Brendan Fraudgers!

Brendan on the games coming up

 

BRENDAN Rodgers last night sent out a chilling warning to the chasing Premiership pack by promising his Celtic team will be even better in the second half of the season.

A hectic winter schedule for the champions ends on December 30 after the visit of Rangers and then the players, many of whom have looked weary over recent weeks, get a three-week winter break, with the possibility of a longer rest for some because the first match back is the home Scottish Cup tie against Brechin City on January 20.

Rodgers will again take the players to Dubai for warm weather training and his belief is that this will give his coaching staff time improve a team which could, on Sunday against Hearts, reach the mark of 70 domestic games without defeat.

Although he will be without Tom Rogic for the last five games of 2017. The Australian has a knee injury.

“We’ll be better in the second-half of the season, and I said the same last year,” said the Celtic manager.

“You put so much in to the first half of the season but when we get to the break we’ll hit the re-set button again. We’ll have more coaching and working time, so I’ve no doubt we will be better.

“There’s a long way to go once we get to January but it has been a tough run of games. I have nothing but admiration for the players. It’s not just what they’ve done in the 69 games - it’s what they have done every day in training.

“It’s what we do to shape that mentality because if they feel they can go lazy in training then they feel they can go lazy in games.

“They might not have been always at their best - but they have always given their best and their qualities come through.

“That starts in here at Lennoxtown. Everything is right in terms of the training, sports science, nutrition, analysis, how they can improve. They are a very hungry group who are willing to learn and have a willingness to win.”

Out-with the international breaks, which involves almost all the first team, Celtic have hardly had a free midweek all season and it has caught up on some.

And while Rodgers insisted, after the game against Hamilton on Wednesday, that he would never look to lethargy as an excuse, he did concede that his players could do with a change of scene

He said: “The winter break is the light at the end of tunnel and it's not even about relaxing.

"What we will do is give the players a week with their families to get a breather from football and recover.

"Then we will work very hard in the warm weather and we also hope to have new signings in during that period. That will allow us to bond and get together on the training pitch.

"In the second half of the season will also have more coaching time. We will be better in the second half of the season but I need to commend the players for what they have done so far.”

 

He has gave sevco a drip of hope.

 

Time to reconsider his future, McInnes and The Murt have shown how to deal with Lenny and his Hibees.

 

CELTIC FC Foundation are delighted to announce we will be hosting a brand new fundraising dinner in Letterykenny, Donegal next year.

It will take place on Sunday, March 25 in the Silver Tassie Hotel and our special guest will be Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers.

The event has been organised in partnership with the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters’ Clubs and they have been instrumental in securing key support and in all elements of planning and organisation.

Tickets are priced at€60/£55 per person but those who book a table of 12 will pay for 11 places and receive one for free (€660/£605). Tickets can be booked through Celtic FC Foundation - 0141 551 4321 or cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk – or the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters’ Clubs – Donie McIntyre 086 8122091 or Denis O'Donnell 085 1743866.

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic event including a Q&A with Brendan Rodgers, live music from Liam McGrandles, auction, prize draw and fabulous three-course meal.

Celtic FC Foundation strives to honour Celtic’s proud history by responding to the needs of disadvantaged children, young people and adults in our local communities. We aim to improve Health, promote Equality, encourage Learning and tackle Poverty.

The main beneficiary of the Donegal Dinner will be our award winning Ability Counts project and, in particular, its development in Ireland.

Operating since 2011, Ability Counts was the first of its kind in Scotland and since then it has gone from strength to strength. We provide:

• Weekly football and dance sessions for children and young people with Down’s Syndrome to develop motor skills and team-working in a fun but challenging environment.

• Weekly sessions for children and young people with Autism. The aim is to develop communication, coordination, self confidence and social skills and activities include football, multi-sports, fun games, soft play and swimming.

• Time out and support for parents to facilitate enhanced health and wellbeing for the wider family unit.

• Training around Down’s Syndrome and Autism for Celtic coaching staff to build their understanding of the needs of the participants and increase their skills in relation to adapting to and meeting them.

• A new strand aimed at individuals with additional support needs, aged 18+.

We are currently working in partnership with Down’s Syndrome Ireland to take the project to the Emerald Isle and delivery will officially kick off in the New Year.

With your support, we can extend and develop our provision and explore ways to make the project available in Donegal and to a greater number of vulnerable youngsters and adults.

Brendan Rodgers said: “It will be an honour to attend the dinner in Donegal and I would like to thank Celtic FC Foundation and the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters’ Clubs for all their efforts in bringing this event together.

“It is great to see such great work being done by our Foundation. I know the success of the Ability Counts project is something we are very proud of and it’s fantastic that such a successful programme will now be delivered and developed in Ireland, to make a positive difference to the lives of some very deserving young people.

“Celtic is very fortunate to have such a wonderful supporter base in Donegal and I look forward to a fantastic night with our fans on March 25.”

Denis O’Donnell from the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters’ Clubs added: “We are extremely proud and privileged to be associated with Celtic FC Foundation in the promotion and organisation of this very special event in the nationally and internationally acclaimed Silver Tassie Hotel and Restaurant in Letterkenny.

“Since its very inception, the institution that is Celtic Football Club has been steeped in the principle of hope and charity for those less privileged, and from the hungry children of Glasgow’s East End in the 1880s to the destitute and desperate Syrian refugees of more recent times, countless thousands have benefited from the club’s concern and the generosity of each and every generation of Celtic supporters.

“In order to enhance and expand what Founding Father Brother Walfrid termed ‘the great work’, Celtic FC Foundation was established and the wonderful people who work there have brought the club’s charitable efforts to a whole new level and expanded it on a truly global scale.

“All Celtic supporters are justifiably proud of their efforts and we are delighted to have this opportunity to display, in a practical and meaningful way, our support and encouragement going forward.

“We are particularly excited by the fact that the proceeds from this event are to be used to support the development, in Ireland, of the Foundation’s award winning Ability Counts project which has the potential for life-changing improvement for so many individuals and families affected by Autism and Down’s Syndrome.

“It will, of course, be a singular honour for us in the North West to give a ‘Cead Mile Failte’ to our favourite Antrim man - the legendary and record-breaking Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers. Indeed, it demonstrates the great importance the Celtic Family places on its charitable efforts that an individual of his standing would take the time out from his busy schedule to support the event.

“We look forward with great anticipation to his company on this auspicious occasion and we invite all Celtic supporters to join us for what promises to be an unforgettable night.”

Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting a fundraising event in Letterkenny.

“We owe so much to the Association of Donegal Celtic Supporters’ Clubs who have worked tirelessly to support us in this venture.

“Brendan Rodgers has been a wonderful advocate of the Foundation since day one and I know the fact he has kindly agreed to be our special guest on the night means so much to the supporters.

“Our Ability Counts project will benefit from the Donegal fundraiser and it’s a very exciting time for us as we take the initiative into Ireland in the New Year.

“We look forward to a phenomenal night at the Silver Tassie Hotel in March.”

 

We shouldn't be getting humped off hearts. Imagine it was Ronnie Deila sitting in the dugout this season instead of Brendan Rodgers. He would be getting absolutely slaughtered.

Biggest worry is since he started bringing in more of his own signings we have started struggling.

 

Has to take the blame for not signing defenders he knew the injuries in the summer and I refuse to believe we only wanted one South African guy there was time for him to go out and get someone else.

 

He better no allow lustig boyata and jozo to play together again

 

Like who?

 

Sign centre half's and a lb because the two chs are * and KT is on easy street and a fkn liability, should never have walked back in the team anyway when Izzy was playing out his skin. * going forward and defensively a fkn mess.

Drop lover boy McGregor he's not a first teamer, only Armstrong and rogic should be our no.10s.

 

I have no doubts that he'll learn from this.

I think an arrogance has crept into the squad in the last couple of months and that has to be nipped in the bud now. We're not quite as good as we think we are.

 

The warning signs have been there for weeks. Brendan should rightfully take some criticism for not being able to halt the slide.

 

Post match interview should be fun.

 

Brendan - the honeymoon period is over. That's it in a nutshell. Grow a pair and demand 10 million off the board and get 2 players in on January.

 

Agreed..

Leaving guy's out who keep performing like Ajer. Kid's like Johnston should be in. Griffiths has shown nothing today and why I didn't want him back in the side. Ntcham is always subbed off regardless and we've looked much worse since him and KT were subbed off..

Changed back to a back 4 today and been a shambles..

Gordon is undroppable..

We've looked below par for ages and he's persisted with guy's off form or away like Armstrong..

Whole defence and keeper have been a MAJOR concern for too long now. Not just conceding but the type's of goals we concede. The fact that when we go behind in big game's are defence seem's to chuck it..

He's had enough praise and rightly so but today was as bad as I can remember in year's domestically. He's had a pass for batterings in Europe but that was unacceptable. Battered, absolutely hammered by a pish, young, depleted diet side..

Even more of a riddy is the fact Brendan spoke out about this mob signings and style of play when Cathro was sacked and then that very man 4-6-0 Levein has made a total * of him..

 

They are

They are only human. * happens