Brendan Fraudgers!

Not very inspiring..

Sounds more hopeful than expectant that we can do something..

Hopefully completely different behind closed door's..

 

Aye with the injuries we have especially, it wouldn't be a surprise if the side picked tomorrow isn't up to the task..

I'm getting more of a feeling we will be though..

This happens with me everytime

 

Aye mate.. but even accounting for the level of opposition we’ve been quite tepid in most of our European games.. we’ve been well beaten but we could have played a lot better and imposed ourselves more.. so whatever he’s said hasn’t worked to an extent.

Hopefully it is mind games and managing expectations a little, but would like to see him whip the players up a bit more in the media and get the crowd on the front foot tomorrow from the off..

Just want a brave performance and by that I mean brave on the ball in possession and in our passing as well as in the competitive aspect of the game. That’s all we can ask..

 

I'll sleep better tonight now

 

CELTIC may well have dropped down a level when they went from the Champions League group stages to the knockout rounds of the Europa League after finishing third in their section back in December.

The challenge they now face progressing in the inferior of Europe’s two club competitions, however, is no less daunting or demanding.

Zenit St Petersburg, who they will take on in the first leg of their last 32 double header at Parkhead this evening, might not, for the time being at least, operate in the same stratosphere as the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

The lavishly-assembled Russian side, however, harbour ambitions of competing alongside the continent’s elite, like many still involved in this tournament, and will not be easily overcome by the Scottish champions.

Brendan Rodgers had no hesitation declaring Zenit, who have had billions of roubles pumped into them by Gazprom since the multinational energy provider bought a controlling stake in the St Petersburg club back in 2005, favourites to go through as he looked ahead to the game yesterday.

“I never say that lightly,” he said. “I always think we are Celtic. I’m in my dream job, but I’m also a realist. When you look at their investment and the level of player they have they will expect to go through.”

Rodgers is certainly not ruling out Celtic’s chances of recording what would, discounting qualifying games, be their first home win in either the Europa League or Champions League in 11 outings, since a 2-1 over Astra Giugiu back in 2014, tonight.

Yet, he was at pains to point out that it is becoming increasingly unrealistic to expect the Glasgow club to compete with clubs from larger and richer leagues in Europe due to the ever-widening gulf in finances.

“It’s very difficult,” he said. “You see the level of opponent in there. It tells you the difficulty. What we have to do year on year is try and somehow bridge the gap, but it will always be difficult for us.

“We will see if we can get a result. But I think you get to the last 32 and they are always going to be tough games. There are teams that are winning their group stages and qualification for the Europa League. There are teams coming out of Champions League and they are always going to be tough games.”

The presence of Aleksandr Kokorin, the Russia striker * winger, Leanardo Paredes, the Argentinian central midfielder who cost a cool €27 million in the summer, and Branislav Ivanovic, the former Chelsea player who looks set to recover from an eye injury and feature, in the Zenit side tonight underlines the magnitude of the task awaiting Celtic.

“Kokorin looks a talent,” said Rodgers. “Playing off the left side, he is a finisher. Paredes, the playmaker, is a very good footballer who sits at the bottom of their midfield and makes the passes. They have some very good players.

“They are a very good team. If you look at how they play, they are what you would consider to be a top European team with speed, power, technique and ability. They obviously have all of that.”

Could the fact that Roberto Mancini’s side haven’t played a competitive fixture in over two months due to the extended winter shutdown in Russia mean they aren’t at their best and help Celtic record a sweet triumph?

“It depends,” said Rodgers. “It just depends what way you view it. You could look at it and say it makes them fresher. The break could maybe freshen them and revitalise them and then they go again.

“We played against them when I was at Liverpool and went out on away goals (in the Europa League last 32 in 2013). It was a similar time. We played them around about February time. We lost the away leg and won the home leg 3-1. They were pretty fit then.”

Celtic haven’t, despite their fine 3-0 win over Anderlecht away in the Champions League group stages back in September, scaled the same heights they achieved last season and go into the Zenit game on the back of a defeat to Kilmarnock and a narrow win over Partick Thistle where their frailties at the back were once again exposed.

Yet, with the majority of the 60,000-capacity crowd firmly behind them Rodgers is hoping they can avoid the costly defensive errors which have become a feature of their play in recent months and produce the kind of rousing performance they did against City last season and Bayern this term.

“It’s what we wanted to do, qualify for the next stage of Europe,” he said. “It is an exciting challenge. It’s just about having the confidence and belief to play at this level. As long as we show that belief and confidence I can’t ask for any more.

“The atmosphere and everything around these games inspires the players and we have seen that in a number of games. That is something that is incredible for us. That energy gives us a real chance and a real hope.”






























Brendan Rodgers has conceded that Celtic doing another Seville is unlikely to happen again – either in this season or any other.

It is 15 years since Martin O’Neill led the Parkhead side to the 2003 UEFA Cup final against Porto in Seville, an achievement that Rodgers cannot see the club emulating in the current climate.

The Parkhead side begin their Europa League campaign this evening as they host Zenit St Petersburg, with Rodgers pointing out the significant changes across football as whole since Celtic were last in a major European final.

“There are two factors,” explained the Celtic manager. “The game has changed and Celtic have changed. Look back at the players Celtic had then.

“Celtic were taking some of the best players from the Premier League. They were bringing Chris Sutton up here, John Hartson up here, Neil Lennon up here.

“They were bringing Paul Lambert back from Dortmund. These are top, top players. So the financial climate is totally different now to what it was back then for Celtic.

“There will be always be expectation here. We always want to fight and, like our predecessors, try to do the very best that we can. But when you compare it to that, football and Celtic have changed a lot.”

At one point Celtic’s wage bill was in the top five across British football, a standing that has long since been surpassed by even Championship clubs.

“It would have to have been,” said Rodgers. “You’re taking John Harton, Chris Sutton and these boys. Sutton came from Chelsea.”

Celtic’s financial figures last week revealed a club that have made a considerable profit in recent months, with £30m banked from the sale of players as well as their involvement in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

The publishing of the figures led to an immediate response in some quarters questioning why the club have not invested more heavily into the playing side, but Rodgers has maintained that he has no quibble with the resources he has – and has also revealed the changing of the Scottish landscape has made it harder than ever to bring players north of the border.

“The point is that the club is run very, very well,” he said. “You can spend the money but it’s the player coming to Scotland which is the big factor. It’s wages, it’s astroturf pitches and all this.

“There are multiple reasons why a player would or wouldn’t come. What the balance sheet shows is that the club, the institution, is being run very, very well. They spend money but they have to run it sensibly. I don’t think it will ever go back to what it was 15 years ago.”

 

I think Brendan can be a bit of a arrogant * er at times I like him but it's starting to * me off at no point has the or been a big movement of fans who think we should win a europa league do we hope I think any fan does but I'd like to think we are the most realistic fans about. All we hope for is a wee run to a quarter final at best to help the coefficient and our European standing . He was brought in to inject a bit of premier league quality into the team and make then believe in themselves on the eve of our biggest game and he hits out with that bullshit ..... as if he making our excuse for getting beat and games not even been played . I've said it just by looking at Brendans signings in January he's not bothered about the game his eye is on the qualifiers in summer

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So our manager whos on a massive contract believes we have zero chance? So why should us fans turn up and pay. Why would our players go out there with 100% commitment and belief? Thats * me off aswel. * it. Get lennon back. Lies or not, when asked in champions league, is the goal to finish 3rd, he replies no. Win it. * right.

Yet brendans saying were * in the europa. Well * me. Dont see why we should if you consider the value flung around about our players. Were up there with any of them barring a few. Ajax made a final. In no way are they any better than us. We could take them, a bit of luck is all whats required against the bigger teams.

Aye my 3rd edit. 5am and im buzzing for the game and to hear him say nah. Never happening again has * me right off. Love him but * me. Just lie to the press if you have to.

Edit 4.
Changing landscapes? Astro turf? What thats short for is we dont pay wages wanted. Simple. Brilliant players * off to china for wages. Im sure we could get a couple good ones.

Edit 5:

Well brendan i hope our players stand up tonight and even shock you. Lets * do them!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, belief is important in these games. Sven Goran Erikson once commented (in his book, I think) that he worked with players in Italy who were incredibly gifted... until they were against a big name player and then they seemingly lost a lot of their ability precisely when they needed it most. A big part of his job was apparently instilling belief.

If you look at where we had CL success, it was under MON and NL who were both extremely gifted at giving players belief in themselves, or WGS who had a system and instilled belief in that system (players believed, with some justification(!), that the system could keep them in games and that Naka and Boruc could provide the match-winning moments against any quality of opposition).

I remember under MON Blackburn played us off the park at CP and we somehow scraped a 1-0 win. MON didn't come out with how we had to respect EPL quality players and did well considering our constraints, etc; instead he said the players just needed to relax, because there was no reason to be nervous and that we had improved a lot in the second half (not totally true TBH). We then went down there and showed that we were indeed the better team.

Then there was fortress Parkhead. It was a real thing; but once it went, it went. It existed because players and fans alike believed it did. Opposing players too. You could feel the belief pouring from the stands. Once it was gone, it was gone. Efe (I love Efe, but it's true) started it off by turning what should have been a narrow defeat to Juve into a 3-0 pumping; the following season where Lenny was basically hung out to dry by the board* left it tottering on the brink; and Ronny delivered the coup de gras against Maribor. Over a decade in the making and destroyed in less than 2 years.

Belief is a powerful thing. I love Brendan and wouldn't swap him for anyone (not even Lenny); but this is maybe one area where he could learn from Lenny. IMO it's the biggest problem with this team right now.

* Off topic, I know; but I have to say that 20/20 hindsight suggests that the board got it badly wrong with Lenny. They backed MON, WGS and Brendan and didn't back Ronny and in hindsight this was spot on; but they backed Mowbray and didn't back Lenny and in hindsight they got those two wrong.

 

A poor home result tonight and it really will make people question Brendan in Europe.

 

Who was your English teacher in Lourdes?

 

It's difficult to criticise, this is already a successful European Campaign for us.. no matter what happens tonight.

We should play without fear tonight take the game to them and hopefully catch them cold after their break.



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Think a lot depends on the tactics. He’s shown a certain tactical naivety (or even stubbornness) in games gone by. If it becomes clear they’re a better passing side, I’d want a plan B - namely, a Lennon style of interaction against the bigger European teams. Unfortunately, I don’t think we have that plan B.

 

Still half asleep, so apologies if I'm talking *, but with moussa and ed we should have a bit of pace and physical prowess up top that would help us go a bit more direct if needed, don't think Brendan would play like that though sadly.

 

He's tried 5 at the back a few times in Europe, what I want to see is Eboue play tonight, to give us that extra protection beside Brown. It's what he's been bought for after all.

BR won't change his overall philosophy of possession football, which I'm fine with as this philosophy gives us the best chance of CL Qualification.. which is our main European goal.

However, what I want to see tonight is for us to press the life out of them off the ball all over the pitch we should be faster and sharper than them. As well as being brave on the ball.

They have the better quality but we are capable of turning them over. If we play to our full potential and are beaten by a special bit of magic then so be it.

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21 months since Brendan arrived, so we should have a cohesive plan for matches like tonight.

Of course they are financially stronger than us but so were Man United when Strachan got it tactically spot on to beat Man United 1-0 or Neil Lennon against Barcelona.

Football isn't played on paper, it's time to get away from this defeatist attitude. If it means Brendan has to sacrifice on his idealist principles on the way the game should be played then so be it. Iceland with a population of 300,000 have now found a winning formula and are regularly punching above their weight against countries which dwarf them in population terms.

As outstanding as Rodgers has been so far, we aren't employing him on record wages simply to pick up domestic trophies. Ajax made the Europa final last season and we're of a comparative stature, so it shouldn't be deemed as 'unrealistic' to set the bar high.

 

This is where we find out if Rodgers and the team have learned from our mistakes, Zenit can score goals for fun and the performances against Bayern showed we can be tight at the back and create chances which is our best chance of going through.

We've already taken hammerings in Europe so we aren't going to learn anything from trying to play the same way each time and getting pumped, the teams confidence is low enough just now as well so we need a big performance.