Brendan Fraudgers!

True. Don't think he helped himself in any way.
I think even Johansen realised he was out of his depth last season and stopped playing.

 

I'd hope Toure stays, but I'm praying we unearth the new Van Dijk.

You could argue that, but after their first season O'Neill's side reached Seville and Lennon's team reached the Last 16 of the Champions League beating Barcelona and winning an away game for the first time in the groups.

I certainly wasn't bored, both teams improved after the managers first campaign.

I'm not sure, I just seem to recall O'Neill's team getting stronger from January(ish) onwards.

 

Toure was a reliable quick fix, so was De Vries. I fully expect us to be earmarking replacements for them (long term) right now..

 

Replacing Toure in the long term will prove extremely difficult. His experience is priceless. We wouldn't be in the Champions League without him there in Israel.

 

I said this earlier in the season, and I still think it.

He's got players in he knows. He'll have watched Dembele a lot, and he's worked with Sinclair, Toure and De Vries before.

I think, now we've qualified for the Champions League and have a bit of time to properly identify players, we'll see a return to 'gambling' on young players.

I just hope that unearths a few real gems.

 

I'm probably one of very few who would agree regarding the defensive concerns. Criminally exposed at times down the flanks, and so susceptible to the counter. Personally think it's more tactical, than personnel.

Think with the way we are playing, someone who could do the job Fernandinho is doing at City for example (dropping back into the defence when the full backs push), could make us a much better unit. Bitton couldn't do it and it's not really Browns game, either.

People seem to get their knickers in a twist when it's brought up as we are free scoring and doing well atm. But there always comes a time when you struggle and have to grind results out, those grinds will be harder with a leaky defence.

Might be alright in the league over the course of a whole season, but it could see us being potentially pumped out of the cups or Europe.

Comes with the territory of the way we, Rodgers, play(s) and something we might have to just accept. Minor gripe, and as fans we always want perfect.

 

No doubt about it but I do trust it will be done right under Brendan..

Amazing looking back now, at how many people didn't rate Toure before coming here a few months back..

Absolutely

 

Reckon Toure will be around for another year at least, providing things go well. There's a tendency to rush guys out in favour of someone younger when they're his age but realistically, there's absolutely no reason he couldn't play on for a number of years provided he keeps himself in shape and has an apetite to continue.

I wouldn't want to see him replaced unless the guy coming in was ready to step into his place immediately.

 

Which was precisely the reason I was raging Mulgrew went to Blackburn and we hadn't signed another guy who could do that job.

As it is though, Mulgrew got injured again in his first game so might be a bullet dodged. We're very light in midfield, Broony being a doubt for the Barca game as of yesterday but the * * right up me.

 

Already looking forward to the January transfer window to see who comes and goes:smiley-laughing002:

 

Absolutely loved the way he shut down the Sky interviewer after the game, tried to make a joke "Leigh who?" after Moussa's hatty but Brendan quickly said "show some respect". His man management skills are second to none, you can see why players will run through brick walls for him.

 

Aye thag was excellent, his full demeanour changed in an instant. Love seeing a manager with an edge about them.

 

Is anyone slightly uncomfortable with our bosses patchy record and inability to manage on the European stage?

I'm rooting for him as I do any Celtic manager I really am but the jury's out for me on him as a coach in European competition and against the shrewdest foreign tacticians.

 

Think him navigating the qualifiers so early in his career with us, relying mostly on his own tactically nous rather than a well drilled team, knowing what he wants and how good he has been with his substitutes since he has been here should show you just how good he is from the touchline.

 

Yep.

 

Sure, Liverpool where useless anyway

Its just wierd south of the border that most people dont rate him where as I always felt even when he was Liverpool coach that he was underestimated and misunderstood.

 

Liverpool done all they could to tie his hands, I think Klopp is an exceptional manager, not doing any better than Rodgers did with them without those restrictions in place though.