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You are at:»»Ulster medical testing lab cannot whitewash this one

Ulster medical testing lab cannot whitewash this one

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Brendan Rodgers resigned in February 2019, a day before a crucial league game at Tynecastle and four days before a Scottish Cup quarterfinal at Easter Road.  Celtic had around 24 hours’ notice that he could be moving, that was crucial in planning how to cope with two visits to Edinburgh that could have seen us out of a cup for the first time in almost three years and facing a crisis in the league.

I know there are a lot of raw memories from last season, but Neil Lennon stepped up big time then, and in the months that followed Rodgers’ departure, taking the next available five domestic trophies.

Neil wanted the job permanently, Celtic only wanted him on an interim basis, so they agreed that he would take the job until the end of the season on condition he was considered for the permanent role.

I spoke to ‘sources close to Celtic’ when those events were unfolding.  It is fair to say that in late February 2019, few at Celtic expected Neil Lennon to get the gig come the end of the season.  Having appointed footballing and commercial success in Rodgers, they hoped to be able to snag an equally qualified candidate.

What became evident over the three months that followed, is that Rodgers was an exception to the rule – he came because he was an actual Celtic fan, he moved on because he was also a football man, and that’s what 99% of the games’ heroes do, folks.  There would be no box office manager this time.

Appetite for another over-achieving young European, like Ronny, was low.  The spectre of the most intense person to walk the earth (from Cork) lurked, as ever.  There were candidates who took small English clubs for a brief moment into the sun that is the Premier League, but none had managed a club of our size, with our challenges and expectation to win.

Unlike the deliberations in 2016, when Rodgers was appointed, no one felt hopeful at the direction of travel the recruitment process was going.  No one at Celtic would ever say, “We ended up with Neil”, but it’s how I viewed it.

Despite how Eddie Howe is viewed in the rear view mirror, 99% of us were delighted at the prospect of him taking over in the summer, I wrote, “the best English manager in the game” at the time.  When we return to the market after Howe’s rejection, it was roulette time.  There was no indication Ange Postecoglou would be more successful than Ronny Deila or Neil Lennon, but as in February 2019, a second ‘Rodgers-type’ appointment was not going to happen.

Five months in, I cannot believe how well Ange has done.  We are on a path I have faith in, recruiting talented players who excite and are within our budget.  The crucial difference between Ange and Pedro Caixinha, who before coming to Glasgow took his club to the CONCACAF Champions League Final, is hard to spot.

They were both roulette wheel appointments, sometimes the ball lands on your number, more often it doesn’t.  On the positive side, you get to spin the wheel, maybe there’s a Pep 2008 waiting for you, but that transition from Rodgers to Lennon, seven consecutive trophies to five consecutive trophies, was one for the ages.  Replacing an entire management team midseason is a business interruption even an Ulster medical testing lab cannot whitewash.

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  10. A fiver for your thoughts on

    JHB on 12TH NOVEMBER 2021 10:13 PM

     

    A FIVER FOR YOUR THOUGHTS @ 9:00

     

     

    ——

     

     

    The inference that I am drawing is that if you are serious about your reputation, your future and your managerial CV, and want to move ‘up the ladder’, then if you come to (two-horse)Scotland, you better make sure that you leave as a success. If there is the slightest possibility that you could be ‘pipped’, then you get out while the going is good.

     

     

     

    Brendan ensured that, so yes I believe the Gerrard appointment hastened his departure. Gerrard has also ensured it with the financial situation at Ibrox, a drop in performance this season and a perceived stronger Celtic challenge, combining as the trigger.

     

     

     

    The timing of the vacancies at Leicester & Villa respectively were either very fortuitous, or, perhaps engineered by the representatives of messrs Rodgers & Gerrard promoting their successful(to date) clients’ wishes.

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    I don’t see it that way with the BR move

     

    I’m of the opinion he wanted serious transfer monies to kick on after a treble treble and do something in Europe but the board were not interested in backing him to that level they were happy with treble x 3 and another almost in the bag

     

    Then serious breakdown in relationships at board level So he looked for a move

     

     

    Gerrard different

     

    1 trophy in 9 after 3 1/2 years

     

    Told by board that serious downsizing required in January possibly only loan deals to replace

     

    Celtic rebuilding and strengthening

     

    If he losses league his credibility shot to pieces

     

    So he looks for a move soon as possible

     

     

    So Gerrard did as you suggested for the reasons you suggested

     

     

    I’m just not buying that BR went for same reasons

     

    If the board had given him the funds he wanted quite a few players would have moved on got the move they wanted BR would have bought and strengthened

     

    10 would have been secured

     

    For Europe we would have been better prepared

     

    And probably Gerrard would be history

  14. David66 on

    Good morning all Tim’s across the globe from a dark and chilly Garngad

     

     

    1 week to we see the bhoys again, canny wait.

     

     

    I hope Cal Mac is ok after that horrendous challenge on him.

     

     

    I thought young Patterson done ok going forward last night but like his Rankers team mate Tavernier cannot defend. But he could be coached as he is still very young.

     

     

    Up early as me and the bhoy are off clay pigeon shooting. Never done it before so I am looking forward to it.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D :)

  15. Hot Smoked on

    Spot how many Scotland players are actually named in this report:

     

     

    Former Scotland striker Steven Thompson:

     

     

    “You add in the five players that are missing tonight and we have a really strong squad all over the pitch now. There’s great depth there.

     

    Patterson has been first class, you can tell he’s a real talent. He showed his quality and athleticism in abundance tonight.”

     

     

    Apparently, no one else is worthy of a mention.

  18. Hot Smoked on

    PTB

     

    Don`t panic !

     

     

    `…not dense ones like high rises or residential homes.`

     

     

    corporaljonesCSC

  19. fourstonecoppi on

    WISHAW TIM on 12TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:58 PM

     

    Theoriginalsadiesbhoy,, 😂Brian Cockz!! , funny how his name was mentioned! A fat hun , who dodges tax

     

     

    where are you getting this info????

  20. petec on

    David66,

     

     

    Good Morning,

     

     

    That tackle on our Captain was horrendous but he carried on. Callum is Top Drawer, the dude that done it was just on the pitch.

     

     

    Fingers crossed everyone comes through the next game unscathed.

  23. fourstonecoppi on

    PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 13TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:29 AM

     

    I thought Brian Cox’ family were originally from Ireland, like many Dundonians.

     

     

    Aye me tae!!

     

     

    Early life

     

    Cox was born in Dundee on June 1, 1946 as the youngest of five children.[6][7] He is from a working-class Roman Catholic family of Irish and Scottish descent. Attended St Mary’s Forebank Primary School and St Michael’s Junior Secondary School

     

     

    Still wait waiting on ‘fat hun who avoids taxes’ info answer………….

  24. ernie lynch on

    CADDINGTONCOMMON on 13TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:34 AM

     

    ‘According to the SMSM Van Bronckhorst has jetted in !’

     

     

    ##

     

     

     

    Meeting in London apparently.

     

     

    Why not Glasgow?

  25. Martim1980 on

    Sevco:

     

     

    Hi Gio, so we can’t pay compensation to your club so you’ll have to break your contract and there’s no signing on fee.

     

     

    We paid last year’s bonuses in confetti shares.

     

     

    We haven’t sold anyone in years.

     

     

    Players are angry with recent signings’ wages.

     

     

    Some refusing to agree new deals.

     

     

    Spine of the team are over 35.

     

     

    There’s no transfer kitty, in actual fact we’re losing 2 million a month.

     

     

    Van Bronckhurst: any good news?

     

     

     

    Sevco:

     

    Aye, Jimmy Bell’s still here and we are still staunchly racist and anti- Catholic and so are the SFA and referees. WATP

  27. An Tearmann on

    11.58

     

    You are ruminating.it is not healthy.

     

    If you have support,take it,speak to someone.

     

     

    You are getting yourself confused…again

     

    Your racism is unhealthy reflects only on you.its seeping out your stereotypes.

     

    Your pretty pesh at being a troll.

     

    It did work with Gerryfromthebrig tho iirc.maybe you should tex him for attention.

     

     

    Post about Celtic soon sometime,but its good to know inside your head i can berth anytime in…you choose hahaha….and you choose often!! wish you wouldn’t tho as you will view this as some form of oxygen when in reality its pity.

     

    You have a good day now :-))

     

     

    https://youtu.be/gkTb9GP9lVI

  29. petec on

    Jimmy Bell – A National Treasure.

     

     

    Is he on minimum/living wage?

     

     

    Jimmy – the Soul of Ibrox.

     

     

    Not Good.

     

     

    Haters gonnae Hate.

  32. petec on

    Jimmy Bellend takes so much out of Newco, wages they can ill afford.

     

     

    Bellend is the link – the never missing link @ the hate factory.

  36. Saint Stivs on

    The Retro CelticFour leaf clover Retweeted

     

    St. Johnstone FC News ★★

     

    @sjfcnews

     

    ·

     

    Nov 10

     

    All this talk about winning more trophies than Rangers in Gerrard’s time at the club when in actual fact we’ve won more major trophies than their entire football club.

  38. Martim1980 on

    MORAVCIK on 13TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:17 AM

     

     

    Thanks for the correction, I don’t read the msm so no idea of his circs.

     

     

    So he failed in China?

  41. EmeraldBee \o/ A Double Niner!! on

    MARTIM1980 on 13TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:25 AM

     

    MORAVCIK on 13TH NOVEMBER 2021 11:17 AM

     

     

    Thanks for the correction, I don’t read the msm so no idea of his circs.

     

     

    So he failed in China?

     

     

    MARTIM, 35% win rate when he got dumped!

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