Brendan Fraudgers!

I really hope we add a couple of players this month and get them in and ready for the qualifiers. Eboue, another player of quality and a bit of work on the defence and I think this team could be pretty scary come next season. It's been a long time since I've spent everyday looking forward to the next game, under Ronny I didn't lose interest as such I think I just became less bothered about the games coming round because the football was so * at times and probably because the board seemed happy to rest on their laurels. Absolutely buzzing this season though and for the future, 10IAR looks more and more likely every day.

 

Rodgers, who was named Ladbrokes Manager of the Month for December, is also working on other signing targets this month.

But it’s unlikely Celts will complete any deals before they return home from Dubai.

Rodgers insists he will not be gutted if the transfer window closes without any more arrivals.

Rodgers added: “We have a few targets I want to see if we can get in, but if we don’t get anyone in January then there is no drama.”

 

Rodgers added:
“But we’d like to think we could get a few in to enhance the team going forward.”

 

great to have the time on.your side to pick the right players and not be rushed into last minute deals ,we are in a good place right now .

 

He did.

Said he'd waited his whole life to see celtic win at Ibrox and couldn't go see the fans because his calf was that *

 

BR catch up with Celtic Tv

https://streamable.com/l4ihr

 

Is there a video of him ruining his calf? I missed it if there was.

Want to see him jumping about like a maddy

 

I missed it, too and can't find a video!

 

Scottish champions Celtic have spent the past week in Dubai on a warm-weather training camp. The club currently lead the Scottish Premiership by 19 points after 20 matches and, having won the Scottish League Cup in November, have ambitions of securing a first treble since 2001. Below are some exerts from an interview conducted earlier this week with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

Did the break in the league almost come at the wrong time, since the club are going so well in the Scottish Premiership?





"Sometimes you can think it can break your momentum, but for us we needed it. We came off the back of a nine-game period in December, which was very taxing on us. We needed it in order to recover, but also to work on aspects of our game where we can improve. So for us it allows us to go back refreshed and then hopefully pick up the intensity and then we go again. We want more, but if you want more you have to be better so that means you have to improve and that’s something we will do in the second part of the season."





Is complacency the biggest threat to your clinching the league title and perhaps the treble?

"It’s something that we take and put in place strategies in order to avoid that. It could be, but certainly won’t be for us. It’s something we’ve prepared for; your talent alone is not enough at a club like Celtic. You have to work, you have to be able to work hard. So for us that’s something that we never disrespect. There’s always ambitions for us to become better. Like I say, Celtic is a club easily where if you’re a talent you can be protected, because of other players around you. But if you want to reach levels that we want to reach you have to push yourselves every day and you have to be at your best. And unfortunately that will mean some players will have to miss out, because they don’t quite have that relentless attitude. And that will always avoid complacency."









How do you reflect on your first seven months at Celtic?

"I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed it, it’s been great. It was important for me when I left a club like Liverpool to one, have a breather, but then my next job I needed pressure. And there’s a pressure at Celtic. It’s a huge club, there’s an expectancy to win every game. The only thing that Celtic doesn’t have is the propaganda, which is the Premier League. In every other aspect of football, Celtic is a huge club: fan base, stadium and history. They have a fantastic history. What it doesn’t have is the opportunity to play in the Premier League."





Is it inevitable that Celtic’s future will be outside Scotland?

"I don’t think so much about it to be honest. I think strategically, that’s for other people to look at. All I know is, is that whatever league Celtic is in, it’ll be one of the biggest clubs there. Historically, it’s a very prestigious club worldwide. You look at the Premier League, if you finish bottom of that you get £100 million (Dh447.4m), and if you win the Scottish Premiership you get £2m. Whatever league it be in, the league is a better league for having a club like Glasgow Celtic in. It’s an iconic club worldwide and obviously one that could really grow and grow."


Does qualifying for the Uefa Champions League last 16 next season represent your No 1 target?

"The No 1 target is to win the league in order to have the chance to qualify, and then qualification second, and then obviously once you qualify, third is to try and get out of the groups because of the finances and everything else that’s involved with other clubs. But it’s a fight and that’s exciting for us. We still have a bit if work to do. It’s very difficult; you could be a fantastic team and still not get through. But what’s important for me is building and growing the club. And what’s important first and foremost for that is qualifying for the Champions League. And to do that you need to win your league. It comes hand-in-hand really. But Champions League year-in, year-out is what we strive for."





How important has the backing of the Celtic board been to you thus far?

"They’ve been amazing. From when I first met them to discuss the job, they’ve been 100 per cent behind me. So I can have no complaints. Peter Lawwell, who I work very closely with on a daily basis, has been first class. Dermott Desmond, a major shareholder, has been first-class, as well as all the others. There’s a high level of intellect at Celtic and I’m able to tap into that. That’s really helped us all."





Did you expect Moussa Dembele’s first six months at the club to be so successful?

"The reason we brought him in was because we thought he could make a real positive impact. Of course, you never know 100 per cent, but what he’s gone on to achieve hasn’t surprised us, because of his temperament and his quality. He really has a big-game temperament and I think he’s one that will continue to show that."





Would you like to manage again in the Premier League in future?

"I’m not really worried, I’m not bothered. Football’s a global game. I’ve been there; I’m happy not to be there now. I’m enjoying my experience with Celtic, a huge club. If I go back there one day, great, if I don’t, there’s no drama. It’s been nice watching it from a different perspective for the first time in a few years. I’ll be coaching for another 20 years. I’ll enjoy the travel and see where it takes me."





You were close to signing Dele Alli at Liverpool. How do you view his progression at Tottenham Hotspur and has his ascent surprised you?

"You can’t say fully, but he was a talent — that’s why we wanted to get him in. He’s a big talent. He’s gone on and progressed very well. He’s got a nice coach there in Mauricio Pochettino, who’s given him the chance to flourish and develop, and collectively within the team, he’s flourished very, very well. I’m delighted for him, he played a lot of games as a young player in League One and he’s made that jump from League One into the Premier League and as you can see he’s coping very well. And coping on the international stage too."


http://www.thenational.ae/sport/foo...d-almost-signing-dele-alli-at-liverpool#page1

 

There was a group of us in the pub last night talking about him and how brilliant he has been for us, however a mate made a slight criticism about him that I also agree with. Rodgers hasn't given officials in Scotland the criticism they deserve for some of their shocking decisions against us this season because we've been winning so the decisions haven't mattered.
The performances of the linesmen at the * pit were absolutely shocking, 3 celtic attacks when we were onside and through on goal and it's been given as offside, that's not the only game when we've had terrible decsisons against us. Decisions so bad that it's either total incompetence or cheating.
I can't recall Rodgers bringing up these decisions after the game but if he did then we didn't make a big enough deal of it. The officials are being allowed to get away with it for the time being as we're too good but they're will come a time when these decisions cost us majorly like they've done in the past and no doubt when we make a big deal and complain about the decisions it will be made out that it's big bad celtic moaning again because they lost, they'll come with that always cheated never defeated * and things will go on as normal.
My point is that if celtic and Rodgers are critical enough of the officials then surely eventually they'll be properly held to account for their decisions and we can start improving the officiating in Scotland because it is shockingly poor.

 

It's a good point DJ CJ but he was the same at Liverpool I don't ever remember him ever being fined or warned by the FA for criticising referees
Maybe in private he discusses it but he won't ever do it publicly

 

Love it when he says we would be one of the biggest clubs no matter what league we played in.

 

Jesus. About 100 points clear and people are criticising Rodgers for not feeding into their conspiracies about the officials.

If there was some big anti Celtic conspiracy among the referees we wouldn't be 20 points clear with a game in hand before Christmas and unbeaten after already winning a trophy this season.

 

I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, just that the quality of officiating is shocking. We're 19 points ahead because we're so much better than everyone else. Just because we're winning doesn't mean we shouldn't be highlighting the poor performance of the officials.

 

BRENDAN Rodgers and his squad are heading home this weekend, having enjoyed a productive winter training camp in Dubai. The Celtic manager has been working on the training ground with his players, preparing them for the second half of the season which begins next Sunday with a Scottish Cup tie against Albion Rovers.

And speaking to the Celtic View, the Hoops boss explained that the trip was also a great opportunity to further strengthen an already impressive team spirit within the squad which has seen them establish a 19-point lead at the top of the table, win the League Cup and bring UEFA Champions League group-stage football back to Paradise.

"When I got the schedule of games through in the summer, I felt this was going to be an important period for us, especially if we could progress in the way we have done – going all the way in the competitions and qualifying for the Champions League – this was going to be a real opportunity for us to press the reset button,” the Celtic manager told the club magazine.

“But ultimately we were here to work, taking some time to recuperate and getting closer as a group. I said when I came in that none of us will be asked to do more or less than each other, so collectively it’s vitally important that we are a team.

“Should we be successful it will be as a team and a squad and that’s been evident over the first six months. The squad has really come together and become very strong so we need to develop and grow that even more.

“The last six months of 2016 were a great period for us as a club and the supporters are happy which is important. The players are also happy and working well and we are gaining results and that’s what we are in the business to do.

“In 2017, we want more and we need to do better. We want to do better in improving the level of our game and looking to press and looking to progress and that’s something this early part of January allows us to do.”

 

Agreed, I actually admire him even more for the fact he doesn't get embroiled in that sort of stuff. The fact we have put most teams in thier place has obviously helped but even when we do get beat/draw I'm not expecting him to look at other influences to the result other than what he and the team need to work on (despite how hard our Scottish media will attempt to press him on this).

Lennon is a great manager but without inflaming a situation (before I'm quoted) I just believe BR has that bit more class not to be drawn into these situations that our media will try to drag him into.

The great clubs in the past have always won and lost with dignity and this is what he adds to our club (in my opinion only).

On a totally separate note, you'll be pleased to know he has returned from trip fully fit from his injury at Ibrox whilst celebrating the goal (slight calf tear).

 

He's deliberately avoiding going down that route. Can be quite frustrating when we've been cheated by some very questionable decisions in a game, or in consecutive game's and part of you wants him to let rip, but that's not him. He's not gonna do that here I don't think..

He'll know and be told what it's like and I genuinely think he's keeping his nose clean as not to draw any attention to it, as in a * you we'll do the bizz anyway kind of way..

Our discipline is excellent by and large. No even counting McGregor's red......and you can take from that what you want, but I take it that he's probably told the player's that we'll get it rough in this game and what not and don't give the * the excuse, or satisfaction. Exactly the motto he has in his post match interviews..

 

Rodgers is the smartest manager we've had with the media since O'Neill and Jock before Martin...

Rodgers gives them nothing, praises us, doesn't let them away with any snash and is as honest as the day is long.

MON used to talk for 5 minutes and sound like he was saying something then you realise he gave away * all in his interviews. Any * came his way, he sued them.

Once read a Hugh McIlveney story about Jock where he came in early to a press conference and as reporters came in asked them questions like, 'how you doing John, still having an affair?'... He done his own research on them and they were terrified of it.