Neil Lennon...

Love him but sometimes he really frustrates me. First tonight, he starts with Stokes on the left, Sammy through the middle and Commons right. Sorry but why the * did he pick that? Why not Commons-Stokes-Forrest or even just Stokes and Sammy upfront?

Then he takes Stokes off before Sammy? Stokes didn't play that well but at least he can put the ball in the back of the net * sake.

And its not just tonight, often I've wondered if Lenny has a clue when it comes to making substitutions.

 

Very poor tonight. The formation was baffling. Stokes is a striker, not a left winger. Commons is awful on the right and Samaras is just a terrible player. We also gave Sion far too much respect and allowed them to grow into the game. Disappointed in Lennon tonight.

 

Just started a thread similar saying this formation is pants.main reason being we don't have the players.it might have worked with Forrest and Maloney out wide as the have pace and trickery not sammy or stokes out wide.major blunder

 

To be honest we were goosed either way tonight.

We like to play 2 up front but couldnt as Murphy is a bus driver and Samaras and Stokes cant play with each other. Samaras is better as a lone striker but then we'd have to drop Stokes whos scored 3 in 3 games so, we were * really.

In hindsight Samaras should have started with Maloney left, Commons in behind and Forrest on the right. Brown(I like him but he doesnt fit into this formation) should have been on the bench with Ki and Ledley playing as the centre-mids.

 

His team selection, tactics and substitutions were infuriating tonight.

 

If we had played a 4-4-1-1 with Maloney in behind Stokes and the rest of the players in their proper positions, we would have stood a much better chance.

 

But then we'd have relied solely on opening them up and playing through them and it wouldnt probably have made much differance. People most likely would have said after the game "Stokes cant play up there himself Samaras should have played".

If Hooper was fit and played with Stokes we'd have won imo but with no Hooper we were always going to struggle as the other strikers dont work without him.

 

when forrest and maloney came on it changed the game, was very impressed by both

they played with three centre backs and we should have just went for it, they knew however that we would have played with little width so they could just tuck in

lenny got out thought tonight

 

Well we certainly would have stood a better chance than playing Samaras, playing Commons out of position and Stokes out of position. A ridiculously over-respectful formation while we just sat off them in their own half and let them play. Really poor.

 

Got it wrong but he'll know that. Just has to get it right next week. Agree with Hammer in that I think managers sometimes over think when European games come around.

I would've played 4-4-2, no Samaras, Commons on the left, Broony on the right and Ki and Ledley in the middle.

 

We have to remember that Neil Lennon is still learning as a manager. We'll just have to put tonight down to experience. Hopefully he can take what he saw tonight and use it to come up with a better gameplan for the second leg.

 

just got home from the game, disappointed with the result but definitely glad we didnt concede an away goal. we didnt play well at all tonight but the main thing is were still in the tie when we get to sion - score draw is all thats needed

think lennon should have stuck wi 4-4-2 instead of switching to 4-5-1 early on. next week we should have hooper, wilson and kayal back so hopefully they make the difference

 

For a team to thump Utd at the weekend why did'nt Lennon start with as near as dam to that team on Saturday ,Even during the game players were getting moved about ,ie He starts Common's out wide and throws a tizzy and tells him to come in more ,Mark Wilson from right back to centre half and then the subs ,a lot did'nt make sense tonight ,Can't blame the players for that performance as they ran themselves ragged but with to many playing out of position ,it was'nt effective enough.

 

Wrong formation and player positions. But what's more worrying is how lennon could not see once the game was in progress. utterly frustrating and baffling. Stokes out wide when his danger is in the centre especially with a bit of form recently?? I could go on and on but can't be arsed. I'm sure anyone with a clue should have seen to switch to our normal 442 once it was apparent that sion were not much to be feared. We are at home should play as if we are at home.
Prediction: we go over there they play there normal game ( as you should!!) against us we will be jittery as * etc etc. Really hope lennon learns from this his tactics and use of our players has niggled with me at times. Not trying to cause a big debate and normal bickering that goes on here. But the blame for not dealing with this game is with NL I'm afraid

 

story of the night right there , great post rab

 

not for the first time.

 

Way way too much respect shown. But react as the game develops and alter the formation to something we are used to and where the players are most dangerous. They were no better than a decent spl side! And that should have struck home very early in the game. React and change if that happens. It's seems that's a bit of a problem.

 

yeah i know what your saying man we might still get pumped but at least we would create some chances, score some goals and have a decent nights entertainment.

lennon deffinately out thought himself tonight outfoxed by his own mind lol

tbh though... i thought oneil and strachan taught us how to play these games, play a patient passing game

 

Question. Just out of curiosity .

Is Lennon the man for this ?