Brendan Fraudgers!

There is a school of thought that Celtic would rather trip up at Easter Road in order to delay the title winning pleasure. With Rangers next in line after Neil Lennon’s Hibs side any failure to take all three points could potentially create the scenario where Celtic can formally wrap up their seventh successive title against Rangers at Celtic Park. Social media chat has revealed an appreciation of that very situation unfolding but it is not something that Rodgers subscribes to.

“Well, I’m a Celtic fan but I don’t want to wait,” he said. And wait will prove to be little more than a stay of execution. But in any case, Rodgers is determined to take all three points from Lennon’s side, a feat that is unlikely to be a given. The Easter Road side came back from two goals down to take a point - and almost took three with the last kick of the ball - while Lennon’s side also drew with Celtic in Glasgow. Furthermore, the tantalising prospect of finishing second in the table following the implosion at Ibrox will be a further incentive for Hibs to go for the jugular against Celtic.

“I want to win it on Saturday,” said Rodgers. “If we can do it, great. It will be a tough game for us, probably the most difficult place we could go to win it but if it doesn’t happen it is ok.

“We go to the next game and if not the next game. The most important thing is to win and we want to win it as soon as we can.”

Regardless of what happens this weekend, Rodgers has warned that there will be no let up from the Parkhead side between now and the end of the season. With a Cup final date against Motherwell awaiting, Rodgers will look to his side to see out the remaining five league games with that season finale in mind. This week the players were given Monday and Tuesday off following their display at Hampden and it is expected that while there might be a little bit of down time, Rodgers will dismiss any notion that the feet will be up as soon as the title is delivered.

“We still need to work,” he said. “There’s a balance. Obviously we’ve got some time to the next weekend but either way we can’t just stick the sombrero on.

“There are hard games leading in to the Cup Final, which is way down the road. They’ll get a few days but will be ready for the next game.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also maintained that he would ideally like to tie down Leigh Griffiths on a long-term deal.

The striker has spoken of his wish to emulate Celtic captain Scott Brown and effectively see out his career at the club, with Rodgers maintaining that he doesn’t wish to lose the forward.

“I’d love to have him here and tie him down,” he said. “Talks are ongoing with his representatives and he’s a player we want to keep.”

Griffiths is one of those who may actually go with Scotland at the end of the season for the friendly games against Mexico and Peru.

Rodgers was tight-lipped about the dialogue that has taken place between himself and Scotland manager Alex McLeish regarding the end of season fixtures, but there is an assumption that there will be an agreement not to overuse some of the Celtic players who will then be involved in early Champions League qualifiers for the Parkhead side.

Having had a staccato season with injury Griffiths might fancy getting more game time under his belt but certainly the majority of the Celtic players will be granted time off.

“I spoke to Alex,” said Rodgers. “Some of them might go, definitely not all of them. There’s good dialogue though, but my job is to protect Celtic and the players.

“But I know every case if different, it depends.”

The issue for any Celtic player who goes away is the sheer volume of games that will be played next season. With the qualifiers kicking off in second week of July, the Parkhead side will bank around 60 games over the course of the campaign as they look to compete on a two-pronged European and domestic front. Aside from the kudos and prestige that comes with competing in the UEFA Champions League there is also a significant financial aspect that comes with it. Figures this week revealed that Celtic banked just shy of £28m from the tournament, an eye-watering amount compared to the revenue that is generated in a domestic context. The bar will be elevated further this summer with Celtic required to negotiate four qualification rounds before securing an invitation to the group stages. It is a worry for Rodgers that will be addressed once the immediate domestic concerns have been sorted.

“When I came here it was to try to bring as much success on and off the pitch,” he said. “If we are qualifying then it gives the club the opportunity to earn the money.

“We’ve got to keep pushing.

“It does get harder each year but I won’t lose any sleep over it. We will give it our best shot.

“The last couple of campaigns we’ve come through it. Hopefully we’ll get the league sorted out and worry about that later.”

 

odds shortening on brendan to take over at arsenal

 

Only because of SkySports and that want Charlie Nicholas throwing that name out there. * will be on the betting for that, naturally those odds shorten - nothing to do with any actual info.


Chances are, Luis Enrique for that job. Simeone if they want to buy someone in, or Conte for a bit of controversy. Rodgers won't be near their shopping list.

As soon as it was announced, Rodgers was 10th favourite, says it all really.

 

Everyone's price has shortened mate. Not sure if you're familiar with 'next manager' or 'next club' betting markets, couple of hundred quid swings them.

 

Let the wankfest from the huns in the media championing Brendan for the job!

Tuchell or Allegri to Arsenal for me!

 

Celtic twitter on the ball again

 

“I’ve still plenty to achieve at Celtic”

 

While I would say that MON left us with a huge wage bill and an ageing squad, I agree with you here. Rodgers' influence here can only have positive effects long term. I love having a manager that is into youth development.

 

Skysports trying their hardest to push it.

Some will do well to remember this is the organisation who was all too happy to bend over backwards and have hospital bedside interviews with Green, fly to SA to talk to King etc - place is riddled with huns. Also remember they own their own bookies, they will be also desperate for folk to whack on as much money on the wrong guy. Rodgers aint going nowhere till the Ten is done - or dead.

 

We should ditch him and get glenn hoddle in

 

We certainly couldn't sustain the model we were working under O'Neil, and in that sense rodgers may have a better long temr impact as we are banking loads of money, but I would say the main long term impact martin should get credit is the rise in our european coeffecient rankings from 95th when he arrived to 22nd when we left. which allowed strachan arguably easier CL groups.

 

The Hoops gaffer’s odds were slashed within minutes of the news and he is now FAVOURITE for the Emirates post.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, presenter Rob Wotton said: “Dermot Desmond says that he’s glad Brendan Rodgers is the bookies’ favourite as he’s a terrific manager and person.

“He said that he wouldn’t stand in his way if Rodgers wanted to take over at Arsenal.”

Sky are really pushing it and the reason he is favourite is cause huns will be lumping money on it in hope and desperation!!!

 

If we win the double treble I reckon Brendan will be mighty tempted. Mighty, mighty tempted. Imagine leaving a job with a 100% domestic trophy record. That and the size of the Arsenal job. I was not happy when I saw the news about Wenger to be honest.

 

Tempted to do what? Arsenal would have to make an offer first, and let's get real for a second, they're probably not going to go for Rodgers.

 

It’s probably better for us that Wenger is stepping down at the end of this season, rather than the end of next season, if Arsenal is interested in Rodgers.

I can’t see him leaving two years into a five-year contract.

 

No way I can see Rodgers going down there, just yet. He’s got unfinished business here. Can see Low going.

 

Domestic MACHINE ..still has a lot to achieve at Celtic especially on the european front as the squad evolves hopefully get us out the groups with some big wins..hes here for at least 10 too thats not in doubt.

 

Arsenal is a poisoned chalice.

I don't think Rodgers wants to leave us but if he did then he'd be better waiting on a more suitable job. There's far too many egos in that changing room.

They need a hard-line, authoritarian * like Diego Simeone who'll hammer that out of them.

 

Dermot Desmond has started with his pish already. Wouldn't stop him going to 'a club like Arsenal'. That's the kind of small mentality * you get over in Govan.

 

When Rodgers leaves, it will be too a stronger league than the SPL. And it will be to a team who could realistically win that league. Arsenal FC I'm afraid tick both those boxes. If the Arsenal owner/board want Rodgers, they WILL get him.
If Rodgers wins the scottish cup to complete an unbelievable double treble, then he will leave with his head held high.