Brendan Rodgers Discussion Thread

He was a good and successful manager for us, we can take that as read as I have never claimed otherwise.

He should have been backed more, but he also under performed by failing to beat a pub team in CL qualifying. There’s no excuses for that result.

Any criticism of Rodgers is irrelevant in terms of making changes on the board. As long as sustained fan action goes towards change then it doesn’t matter if it’s music to their ears. Just because I want boardroom change doesn’t mean I can’t also criticise Rodgers for his departure.

 

Rodgers signed off on Idah leaving.

 

To be honest, this scenario, or at least one like it, was always the fear when Rodgers was reappointed and why I never truly understood why either party was particularly eager to revisit the relationship.

The people (or person) he had issues with the last time around were, and are, still here in positions of influence and for supposedly being Desmond’s guy (which I think it’s safe to say is no longer the case) I wouldn’t say there’s ever been any notable special treatment. Even with something like breaking our record transfer fee, that just felt like an inevitability - and I fully believe that Ange probably would’ve been allowed to do so had he stayed on as well.

I know it was supposedly at least partially motivated by family reasons on Rodgers part, but it just seems crazy to me that, given his prior issues, he’d agree to come back to what was largely the same situation that he walked away from previously without getting any rock solid guarantees that things would be different. I could get it if he was just going to go with the flow, and play with whatever hand he was going to be dealt, but it’s pretty evident that he was operating under a belief or understanding that wasn’t shared or agreed upon by his colleagues in the boardroom. I won’t pretend that I don’t have mixed opinions on the guy, but we all know what he’s about by this point; so if you’re going to hire him, which suggests that you’re buying what he’s selling, then back him - and make sure everyone else falls in line. If not, look elsewhere - there’s plenty of other fish in the managerial sea.

It just further highlights how shoddily run we are. We desperately need modernisation and an actual, professional managerial selection process that isn’t largely governed by the whims and fancies of Dermot Desmond.

 

Lawwell was sickened that day. Today he’s probably delighted and there’s a few on here that have that in common with him despite telling us how much they hate him and the board etc. Regardless he might be laughing today but he won’t be laughing for long, him and his pals are done for good at Celtic FC.

 

Someone on the board fed a story to the paper about him. Nothing has been done about that. It’s little wonder he was having a war with them. The board started all this shitshow with what was arguably the most scandalous transfer window we’ve ever seen. That’s the long and short of it. Desmond’s statement is littered with untruths. None more so than his outrageous bullshit claim about every pound being reinvested. We’ve heard this from the dirty snake * Lawwell before as well. It wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now. Desmond’s whole statement should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Funny how he mentioned self preservation, because that’s exactly what Desmond is trying. Anyone with half a brain should be seeing it for what it is.

 

Well said.

 

I hate the board ……yadda yadda yadda….aye but Rodgers etc. He’s gone. How long do you intend to keep up the Aye but Rodgers schtick?

Lawwell is done and part of Rodgers legacy will be that he helped to bring an end to Lawwell and his cronies malevolent influence at the club. I’ll be giving him credit for it because it’s going to happen now and I don’t care if you disagree. Your Aye but Rodgers schtick is wearing thin.

 

He met Rodgers on 28th August - a few days before the transfer window shut, after we had bombed out of the CL to a minnow and post the club captain pleading publicly for further strengthening. To ask Rodgers what issues he had at a time the fans were starting to boil over. Not great. And I think it would have been obvious what the issues were.

I, personally, am not for a moment saying that Rodgers didnt have his own agenda. I think after the defeat to Kairat and the shambles of a window, especially deadline day was him checked out. And from then on he was going to priortise himself over the board. The stuff about never being more motivated etc - clearly wasnt the case.

But Desmond is pulling an absolute hatchet job here. The board have usually been able to rely on winning the league to relieve any pressure on them. But 8 pts behind now that escape exit looks to be threatened. And they realised that Rodgers was off end of season and was not going to protect them from the fanbase. So thats really why this has gone down the way it has. To not make a single reference to any hint of a failing at senior level and try and put fan unrest and poor recruitment solely on Rodgers was a really cowardly way to go.

 

It’s not even been 24 hours since his departure was announced so of course Rodgers is still going to be discussed. There’s no need to be so obtuse.

Rodgers did nothing to bring an end to them. Nothing. He actually defended them at the end of the transfer window, on 29th August by claiming they “bleed Celtic”. Go look it up if you need to refresh your memory but do us all a favour and stop talking * by claiming Rodgers did anything to oust them.

 

Lawwell and co. haven’t gone yet. I think (hope) they will go now and their ridiculous way of doing business will go with them and the ructions regarding Brendan Rodgers departure and the truths he told about them will play a part in that. That’s what I think will happen in time. His legacy will be better than that of Lawwell and co.

He said “they bleed Celtic” they did. They bled Celtic dry. They (Lawwell and co.) can * off now. They’re done.

 

I hope they go too.

 

He's neither a rat, nor a heroic martyr. Both are extreme opinions for me.

I do think he's a 1-2 season manager if you want a quick lift, but as displayed over his career he can't rebuild or recycle squads and keep players interested. The way his Leicester side regressed was shocking tbh, same as Liverpool.

Matt O'Rileys interview when asked about the difference between Ange and Rodgers was quite telling for me: "lots more detail". This can lead to the marginal gains that improves players and performances when he first arrives, but after a while I imagine it becomes a chore to have so much information in your head as a footballer.

He would be better off hopping back on the EPL merry go round winning teams FA cups and getting them up the league table every couple of seasons.

 

I all honesty, got real mixed feelings towards Brendan at the minute. Really feel for him in the sense the board have done a number on him here.

Firstly they made him big promises to come back. Talking big plans about our transfer strategy and he will be backed.

First window he is given absolute dross. Yang, Palmer, nawroski, lagerbielke and the dane, can't even remember his name.

The window he got trusty, idah and engels we went on to look decent in the league and pushed bayern to the dying seconds of 180 minutes. And from that s point, you think we will kick on.

No no, the board sell kyogo, idah and kuhn. Then the board go on to claim Brendan had total control over transfers, so are we to believe Brendan wanted yamada, innamura - only to bin them instantly!?

Then he gets the hit piece in the sun.

On top of that, whilst the board says they talked about a new contract, they clearly never offered a new one.

Only three things don't sit well with me that goes against Rodgers. The timing of leaving, should have been sooner, secondly, talking the board up saying they are good celtic men blah blah blah - but then, what is he meant to do, the board is basically his employer. Thirdly, in all honesty he should have been doing better with the squad we got.

Anyway, Brendan overall goes with my best wishes. From my viewpoint he has been absolutely tucked up.

My only hope is he comes back are dermott swinging. Dermott has had his say and I think it's a fair assessment to say none us are buying a single word of it. We are waiting to hear some truth. If Brendan dishes out the dirt on the board, we can finally find out what the * is going on behind the scenes

 

I've always said it's dangerous to take Rodgers at his word he flip flopped on the recruitment first time around and this time was no different. It was clear as day he had been shafted in the summer and pretty much seemed to lose interest. I respect the fact he resigned but I just wish he done it in the summer when the writing was on the wall

 

Like him or not, he is probably going to be a very rare case of a manager willing to publicly challenge the board. He was in a pretty unique position of having a pedigree above what Celtic offered, enough money not to stess about it, wasnt here in a rush to get a better job, and was a genuine fan of the club.

He certainly has an ego but also didnt have to behave like he was just happy to be here, or that he owned the board something. Unless Ange fancies another crack, it is very unlikely we will see that attitude here again anytime soon.

 

That wasn’t the only time they spoke or met. Just after that meeting in August, Rodgers comes out in defence of the board so I don’t agree that Rodgers didn’t attempt to protect them from the fan base, he did publicly.

Desmond is pulling a hatchet job, the statement he made came across as unprofessional but there will be a level of truth in what he said in it.

You’re right that Rodgers saying he’s never been more motivated wasn’t the case. Of course it wasn’t, he’s a bullshit merchant.

 

He wasn’t given a proper chance at being a success in the 3rd season. That’s the part that really is disappointing.

 

So no closer to knowing why he resigned? Just some very vague speculation from reading through this thread.

I'd really like to know what made him chuck it, with as he'd just said the day before 29 games still to go. Similarly why Kennedy has gone too.

Can't be saying for 2 years he's here for 3 and giving his all, without explaining why surely? Not the most reliable person, but feels essential we hear his side.

 

Sacking Rodgers was Desmond's ace up his sleeve to take the pressure off himself if the board protests didn't go away. The fact that Rodgers took that off him and gave him the reverse Uno has left him reeling.

Desmond scrambling to chat gpt to put together a hit piece on him just proves how badly he lacks any professionalism and common sense. If he'd just kept quiet Rodgers would have ended up taking all the flack anyway.

It's his guilty conscience that's got him into this mess. Desmond has shown everyone exactly how he does business. In the most petty, spiteful, and lazy way possible. No wonder our transfer business is a mess.