Neil Lennon

big game against motherwell if we dont win * be out the door id imagine

the tactics or lack of them cost us a right few quid then the publicly saying players were unsettled cost us more money in fees

its good hes come climbed down and is attempting to move on where else were we to go from here

managers dont have that fear factor the way the used to which seems to be lennys style players have all the power nowadays, you cant do that and its lazy youve got to be mroe clever

he causes a lot of his own problems though by playing the same eleven no matter what most of the time

 

I wouldnt say it papers over the cracks. A win over them in the first game would be massive. it should be win at all costs.

The issues of the other night will remain fresh in the memory and only qualification in the next campaign will dispel that. Even if we do achieve the 10.

 

I was giving the rat it tight because it was obvious it was stale and he wanted out, I wasn’t having a dig mate. I just think Lennon looks severely under pressure and lost at times, him back tracking has made this worse imo as it will be seen as a sign of weakness or him being worked by Lawwell. The guy is a club legend so it hurts to see him like this, but I personally can’t see this ending well.

 

I know mate, i know. I was * off before, during and of course after the game. I'm probably annoyed as much at myself for not giving that * Rogers it tight when he was due it, fairly early doors at start of second season actually, till it was too late. It's harder for Lennon for me because he's one thing that that * wasn't....one of us.

However, after saying that, now is the first time when i weigh absolutely everything up i'm in the camp of a change wouldn't be the worse thing, for me anyhow.

Sooner this 10's out the way the * better. Not till then i feel that the club can reset which i think we need to do.

 

He has won 2 cups but played 1 full cup campaign in total. Previously he had relatively poor cup campaigns going out in 5th rounds and QF’s and SF’s. Performance in League Cup final was incredibly poor and but for Forster, we would have been defeated. Let’s not beat about the bush here. It was as poor a performance I had seen from Celtic in a long long time. Lennon’s decision making and tactical ability were quite evidently brought into question following that.

You’ve made a few assertions about European games where individual moments/players/situations as being the cause for not getting the result. I cannot buy that I’m afraid. Reason being, the manager has had either 90 minutes or 180 minutes to find a resolution to such issues. If that is not recognised or rectified, it ultimately falls on the manager. Coincidentally, using your rationale of individual moments/situations like Eddy’s shooting boots being a component of why we lost against Copenhagen or Simunovic against Copenhagen, what if I were to say we would not have beaten Lazio at all without Forster? We are the sum of all parts so I cannot agree with your rationale there. We win, lose, perform or under-perform as a team and the manager heads that. If he takes the credit for Lazio then he takes the criticism for Cluj/Copenhagen/Ferencvaros. There is no justifying it using individual moments in games.

Ultimately, he has failed on two occasions for our 2nd most important objective of the season after the league. You talk about Ronny MKII and his European campaign being “terrible” - the ultimate outcome was the same for Ronny’s first season as Lennon’s except Ronny’s team put up a much better fight in the last 32 against a far superior Inter team compared to Copenhagen. Moreover to this, the writing was on the wall for Ronny after two seasons of no CL football. I’m pretty sure we can all agree that was the beginning of the end for Ronny - rightly or wrongly.

You are right - we won’t always dominate the Huns. But what is unacceptable is not to dominate them at all given the still wide disparity that was present between both teams last year.

 

I'm done with the scrutiny and fallout from midweek.

Back to league business now and right behind the team and manager.

3 points please and let's start to get back on track, albeit a semblance of normality, as there can of course be improvements.

 

Lawwell needs to make a decision and stick by him or cut losses now and live and die by that.
The grass is always greener and the way Dempster acted towards Lennon at hibs and then the consequences of sacking him should teach a lesson. Theres no guarantee that the next person will be any better, especially if the board/scouting remains as is. If recent history has taught us anything, I wouldnt trust them to perform any better for any potential new manager.

like anyone, i only want people who want to be at celtic in and around the team. And in fairness lennon wants to be here. If there is an element of discontent from certain factions, then lawwell needs to try and move them on or reach an amicable outcome so we are moving best foot forward. But lennon needs to learn from his mistakes, which is already overdue.

I think Turnbull will come in and be a revelation for us. Hasnt won a league and will want it as much as anyone. Also has obvious talent. If we could move one or two on and bring in players with hunger and a ruthlessness to win, it could be the difference.

 

We will all know on sunday if he has learned anything from wednesday.

Job on the line,players jobs on the line.

Lets see what they got.

 

He's not getting sacked if we lose against Motherwell. It won't happen.

We ain't losing any way.

 

Can someone please tell Lenny he can use 5 subs..

An ideal way to keep a big squad content.

Don't think he's used the 5 in any game as of yet.

 

First game of the season we were beating Hamilton 4-1 with 53 mins played. He put Ntcham on at 70 mins but waited until 80 and 85 mins to put Klimala and Dembele on.

It was the perfect opportunity to give subs decent game time.

 

Team selections are his choice? Not been anywhere near full strength with his team selections. Not sure about his new recruits except Turnbull. He can throw the players under the bus and complains he knows for the last six months certain players want out! yet he still plays them? C'mon Lenny its down to you on this you failed and passed the buck.

 

It’s a broken record campaign in here and I’m no * different. The same cycle of thoughts keep rattling through my brain every time I think about Lennon past-present-future.

When Lennon is under less pressure (I’d say no pressure but that wouldn’t ever be the case) he’s great to listen to. I enjoy listening to his outlook on the game.
I’ve heard him many a time away from the game and he’s such an affable bloke.

Sadly though, he’s prone to some bizarre melt downs when under pressure and makes some really bizarre team decisions that seem to contradict his ‘way-to-go’ yet analysis and plans.

It’s like a polar shift in mood. We come off a 9air title and enter a season that should be starting with enthusiasm and celebration that we’re in a position to secure a historic 10th title - yet the mood is insta-soured with Lennon’s post match meltdown.

The line-up and result was bad enough but ok, you perhaps could wash that off after some time, single malt or Cillit Bang therapy and refocus on the main objective but no. Not at all, Lennon had to obfuscate the masses with a post match TNT like outburst that completely sours this season before its barely started.

Now he backtracks and seems to attempt to play it all down, frankly it comes across as weak.

I’m torn, the man is a legend to me and I have, or maybe had, all the time for him. Perhaps I wasn’t keen on him being the rats successor but I softened to him being back - now though... he’s really found wanting both as a coach and a professional after this week.

 

Back him, move on.

(secure 10 and then assess)

 

I back him for this season but he needs to back his team! stop his rants to the hacks..

 

At the end of the day it’s all ye can do JC, move on.

Some odd thoughts cross my mind. You’ve had the whole period of furlough to chill, relax, plan and yet ye still come back to work and flip yer lid.

 

Just shows you the mentality of most modern day footballers today....our most important season for a long long time and some of them want to * off into the sunset.... football these days really is tragic.

 

Speaking the truth m8. Modern football is a * show from the top down.

Bred a mercenary culture.


... and we’re a middle man in the * of it