Are we stronger ?
I am 100% sure there will be many who will point out that the window is still open and there is lots of time to strengthen the squad, sure, I agree with that 100%.
Problem I have is we are about to go into our third CL qualifier totally unprepared, again, and we are. There is only so much spin that can be put on things, our defence is still a shambles.
Our record signing has had one competitive game against a team from a diddier league than ours in a dead rubber game, he did Ok, but that’s all, he was never tested .
Our new LB who presumably is going to replace KT showed signs that he could come good, but in all honesty, he also showed signs that he can be a bomb scare as well. The RB position, we have signed a twenty eight year old from Israel and he has a ten min spell in an international game replacing Nir Bitton and he has not had any suitors in his illustrious career to date, till we come along that is. Sorry but he really doesn’t fill me with confidence, I hope to be proven wrong, so, imho our defence is weaker than last season, as it stands today it’s much weaker, so much for our forward planning.
The midfield is where all games are won and lost. Where are we with our midfield, I wish I knew ! I hope Lenny knows,, Broonie is getting every second on the pitch, he is not even getting subbed off, so he is a stick on.
His partner will be either CalMac if he is still around or Bitton, who seems to be getting lots of game time. Is it because CalMac is for the off, I sure hope not ! CalMac is our metronome, without him we would struggle in many games, unless he was replaced with someone as good again imo.
The rest of the midfield is a bit of a problem,, it will depend on who is fit.
We have quite a few players to keep happy,,, will The Wizard of Oz be around,,, will Ollie Ntcham still be at the club,,, will Scotty Sinclair be plying his trade elsewhere? Who knows.
We have Ryan Christie who will get game time,, he is making it nigh on impossible to drop him ! Delighted for the boy, he deserves it.
Who joins him in the middle ? We know it won’t be Ewan Henderson, shame but there you go. He is another who will ply his trade elsewhere imo, so who does join Ryan ?
Silly me it will be two wingers and one other to join Ryan, as our previous manager said we have millions of wingers.
So who does Lenny play ? We know that Lenny likes wingers so he will play two most weeks. I recall he very often played a 424 system, it worked in the main but at times it failed big time. He will have matured since then I am sure not to repeat those mistakes ,, if things seem to be not working I am sure he will be able to change things as the game progresses.
James and one other it is then. Will it be Marian Shved what a left foot eh ?Or Lewis Morgan who Lenny seems to like ?
I will digress here, but did anyone notice in the game the other night when Shved came on and Morgan was moved into the number ten role, he was superb imo,,, the first thing he did was to release Shved who should have scored. Great vision and movement, maybes a thought for the future.
Or even Jonny Hayes, the Young fella from City Arzani doesn’t seem to be anywhere near the team presently, yip we seem to be Ok for wingers. There is still no real flair in the mid though.
Up front we have Eddy, the Griff and hopefully Bayo .
Jeez we have been so lucky that Eddy has managed to stay reasonably fit else we would have been really struggling up front !
Will Lenny play Mikey Johnston up front or as a winger, a winger probably,,, he is definitely getting better and better and is not scared to take a player on.
Will he play Eddie as the lone striker or out wide ? Will Griff get the nod up front ? I suppose it’s a decent dilemma to have rather than having to worry about who he has to play.
So you will have to forgive me for seeing things as the glass is half empty. Had we prepared for these season defining games last year or even in the January window, we could have had players lined up to join as soon as the window opened had we done our planning. We managed to bring in a defender who has broken our record fee for one so please spare me the bullshit that we can’t do it ! Pedro would have needed weeks to recover from spending that amount !
My glass would have been half full if we had prepared for these games with the diligence that they deserve,, as it is we are looking at the broken record of planning to fail again, we are just not learning from our past mistakes are we.
So it’s now just down to Lenny playing with the hand he has been dealt with for the time being and hoping against hope that we can pull this CL qualification off . Sadly there is many in the support that don’t care about Europe, all they can think about is the ten, the ten that justifies the cheating huns existence.
Do those who run the club care, well do they ?
Of course they don’t, they only care about relieving you of your hard earned ! They have sold their soul for the Filthy Lucre !
The huns are allowed to cheat till their hearts content with the backing of the corrupt SFA and the equally bent SPL or whatever they call themselves now and not a single peep from our club. A cynic would have you believe that it’s with our clubs blessing, they have sold out, you don’t have to take my word for it, just ask the Res 12 boys, or even better if you opened your eyes the failings are staring you in the face.
Oh but, but, but, we have won the last nine trophies, yes Brendan did !
He’s now gone, but, but we are backing Lenny ! Are we ?
It’s not how much we spend it’s how we spend it. Have we got value for the money spent this window so far ? Nobody can say one way or the other.
These are not Lenny’s signings btw, least Jullien and Boli arny.
They were scouted long before Lenny came on board, Lenny has said on more than one occasion that he want’s quality not quantity, have we bought quality ? Is our new defence the quality that Lenny envisaged ?
Who knows, but if they fail who gets the blame? As ever time will tell but I have this horrible gut feeling that this is not gonna turn out as we had hoped, I pray that I am wrong, I really do, I just don’t like this feeling but it’s all I have to go on.
No sugar coating, no sticking the head in the sand and hoping for the best, it’s just what I believe and feel.
Just to add….Huns….I HATE THEM FOR MAKING ME HATE THEM.
Take care HH
The Exiled Tim
If you wish to write for the site we would be delighted to hear from you.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com
THEEXILEDTIM
Much there for me to agree with,mate. I’m still at a loss as to why we paid £7m and £20k a week for Julien when offering that £20k a week as a pay rise to Boyata would have done the trick-and saved us £7m!
Of course,I’m still trying to figure out the financial genius involved in last year’s decision not to find a c£3m centre half so that we could punt Boyata at the same time for £10m.
Leave the football to the football men and we will be in a better place.
Margaret McGill
Your video at the end of the last article has put me right off the idea of them 80s revival shows. Dunno what hurts the most-my eyes or my ears!
Personally I think we should start avoiding the summer transfer market – unless in emergency and use it for selling excess only. We need a fully gelled team going into this time of year, not a team trying to start to fit in new players. Far better to get the team in place over the remaining games of the season and hit the ground running with a team that know each others strengths and weaknesses
TET understand your angst, at present don’t know how this season is going to pan out. We have not played against quality teams. Our team seems a bit hit or miss. Lenny is trying a new approach, moving the ball quicker more interchange in a positive manner. But we tend to at the present mispass giving ball to opponent. luckily we have not been punished as some have stated it’s been like pre season frendlies. Next couple of games should give us a better idea how we are going to play, even then what is going to be our starting eleven/fourteen (bench players). Looking forward to season. Don’t know if the cheats will still be about. Effing scandal, financial fair play, knickers. If it was us we would be sine died.. Angry me.
Boyata?
The guy who went on strike and let us down ?
Glad to see the back of him. Is Julienne any better? Who knows at this stage but I suspect his attitude will be.
Boyata was a fkn snake. I’m glad we didn’t offer him any more.
To do what he did was unforgivable.
THE EXILED TIM, good post with some good points, I would definitely play mikey as a winger, he will terrorise defences, about backing lenny, lets see if we get another couple of quality players in before the window shuts, ill keep my powder dry till then.hh.
TWISTY, agree about boyata money talks to these people, shame really.hh.
BP
He’s up there with Mo Johnston in my book as a player I wish had never seen inside Paradise.
TET Congratulations. A solid counterpoint to the current euphoria. I am in your camp. For the present at least. Unconvinced. For starters, Pedro is a year late with the centre back and we shouldn’t allow him to forget that. The problem I see is that Pedro doesn’t see quality buy-ins as assets that can be re-sold. We are four games away from £30m quid! Buy a spine of quality. Sell it again in January if things get drastic. Alas, I fear it’s already too late for the current CL qualifying campaign. But hopefully you get my drift. Late with the planning again. That is assuming there is any.
Re Morgan, I said yesterday in a discussion with Mahe that I thought he had the attributes to play the Armstrong role that has been missing. He’s quick, two-footed and full of energy. Could even be the box to box player we were looking for in Turnbull. Could save Pedro £3m. He’d like that.
Having said all that be assured that I am and always will be fully behind anyone wearing the hoops. The suits don’t wear hoops.
TET
A lot of points fairly made. I think we should re-phrase the old Board/PL statement, which has proven to be hard to live up to.. i.e. “We aim to come out of the transfer window stronger than we came in”
I think it should read as “When we lose one or more of our top players in the transfer window, we will attempt to recruit others with potential to be as good or better in the near future”
It is less snappy and optimistic but , I think, slightly more accurately describes our approach.
I enclose a link to another well written article about the relationship between Boards and managers, this time referencing Spurs. I am not convinced that the role of Maurice Tiny Pockets at Spurs has changed much since he joined but he has decided to dog whistle his displeasure to the Spurs support.
I pose the question- Is this because
a) It’s exactly the same problem as that between PL and Celtic managers- & we need to get back to the 60s and 70s with real football men in charge of millions and multi-millions.
b) Pochettino wants to have his responsibilities widened to have more of a say in transfers than he has had in the past.
c) Pochettino is letting the fans know that Daniel Levy is encroaching more and more onto his turf.
or d) A come and get me plea to Man U, Real, Bayern, Barcelona or PSG.
I suspect many posters on Sentinel Celts will favour options a) and c) but I am not so sure it isn’t d).
Pochettino wins PR battle
TWISTY, great minds think alike?
To the guy whos slandered boyata he wasnt a snake lol brendan rodgers was a snake and boyata and dembele wanted to leave due to that only boyata and dembele where made out to be the snakes and a think celtics defence will be promising this season also and the Israeli boy aint had much game time because hes only been back playing football for 2 years due to a serious car crash so he must be a good footballer if there willing to still give him a chance at age of 28 hes highly spoke about from both old club and Israel stay positive we have this in the bag HH
So why has the The Daily Rangers not went near the the recent Lord Lionel Persey QC publication when the The Scottish Hun has.
I think it´s a fair assessment to state that The Daily Rangers is more obedient than The Daily Hun.
I also never knew that the comments section between The Evening Times and The Herald are identical.
SFTB an interesting article you linked to. This phrase caught my eye “…the transfer window contorts otherwise reasonable people into rabid caricatures….” It certainly could apply to yours truly! Lol!
Seriously, there are certainly parallels between Levy and Lawwell in terms of power and fiefdom. I am inclined to plump for option 2 in your list – that Pochettino is merely looking for a bigger say in transfer matters. This link seems to suggest similar:
https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/31/mauricio-pochettino-tottenham
I just wish that Brendan Rodgers had employed similar tactics earlier. After filling the top tier, giving us the invincibles, and giving Peter all that champions league money, he was rewarded with having to scrabble about in the bargain basement million pound market and having to enthuse over the acquisition of Comper and Hendry. That was the apposite time for him to speak out. Had he done, who knows? We might have landed Schar, Piccini and McGinn last summer in time for AEK…
Sean
If you’ve a problem with the manager, the board, whoever, deal with it in any which way you can, but NEVER leave your team mates in the shit.
Rodgers? Yes. First sign of a threat, following a loss to the Huns and another visit from them imminent, he scurried off.
The losers in the whole Boyata Rodgers debacles were the fans and the other players.
I wouldn’t give either of them a nod in the desert ( despite them being a huge part in our 3×3 success.)
We have sauntered through our first 2 European ties, winning the recent one 7 nil, a bit of a change since the Red Imps saga.
I agree the Estonians were poor enough but I thought the Bosnians were a decent team who in previous years would have caused us a bit of bother.
Overall I am feeling very optimistic about the season ahead Ryan & Mikey have started brilliantly, jury is obviously out on the new recruits, but so far I like what I saw Tuesday night re Boli ,Julien & Shved. The previous game Boli was suffering from a virus so I’m prepared to cut him a bit of slack on that one.
However what really made me sit up Tuesday night was the form of N’tcham, I thought he was sensational in the more forward role., and I also thought Bitton had a fine game.
I would agree that the right back position is our obvious Achilles Heel and I also agree that stiffer tests lie ahead.
We can speculate on who might yet leave & who might yet come in but I prefer just to concentrate on the squad we have at present, As I said previously the one position that worries me is right back, we haven;t seen the new bhoy yet but even if he is a good ‘un, we still need another. For me Anthony Ralston needs to go out on loan for the season & get regular football. He could do a Ryan Christie & come back & make us all eat humble pie.
We have the Griff back & he will score goals if we can keep Bayo fit, I feel he could be the surprise packet of the year,
Overall not complacent but cautiously optimistic.
Thanks for the comments.
It’s a difficult one, this frustration just shouldn’t be happening, we are the biggest and richest by far club in the country, but on some levels we act like an amateur outfit, until the remit from the boardroom changes this is the way things are gonna be and we are just gonna have to suck it up.
TET
I’m fully in agreement re the flawed strategy that leads us to this continuous fire fighting at qualifying time. I think that’s down to the SPL still seen as priority and that frustrates the life out me.
This time around it was even more difficult in my opinion due to Rodgers’ unforgivable timing . Lenny gets the gig on cup final day and I’m getting more angry by the minute.
However as with Ronnie, and Lou Macari, Liam Brady et al, I find myself praying they succeed.
So Lenny starts the rebuilding. I think everyone will agree KT (probably) moving on isn’t due to Lenny. £25m? He’s going! Regardless of the manager.
So Lenny has to plan for that too.
I think the defence lined up in BR’s last game ( or maybe the penultimate game under him) as:
Toljan
Boyata
Ajer
Hayes
I believe we will put a better back 4 out in the SPL than that.
Europe?
Under every manager we’ve had in the last 15 to 20 years we have taken some real pastings. I’ve no doubt if we do get to the CL, and end up in Manchester or Madrid we will take more, and that would’ve been the case under BR too.
My focus at present is backing Lenny to at least try and improve that defence, and as I said, I think he has / will.
The strategy or lack of is making it extremely difficult for every manager.
I’m done with going over that same ground day in day out. The only thing that will change that is fans voting with their feet and that’s never happening. Some of the most dissenting voices about the board are the same ones keeping them in a job. I’ve been there.
So for me, it’s get behind Lenny. Sadly if we fail despite his best efforts it’ll be him who pays with his job. A job he’s doing with a passion for the club.
If he succeeds? CL groups? 9 in a row- those overseeing the failed strategy will take the plaudits- and continue to do more of the same.
The potential we have is frightening. The realisation of that potential is more likely to happen, sadly, if we were to lose the title and fail to reach the CL, and the fans took to the pitchforks.
So for me – now watching from a distance – I’m staying fully behind Lenny. There’s no more I can do than that.
MIT, JNP, Sollkitts,
Thanks for the attention yesterday .. just seen it. Must read back more often
BRB @ 10.17am,
” After filling the top tier, giving us the invincibles, and giving Peter all that champions league money, he was rewarded with having to scrabble about in the bargain basement”
Indeed. And as I recall, Lenny had the same issues before deciding to move on as well.
Meanwhile, many continue to blame the managers or players when they decide enough is enough and move on, yet refuse to have anyone question the ability of this board to prevent the weakening of the 1st team every season.
Astonishing in its sycophancy.
Twisty. Rest assured. We’re ALL behind Lenny. We maybe just want to watch his back re lack of investment in necessary quality – as I’m sure you do too.
BTW, I understand that not everyone would wish to relinquish a season ticket by way of protest. But if at some point in the future the fanbase wanted to make a point to the Celtic board might it not be more appropriate to boycott kit sales?
Like you I am ever hopeful that it never reaches that stage but just a thought.
Re KT, I am continually surprised by the alacrity with which everyone greets the prospect of his departure. To me it’s another marker of our lack of ambition. What’s wrong with a proven £25m player plying his trade with Celtic? And how much of any transfer fee would this board spend on players? Really?
Right. I am away oot tae whack golf balls.
Uber at 12:10. Exactly!
BRB @ 12.14pm,
Again, exactly.
For some reason, many prefer to praise the Big Spreadsheet and encourage our best players to move on.
KT belongs at CP.
What we should be doing is building on such strengths, and investing a little bit to strengthen in other areas, then enjoying the dividend of that investment via CL cash, improved advertising rates, better retail sales….
Quite simple really. But not for this Celtic Board. As usual, X-Files are more readily available there than logic.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1156636504866938881
Oh dear….
TNT
Personally, I never believed the Arsenal want PL story. But, as I recall, he did get a raise to stay. If so, what is the difference? The only difference I can see is that Celtic gave PL what he wanted, but wouldn’t do so for BR.
Season Tickets, 3 new strips,3 Day Festival, £23 last round, £26 for Cluj game, getting fleeced yet again……….on top of all the accumulated money from Armstrong,BR money et al,and still looking for a right back, an absolute joke.
MIT
I’ve no idea if BR asked for and was refused a rise? Is that speculation or fact?
What is fact is the timing of his walking away was unforgivable. I think he’d been working his ticket since he lost at Ibrox. Not just beaten, skelped. I think Gerard has him worried.
Won’t be a popular opinion but I believe it was more to do with the fact he was getting concerned about the challenge.
His transfer dealings left a lot to be desired. If players were being thrust upon him that he didn’t want he should have the balls to come out and tell us.
Lenny is 10 times the man he is. I think BR’s walking away was cowardly. Nothing will ever change my mind on that. Unless of course he wants to come out and tell us there were other reasons?
Twists,
In an ideal world, managers could be candid about such dealings, but they’d also be signing their name onto a blacklist.
Keeping schtum is one of the only ways they’ll maintain a career in management. I’d suggest its often even more important than their ability as a manager.
I dobt blame BR for leaving. The league treble was pretty much there. He made his point the only we he could, that he wouldn’t be made a mug of an overpaid suit, so cheerio. My opinion of course. The irony being he also earned PL another wee £9M onto the spreadsheet.
And, surrendered total control back to him.
So who was the real winner this season?
And yet again, the manager or player who moves on due to PL’s ever tightening purse strings, is the scapegoat, while Disco Pete struts back onto the turf under the new light shows, asking everyone, “why am I so good?”
Looks like an X-File, Scully.
TNT
You raise some interesting points. I’m just jumping into the car, and we have silly rules here about not texting and driving, so will respond more in a bit.
But I will say this.
I think you are largely correct about the timing of BR’s departure; BR got out while his stock was high. Wining the double treble went someway to rehabilitating his reputation, but losing even one cup in what is seen as a diddie league would have undone all of that. I think the losses to the zombies scared him and hastened his departure.
But, the same considerations call into question why NFL returned. With his record, No top club was going to hire him.
Any football on tonight? Hope Aberdeen get a good result for the country’s co-efficient!
28/9/2017. “The Hoops are in their strongest financial position ever” After announcing pre-tax profits of £6.9 mill. and boosted by a £30.00 mill. C.L. windfall, after announcing the green light for an £18.mill. hotel and museum.
Two years later after selling Moussa Dembelle for £19.7 mill. Stuart Armstrong for £7.00 mill. and receiving £9.00 mill. for Brendan Rodgers and his managerial team. Total ins £35.7 mill.
Spending on Chris. Jullien £7.2mill. Boli Bolingoli £3.01 mill. and £1.62 mill. on Hatem Abd Elhamed. Total outs £11.83 mill.
Letting go on a free transfer or returning to their parent club. Gamboa, Compper, Boyata, Lustig, Allan, Izaguiire, Mulumbu, DeVries, Toljan, Burke, Benkovic.
i think the next couple of weeks will give us a good idea where we are.
the type of football we play and the new signings.
but its pretty pathetic the way the football side is run.imo
TnT,
I am in agreement about the timing of BR’s departure…it was both unprofessional and it flew in the face of what he said about his connection with the club.
At some point he was going to leave because he is ambitious and back to back trebles was the pinnacle of achievement. The only way for him was down at that point. I do not believe that SG was a factor. BR was damaged goods when he arrived and a success when he left. Both he and the club benefited. The residual effects are can we ever trust anyone again when they claim a strong affection for the club? For me, BR’s unseemly departure puts him in the charlatan category.
MIT,
Not sure what to make of your NL comment and his hiring. Are you expressing surprise that we hired him when no top club would touch him? Or perhaps, you are surprised that he took the job?
I think NL’s hiring is PL re-establishing his control within the club. NL could only dream of getting a gig at a club of Celtic’s standing. So, of course, he took the job, knowing how PL was going to manage him. Initially, I expect good results on the park, but I think it will turn sour very quickly as Other clubs will suss NL’s tactics and his inability to vary them within a game. This may even emerge during the games vs Cluj. These games will show if there is something there, or whether we are a disorganised collection of players, rather than a team.
I also think that Sevco will be stronger this year and that performances from the MIB will hit new lows leading to a tight race. I do not see them going burst either. SDI will extract something from them but why kill the golden goose?
Rebus
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17809756.rangers-fans-warned-sectarian-singing-pavillion-show/
TnT et all
I don’t think there will be many out there who is not behind Lenny, even those who didn’t want him appointed will be behind him, what other choice is there ?
I am behind him 100%, I still think we are a shambles for a so called well run club, nothing that a professional DoF couldn’t sort out PDQ.
HH
It all depends on what is termed as going bust, presently it’s looking like the huns have major financial penalties coming down the pipe, I honestly can’t see them having the wherewithal to finance these bills, a pre pack admin to get rid of the debt would be the
the way ahead me thinks else they are tied to Mash et all from now till eternity, if they do go down this route, it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the fans will be, our support will gorge and gloat again as they did before, the rest will be telling imo.
Just posted this on the other site … no offence to SC, but most of us on here seem to be of a similar view already… while I feel like my missionary work on the other place is not yet finished…
*****
Here is a short article outlining/comparing the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors vs. those of the CEO/executive.
In short, “A company’s chief executive officer is the top dog, the ultimate authority in making management decisions. Even so, the CEO answers to the board of directors representing the stockholders and owners. The board sets long-term goals and oversees the company. It has the power to fire the CEO and approve a replacement.”
As many on here have been discussing, and as P67’s article sets out, as presently run, Sevco are likely not a viable business. Unless they get some mega sales of players (and repeat it again next season and the season after that) and/or make massive money from a European campaign (and an EL run likely doens’t do it, they need at least one or two CL campains), I dont see how this business can survive.
With their impending judgments, the only alternative for them is to pay wages comparable to Aberdreen or lesser teams… but, you and I know that their arrogance would never permit that.
so, Celtic have to prepare for another nuclear winter in Scottish football…. and soon.
And this is not bedwetting… we know it happened last time, and it seems quite possible, if not likely, that it will happen again.
What we dont know is what was done to really and truly address this situation, to ensure that it never happens again …. either by the league or Celtic (these are two separate, but related, notions, and Celtic needs to be involved in the plans by the former and needs to have a plan for the latter.
Our plan last tine they went under seemed to be to close our eyes, plug our ears, and pretend that it hadn’t happened.
But, having happened once, we know that it is likely to happen again … and each time it does, it compromises the league and Celtic …(the latter, even, if only by association). Surely TV revenues would be higher for a league where a top team has not gone into administration TWICE… (leaving aside the same club issue for the moment).
The SPFL is already seen as a diddy league, which makes it harder for Celtic to sign the kind of players they need in order to succeed in Europe. Agents will be aware that the league is a joke, so are not going to rush to have their players move to Scotland…. or if we do, we will have to pay over the odds to get them to play in the slum that is the scottish league.
This is not a chicken little ‘the sky is falling’ concern … the sky already fell once, and is looking very likely to fall again … and soon.
Last time DD acted like a grief stricken widow throwing herself on her late husband’s casket as it was lowered into the ground. He couldn’t bring himself to accept that they had died.
Other than lying to us, (they weren’t relegated), what will DD and his band of merry men do when they go into administration again?
What plans have Celtic got in place to deal with that seeming inevitability?
Failure to plan is planning to fail has never seemed more true.
And as a Board, they have an obligation to shareholders to do this.
And I accept that not every decision by a Board needs to be shared with shareholders. In fact, I accept that many should not be shared publicly.
However, this is an extraordinary situation which strongly suggests that shareholders are entitled to know what steps are being taken to ensure that the integrity of the game, and hence, their investment is protected. Particularly, as this exact scenario has already happened once, and there is no indication that any steps were taken to ensure that it could not happen again, or if plans were put in place, they clearly have not been followed, or we wouldn’t be right back to the same scenario.
Have to raise an eyebrow to talk of BR being afraid of Sevco/Gerrard challenge . This was the crap I was reading from follow follow and SMSM last summer . ( Remember we mocked it ?)
Worth noting that after the sevco ( single ) defeat , not defeats (plural) they were up level with us , by the time BR left the gap was 8 and counting ; think we had conceded only one ” dodgy” goal since break and were beginning to race away from the pack , sevco and their “challenge ” now closer to Killie than to us . Not looking like a challenge or reason for fear to me .
Lots of revisionism re BR I fear .
Lets not forget there were 9m reasons why Celtic was happy for him to leave in Feb .
None of us are privvy to the details of the whole BR -Celtic fall out/divorce ( and to quote Phil Mac ” the devil is in the detail ” ) though we’ll all have our own theories / opinions ; for me BR was gone last summer , he just hadn’t left yet , and nothing to do with a mystical challenge from a new ” special one ” . I mean “spooked ” by Gerrard ? Really ? Can’t think why the Foxes didn’t go for him instead of BR then it would’ve been a hell of a lot cheaper . Still I’m sure that if any of Leicester’s close rivals can’t get the better of Rodgers this season they only have to call for the guy who “spooked” him in Scotland 🙂
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Leicester /Rodgers / Celtic negotiating was under way a lot earlier than anyone has let on , would explain the Jan window of short term loans and little if any BR spending .
I know there’s been talk of 8m bid for Castagne in Jan , but genuine ??? Still no RB in AUG ???
Whatever the real reasons for Rodgers going , for me way down the list of theories would be “spooked” by ” Gerrard of the sevconians” 🙂
Rebus
From what I know of him, I like NFL as a person. Much respect.
But, I was not impressed by his coaching the first time around. And I have long advocated for Celtic to break out the parochial scottish mould in many respects … including hiring a young progressive foreign coach who would freshen the place up.
NFL is here now, so I hope he does well, but, honestly, he has never shown me that he is the guy to take us forward. He reminds me too much of a younger Martin O’Neill … and that generation of coaches has had its day.
But, was I surprised at his appointment? In hindisght, it makes complete sense.
He appeals to the romantic (but no longer valid) notion of Celtic as the put upon oursider, so supporters will rally around him.
On the other hand, he is very much the company guy. He knew what he was getting into, and was prepared to accept the role, even if he would not be supported (he got thrown under the bus after the shame game, and our Club never properly backed him as far as I was concerned) or financially.
BR is a also a company guy … but with an ego and aspirations that our provincial club could not match. There is only room for one sheriff at Celtic, and that is PL … BR couldn’t or wouldn’t accept that, so he left … clearly, NFL is okay with that. And, as you suggest, given his record in Scotland is discounted by all outside of scotland, and he bombed out at Bolton (admittedly, a bad club at the time), he would not have been considered for a job nearly as big as the celtic job anywhere else. And he has a family to feed, so I get why he would take the job.
jpm …. dont recognize your blog name (sorryy, I you have posted before and I have missed it )… so I will say welcome
Agree that there is much we dont know… and it is never as simple as this factor or that factor …. these things are usually more complex than that…
Do I think BR was ‘spooked’ by SG? Not the word I would use… but was it a factor? I suspect so …
BR had done everything he could do domesitcally, and his stock was never going to get higher … he wasn’t given the funds he thought he needed for Europe, and, after sweeping the Board, domesically, the only way was down …
would the defeat to the zombies have thrown him … he wouldn’t be human if it hand’t …. we looked like a team without heart and ideas that day … that has to be a concern for any coach … all coaches know that they have a limited shelf life at any club.. and that, eventually, players stop listening to even the best coaches ….
so, I think BR jumped wheh he had the chance, and before something happened that would dimiish his sale value (like anothe loss to the zombies)…
and the SG factor probably had something to do with it …. .like it or not, they are much more visible down south because of SG… adn we know the Englsih tendency to blow their own horn …. so, if SG had somehow managed to sneak a trophy last season, it would have been all over the papers like the second coming of Christ himself… and BR’s reputation would have been correspondingly trashed down there …
all of these things, I suispect, were factors in BR making the decision he did, and when he did.
Mike
Couldn’t agree more. Became apparent to me BR cares more about BR than Celtic, or Leicester for that matter as they will undoubtedly find out sooner rather than later.
PL cares about PL
Celtic fans are keeping Celtic going and always will.
When your own wage packet is the main factor, satisfying your own needs ahead of all else, you get what we got.
When we were thumping the rotten mob by 5 , regularly, Rodgers was giving it the “ why would I leave here, I’m happier than I could be anywhere else.
He was the golden boy and that satisfied him more than the £ ever could.
A few crap results later including a very fortunate 1-0 home win v them, and a 1-0 going on 5 nil defeat at Ibrox and the goalposts moved.
To Leicester.
Can’t believe the bad feeling I have to the guy who gave us so much to celebrate. I never have liked 2 faced folk. Cowardly and 2 faced makes it worse.
Good riddance.
Cmon Lenny. Get us CL football whilst Leicester get fkn hammered week in week out.
BMCUWP @ 5:05
why pay Julien as opposed to Boyata? Net the two out, it probably comes to the same, I agree. But the problem is the knock on effect of doing that … if you raise Boyata another 20 K raise, it would raise the bar for everyone else (a high tide floats all boats)….. so, it wouldn’t just be replacing one with another ….
but, I agree that a deal should have been done last season, so we woul’dn’t have lost the transfer fee for Boyata.
MIT. 10.03
Absolutely and the AGM is the place to put answers on the agenda.
Not only does the “Rangers” model risk their future, it risks ours and every other club.
Further what has been the cost to Celtic to combat the cheating by signing players on matching wages?
Add to that lost CL revenue over ten years (and it is possible overdue tax isnt the only UEFA FFP rule that was breached since 2001) and you have cause for a rethink.
Presenting that cause is next.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17810175.scottish-football-rule-changes-2019-20-substitutes-handballs-penalties—need-know/ Scottish football rule changes 2019/20
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17810175.scottish-football-rule-changes-2019-20-substitutes-handballs-penalties—need-know/ Scottish football rule changes 2019/20
*except when it goes against the huns
Howdy folks and hope all are well on this thirsty Thursday.
Some great points have been brought up .
I am sorry to see Brendan referred to as a snake although I do understand why it happens.
To me theres one real snake at CP and it was him Brendan was running from when he realised he was gonna get played for a weak fool despite being excellent at his job and hitting every target going.
I happen to agree with Brendan on the principle of walking but not on the timing as a true Celt wouldnt do that. We now know he’s not a true Celt and said that to endear himself to the support but actions speak louder than words and he proved himself a great coach that we could have backed and held onto but working with a real true snake is unappealing when that person can just make unqualified decisions that directly impact your ability to do your job . The snake himself would not accept that by the way.
Theres still a real snake in situ and its in all our interests to try and force out or put under pressure to vacate and gtf.
I believe most on here accept that we need to get Peter either out of the building or away from football decisions.
We were told they dont read social media and Pedro refused to respond to a registered letter that was signed for ( sent by TeT ) so essentially we cannot contact or communicate with the person tasked with running the club we love and are the lifeblood of.
What a joke !!!
Theres one example that change is needed.
We need to bump heads together and come up with a way to get the message across to the boardroom that its not good enough,,many fans are unhappy ,, and we demand change.
Any ideas on how to do this anyone?
Great situation we find ourselves in ,,, principles wont let me financially support a board I want rid of so I refuse to purchase Ctv or anything from them.
This means you cant watch your team and your love slowly disappears as does the habit of watching the team.
They are literally forcing me away. Tet often says he hates the huns,,,nothing compared to the hatred I hold for this shower. Ill never forgive them.
Get out of our club.
Not one penny while you all are there. Well done,,very well done. Clubless in California.
Hail Hail
AFTERNOON ALL, will never forgive our custodians to fail to bury them when they had the chance, but Scotland needs the old firm celtic need the old firm, that’s why the bassas will never die, its feckin shameful, our forefathers will be turning in their graves.hh.
auldheid
How are you keeping?
Posted recently … I came across a website that I thought you might find interesting … you may be familiar with it already, but if not , you might find it of some use…
https://www.lawinsport.com/
I posted the other day that Boyata wanted £40k, say on a three year deal that is £6m, Jullien cost us £7m plus wages, wages commensurate with a £7m player must be £30K at least, no matter what way you look at the deal it’s rank awful from our management, had we brought in a CB when BR wanted one this could all have been avoided, and a signing on fee would have been the way to go for Boyata and paid him say £20K.
Or we could have sold Boyata for the £9-10 m that was touted at the time, we would have been quids in.
I am not looking at this from any another view other than from a financial one, we made a total bollix of it, didn’t you Peter.
Right, funeral mass to go to, laters.
Auldheid ,,
Do you not think we should force him out and talk to the next guy?
Perhaps its time to change tact or the person youre talking to.
The Agms are just stage managed affairs were nothing actually gets done.
Maybe the time for talking has passed.
On the Hun,,,perhaps they will deliver what I wish for,,,a restructuring leading to a better setup or an option to walk away from the worst league in the world. Our board certainly wont take the lead,,,perhaps forcing them is the only way.
Anyone up for a coup ? How about we physically take over the building and start there?
Hail Hail