Neil Lennon

Whilst calling Lenny a giant slayer might be a bit much I get the point he is raising. Lennon has given us some of our best European nights. I always felt optimistic with Lennon in Europe. Can't say I always felt the same with Rodgers. Deila in Europe filled me with dread and let's not even start with mowbray.

In terms of European success I would imagine Lennon holds his own stats wise against Rodgers and Strachan. Particularly when you look a bit deeper as in how much all three of them spent on the team.

I cringe a little when I hear our own saying they wouldn't be happy keeping Lennon on or want a manager with real pedigree etc. In Lennon we have a manager who has proven himself capable of finding a player or two, proven he can win domestic competitions, proven he can qualify for CL and pick up some decent results in the group stages too. And Lennon really is one of us. He wouldn't walk mid season, he loves Celtic like the rest of us. What more do we need or want from a Celtic manager?

The only downside I can see to Lenny being our full time manager going forward is he has never managed a top flight side, which is null and void by the fact he has managed is before.

All these other names, Moyes, benitez, rose etc. All present risks, probably more so than Lenny imo

 

https://www.skysports.com/football/...celtic-are-still-hurting-from-loss-to-rangers

Put your house on Lenny being named permanent manager if we pump the huns on Sunday.

 

Personally I’m more than happy to stick with Lenny and I think he can secure the 10 in a row. I admit I do like the sound of Rose, and would be a grand statement of intent, but do we really need to make one, winning the league 8 years on the bounce is statement enough.

 

Moyes, benitez, rose..Moyes is *, benitez, rose nah dream on !!

 

CL Qualification then EL after Christmas but seriously contending to get into the last 16 of the CL.

In the EL we should be looking to be getting into the last 8 unless we get drawn against one of the Super clubs.

 

Rodgers didn’t play aggressive or attacking in Europe outside of a few games.

Playing the ball around the defence and Broony while the team the opposition wait on you slipping up isn’t ‘positive football’ as the snake liked to claim.

And if you’re claiming Deila played attacking football whatsoever then...

 

And Utrecht?

Sion had already knocked us out of Europe. We only won one game out of four against Rennes and Udinese. I think that is a middling to poor European campaign for a Celtic manager.

 

Utrecht away game was just a capitulation (I'm guessing as I never actually seen the game as was down at Leeds festival and couldn't bring myself to watch the 'highlights' )

Udinese were a good side at the time, they finished 3rd in Serie A and had Di Natale who was still getting in the Italian national team at that point.

Against Rennes we were unlucky that we had to mitigate against the disastrous Cha Du Ri.

I'd say it was an average season in Europe to be honest.

 

Rodgers first season in Europe reminded me of this one, there was a lot of potential shown in both of these euro campaigns for the next season, lennons next season we qualified for the last 16 and beat Barca, Rodgers second season we won 2 games in Europe after August and got skelped a few times

 

That could happen and it’s not unrealistic, but it’s unrealistic to expect that every season.

 

Interestingly Ajax did not qualify for the CL in season 2016/17 & 2017/18.
Although not meeting the minimum standard set by some in 2016/17 they still made the EL final
They are now in the CL last 8.

 

No they said that’s what they would both do or try to do - positive attacking football.
It didnt materialise obviously but it was their ‘philosophy’.
Bringing in a new guy with the same philosophy doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

 

And bringing a defensive coach in doesn’t mean it’s going to stop pumping a in Europe so I don’t see your point.

 

Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew insists Parkhead interim boss Neil Lennon deserves to be handed the reins on a permanent basis this summer.

Lennon returned for his second stint in the Parkhead dugout a month ago and has helped create a 10-point gap on Rangers at the Ladbrokes Premiership summit ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

Scotland internationalist Mulgrew was emerging through the youth ranks when Lennon played for the Hoops and was then managed by the Northern Irishman.


And the Blackburn Rovers player believes Lennon, who was put in charge until the end of the season following Brendan Rodgers’ departure to Leicester City, should be offered a long-term deal.

He said: “My first feeling was that I was very happy for him and I was happy for Celtic, too, because in Neil Lennon they have a great man-manager. He is somebody that can really motivate the team.”

Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: "I’m sure he wants to get the treble. His first aim will be to cement the league, and then win the Scottish Cup. I’m unsure what the actual requirements are to get the job, but if you’re asking me if he deserves it – he more [than] deserves it and he is somebody that can take the club forward.”

 

Players who played under him are always going to say good things about him, find it a bit pointless tbh..

 

Middling, then. Fair enough.

Compare Deila's first and second European campaigns with Lennon's first and second European campaigns: Deila was more successful than Lennon in terms of tournament progress. I have never heard a single Celtic supporter describe Deila's European campaigns as average, but I'll give Lennon the benefit of the doubt there.

Does he have to win the Scottish Cup to secure the job on a permanent basis? If not, his record during one of the most successful periods in our history could read:

Scottish Premiership: 3/4
Scottish Cup: 2/6
Scottish League Cup: 0/4
UEFA Champions League proper: 2/4
UEFA Europa League proper: 1/4

I hesitate to call that mediocre.

 

Deila inherited a team that won 3 titles in a row and that had Champions League experience. Lennon inherited an absolute mess.

 

3 things Lennon has to do to get the job imo.

• Make the final of the Scottish Cup.
• Take at least 4 points from the Hun games.
• Extend the lead in the league. (He has so far)

I’d also like to see us play better than we have been. We played good in the 2nd half against Hibs but apart from that we’ve been poor. Although we could chalk that down to the midfield being decimated with injury.