Excuse me Luke, but do you live in Glasgow? How the hell do you have the authority to state what Celtic fans should think about him?
No, and did I say that? No.
I stated the expectations of their team. To demonstrate just how high hope was and what level expectations were take a look at an article which quotes the man himself:
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/734247/Celtic-Brendan-Rodgers-Barcelona-Champions-League-NewsNote the thought amongst the fans that "we can beat Barca" just before the game at Celtic, but yet those same fans that thought of course would have been expecting to be out of EL qualification chances with a game to spare. That is if I'm to believe you.
Well I don't, Celtic fans will be gutted now that all hope of progress is gone, I don't need to live in Glasgow to suggest that either, because it's only natural.
I live in the heart of the East End (Dennistoun) and the Celtic fans absolutely love him. He is considered their best manager since Martin O Neill, and he is playing excellent football with them.
Sounds impressive until we list his competition:
Gordon Strachan
Neil Lennon
Tony Mobray
Ronny Deila
Excuse me if I don't believe that is a very impressive achievement.
Celtic actually had the balls to come out and play against all the teams at home this season.
Yeah 'balls' or naivety.
Brendan himself said it's the easiest thing in the world to coach a team how to defend a deep block. Well with 6 draws he'd be sailing through rather than sitting there with the balls to go out with -11 goal difference after just 5 games.
The fans appreciated that, and 'not expecting to be out of the EL qualification with a game to spare'? Give me a break - in a group with City, Barcelona and Mochengladbach? All European Cup quality teams - Celtic, meanwhile, have a Championship quality squad that would struggle for promotion.
I accept it's a tough group and I personally wouldn't have expected them to get into the top 2 spots but there's a difference between being out of contention to qualify for the next round of the CL and being out of the whole thing with a game to spare.
If you honestly believe that's the expectation level that Celtic fans put on the club and they're happy enough going out of Europe with little more than a whimper then I'll confidently disagree with you.
But hey, as a non-Celtic fan yourself, you obviously know better than the faithful supporters who love the guy. They must merely be just thick poverty ridden Glaswegians eh?
What exactly are you talking about here, this seems something coming from your subconscious because I mentioned nothing about poverty and location, certainly nothing about intellect either? Very strange comment this SoaG.
FWIW the team I most cheer for in Scotland, in fact the only team that I actually care a single damn for in Scotland is Celtic because of our close ties together. That has nothing to do with location, intellect nor wealth.
Any slight against the man is desperately looked for and some people have this pathetic agenda that they amplify. What did he actually do to deserve relentless criticism about every single thing - did he sh*t in front of the Kop or something? Or do some thick people really believe he was Hodge Part II? Why is he hated? Because he was sacked and ultimately not good enough for us (which is true)? If we're to pour scorn on every single individual who tried his best for us but failed, then we might as well disregard the majority of folk who have served us.
Again, just off on a little rant here SoaG.
My post in here was to point out that they'd been dumped out of all European footy. The little quip at the end about character was a personal dislike of mine because on the back of all disappointments Brendan would trip that term out time and time again as some form of defence when in fact it was diversionary bullshit, hence why I thought he'd be tripping it out again to cover over yet another failure from the man. Hardly the insult, mockery or scorn you seem to play it up to be.
As for hate, not a single person has demonstrated hate for the man on this forum from what I've seen, just over-dramatisation on your part here.
If we are to only respect those who brought success, and pour scorn on every failure who tried his best, then that spits in the tradition of the humility and respect that Liverpool supporters are unique for. 'But its our tradition to win' is usually the brainless rotort - well duh, that's a tradition for most top clubs like us.....
See SoaG this is where I believe you lose perspective on things because on here there are discussions and disagreements about people so of course they're going to be discussed and maybe poked fun at from one side or the other from time to time. Do you believe that if any of the 'Brendan haters' met Brendan in real life they'd be hateful towards him?
I know I don't believe that and I think the same of the 'Rafa haters'. What I do believe is that arguments rumble on here and therefore careers are followed to either prove or disprove points of the past. Do I take a little satisfaction at pointing out Brendan failed, yeah perhaps I do, a sense of 'I told you so, yeah there's that too, but when you start talking about hate, scorn and the rest of it you just lose all sense of perspective on things.
The worst thing about your post Luke is that it reads like a Rangers fan. So much for 'you'll never walk alone'.
Your opinion SoaG, I'll uphold You'll Never Walk Alone the way it was taught to me and the way I see fit. If you think that doesn't involve being able to freely evaluate someone's performance and perhaps have the odd little harmless jibe here and there then we'll have to disagree on this too.
