Brendan Rodgers, at the age of 51, has decided he’s reached a stage in life when he has no need to bite his lip and possesses every right to speak his mind.
I have absolutely no doubt, at the age of 75, there is little time left on my part for quiet contemplation of current events. Such as the incredible amount of time that has been wasted on the personal attacks aimed at the Celtic manager in recent days.
There is one thing that should be made abundantly clear at the outset. If the day should ever come when the choice is between Rodgers and dissident fans, Celtic Football Club, if their priority is the future prosperity of the team on the park, will fireproof the manager to the exclusion of all others.
When it comes to the battle between militancy and meritocracy, Rodgers is the hands-down winner of the contest. Brendan, being a free man of independent will, quietly articulated the case for patience on the part of the fans during difficult games.
He was, in response, variously accused of egomania, deflection and “working his ticket”. His accusers being, in the main, hardcore supporters who would reserve the right to verbally slaughter, slander and savage, from the vantage point allotted them by the club, their chosen targets.
But there was also a man of a certain vintage who called to tell a radio audience on Wednesday night that, in the wake of losing six goals to Rangers over the course of two league and cup matches in December and January, it was time for Rodgers to “look closely at his own performance”.
So, that would be 10 trophies won over two stays as Celtic manager. An Invincible season.
Overtaking Rangers in the league table of trophies won over the entire history of both clubs. Two defeats in 21 Old Firm derbies. Being on the verge of winning this season’s Premiership title, probably before the league season has arrived at the split on April 12.
Having a favourite’s chance of winning the Treble, which would be the ninth of Celtic’s existence – and subsequently creating a world record. And potentially being one game away, against Young Boys at Celtic Park later this month, from progressing to the next phase of the Champions League.
Are those the performance levels the caller wanted the manager to examine? So far as criticism lacking in analytical quality goes, it was right up there. I know there’s an uneasy peace between Rodgers and factions within the Celtic support that can occasionally be breached, but do me a favour.
Deflection? I know, because I was there working at the time of his managership 50-odd years ago, that Jock Stein always had a back page story up his sleeve for the newspapers in the event of losing to Rangers. Working his ticket? Rodgers has the ear of, and enjoys unflinching support from, Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.
It’s a mutual respect that requires no working of tickets. When Brendan won the Premier Sports Cup Final against Philippe Clement’s side at Hampden last month, I received a text message from a director of one of the clubs involved. I will not be any more specific than that because not to respect the man’s anonymity could, in today’s world, create difficulties for him regarding the peaceful pattern of his everyday life. The text spoke of the “emotional reaction and irrationalities” which can follow games between Celtic and Rangers.
I thought about that phrase when I remembered the call I took on the radio from a Celtic supporter who had left the home game with Ross County on November 30 at half-time. The scoreline at that point had Celtic five goals in front without reply – but the fan in question said that type of game was boring to watch and a poor reflection on the state of the league in general.
Rodgers has no chance under those circumstances. If his team passes the ball backwards, there’s disagreement. If they score five goals in 45 minutes, there’s still disaffection. It is the definition of a no-win situation for the manager. I know Rodgers is still held in contempt in certain quarters because he once left Celtic for Leicester City.
But if there is to be no absolution for Brendan then is there no such thing as a statute of limitations where that matter is concerned? Rodgers does not, like the fans, enjoy diplomatic immunity when there is room for criticism. But while he is at Celtic there is the guarantee of success.
When he leaves Celtic, there might be a need to be very careful what you wish for. At the time of his return from Leicester, I wrote here that Rodgers was treated like a common criminal and his press conferences undertook the appearance of a man being interviewed under caution at a police station.
Brendan referenced what he had gone through to go back to Celtic when he was asked to explain himself in the wake of his decision to deliver what could only be called a mild rebuke to the fans over the atmosphere inside the ground.
It is for him to know in his private moments what effect, if any, the last few days have had on him.
But it is also only fair to recognise that the singing of the fans’ greatest hits during Celtic’s win over Dundee United on Wednesday night was an exercise in good humour and subtlety. The manager called them
disrespectful for originally singing Kieran Tierney’s name and, to Rodgers’ way of thinking, treating Greg Taylor unfairly.
Their response was clever in the extreme, proving there can be a difference of opinion without the need for open warfare. When Rodgers’ press conference after the win over St Mirren was broadcast last weekend, I was in a studio beside my colleague, and former Celtic player, Mark Wilson.
His observation was that the Celtic players of today would be delighted with the manager sticking up for a member of his squad. Professional instincts versus emotional instincts. There’s room for both without the need for a rammy and recrimination.