-mouth. McNee used the media to hound Billy McNeill then Roy Aitken. BTW he was a pal of the then Board. Hand in glove they were. That’s why they made such a fuss when Billy decked him.
As for the sainted jockey, my abiding memory of him was his gloating at Dr. Jo after the Braveheart Dallas title decider.
My advice: be more cautious when you choose your heroes.
Mcnee was an arse