Neil Lennon

Does he? We have won just two of the last twelve games in which he has featured, and he has often been among the worst performers. I think that you might be overstating the value of his experience at this stage of his career, mate.

Soro, on the other hand, has been a revelation.

 

Call me old fashioned, but you pick the best players at your disposal to win a game.

Anything else is total incompetence/ borderline negligence.

The only loyalty should be to winning a trophy for fans who pay week in, week out....especially this season.

 

I think he's been far from being one of the worst performers. Id personally prefer Turnbull and Soro from now on, and think they've both earned their place over the last few performances, but Brown and one or the other together wouldn't concern me, preferably Turnbull if it were a choice.

 

If the Cup final had been moved from the 1966-67 season, rather than the 2019-20 season, to now, would you be sending John Clark out to play?

Brown's playing career is over, and the last fourteen games are testament to that.

There is no room for sentiment now. There might have been if Lennon had made better decisions this season, but there is now a distinct possibility that we may finish what should have been an historic season without silverware.

 

Well said!

 

Brown has been “far from being one of our worst performers”? Are you joking?

 

As long as he takes a seat on the bench after walking the players out.

 

No I'm not joking, that's why I said it.

 

It doesn't really matter, we owe Broonie a huge debt of gratitude if Lenny wants to show him that by bringing him to start this one, there's no argument from me.

To Captain us on Sunday is a fitting end to this period of domination and a way of saying thank you as arguably we wouldn't going for a quadruple treble if it weren't for him..

He's rarely let's us down on the big occasion.

Soro and Turnbull are must starts going forward, no arguments there.

 

It could be a cunning plan just to fool the diets

 

I think Broony can cope quite easily with Hearts; sadly, I think John Clark would struggle.

Broony's not been that bad IMHO. He's clearly a few levels below where he was and Soro is fantastic (like a young Broony, in fact!), but Broony's been fine. I think we'll see him against Hearts and I think he'll have a good game.

 

Thank you for expressing clearly what I couldn't.

 

Hunger
Passion
Big Sellick man

This horseshit is the * reason we are where we are, not the pandemic. Archaic

 

I am not so sure, but I hope that you are right if he does start.

 

Just spouts the same stuff as Roy Keane when he's in the Sky Sports studio.

In their mind tactics and coaching don't count for much. If you want it more than the other team, that's all that matters. As you said, archaic.

 

You’d have to be * insane to start inferior players in a cup final.

Sentimental birthday caird pish is holding this club back. We’ve near enough lost the 10 because of this stupid *.

When are we going to learn the lesson?

 

* knows who you’ve been watching this season then.

 

Just seen the quotes re bringing the experienced players back in.

I thought there was no room for sentiment in football? On Scott Brown, I've said numerous times that I still think he can be a valuable player for us. Maybe Lennon told him he'd be sitting out the last two but to be ready for the Cup Final. The problem is, when Soro has come in and played so well after a period where Brown has looked very poor, how can you justify that decision with anything other than sentiment or the notion of loyalty? We need to win this game. Winning the trophy matters more than who leads the side out.

With Turnbull coming in and making such a big impact, how can we drop him now? Also, why start Hazard for the last two games if we're just going to throw Barkas back in. Would it not have been better for Barkas' confidence to play in the last two victories?

Maybe he's just making these comments to throw |Hearts off the scent re the team selection.

 

Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists nothing means more to him than securing the fabled 10 In A Row as he launched a robust defence of his record.

The Irishman has come under fire in recent weeks after a miserable run of results saw his side crash out of the Europa League, while Rangers opened up a 13 point lead at the top of the Premiership

Celtic still have two games in hand though and Lennon is convinced he and his players can turn it around although he did make one pandemic admission that "other clubs have maybe dealt with that a little bit better."


Speaking at the club's AGM he took questions from shareholders, beginning with his thoughts on the upcoming Scottish Cup final.


It's unprecedented to be talking about trying to win a fourth treble in consecutive seasons is monumental and I think it'll mean so much to the players


"From my own personal point of view it would mean a * of a lot because we put a lot of work into it last season even though it's now overlapping into this season.

"Since 2000 we've won four trebles, it's incredible, and this could be the fifth.

"I don't think we'll ever see the likes of it again.

"So it's one to look forward to, I think the players are very much motivated for and hopefully we can come away with another really important piece of silverware to bring home for the club and the supporters."


I think from our point of view we've missed the fans as much as any other club in Europe.

"The players have really found it difficult, empty stadiums is not normal and I think it's affects them subconsciously at times.


We don't have that rawness in the atmosphere, that electricity.

"It's been really difficult for them to adapt to the empty stadium and we know that most times it's full whether we're home or away.

"It's been difficult circumstances for everyone, not just in sport, but hopefully we're seeing the turning of the corner with this and we'll get the supporters back in soon


How committed are you to turning the situation around?

"It means everything to me.

"My own personal pride, the reputation of the club, the reputation of the players.

"It's been difficult but you're starting to see signs of things really improving.

"There have been situations where we've lost players to Covid, there's been anxiety with the players I think.

"There's been no respite for them this season in terms of the pressure being on in every game and I think they've felt that where some of them have probably been trying too hard and they're over-thinking their play a little bit.


Sometimes there's just an overall fatigue where they look leggy and that just comes from the mental pressure they're feeling rather than anything physical.

"We look at the physical data, it's pretty similar to where we were last year in terms of performances they're probably just a little bit antsy in the final third.

"Once we get over that we'll be absolutely fine."


How will you draw on your own experience to handle a time like this?



"I've been saying to the players that I've been in this situation before as a manager. The Lille game was the ninth anniversary of us playing against Hearts when Fraser Forster saved a penalty and we could have been 10 or 11 points behind our rivals at that stage of the season.

"We turned it around that season, so there's evidence that we can do it and the players need to buy into that and understand that.

"I think that's a huge motivation for them going forward.

"We can't affect other results, what we need to do is find that little bit of swagger that we had because it's been apparent we haven't had that from last year where we were rampant.

"We need to pick that up, have a little bit of belief in ourselves and chase it down.

"I think that's very, very exciting for the club and the group of players and it would be an amazing achievement if we could do that.

"But we can't worry about what other teams are doing we have to chip away and chip away, keep the Ws in the results bracket every week.


What makes you think you're the right man to carry Celtic forward?

I believe, and I've proven I can do it.

"Out of the nine (league titles) I've contributed to five of them and no-one wants it more than myself.

"I can't project that sort of desperation to the players, it has to be calm and be consistent. You have to do it bit-by-bit.

"You can't look too far ahead and we have to play in the present but my record speaks for itself when it comes to winning championships whether it be as a player or a manger.

"I've won 10 in my time here as a player and manager and there are not many who've done that before. I firmly believe with the backroom staff and our training protocols and policies it's a winning way and we'll find that way."



You've been a Celtic fan all your life, how important is it for you to be part of the success?

You're right, I have been a Celtic all my life. And I'll be a Celtic fan for the rest of my life.

"This means more to me than any other thing apart from my family.

"I've been a part of the club here, on and off, for 20 years.

"I haven't done it all myself, I've played with good players and worked with good managers, I've worked with great coaches and I've had great players underneath me.

"It's been a concerted effort and I've also got a great CEO in Peter Lawwell who's brought mighty success to the club.

"We want me, we're hungry, we just need to transmit that on to the pitch and bring that to the supporters.

"I think the fans see that every now and again we're going to have a little struggle and it's important we get their support through thick and thin.

"I've no doubt or belief we'll come out of this stronger than ever."

What have been the factors behind the recent poor run?

This is all new, I've never managed through a pandemic before and the players haven't played through one.

"It's been bit-by-bit. I don't think we've had a lot of luck, things have gone against us whether it be Covid, players missing, restrictions on their life away from the training ground that they find difficult.

"Other clubs have maybe dealt with that a little bit better but we're talking about eight weeks where it's not been great but the results haven't always merited the performances.


We were outstanding, I felt, in the San Siro. I thought against Sparta Prague for 35 minutes away from home we were in total control. We just didn't get the goal we deserved.

"So there have been fine lines we haven't crossed, hopefully with the Lille result that's a turning point.


It was a really good result on the back of a really good performance, a lot of zest and energy, a lot of will to win and desire.

"That's what we want from the players and hopefully that will give them the little ignition, the little spark, to go on the winning run we know they're capable of."

 

Lots of pish in there, but I see an admission of pride being the reason why he didn't resign. As expected. Regarding players being fatigued...well, there is a thing called rotation!! When Soro was available (before his COVID-induced absence), he could've helped Brown stay fresher.