Brendan Fraudgers!

Cant blame him if he walked, it's a * disgrace..

 

Hendry and Ajer at the back in our biggest game of the season..

Some holiday Boyata has had ay Brendan. What a life..

 

Next thing you know Debo & Moussa will be offski.

or anyone else they can fire sale as no CL = player sales

 

Tonight's display clearly showed again in Europe we need2 CB's and a RB that match the quality of the rest of the team. We have continuously been banded with McGinn, the Australian lad via Mankcity and now Roberts. We have enough midfield players ffs. I agree, Brendan will walk at the end of this season if he is not backed by the board. Again they show their hand, we are not strengthening when we are in a position to do so.

 

If he's not backed he'll walk.

 

Board have probably got his bags packed for London tbf.

 

What did he swap Hendry and Ajer for? never really cost us but couldnt see any point to it since they always play on the opposite sides.

 

BR: "Apart from that one error just before half-time, I would be talking about a fantastic performance. I’m still very proud of how we played and I thought we started the game very well in every element."

BR: "Our shape offensively when we had the ball, along with our defending and pressing was a real high level. We were in really good control of the game and probably Athens were waiting to half-time to regroup and then we obviously conceded in the 44th minute."

BR: “The game didn’t change so much in second half, whether 10 or 11 men. They set out in deep block and I suppose there’s a bit of frustration we couldn’t make the final pass count in the final third of the pitch."

BR: "But, overall, we’re still in a good position. It was always going to be a difficult game over there for us anyway, and certainly after tonight and how we played and the performance, it gives us great hope of going over there and getting a result."

BR: "We were playing against a good side who can defend well & are strong. We threw everything out there into the game in terms of attacking players. It was just final pass and sometimes that bit of luck you need for it to drop to you with so many bodies behind."

BR: "It’s never easy, but the effort of the players and some of the quality they showed was very good. We would’ve liked to have got the second goal but it didn’t come for us."

BR: "If you look at the game tonight and we knew they were a good side but we proved we’re also a good side and can go over there and get a good result.”

BR on whether his team can score over in Athens: “I don’t think there’s any question of that. I think we’ll have enough of the ball and we’ve got the players of quality who can score but we'll also have to defend well.

BR: "It was always going to be a difficult game, whether we were 1-0 up or at one each, but I always felt we were going to have to score there anyway. It’s still very much in the balance."


BR: "Of course, it swings to them a bit as they’re at home, but we certainly know we’ve the quality to go and perform well after seeing that this evening.”

 

Well boo * hoo to them.

If the board are wanting to go to war with Brendan, then there's only one person the fans will side with and it ain't Peter Lawwell.

 

We will take up arms against the board. The second amendment was written for days like these.

 

we can say goodbye to Dembele and Boyata now and possibly even Tierney, we need to make up the 30 million loss now somehow

 

Drama queen.

 

BR: I was very proud of our players, our performance and how they worked. The disappointment of not winning the game won’t override a lot of positive play last night."

BR: "The crowd were great, they were brilliant for us again. On another day we take our chances and we win the game. We’re more than capable of going out there and getting the result we want."

BR on #HEACEL: "I don’t know Craig that well but in my meetings with him I’ve enjoyed our short discussions. He’s put together a competitive team, I’m sure the grass will be long, I’ll anticipate it."

BR: "For me, it’s about football and bringing the best football game to the supporters. That won’t change with me. It’ll be a tough game for us, tough team to play but we go there looking to get three points.

BR on Daniel Arzani: "Most of it is completed on our side. He’s been up here today. We hope for that to be completed over the next few days."


BR on Emilio Izaguirre: "I think it’s something we will hopefully be able to complete in the next 24 hours. If we can get Emilio in then that would be great for us. He’ll give us that cover and experience.


BR on Emilio Izaguirre: "In my time here, he was exceptional as a professional. He’s loved by other players and is a role model as professional. If we can do that, it’ll be a very good addition to help our squad and cover for young Kieran."

 

Brendan Rodgers has issued Celtic with an ultimatum that he won’t hang around if they don’t match his ambitions.

The Parkhead boss refused to roll back after voicing his frustration at the failure to get summer signings over the line, with top target John McGinn slipping through the net to join Aston Villa.

Rodgers instead chose to hammer home his point, adamant he won’t stop demanding backing from the board to take the club to the next level in Europe.

Celtic’s Champions League hopes are in the balance as they face a hazardous trip to AEK Athens next week following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Glasgow.

The manager denied a rift with Parkhead chief Peter Lawwell in the wake of his comments before the first leg but he did have a word of warning.

When asked is it would be over at Celtic if he stopped pushing for progress, he said: “Yeah. My job is done then. Terminado. Gone.

“But that’s the challenge. You have to test yourself to the limit. You have to be courageous as a club.

“It’s a joy to work here. I love my life here and enjoy being the manager here.

“But it’s no good if I just sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress.

“I never allow it in my own life or professional life. You see it in sports and in industry. The minute you think you’re doing OK it can quickly disappear, and that’s the greatest institutions.

“You have to be mindful of that and keep getting stronger and stronger.”

Rodgers insisted there had been no fallout behind the scenes but having already admitted Celtic are weaker this season, he delivered another clear message to the club’s powerbrokers.

He said: “Dermott (Desmond ), Peter (Lawwell) and Ian (Bankier) all want what is best for Celtic. Critically, they are major shareholders and run the club. I have to respect that, and I do.

“My ambition is for Celtic. Every manger is ambitious but for me it’s inherently about the club. We’ve done a double Treble, been invincible in one of those seasons, set a British record for unbeaten games.

“We don’t want to stand still. How do we improve? We improve in Europe and in order to do that, it’s simple, is quality players.

“The minute I start thinking otherwise and get comfortable, then progress stops. In football you can’t afford to do that.

“It’s too late once the rot sets in. It’s too late. I’ve always tried to guard against it.

“Especially after our first season, we built on it last year. We want to keep building it.

“I totally respect how difficult it can be, the financial side is tough at times.

“I have a huge respect for the board here – absolutely. They have run the club strategically very, very well.

“Me coming into here and what I have seen in the past couple of years, I have real good relations with every one of them.

“There is not an issue there at all. My focus is on doing the best for Celtic.

“Deep down I am a supporter but I am also a professional manager. I also look for the help that is needed to take the team to the next level if that is what the demand is. I will always push for that.”

Rodgers is today set to finalise a one year deal for returning defender Emilio Izzaguire and secure Daniel Arzani on a two-year loan move from Man City.

But the chances of bringing Jason Denayer back on loan from City look to have ended, with the Belgian defender set to snub Celts and Leeds United in favour of a move to Galatasaray.

 

Certainty for the off after this season..

 

THERE’S nothing that makes Brendan Rodgers more uneasy than the feeling of being too comfortable.

Right now he’s trying to convince the Celtic board of that mantra.

He’s won back-to-back Trebles.

He’s savoured a season as Invincibles with Champions League money coming into the club in bundles.

Financially, Celtic have never had it as good as they do now.

But Rodgers is still striving for more — that the club spends a little to gain a lot — and insists the day he stops pleading that case is really the day he might as well not be there.

He said: “Yeah, my job is done then. Terminado. Gone.

“But that’s the challenge. You have to test yourself to the limit. You have to be courageous as a club. It’s a joy to work here.

“I love my life here and enjoy being the manager here.

“But it’s no good if I just sit back and get comfortable. Being comfortable is the enemy of progress.

“I never allow it in my own life or professional life. You see it in sports and in industry.

“The minute you think you’re doing okay it can quickly disappear, and that’s the greatest institutions.

“You have to be mindful of that and keep getting stronger and stronger.”

Rodgers was calm as ever as he underlined his view on how Celtic should move forward.

He could have backed down from what he said on Tuesday.

Instead, he stood by every word, stressing again the importance of buying quality players now, while Celtic are in a position of strength.

He added: “What we need in the squad in terms of real genuine quality will obviously cost money. It doesn’t guarantee anything.

“What you would hope is that it would give you a greater opportunity. It doesn’t really change, the game is about quality and quality players.

“We have some outstanding players here. We are trying to grow and cultivate the squad to the best that it can be and for that you can’t stand still.

“You have to keep looking to develop and improve it even if you think you are doing okay. That is something that is a constant.”

Celtic fans will be hanging on Rodgers’ every word.

He’s clearly not happy with the way negotiations have been conducted on the signing targets identified by himself and head of recruitment, Lee Congerton.

It’s not finding the players that’s the problem, it’s signing them.

In fairness to the Celtic board, they’ve run such a tight ship in recent years. You’d struggle to find a club anywhere in the UK as stable financially.

The Scottish champions have a rock-solid foundation where others are built on sand.

Rodgers gets that. He understands the job chairman Ian Bankier has, along with chief executive Peter Lawwell, in answering to majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

He added: “Dermott, Peter and Ian all want what’s best for Celtic.

“Critically, they are major shareholders and run the club. I have to respect that, and I do.

“I have good relations with the people here and there’s no issue. I’m very happy up here and day-in, day-out, I get on with my work.

“My ambition is always for Celtic. I want Celtic to be the very best.

“People have asked me if there’s a ceiling here, especially now with modern football and the riches in the game.

“Of course it’s tough, but we have to do the very best that we can, and that’s what we’ll look to do.

“But I have huge respect for the board here, absolutely. They have run the club strategically very, very well. I have real good relations with every one of them.

“There is not an issue there at all. My focus is on doing the best for Celtic. Deep down I am a supporter but I am also a professional manager.

“I also look for the help that is needed to take the team to the next level if that is what the demand is. I’ll always push for that.”

Celtic still have plenty of time to get deals done.

For the time being, Australian Daniel Arzani will be added to the squad, with Emilio Izaguirre returning as well.

That was one which caught people by surprise but Rodgers feels he needs back-up for Kieran Tierney.

He added: “At times, we’ll be able to allow Kieran to come out of a game or two.

“We had 61 competitive games last year and he can’t play in every single one. There’s not a player who can play in every one.

“We have to be mindful that the level of quality doesn’t drop off too much, and it’s not easy to bring in someone who can sit in as a secondary left-back.

“I always look at the developmental side for Kieran, firstly in the team and then sometimes coming out and recovering slightly.

“Not that he would want to, but it’s something that you have to do.

“The likes of Calvin Miller can’t constantly be an understudy either.

“We have to see his level consistently and also see that he can get some games in his legs.

“To do that, you have to balance that up by getting someone specifically for the role, and Emilio fits it perfectly.

“He’s fit, and he did a great job in his time here. It’s a year’s deal.

“I wanted to keep him, but naturally as he got towards the last phase of his footballing life, he has seen a financial package that was attractive.

“He has gone out there and tried it, it hasn’t quite worked out how he would want it.

“He had other options, but once I knew it was a possibility then I felt it was a sensible decision to get someone in like him who is fit and knows what Celtic is about.”

 

The way i see things is this should have been the season to have a good clear out which would free up wages which could go to the quality players brendan wants in. I dont think 3 4 or 5 million fees to add quality to the defence is the problem for the board i think its the fact our wage bill must be sky high at the moment. We have too many players on good wages who simply arent good enough and wont get near the squad. We should be trying to offload all (unlikely) or the majority of...de vries simunovic gamboa compper ralston bitton christie allan. There wages could easily be put towards 2 or 3 better calibre of players.

 

3 weeks left , Brendan is clearly telling the board open the purse strings or i'm off.