Neil Lennon

We've scored a * ton this season as well.

 

Without really having clicked. The signs are there, just a bit disjointed. Next few weeks you’ll see us kick on

 

Some fans never really have mate. That’s the sad fact. It’ll be fully realised when he retires

 

This is what I've been comforting myself with for week's now..

The fact we've got an unsettled back-line and new keeper....plus trying to gel in the right formation with the personnel we have available just now..

We’ve been average and don't think we've been anywhere near a solid level, never mind the heights of post winter break last season..

We're on course for top spot and that's without clicking. I know we will click and that's when it'll be frightening for everyone else..

Just hope it hurries up now..

The Boli incident deffo rocked us. Could see we were feeling a bit nervy. Hopefully now we're right back in the driving seat, we can motor on..

 

When's and who's our game in hand against?

 

Aberdeen at home and if we make the group stage of the Europa league looking at late January for it to be played

 

The sheep but nae idea when it's getting played.

 

IN Celtic’s previous three encounters, played in the space of seven days, Neil Lennon's men scored 10 goals, conceded three, and reduced the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to a point with a game in hand.

In doing so, we witnessed three sides of the champions’ game – a comprehensive 5-0 against Ross County in Dingwall, a hard-fought 2-1 win over St Mirren in Paisley, and a narrow 3-2 victory over Livingston at Paradise, with a scoreline that perhaps didn’t reflect the Hoops’ dominance over 90 minutes.

Ahead of their UEFA Europa League exploits tomorrow night (Thursday), the manager caught up with the official Celtic website to reflect on a good week at the office, and to look ahead to both Riga FC in Latvia and Hibs at Celtic Park this Sunday.

WITH RIGA AND HIBS, THIS IS ANOTHER BUSY WEEK FOR CELTIC.
‘It is, we’ve another busy week ahead of us. We had a good week last week, three wins in seven days, 10 goals, only conceded three, and we’re hoping to keep that going. I think we’re still to hit top form, but I’m delighted with the way we’ve negotiated the games and the catch up that we’ve had to do. We’re in a good strong position and we can now concentrate on Thursday’s Europa League game – we really want to get into the group stages now.’

AT PRESENT, THIS SQUAD IS FULL OF POTENTIAL STARTING XI PLAYERS – IS THAT A WELCOMED PREDICAMENT WHEN IT COMES TO TEAM SELECTION?
‘I’m delighted with the players and we’re still embedding the new players in. We started off with back at the beginning of the season and more recently we’ve gone to a three. It takes time and a little bit of adjustment to that, but we’ve won six out of seven in the league now and have drawn the other one. That’s good going and it’s really good consistency.

‘We’ve got great depth in the squad and it’s important to try and keep players motivated and give them something to look forward to and to also give them incentives. We think long and hard about each selection for every opposition. But over time, we will see our most consistent 11 on the pitch. Also, with the amount of games we’ve had in this burst between international breaks, I think it’s important that we do give players the opportunity to play and keep the squad fresh.’

HAS YOUR PREPARATION CHANGED FOR TOMORROW NIGHT’S GAME, GIVEN IT’S AWAY FROM HOME, CLOSED DOORS AND SINGLE-LEG?
‘We went out to Latvia a day earlier than we might otherwise for these games. The current situation means we’re confined to the hotel, besides going out to training for a light session tomorrow (Wednesday). In normal circumstances, we’d travel out the day before the game, but on this occasion we decided to get over a day earlier. We’ll do our normal preparations in terms of analysis and the players are working as hard as ever behind the scenes.’








AND THEN IT’S ONTO HIBS AT THE WEEKEND, WHO’VE STARTED THE SEASON WELL.
‘Yeah, Hibs have started the season really well, they had a good draw last weekend, a good 3-0 win over St Mirren and the only real blip has been a defeat to Aberdeen earlier in the season. I know a lot of the players, I know the qualities they have and for us it’s great to have another game at home – one that we’ll be looking to not only win but to try and win well. It’ll be important for ourselves to keep that momentum going.’

WHILE PLEASED WITH ALL THREE GOALS LAST WEEKEND, ALBIAN AJETI’S WAS SPECIAL WASN’T IT?
‘It’s a stunning finish from Albian. I lot of players would have taken on the goalkeeper. It’s a great run, it’s a great pass from Ryan and the timing of the run and the pass were perfect. The pass is played straight into Albian’s stride. He’s proficient with both feet, but for his less favourable side, to finish like that with his left foot, it’s an outstanding effort. The keeper had no choice, and he’s got a tendency to take things on early, his goal against Ross County was similar. In terms of his overall play, you can see that he’s getting fitter and stronger with each passing game. I’m really thrilled with the contribution he’s making him, and there’s more to come from him. That goal against Livingston was a superb striker’s finish.’

UPON SIGNING, ALBIAN SAID HE WAS KEEN TO REBUILD HIS CONFIDENCE – HE APPEARS TO BE GETTING THERE!
‘Yeah, he is. Building his confidence comes with getting more game time, getting to know the players around him a bit better, scoring goals, all of that gives strikers more confidence. He looks a real threat. Besides all of that, what I enjoy about him is his link-up play, his strength, the way he holds players off, the way he brings other people into the game. We’re starting to see the level of great striker he can be. He knows he’s still got a bit of work to do, we know that, and that’s why we haven’t given him a full 90 just yet. We don’t want him injured for any length of time. But he can be really pleased with what he’s going at the minute.’

CALLUM McGREGOR HIT HIS 50th CELTIC GOAL AGAINST LIVI – PLEASED FOR HIM?
‘Callum has been magnificent. Last season, he came up with the important contributions when needed, his consistency was fantastic, and he scored a great goal at the weekend. If you think about the run and the pass that he made for Jamesy’s first goal against Motherwell – that was fantastic. His all-round play is brilliant, and this year, he’s getting better and better now, getting himself more and more up to speed as well.

‘Sometimes, people are guilty of overlooking the work that he does and the standards he’s set. We certainly don’t as a backroom staff. We really appreciate the player that he is, and he’s so intelligent, he’s fit and he’s a great trainer as well and he just loves playing. We know exactly what he’s all about, but I think there’s also more to come from him this season. I think he’s got more goals in him and hopefully he can get himself into double figures again this campaign.’

 

Win the Hibs game comfortably and that will be a momentum boost. Hopefully we can kick on from there.

 

NL: We want to try and improve on last year. We had a great group campaign but we must negotiate two very difficult rounds first. That’s our focus at the minute

NL: “Hopefully last season will stand us in good stead for these games. This is a one-off tie and we have to get everything right."


NL: "We’ve only left Chris Jullien behind because he’s still struggling with his back. The rest of the squad that was available at the weekend have travelled."


NL: "The only restriction we have is we can’t leave the hotel but for training tonight at the stadium and the game tomorrow. The players seem quite relaxed and the facilities here are excellent."


NL: "They’ll be a tough team to break down. In Kule Mbombo they have a very physical, strong centre-forward. They have good discipline in their shape and, obviously, we’re away from home in Europe so we know that brings its own difficulties."


NL: "They had a great result against Copenhagen last year where they won 1-0 and they lost the tie over two games. This is going to be a very difficult game for us so we’re under no illusions about that.


NL: "The players are well prepared for it. We’re away from home against relatively unknown opponents. We’re trying to prepare them as best we can and they’re well aware of what’s ahead of them."

 

Well no one can say he bows to the wishes of the fans

 

It's bizarre the one player he refuses to rest is our oldest and most needing of it

 

What's he slabbering about taking a good result into next week? Just said on BBC Radio.

What's happening next week?

 

We have regressed massively from last season.

We can't defend and have no imagination up top. Chopping and changing too often.

 

There's a not a person on this planet that could honestly tell me they're really confident of securing the ten this season with Lennon lining us up like this.

Like for like we're * miles ahead of the Huns and in terms of depth, it has to be a management/coaching problem that we're witnessing right now.

There's an arrogant part of me that says there's no way we're losing tonight, but if we don't make Europe given the run we would have had in the CL and now in the Europa, I wouldn't want Lennon seeing out the season, I just don't think a change of manager would cause any more issues than continuing like this if that happened.

There's a tiny part of me that thinks Lenny will relent and play the side most people have been crying out for for weeks, but there's a huge part of me that thinks he's too stubborn and/or unable to set the side up any differently now.

 

If we manage to some how get a goal tonight to win this game, he stays, wrongly for me.
If we get put out tonight, I honestly do not see how he stays in a job and I would want to see him out the door before the weekend if we did get put out tonight - it's such a fine line right now that he remains, in my opinion.
But it's a fine line we can't continue along, he needs to fix it, and fix it quick - we all know the issues. Or he needs to * off and let someone else come in.

 

What are the tactics tonight Neil. This has been awful to watch. If we go through it has not been due to your tactics and the football we are playing. Serious questions need to put to you and your coaching team.

 

The thing is, he is a bad manager that sadly will take a catastrophe for us to get rid off, because he knows nobody with a reputation and salary close of what Celtic can offer will ever approach him, so he won't move out on his own even if he notices he is damaging the team. And the board won't sack him because he is the cheapest manager we can get that is still somewhat acceptable. He seems to stop caring about results and performances and just want to prove how he is right in insisting with baffling formations and substitutions. Oh, that and giving Brown 90 minutes 3 times per week. Can't wait for his "we did so well tonight" interview after beating part timers for 1-0, thanks to the individual effort of Frimpong (a guy he doesn't consider good enough to play), than anything else.

 

Bit fed up with Lenny TBH.
Sunday's team selection is gonna be interesting.