Brendan must remind everyone that he’s an elite manager

Livingston will look to frustrate Celtic on Saturday. It’s time for Brendan to remind everyone that he’s an elite football manager…

Brendan Rodgers applauds the fans after the UEFA Champions League  match between Celtic and Feyenoord at Celtic Park on December 13, 2023.  (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

People always say that the next game after a defeat can’t come quick enough, and for us that is on Saturday afternoon as the Scottish Premiership’s bottom side Livingston travel to Celtic Park to face the league leaders.

Livingston might indeed be struggling at the bottom of the table, but that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. David Martindale, we know, will deploy his usual tactics of stifling us and we will be lucky if we see his side venture over the halfway line.

We shouldn’t under-estimate Livingston in any way as this game means plenty to them too as they fight for their very survival. With so few fans they rely on the Scottish Premiership income and of course the revenue that they receive from the away supports of Celtic and the other mob. Without that it could be curtains for the West Lothian side.

David Martindale, Head Coach of Livingston, looks on prior to the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Livingston FC at on December 21, 2022 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martindale’s not daft, just as every other manager in the league isn’t, they all know how to play against this Celtic side and Livingston are very good at that, they’ve proved it on many occasions in the past against us, and against Celtic sides much better and higher in confidence than the present one..

But just as Martindale knows how to play against us, Brendan will know all about wee David’s tactical plans before a ball is kicked. He’s got to combat it and be successful, it’s what he’s paid the big bucks for after all.

We need to start the game at a ferocious pace, we’ve got to unsettle them and do our best to grab that all important early goal. If we do just that we will win the game, of that I have no doubts about. But if we start in the same lethargic fashion as we did against Hearts it will be a long uncomfortable afternoon.

Martindale will be telling his players that the longer they keep us from scoring the more the Celtic support will start to get frustrated and the toxic atmosphere we witness last weekend will re-surface and possibly even intensify.

That’s exactly why the Celtic support must show patience and get behind the team to do all we can to get the three points. So on Saturday it’s time for the players, the support and for Brendan to time to step up.  We’ve all got a role to play and a league to win.

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

3 Comments

  1. He isn’t an elite manager anymore. He doesn’t change it when its obvious its not working
    He should have made a sub as soon as hearts scored second leaving us a mountain to climb in the second half and with the subs he made it was like climbing it blindfolded