When Friends Fall Out
Morning,all.
I think there was always going to be some fallout from our result at Ibrox last Thursday, but I didn’t expect it to be our manager falling out with the support! Although my suggestion to take over from Postecoglu was Andoni Iraola, now doing sterling work at Bournemouth, I’ve been supportive of Brendan Rodgers from the moment he was rehired. It probably helped that I hadn’t called him the rat or any of the other pejorative terms when he left us six years ago; as far as I was concerned, even though I wasn’t too happy (to put it mildly) with his timing,I felt that his position was being undermined by the CEO at the time, and therefore I had no real axe to grind when he walked back through the door.
Since then, with three trophies out of four and a healthy 13 point lead in the league, I’ve had little to complain about. Maybe his mild acceptance of that first transfer window eighteen months ago. Maybe the occasional poor performance. Most definitely his rigid adherence to “the system”, something which I feel is a huge negative in certain games which are crying out for a different approach. Certainly at Ibrox, where his record reads WDL, with four goals scored and six lost. But in general, he has my support, and I think that is now the case for the majority of the fans.
Or it was. I certainly didn’t agree with his outburst criticising the fans on Sunday. Apart from implying that there is a sense of entitlement amongst the support-not wise,that one-because of our reaction last week, he had a right pop at the fans for singing in praise of a prospective signing at the expense of the current incumbent. That the current incumbent in question is Greg Taylor calls his judgement, in my opinion, on this matter into question.
Taylor signed for us in 2019, and will shortly reach 200 games for the club. That’s proof enough that the manager rates him-all three of them! He was probably best for us under AP, when as in inverted left back he was told to stay on that side. Neil Lennon played him as an orthodox left back, but to say he had trouble settling in is an understatement. His performances under BR have been much better, but by not sticking to the left side, nowhere near as good as previously. And with his contract expiring in June and no apparent intention of signing a new one, is he really the player that BR wants to go into battle for?
Surely there are better ideas. Better battles to fight, if he must. Certainly wiser ones. I’ve no real problem with playing him while he is still our player, but I wouldn’t be picking a fight over him. Or over the fact that the fans were showing their approval of a potential new signing, because that is something we have done for decades. Even for Maurice Johnston while he was at both Watford and Nantes and before he was Judas! And I certainly remember “Johnny Doyle on the wing” being sung while he was still at Ayr United.
Brendan Rodgers knows more about football than I ever will. He also knows more about using the various media to get his message across. His comments on Sunday will have been made quite deliberately and with aforethought. So he knew what he was doing,and he is smart enough to have second-guessed the reaction. More importantly, it is a storm in a teacup, and will be forgotten about before very long.
Until the next time there are grumbles, and grumbles have a habit of festering and multiplying. A wise general chooses his battles. Hopefully a good result tomorrow night will put things right.
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Above article by BMCUWP
Regarding the blatant time wasting by opposition players against Celtic this season, especially goalkeepers, I note that Arsenal players have received 9 yellow cards already this season for the same offence.
The difference is that Arsenal players do it to protect a lead. Our opposition do it to protect a 0-0 draw in the first minute!😱
Bigrailroadblues
January 7, 2025 2:54 pm
“There shall be a gathering………”
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Oh! So these riotous assemblies and dissolute shindigs are now euphemistically referred to as a “Gathering”? As in a mob gathering?
I’m alerting the authorities.
Johnno
January 7, 2025 1:54 pm
Auldheid
Interesting question asked, and not to sure if the dictionary meaning, falls into the meaning within the footballing world.
Will try and answer from a personal perspective only, especially with others having different views also?
Are we entitled to see the best Celtic team possible?
Then I would say yes, and that’s the case for every football supporter, not just those of our club, even if it tries to be portrayed as such.
Are we entitled for it to actually happen?
Of course not, and never will.
The main to factors are due to the money within the game, that we miss out upon, due to the league we have to play within.
Until the landscape changes within European football, and very little evidence to say it will, very little chance of things changing either, and stuck within the current situation.
Are we entitled to be moaning about our season to date?
Again I would say no. Because if we were offered where we currently are before the start of the season, then I think most of our support would have bitten your hands off for the likes?
Getting the 119 trophy certainly helped matters in that regards.
Are we entitled to get improvement within the squad in January?
Yes of course. Our squad still has plenty of room for improvement within the 25man squad that was originally put in place by Rodgers.
Some players such as Palma and rocki have dropped even further down the plans of Rodgers, and entered the surplus to requirements category now.
Yang might be on the fringes of that category at present, but think he will be alright, with only 3 changes allowed to our CL squad.
This contract saga with Taylor has dragged on way to long, and should be resolved one way or the other at this stage also imo?
So overall Auldheid, I would say finding the right balance within the context of the word entitlement, within the footballing world, might be the best way forward imo?
=============
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
In football supporters’ terms there is nothing in your reply I would even try to counter but
(there is aye a but) 🙂
to turn things around what are players entitled to expect from the support having been paid by them?
Have the players/staff lost any or all entitlements as a result?
No “offer unto others as I do/offer unto you approach”? Does being a club based on the Christian spirit not ask more understanding of us in terms of of dealing with fellow humans who happen to pull on the jersey?
I know the support meet that founding spirit in charitable terms in barrowloads, but is that same charitable spirit lost when it comes to players and governance?
Why does that charitable spirit stop when it comes to the playing and governing side?
Why does that generosity of spirit that is evident when supporters gather together in the name of Celtic (like the SC McMillan initiative) seem to disappear when it comes to the football?
You speak for self as I do and the question can only be answered individually and internally after giving it some thought.
My take on Brendan’s outburst…he KNOWS Celtic fans wouldn’t be singing about Kieran if he wasn’t linked to us…by Brendan himself…ie…his meeting him publicly and press reports. Had neither of these happens…the support wouldn’t have been singing Kieran’s name…Brendan KNOWS this but still decided to make something of it…
Now…if the board don’t back him this window…he has the PERFECT excuse to upsticks and leave if another offer were to come in….”the fans AND board didn’t back me….Its Brendan who’s creating the perfect storm…
….meant to add him bringing up the fact the fans can’t accept persistent sideways and backwards passing…
31003,
When BR doubled down today my thoughts were he is trying to force his exit. He gets into a spat with the fans and then can say they never really accepted him, didn’t like his football so he felt it best to leave. I then told myself not to be so ridiculous. He has made a mistake but like most people with huge egos he won’t admit it. I think that’s more likely.
My final word on this is that in my opinion the support have been very understanding towards GT. He is not committed to our club and is negotiating with other clubs as we speak yet is playing every week. He is not the subject of any chanting from the stands or banners about why he continues to play. We accept it is his choice. Now the last player that I remember retaining his place whilst running down his contract was Henrik Larsson. GT is not the king of kings. He and BR would do well to remember that.
Atob
I agree with all you say…I think neither Brendan nor GT have any reason to fall out with the fans….looks like excuses…for whatever reason…to me..
JOHNNO
I had hoped he’d just say that he’d made his point. But naw.
If everyone is talking about the manager’s spat with some fans then no one is talking about The Old Firm game.
Am I right, or am I right?
Bodo Glimt manager for me if the inevitable happens….i think Brendan might just have been offered a new job in the summer…if not sooner..
These media guys ask the shittiest questions, that was like a hun presser with subservient media, not allowed to ask the questions we all want to know, like
“Brendan instead of falling out with the fans who pay your wages, over a nothing, can I ask when you seen it was going tits up at Ibrox, did you consider making formation changes ?”
Bobby
Exactly, thought the snide remark regarding Swansea fans and clapping was a very low blow handed out to our support?
Wasn’t much better than the high intensity attacking play for 95 minutes, that the next manager will be expected to bring to the club?
Speculation as to the motive behind it?
Have to be leaning towards wanting out unfortunately imo?
Rodgers knows only to well, that our support will never tolerate any person thinking they are bigger than our club?
And furthermore, he was quiet right to point out, the unity within our support, is what makes Celtic the club we are, through our supporters?
So Rodgers prepared to tackle that upon both fronts isn’t a good look upon himself whatsoever imo?
But possibly his intentions in the first instance imo?
Inq
The term ‘Gathering’ is used by the Latter Day Saints Church to describe its meetings. Perhaps these fine gentlemen who advertise these get together as on here have joined the Mormon faith and are simply getting together to discuss the Word of God.
😂
My completely uninformed take on the BR press fiasco is that Celtic publicly flirted with KT (perhaps in expectation that he might join and/or at the very least, trying to squeeze a better deal from GT), but now I’m hearing KT wont be joining until the summer, which means GT wont be leaving this window, and BR had to walk back some of the KT love-in, as GT will be needed until the end of the summer.
Rumour Kyogo to Atlanta
Bada
Just seen that rumour on twitter, a very vague video by Atalanta and everyone saying it’s about Kyogo signing, he did train at Lennoxtown today though.
To be honest the shite being served over the last few months isn’t football, it’s snoozeball.
That’s about my total knowledge of the game.
If we win tomorrow, this affair is likely to dissipate. Games are coming thick and fast, including Young Boys. The transfer window has slammed open. Names of potential recruits will hit the media. As I say, of we win, the furore will die back.
As for BR paving the way for his exit, I doubt that this is evidence of it.
If/When he leaves there will be no third return visit in the future. All he has to do is have a successful season, which looks very likely. If he does that, he can walk away into the future with his head up. Ange did it. Might not be such a bad thing if we have learned to conduct a proper recruitment process.
Just a hunch, but I have a feeling BR wants to move upstairs to DOF type role, either at Veltic or elsewhere.
This really is ta-ta this time,
Rebus
16 roads
“Plenty of posters on here know a lot more about the game in general than what Brendan does.”
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Whilst I have no idea of what it takes to manage a football club at the professional level I can look back at something from my days of managing an amateur office team in the 70s that I think applies still if a team is to be a winning one. Its about being appreciated.
Background.
NSB had around 8 teams in the 70s with a new one with a pool of around 20 guys ranging from little talent to good wanting to join the Civil Service (CS) Saturday Morning league.
There was no room there initially so the guys joined another league to be told a week or two later a vacancy had arisen in the CS Sat league.
The solution was for the the lads to stick with the league they were now in and the left overs find numbers to enter the CS Sat League. I was amongst the left overs after a period of playing absence because of young family demands. I was also, being over 30, (old in those days) the guy the leftovers wanted to be the manager.
I knew the responsibility being taken on, I HATED the opposition not turning up or not having a full team in my playing days and made sure that for the first match I had 12 players of very mixed ability but tons of enthusiasm turning up.
The 12th man I loaned to the main team as they only had 10! (Bournesouprecipe was in my 11 to help out on the day but most of his mates were in the main team and loyalty saw him play in only that first game. (I do tease him about making the wrong choice.)
That is the background, a team of mixed leftovers at various skill levels but those that were not at that level more than made up for it with enthusiasm and being bloody good company.
By end of season 1 we had started to draw then win the odd game. In season 2 I started looking for better players and stalked the best CF in the league, not the division, until he agreed to join us. He opened a stationery cupboard door I handed him the form he was looking for. He was from Castlemilk, The MULK where the late SFTB was from and that let me recruit from one of the best amateur football markets in the Glasgow area.
I built a spine around them. Wonderful guys and amazing characters it has been a privilege to get to know.
That spirit and skill/determination saw us get promoted 2 season in a row to the top division when I left to join another government dept and started all over again to build a new team.
The appreciation point I have eventually arrived at is that in improving the squad some of the original “leftovers” were not left over. I appreciated what they had done in the birth season and start of the growing season and made damn sure they felt appreciated in any way I could as the team improved. From being used subs to unused subs/supporters to used partygoers at The Alhambra Pub in Waterloo St when we celebrated after each game, win lose or draw.
Being appreciated is a big part of human well being and if BR was making that point (and I know there are different meanings being applied to his words) I think he was correct to do so and if the support want to give the meaning he insulted them that is up to them but at least it might cause them to adjust their thinking about his motives.
I think he is here long term with a long term vision that keeps success coming season on season (not just after A R2ngers game) where appreciation s a key factor in maintaining that success.
Only time will tell if attitudes change or as Johno says a bit more balance in judgments, taking the others perspective in to account is achieved.
TMG
Given Celtic played a part in the development of FSR that constrains spend to affordability which BR is most likely to have been aware of when DD recruited him does that not suggest that his past recruitment record at Leicester and Liverpool has less relevance to the conditions BR and rival clubs has to operate under than in the days days at the previous clubs?
There is no chance BR can run Celtic into the ground in pursuit of self aggrandisement.
Is it not equally possible that lessons have been learned from previous recruitment experience and that a better SYSTEM is being deployed of which BR is a part in setting out the specifications needed to fulfil his vision of a better Celtic to improve the chances of finding diamonds in the dust?
Hope more/fear less ?
INIQUITOUS IV,
3.34
I note what you say regarding blatant time wasting.
Now you know what Frodshambhoy and myself had to endure, when you were back in Glasgow, and it was your round !!!!
Blatant red card offence but we gave you a yella instead ,😁😁😁
Hope dem Yankee Bhoys are more forgiving 😂😂
Hope your saving for your next trip as
“You’re going to need a bigger wallet” !!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you’re well C 💚
c76
I think it is ATLANTA of MLS/Rony Delia fame, rather that Atalanta of Seria A, with whom Kyogo has been linked.
Ive had a few people over here ask me about how i think he would do here (I think he would do great here)… but none of the people who have asked me were the sort who would be in the know…
and he doesn’t seem to be a BR type player, but I think he would be a big loss …would take someone pretty special to replace him
Auldheid
Quite a complex question to answer, especially within the footballing world?
Still say Christian values remains very high within our support, but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world.
Thinking your looking at respect as a Christian value, which I would agree upon, but can be within small supply with the emotional values of the game are far stronger?
Could be a case outside of football, and one myself had to try and put a lot of work into myself, to improve the quality of life I was living, especially under the influence of alcohol?
But respect, as you have pointed out, along with Rodgers today, can be a two way street also?
So don’t believe any Celtic supporter has been disrespectful towards either Rodgers or Taylor, that I’m aware of?
Wouldn’t class criticism as disrespectful within our club, especially as plenty of money is on offer, for club members who are within the spotlight?
However when a very senior club member in Rodgers talks about respect, and then throws in some disrespectful comments imo, towards our support?
Then is it fair to say Rodgers showed a massive form of hypocrisy, especially when honesty is another Christian value, that Rodgers still needs to work upon imo?
Rebus 67
I know I know, but I have a different hunch in that BR was enticed back even with PL in the building to become a Director at Celtic not of Football but a Director on The Board,
He will not get that kind of opportunity elsewhere and who else to make Celtic all they can be?
MIT
I’ll blame predictive text for that 1 😃
I don’t think he will leave this window as replacing him wouldn’t be easy in such a short window, if he was to leave in the summer I hope he breaks the 100 goal barrier before he leaves and cement’s his place in Celtics history books
I agree with Brendan. The chants were disrespectful to a current Celtic player. Maybe there is an element of the Celtic support who don’t like his background.
We are Celtic and we welcome everyone. Once they pull on the Celtic shirt they should get our 100% support.
No idea what BR is up to, but none of it is that good.
Is he working his ticket?
Is he just fed up?
Does he fear an upturn in Rangers?
Is he protecting the club over KT not arriving this window?
Has he asked the Board for additional funds this window, only to be told, No?
Is he playing mind games with the fans prior to YBs?
Does he genuinely think fans are thick and don’t understand football?
Did his Messiah complex make him think everyone would agree with his words?
I’ve genuinely no idea. It has been so left field that the only thing I think has triggered him is the doing by the Huns and our inability in the past year to really stamp our authority over them despite the apparent gulf in earnings and playing staff.
He really should have known better.
Rebus
Rodgers as a DoF at Celtic?
Must admit that the thought had crossed my mind, after his outburst, possibly less so today with his press conference?
The worrying aspect for such a potential development, is could Rodgers act as a mentor for John Kennedy to take over the hot seat?
We still have a good few of our patterns of play still intact since Ange arrived still, along with team formation.
Totally different man management styles between Rodgers and Ange, and quite debatable as to who was able to get a playing performance return, for so many players who have operating under 2 different managers, with 2 different views upon how our club should actually play, in terms of styles?
The common denominator happens to be John Kennedy, and hope I’m totally wrong that no such thing is in the agenda for the future?
C76
i thought it might have been a mistype by you, or a misread by me (as I am sitting on a beach drinking pina coladas. Although they are virgin pina coladas, so I’m not sure why they impair my ability to read or walk, but they certainly seem to!😂)
KT a sub for Arsenal
Johnno
January 7, 2025 5:53 pm
Really appreciate where you are coming, perhaps we live in an imperfect world because the values Christ preached have been lost? Has football become our God before Christ?
Anyway on BR he is no more free from making mistakes as any human, which is where Christ’s teaching on forgiveness is when the rubber hits the cross road?
It is a complex question that needs answers to the complexity and I am grateful to you for being able to raise the matter even if a football blog is seen as the wrong room.
Who knows who is reading and thinks hmmm. Never thought of that.
The head spins could of course be attributable to my choice of beach reading material. Just finished All of Us Strangers, a Japanese story about a fellow who goes back to his old neighbourhood and runs into his parents, who were killed 30 years before!
and recent world events has rekindled my sort of dozing if not dormant interest in politics. Trying to figure out where Catholic- Marxist-Deconstructionism fits in the world these days. So, for a bit of light beach reading, I brought along Derrida’s Spectres of Marx: The State of the Debt, the Work of Mourning and the New International and its companion Whither Marxism: Global Crises in International Perspective!😂
MIKEINTORONTO
“virgin pina coladas”
Ye gods,whatever next? Virgins in Stevenston?
31003
January 7, 2025 4:04 pm
”the fans AND board didn’t back me….Its Brendan who’s creating the perfect storm…
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Why bother bringing the support into it? If the Board do not back him why stay regardless of supporter opinion?
Is transfer window anxiety already taking over?
BMCUWP
you should be grateful it is a virgin pina colada. If this is what I post sober, God knows what I’d be like drunk!
Leggy
January 7, 2025 5:46 pm
INIQUITOUS IV,
3.34
I note what you say regarding blatant time wasting.
Now you know what Frodshambhoy and myself had to endure, when you were back in Glasgow, and it was your round !!!!
Hope you’re saving for your next trip.
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Hi LEGGY:
That made me giggle.😊
Hope yer in the pink.
Next trip up in the air at present as:
1. President Musk says we are going to rid the UK of its ‘Stalinist’ government.
2.Acting President pro tem Trump says we are going to buy Greenland, and if Denmark doesn’t play ball, we are going to just take it and MGGA, ‘Make Greenland Great Again.’
3.Trump also says we are going to take Panama back, because we sold it for a $1, which was the ‘worst real estate deal in history.’
4.Craig Whyte says “Au contraire! Ask David Murray about that.”
5.Vladimir Putin also says “Au contraire! Nyet! Russia selling Alaska was the worst real estate deal in history. If you take Greenland, we will take Alaska back.”
So a lot of uncertainties at our end. I’m an alien immigrant here, and if I go back to Scotland, I might not get back here. As far as I know, the UK can’t deport me twice.
HH
Iniquitous IV😊
San Luis
January 7, 2025 6:32 pm
No idea what BR is up to, but none of it is that good.
Is he working his ticket?
Is he just fed up?
Mibeez Aye mibeez naw
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Does he fear an upturn in Rangers?
Depends. Is it that he fears R2ngers improving to the extent that over a season they gain more points than us and that the Board do not share that concern and act to stop it?
Mibeez Aye mibeez naw
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Is he protecting the club over KT not arriving this window?
Mibeez Aye mibeez naw
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Has he asked the Board for additional funds this window, only to be told, No?
Mibeez Aye mibeez naw but see fearing an upturn in Rangers.
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Is he playing mind games with the fans prior to YBs?
A good thing if it means we win as result of the kind of support he thinks is needed to get us over the line
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Does he genuinely think fans are thick and don’t understand football?
Doubt it but he might doubt they do not understand how to manage a professional club, plying its trade in Scotland with the attached constraints as well as he does?
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Did his Messiah complex make him think everyone would agree with his words?
Labelling. Dangerous.
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I’ve genuinely no idea how BR sees himself.
Neither have I but I have concerns this was not the time to hold a mirror up to the faces of fans, not after a horsing from Rangers the concern of which has dissipated somewhat 3 days later.
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It has been so left field that the only thing I think has triggered him is the doing by the Huns and our inability in the past year to really stamp our authority over them despite the apparent gulf in earnings and playing staff.
I think he wants himself and players to feel appreciated more.
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He really should have known better.
Perhaps he does but it will take to May to find out.
Bada Bing
January 7, 2025 7:05 pm
KT a sub for Arsenal
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Hi Bada:
Not sure why EBT Arteta does this. He has a promising 18 year old at left back in the starting line up. But here’s the kicker – apart from KT, his subs bench has no fewer than THREE players that Arteta has consistently played at left back ahead of KT, even when KT is fit. They are Calafiori, Zinchenko and Kiwior.
Accordingly, I will be surprised if Kieran features today.
HH
Iniquitous IV😊
Watched Brendans presser and personally didn’t double down on what he said.
On Kyogo to Atlanta. Is Giomakis not there.
Maybe do a swap
St Tams
giakomskis was at Atlanta, but, as seems to be his way, he lasted only a bit more than a season while before falling out of love with the MLS and forcing a move to Mexico. Don’t really follow Mexican football, so don’t know how he is doing in Mexico
If ever there was a reason for watching a game on Sky, finding out that ITV’s commentary team tonight are Matterface and Dixon is right up there. Statman and Boggin’.
Mike in Toronto
January 7, 2025 7:52 pm
St Tams
giakomskis was at Atlanta, but, as seems to be his way, he lasted only a bit more than a season while before falling out of love with the MLS and forcing a move to Mexico. Don’t really follow Mexican football, so don’t know how he is doing in Mexico
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-Giamoukakis moved to Cruz Azul. He has scored 6 goals in 13 games. Atlanta made a tidy profit on him. According to Transfer Market they paid $4M to Celtic and got $9.3M from Cruz Azul the following season.
Maybe the Yanks think Celtic are an easy touch?
Arsenal with interesting tactics at corners. They don’t do the same thing each time. Sometimes, Saliba stands inside the goal at the far post. As the corner is taken, he runs inside the goal to stand in front of the goalie, who is not expecting someone appearing from inside the goal.
Newcastle playing a formation that converts quickly from 4-3-3 to 4-5-1 and counterattacking at great speed.
SOLKITTS
The fascination with useless stats really pisses me off. They’re all at it.
Martinelli screamer against post. What a counterattack!
Isak scores for Newcastle. Shocking defending by Arsenal.
Tried watching Arsenal and Newcastle to see if KT would be playing. Lasted 20 minutes. Dont know why I try to watch English football. Never as good as La liga or Bundesliga imho.
Newcastle had 2 shoots into upper tier in that time and Arsenal should have scored from another corner. Big punts and players falling all over.
Sol’s feed at least 60 seconds ahead of US coverage.
Geordies a wee bit fortunate at bounce of second ball there.
Chaos theory.
Arsenal player fouled just outside the area, goes down in several instalments.
AULDBHOY 67
Haw,you. That’s the best league in the world your talking about!