BRENDAN Official

[EnderbyFox]

17 hours ago, murphy said:

 

This is what I've been saying since he was announced.  He is Puel MkII.  It is amusing to see all the usual Puel-out brigade wetting themselves about this appointment when he brings with him the very things that they hated about Puel's style.

 

 

 

 

 

[weller54]

3 hours ago, Prionsais Rhunaidh said:

As a Celtic supporter of many, many years I`d advise you to not get too excited my friend.  I could have won what rodgers has won in Scotland.  He has taken cold feet because

Gerrard was breathing down his neck and his bottle crashed.  If he had lost the league to him he wouldn`t have been given the job as tea lady at Parkhead.  Don`t believe for one minute anything he utters.  He is a con-man and a fraud.  I have been hoping to get rid of him for over a year now.  He was sussed out by a First Division manager in Scotland, Jack Ross at St Mirren, and every team then knew how to get points from him.  As someone commented yesterday, he left so that he could spend more time with his family.

All the travelling around the world was too much at Celtic.  A maximum journey to Brighton or Carlisle will get him home at night without any worries of ever playing abroad, especially when he is now in semi-retirement and sitting thirteenth in a two horse league will suit him for the short time he will be there.  What is it?  7 managers in 4 years.

Even the pub teams in Leicester would give better job security.

Look Rab.. 

We honestly don't care a flying f**k what you think. 

Why don't you concentrate on supporting your team and beating Hamilton Academicals or Annan and all those other huge clubs in bonny Scotland! 

 

 

[Dahnsouff]

3 minutes ago, weller54 said:

Look Rab.. 

We honestly don't care a flying f**k what you think. 

Why don't you concentrate on supporting your team and beating Hamilton Academicals or Annan and all those other huge clubs in bonny Scotland! 

 

 

 Really ahouldn’t applaud this, but I could not help myself. Celtic supporters slander our team (well manager) but you stepped it up and slandered the whole nation.

Bravo. Nice and inclusive. 

[Heymister2015]

celtic fans with comments like tinpot leicester! The team that pays bigger wages, bigger transfer fees and plays against professional football teams unlike celtic who are so massive beating semi profesional football teams!

[weller54]

2 minutes ago, Heymister2015 said:

celtic fans with comments like tinpot leicester! The team that pays bigger wages, bigger transfer fees and plays against professional football teams unlike celtic who are so massive beating semi profesional football teams!

If we're tinpot then they're crock pot!! 

Harping on about winning the European Cup in..... 1967!!!... They're as bad as Spuds supporters still knocking one out about winning the FA Cup in 1961!!.. 

Celtic's record signing cost £9m!!..our tea lady probably cost more than that!.. 

What a bunch of saddos! 

Rodgers had much bigger and better things to challenge him, he was obviously bored stiff of playing pathetic opposition week after week! 

I'd fancy Hartlepool to win the SPL. 

[Guest Kopfkino]

Henry Winter's chat and article. Some good stuff, feeling very positive about this. 

 

Brendan Rodgers used the word yesterday, clearly wanting to confront a criticism of him. “The word you sometimes get is ‘deluded’, they use, but for me I’ve always been very positive,” Leicester City’s new manager said. “In life, people will say that because you’re positive you might be deluded. But I’ve always been optimistic.”

 

And this is the essence of the 46-year-old Northern Irishman, who has controversially left Celtic for Leicester. He’s optimistic, ambitious, and believing he can win trophies at mid-table Leicester.

 

The timeline of Rodgers to Leicester runs so breathlessly along the lines of “well, that escalated quickly” that it is hard to escape the feeling that both parties were ready and willing to leap into each other’s arms. No wonder Celtic were outraged, although the club could not do anything as Leicester simply triggered the £6 million compensation.

 

The reaction from the Jungle has been toxic. Celtic fans brandished a banner during Wednesday night’s game away to Heart of Midlothian claiming Rodgers swapped “immortality for mediocrity”. The deepest question in Glasgow was whether Rodgers had “played” Celtic, talking constantly of his “dream job” there and yet planning to move on. “If I was making the decision with my heart I’d be at Celtic for life,” Rodgers told broadcasters at the King Power yesterday, a declaration that drew derision from the east end of Glasgow. He insisted that he had to move quickly after Leicester signalled they wanted him immediately. “This opportunity to come to a club like Leicester wasn’t going to wait,” he said.

 

Yet Leicester, hardly at risk of relegation, would surely have waited for their No 1 choice until the summer when Rodgers would, in all likelihood, have completed the domestic Treble Treble at Celtic.

 

After completing his broadcast duties, Rodgers retired to the players’ lounge where he opened up on his decision and his plan. “Managers used to be the real power within the [club] organisation and now they can be the most vulnerable, but I feel I am coming here where the infrastructure is very simple, work very closely with [director of football] Jon Rudkin and Khun Top [vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha].” He seemed pretty secure at Celtic, though.

 

During his talks with Leicester’s powerbrokers, Rodgers impressed with his understanding of the club’s recent travails after the title triumph of 2016 and why some “complacency” set in. “Bang, you win the league, then at the end of the season, you go on a world tour, and everyone’s lauding you,” he said. “Then you travel to Hull and you lose 2-1 in your first game. There’s a little bit of complacency. I don’t think it’s intentional. You don’t quite run the same. Where you pressed for ten metres, you’re now only pressing eight. Now it’s the chance to press the reset button. Come in with a clear vision, a wonderful club, with ambition. For me, it’s: can we challenge for Europe? And then: can we win a trophy? I’ve gone to Celtic to win, and when you win, you want to win more.”

 

Chasing a Treble Treble, Celtic inevitably feel jilted, betrayed, enraged. It is the anger towards somebody who strolled in through the front door of Celtic Park, but sneaked out the back, the contempt that he failed to say farewell to players and staff properly. Rodgers has become a pariah in Paradise. That said, of course, and stripping away all the emotion, if Celtic were invited to join the Premier League, they would leap at the chance.

 

Celtic misery was yesterday mentioned on one of the Leicester fans’ forum, Foxes Talk, during a debate about making a song for Rodgers. One supporter suggested re-working David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel to: “Treble Treble, he’s left you behind; Treble Treble, he won’t change his mind; Treble Treble, it’s time to let go; Brendan, we love you so!” Other, more measured Leicester fans replied that it was probably best to stop trolling Celtic.

 

If I was making the decision emotionally, with my heart, I’d never leave Celtic,” Rodgers said. “I loved the city, the people, the club. I had a wonderful life. My daughter was in school there and having an amazing time. But I’m in a career where there’s certain challenges that will come up for you, and I’ve always been decisive.”

 

Ambition ruled. So on Tuesday, he headed to Leicester, signed a contract worth about £5 million a year to 2022 in succession to the sacked Claude Puel and watched the narrow win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Afterwards, he spoke to Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester’s influential and popular keeper, and again at Belvoir Drive on Wednesday.

 

That was the players’ day off but Rodgers said that “if they wanted to talk I was at the training ground all day”. Schmeichel was one who came in. “We had a good chat,” he said. “I find him a really good guy. He is passionate, he cares. And he is a really top goalkeeper and we want to get him back to his level, which is a really high level. Kasper is 32 but still has years ahead of him.”

 

It was a significant moment. Schmeichel has been impressed with Rodgers and that should ensure the dressing room is onside. The new man is aware of the headlines about “player power” at Leicester.

 

“I will very much lead them,” Rodgers said, emphasising his authority. “What you tend to find with these players is they actually really care about doing well. I am so happy to have that type of player here because they are ambitious. You want that leadership and the character. Of course, if it oversteps the mark then you deal with it.” He’s dealt with a lot in his career. “I’ve been coaching nearly 25 years and managing nearly 500 games,” he replied.

 

After discussions with senior players, Rodgers watched Leicester’s FA Youth Cup quarter-final extra-time defeat to Watford at the King Power, a statement of his commitment to providing a pathway for the plentiful young talent at the club. He has also been assessing the potential of midfield player Hamza Choudhury to see whether they are ready to join the likes of the home-grown Ben Chilwell and Harvey Barnes in the first team. “You have the young, hungry boys of 21 and 22 who have bright futures. It is about the determination and character but also tactically they need to improve,” he said.

 

He appeared to question Puel’s management. On Thursday morning, Rodgers gave a well-received presentation at Belvoir Drive, and when training began addressing fully what he felt were flaws of the Puel regime. He clearly feels the players need to be fitter and released from the more cautious style under Puel. He wants structure, and then energy, innovation and pace in the final third, which appears made for Jamie Vardy.

 

“The team needs to play with better intensity,” Rodgers said. “It is a physicality. They will get that with the training. It will be over a period of time because it is hard to switch mid-season from a team who sit deeper and deeper and then to be up there and closing the spaces.”

 

Yesterday, he again spoke to players individually, and spent time with Harry Maguire after training. According to those present, there was an immediate connection. Man-management, people’s skills, are key even more in the age of the powerful player. “The modern player is the most self-interested they’ve ever been. I’ve always worked closely with players,” he said. “They need to maximise their careers, and my job is to make them better. I had a nice chat with Harry on the field, and in the office afterwards to find out a wee bit more about him.”

 

Rodgers certainly knows Maguire can contribute to forward momentum, bringing the ball out from the back, a quality he seeks in his centre backs. “He can step in. Firstly, he can defend. He wins his headers, very powerful, he’s brave, he gets blocks in, but the type of game I’ve always promoted is the need to have some comfort on the ball at the back, and he can step in, make passes, so he’s a big talent,” Rodgers said.

 

So exactly why had Rodgers returned south? Unfinished business? Clearly. “I always wanted to come back to the Premier League,” he said. “I had a great spell with Swansea, I loved my time at Liverpool. When I arrived at Liverpool they were eighth and within two seasons we had the first Liverpool team to score over 100 goals and just fell short in the league. It was a tough end for us. It was unfortunate.” Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea at Anfield in 2014 with the title within reach proved so expensive. “Stevie was brilliant for me in those couple of seasons. There’s no point dwelling on it,” he said.

 

But he has. It must have crossed his mind when Gerrard, now Rangers manager, texted Rodgers to congratulate him on his move. That near miss with Liverpool will never be forgotten. Rodgers insists he does not dwell on the moment, but it lingers in the memory, driving him.

 

Just the mere mention triggered him off yesterday. “People talk about pressure, but the last 14 games we won 12 games. We drew one [Crystal Palace away, having been 3-0 up]. We were playing absolutely brilliantly. Then at the end we had what happened against Chelsea and that was the game which changed it for us. Palace was irrelevant.” He was dismissed in 2015. “I obviously left when they wanted a change and Jürgen [Klopp] has come in and done a fantastic job. I did my best. From that experience you learn. I’ve come back into the Premier League now a better coach.”

[Deeg67]

I'm sure Schmeichel was very cheerful.  He and Vardy got exactly what they wanted (as usual).

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

I'm sure Schmeichel was very cheerful.  He and Vardy got exactly what they wanted (as usual).

I think it's quite telling when the player who should be his biggest fan (Chilwell) pretty much threw him under the bus with comments about being more likely to stay now we have Rodgers is hard to ignore. 

[katieakita]

Gets a bit confusing this, so is he actually a poor manager who was doing what anybody else could do in winning in Scotland and Celtic are glad to be shot of him and he is that poor he is walking away from achieving a treble, treble that nobody has done before. Celtic must have had some pretty poor managers then does not say much for MON or Jock Stein as I thought they were Celtic legends. Think those running Celtic are more than happy for him to have left taking the flak from them when in the summer he would have moved on anyway. Think we can all argue about bigger club this, bigger club that but think there is one really massively important thing both Celtic and City fans can agree on, which club has the better owners wanting to improve

[ThaiFox]

16 hours ago, Stoopid said:

When your girlfriend dumps you and you tell all your mates in the pub how relieved you are...how you always hated her really...how it was never going to work...

Then go home and cry yourself to sleep.

That's just not fair!!

 

He's got to get out of the pram to pick up his dummy before he can even think of getting a girlfriend! 

[ARM1968]

Don’t see Rodgers as Puel Mk2. BR likes power, pace, aggression and actual intensity; not the French sort of intensity which saw Hitler twirling his moustache beneath the Eiffel Tower. 

 

There are managers who like more possession. Doesn’t make them all Puel clones. I remember how agonisingly close he got with Liverpool. That didn’t happen playing Claude ball. 

[Stevosevic]

4 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I think it's quite telling when the player who should be his biggest fan (Chilwell) pretty much threw him under the bus with comments about being more likely to stay now we have Rodgers is hard to ignore. 

He also said something like "you want a manager who is going to develop you, not just play you"

[UniFox21]

I really feel the board have made an impeccable decision appointing BR.

 

From the looks of it he is an incredible man-manager, something our team thrives with, he once again looks to bring through the youth players and continue what Puel started to implement.

The style looks to be one built around intensity and pace, something which we've had huge success with in the recent past. Now this isn't a dig at Puel, the playing staff he's brought in look ready made for this ability to press, but retain the ball and carve out opportunities where before we'd lose the ball. 

One of the reasons I was so unsure about sacking Puel, was that I didn't think BR or another boss was in mind who could push us further rather than starting another revolution. 

 

Clearly I was wrong, within a few days Rodgers was announced, someone who appears made for our club.

It's going to be an extremely interesting time at the club, and I'm excited to see what the future brings.

[jamesmilner]

Talked , now to walk !!

[NeilLCFC]

7 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

I'm sure Schmeichel was very cheerful.  He and Vardy got exactly what they wanted (as usual).

Yup they wanted what’s best for the club and they got it. 

[fuchsntf]

2 hours ago, katieakita said:

Gets a bit confusing this, so is he actually a poor manager who was doing what anybody else could do in winning in Scotland and Celtic are glad to be shot of him and he is that poor he is walking away from achieving a treble, treble that nobody has done before. Celtic must have had some pretty poor managers then does not say much for MON or Jock Stein as I thought they were Celtic legends. Think those running Celtic are more than happy for him to have left taking the flak from them when in the summer he would have moved on anyway. Think we can all argue about bigger club this, bigger club that but think there is one really massively important thing both Celtic and City fans can agree on, which club has the better owners wanting to improve

Better read than the media options!

[Gerard]

39 minutes ago, NeilLCFC said:

Yup they wanted what’s best for the club and they got it. 

 

Schmeichel and Vardy can sometime be portrayed as snakes who undermine a manager.

 

I just see two players who want what is best for the club and and don't mind working harder and pushing themselves to the limit to get it. They could coast here and do the bare minimum whilst picking up their huge salaries as 30+ year olds but they don't because both are highly professional and ambitious and care for the club. 

[An Away Move]

2 hours ago, ARM1968 said:

Don’t see Rodgers as Puel Mk2. BR likes power, pace, aggression and actual intensity; not the French sort of intensity which saw Hitler twirling his moustache beneath the Eiffel Tower. 

 

There are managers who like more possession. Doesn’t make them all Puel clones. I remember how agonisingly close he got with Liverpool. That didn’t happen playing Claude ball. 

I have always thought that was an ugly strand of the Puel out brigade that was based on him ‘being a foreigner’. This is a good example of it. 

[Ric Flair]

Building one of the best training grounds in the world, have some of the most exciting young players the club has ever had and we've ruthlessly gone and pinched a manager renown for improving young players. I just hope Rodgers stays 3-4 years as this could be something magical. 

[fuchsntf]

2 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

I really feel the board have made an impeccable decision appointing BR.

 

From the looks of it he is an incredible man-manager, something our team thrives with, he once again looks to bring through the youth players and continue what Puel started to implement.

The style looks to be one built around intensity and pace, something which we've had huge success with in the recent past. Now this isn't a dig at Puel, the playing staff he's brought in look ready made for this ability to press, but retain the ball and carve out opportunities where before we'd lose the ball. 

One of the reasons I was so unsure about sacking Puel, was that I didn't think BR or another boss was in mind who could push us further rather than starting another revolution. 

 

Clearly I was wrong, within a few days Rodgers was announced, someone who appears made for our club.

It's going to be an extremely interesting time at the club, and I'm excited to see what the future brings.

They've all said it...Puel failed to get the fans on his side.I would of had more patience with Puel,but the ideology was coming unstuck because of it!!

We don't know the internal mentality,but maybe Puel also failed to communicate with his major players,on ideas and future.

Rodgers has shown he has a good technical eye,and can communicate with majority of players.....No manager has 100% success on either of those points.It wasn't his fault Gerrard slipped,and that one issue must of hurt!!!

Celtic was never the cure,but proved a good rehabilitation....

 

We lost MON to celtic,That hurt hard the core fans,but none held it against him,nor Heskey wanting to forge a higher level of career.but it still hurt because at the time a delivering lower level team & club fans saw a chunk of light,if both stayed..!

Rodgers wouldn't of come for us then,but now we have achieved the holy grail and shown ambition,

with the owners and yes with  the board behind them!!!

Sacking Ranieri/Shakespeare/ now Puel has shown their eagerness,not to let the high ,on reaching those hights of the PL achievement faulter.

Even sadly with Vichais  death (God it still stings & we didn't know the guy)...Top has shown he wants the mantel,and he also with board is insisent,the project Leicester as a future stalwart PL stable member ...

Some of the media's and Celtics fans quacking  proving their own hypocrisy,will have no feathers,or nesting interest on our management's own quest to

realise and keep to their own ambitions and promises....We will still see mistakes and errors within descisions,the y're are part and parcel of running and maintaining a football club, but if they are kept honesty to a minimum,and they show a strong ethos and character of intent,that translates to the field,then our fans are in for an exciting ride!!

just to put out an early Warning ...I for one don't expect us or let's say Rodgers,to rip up trees.but

.by this time next year...

 

We fans first have to accept the rebuild is still in progress and as a long way still to run..

I want him and management settled 90% of our older/poor recruited players worries  contracts.

Even with expected twists &turns,and varying fan base opinions,have majority of the fans behind him...

the squad fully and showing they are behind and supporting him...it's football there will always be a couple of unhappy souls!!

See our player and team performances,having more meaning and consistency.

I won't care who he selects to carry our foxes badge,but the players/squad  have to be in a better place mentally,than now.

Installed discipline...on the field and off. Let's see just one boss...Rodgers!!

 

Ffs..don't waste the £200 mil. Rather carry on the youth development,from within and shrewd young first-year buys!!

for me, I would like us to keep our potential stars(none are yet end product)  but I will support ANY changes and exchanges,because

Any new manager gets at least a years grace,if improvement ,descisions ,timing and logic are good bed partners!!

welcome Brendan....go out create and build our new dogs of war!!

 

pS...Always but always ignore 1st 2 pages of match threads...

 

[Nick]

10 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Building one of the best training grounds in the world, have some of the most exciting young players the club has ever had and we've ruthlessly gone and pinched a manager renown for improving young players. I just hope Rodgers stays 3-4 years as this could be something magical. 

I really hope so. I don’t want to jump the gun just yet though, let’s see what the football is like and judge in the coming months.

 

[Nick]

2 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

They've all said it...Puel failed to get the fans on his side.I would of had more patience with Puel,but the ideology was coming unstuck because of it!!

We don't know the internal mentality,but maybe Puel also failed to communicate with his major players,on ideas and future.

Rodgers has shown he has a good technical eye,and can communicate with majority of players.....No manager has 100% success on either of

Those points.It wasn't his fault Gerrard slipped,and that one issue must of hurt!!!

Celtic was never the cure,but proved a good rehabilitation....

We lost MON to celtic,That hurt hard the core fans,but none held it against him,nor Heskey wanting to forge a higher level of career.but it still hurt because a

Lower level team & club fans saw a chunk of light,if both stayed..!

Rodgers wouldn't of come for us then,but now we have achieved the body trail and shown ambition,with the owners and yes the board behind them!!!

Sacking Ranieri/Shakespeare/ now Puel has shown their eagerness,not to let the high ,on reaching those hights of the PL achievement faulter.

Even sadly with Vichais  death (God it still stings & we didn't know the guy)...Top has shown he wants the mantel,and he also with board is insisent,the

project Leicester as a future stalwart PL stable member ...

Some of the media's and Celtics fans quacking  proving their own hypocrisy,will have no feathers,or nesting interest on our management's own quest to

realise and keep to their own ambitions and promises....We will still see mistakes and errors within descisions,the y're are part and parcel of running and

maintaining a football club,but if they are kept honesty to a minimum,and they show a strong ethos and character of intent,that translates to the field,then our fans are in for an exciting ride!!

just to put out an early Warning ...I for one don't expect us or let's say Rodgers,to rip up trees..by this time next year,

 

We fans first have to accept the rebuild is still in progress and as a long way still to run..

I want him and management settled 90% of our older/poor recruited players worries  contracts.

Even with expected twists &turns,and varying fan base opinions,have majority of the fans behind him...

the squad fully and showing they are behind and supporting him...it's football there will always be a couple of unhappy souls!!

See our player and team performances,having more meaning and consistency.

I won't care who he selects to carry our foxes badge,but the players/squad  have to be in a better place mentally,than now.I

Installed discipline...on the field and off. Let's see just one boss...Rodgers!!

Ffs..don't waste the £200 mil. Rather carry on the youth development,from within and shrewd young first-year buys!!

for me, I would like us to keep our potential stars(none are yet end product)  but I will support ANY changes and exchanges,because

Any new manager gets at least a years grace,if improvement ,descisions ,timing and logic are good bed partners!!

welcome Brendan....go out create and build our new dogs of war!!

 

pS...Always but always ignore 1st 2 pages of match threads...

 

 

I put this into google translate but it still came back like it is?

[Mike Oxlong]

BR can certainly talk the talk which in itself is refreshing from what we’ve recently experienced. If he wasn’t a football manager he’d be running some sort of well-being tantric sex retreat in the Himalayan foothills teaching attendees to channel their inner self and how to delay their orgasm.

 

It’s a good appointment and I’m looking forward to what he might produce whilst yet remaining cautious that it might not work out as some expect.

 

I really hope it does. A season with some good football, cup runs and no sackings would be most welcome. 

 

 

[Guest kristianity77]

I already like what BR is doing and we haven't played a minute yet under him. 

 

Some times it's the simple things that gets the fans onside.  And he already has shown he is good at that.  From his few interviews there is already a feel good factor about what the future holds.  That was never there under Puel. 

 

You get 32000 fans behind you completely together week in and week out and good stuff will eventually happen. We've seen it before. 

 

Also, if you have a manager who is clear and concise with what he wants to both the fans and the players, it also buys you more time when things don't go right all the time. The fans won't jump on his back like they did Puel. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Babylon]

Leon Britton absolutely glowing about him on Sky.