Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

I never actually saw Thom play, by the time I was aware of Celtic, Alan Thompson played LWB.

 

Amen brother...

 

Huge difference there is Thommo was unbelievable at whipping it in from deep, he didn't need to hit the byline, so it suited his strengths. Taylor doesn't have that in his locker.

 

Aye, with the right player there you don't need that from a LWB. Don't think we have that player in the squad just now though.

 

When it comes to transfers I'm not hugely surprised it's gone the way it's gone.

This is all conjecture so I might be talking a pile of *, but with our board I think you need someone ridiculously straight-talking and hard-headed to get what you want out of them. No bullshit, straight in telling them the way it is and what needs to be done. I think we've only had one manager with the vision and character to do that since MON and it was Ange. Rodgers, I think, is a little too concerned with how he's perceived. I'm not sure he likes ruffling feathers too much, but then what comes out is slightly passive aggressive or suggestive comments elsewhere, like with his lines on projects and wingers etc. I think we've seen this with players too, his unwillingness to be straight with them and accusations from players of him promising one thing then doing another. I think his desire to be liked by everyone holds him back a little bit.

 

players whipping in crosses , hitting bylines them were the * days! this backwards sidways pish has to stop

 

It's funny I was thinking about this the other day. Growing up watching Larsson, Sutton, Hartson, my favourite thing in the world as a boy playing football were headers. Used to practice them all the time, working on my leap etc. I bet kids don't even really care that much about that kind of thing anymore, because they barely see their heroes doing it on the pitch.

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's funny how quickly it all changes.

 

I think there’s laws now that heading is only allowed once a week in training. Remember reading something like that a year or two back.

 

Aye, I think you're right. It's where the game is going, which is fine. Still, it's funny to think the game my boys will grow up to watch and play is so different from the one I watched and played at their age. I suppose that's always the case generation on generation.

 

A good argument can be made that heading should be banned outright TBH. It would definitely diminish the game significantly; but it's hard to argue that some things aren't more important than football.

 

Yeah it’s funny to watch it happen in real time. Happens with all sports though. Boxing, mma, snooker the list goes on. Even the likes of darts has evolved strategically with players throwing faster as opposed to taking their time and having a sip of their pint between throws.

Anyway, I think that’s off topic enough for the Brendan Rodgers thread

 

I was talking to the head of the Mexican darts federation in classical Nahuatl when I was a young coach in 2006, she often called me for advice and to practice her Nahuatl, and she asked, "Brendan, how can we bring the same professionalism to darts that you bring to your coaching in football?" I explained about the need to bring more intensity to the darts game. If the players could bring that intensity to their game, darts could maybe reach a similar level to my football teams. She called me the other day to say that my advice had revolutionised the sport of darts and changed her life. That's what makes it all worthwhile for me.

 

Im not saying it doesnt contribute to problems in later life. Cause there are many studies now that suggest that it does. But its amazing how it has never been mentioned about sports like rugby....where you are bound to take more knocks to the head than at fitbaw. Its never once been suggested that rugby players go on to suffer the same problems. And they must if headering a fitbaw can * your head up....then get rattled about for 80 minutes a week, flung to the ground, stamped on........definitely must do

 

Its a tactic he's used before when we've went down to 10 men.

In 2017 (I think it was)....we got a man sent off at Ibrox against the huns. Instead of sitting back and holding on for a draw....he brough Edouard on to play up alongside Dembelle and sure enough Edouard scored and we won 3-2.

But Atheltico are a good bit better than the huns to be fair and that tactic was never going to work against them

 

Thom played when Tommy Burns was the boss....no Martin O'Neil. You are 4 managers out there. Burns, Jansen, Venglos, Barnes then O'Neil

 

Andy Thom played under Jansen, left in January 98.

 

Sorry I didnt know you meant it lol. Alan Thompson. A Thom. Makes sense. I apologise

 

He left right after the League Cup Final in November 97. No transfer windows in those days. You could sign players all year round