Neil Lennon

Up until he got sacked he was doing ok but probably underachieving with the team he had.

I’ve never rated Martinez, he’s like a better version of Ronny for me. Good at talking, good idea but horrendously tactically inept. Tries to be too clever.

It might just be me missing what he brings but people rating him has always confused me.

 

Leave Ronny alone.

 

Neil Lennon is playing a major role in Celtic’s rebuilding for the future.

The interim manager has yet to be informed if he will kept in the job beyond this campaign having come into the role on an initial short-term basis following the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers six weeks ago.


However, with crucial planning needed in terms of squad recruitment and moves already underway for summer comings and goings ahead of 2019-20, Lennon has a hands-on role in the task.

Assistant manager John Kennedy has revealed that he, the current boss and the current coaching staff have held crucial meetings about the restructuring plans and what’s needed to help club chiefs set about the imminent overhaul.

Kennedy explained: “Neil has come in and he is looking at the squad.

“We have sat down and we have had meetings about next season, if everything goes to plan, and what it might be.

He’s involved in terms with, from his perspective, what the club might need, giving his opinion on things and the club has good support behind that who will continue to work and whatever it throws up in the summer, there will be enough options there that whoever is making the decisions will be able to do so.

There is a bit of work to be done, there’s no getting away from that.


“A bit of work in terms of planning, which the club will continue.

“Hopefully, when that happens, it’ll be pretty smooth and we’ll hit the ground running next season.

“Neil has been terrific since he’s come in.

“He’s in a position where you don’t know what the final outcome is going to be and it’s the same for myself.

“In football, you never know what can happen, so, ultimately, myself, Neil, Damien [Duff] and Stevie Woods just have to go out and deliver in terms of results, leagues and, hopefully, the cup.

“But Neil has treated the job like he’s going to be in it and doing all of the work he can.”


Kennedy and Lennon have identified areas which need work in the rebuild, but the Celtic No.2 has also pointed out that the there is a nucleus of outstanding players at young ages who will be there to assist with continuity.

 

I'm not sure there is an anti-Lenny agenda on here - I think that everyone has nothing but admiration for him as a player and his dedication to our club simply cannot be questioned.

I also think that comparisons with BR are pointless - the focus should be on how our club goes forward.

There are some on here who simply cannot tolerate any criticism of Lenny and, if you question his suitability for the job, you get a load of abuse.

The fact that he was a legend as a player has no relevance to his managerial ability - it's that simple.

I think the fact that his 3 league titles were won with no Huns (or deducted points in 1 season) is relevant.

His domestic cup record was patchy to put it mildly.

He was a disaster at Bolton and got them relegated. Before we get all the "he had no money" excuses - Phil Parkinson got Bolton promoted the following season while they were under a transfer embargo and limited to free transfers.

He left Hibs 8th in the league - they are currently 5th.

The only standout performance under Lenny was Hibs away. Aberdeen, Livingstone, and Rangers (2nd half) at home along with Dundee and St Mirren away were turgid.

Playing Rogic against the Huns (when he could clearly hardly run 5 yards) could have cost us - and dropping Weah after a MOM performance was really stupid.

IMO - both football and our club have moved on in the last 5 years and Lenny simply is not a good enough manager to take us forward. I can't see Rafa coming but AVB would make a statement. Its worth bearing in mind that Lenny is not in a strong negotiating position - clubs are not queuing up to hire him. He would be a cheap option and Lawell would be in a strong influential position.

Its not an anti-Lenny thing - it's simply dealing with facts and forming an opinion. If Lenny gets the job, I will get behind him and the team as I always have. I just think it sends a message that we are going back to playing it cheap and its a backward move for the club.

 

Spot On

 

Ain't nothing Lennon could do that will change how much I love him and idolise him.

This is a man who, whenever called upon will take death threats, Neds attacking him on the sidelines, parcel bombs and so much more... And still serve us with distinction which I think all of us would fail to do.

He's a * * * hero.

But Celtic as football club has moved on and whilst I struggle to see past Lennon in terms of what is realistically available, we need to somehow look beyond him if at all possible.

If it's a choice between Lennon or a Ronnie type it's Lennon. If it's a choice between Lennon or Benitez type, then it's a Benitez type all day long.

 

Tony Pulis has a better win ratio in the EPL that Martinez, with both having managed roughly the same amount of games. Martinez W 80 D 74 L 102 win ratio 31.2% Pulis W 84 D 74 L 102 win ratio 31.9%. That is * chronic.

 

Cant argue with any of your post tbh ,I think the thing that has formed opinion on this was lennys statement to the massive changes since he was last here , and is he able to keep it going and improve further ,if it was just character and guts and will to win We would struggle to find a better man .

 

Can we really blame Lennon for how the team are playing at the moment? He's just in the door and taking over a team who'll be shocked at losing their manager.

Normally a managers job when taking over at this stage of a season is to spot where they're going wrong and fix the problems. He's inherited a winning team and will not be wanting to make too many changes.

 

NL: The players know they're a game away from another final. They've handled these situations brilliantly in the past few years."

NL on injuries: "A few injury scares have settled down this week. We should have a full complement of players to pick from.

NL: "I'm here for the players and it's important that I try to get them over the line. All I can do is focus on the game on Sunday.


NL: "It's the most important game of the season simply because it's the next one. We'll always be under pressure to perform.

NL on Aberdeen: "We'll be focused but they'll want it as much as us. We'll need to get on the front foot, create chances and try to take them."

 

Word is that Lenny isn’t getting the job, he’s going to a club down South and we’ve got someone else lined up. Don’t know how trustworthy it is.

 

Class info.

 

Well that’s cleared that up

 

I think the break away from Parkhead will help aswell, when we are struggling at home the crowd starts getting on top of the team.

 

Aberdeen will be looking for a jinx in Neil Lennon’s armour at Hampden in their semi final showdown

And they may well have found it after the Celtic boss refused to sit next to the Scottish Cup as he prepared his team for the Hampden clash.

Before he spoke to the Press, the superstitious boss asked sponsors William Hill to take the famous old trophy out of the room.

But Lennon insists his history chasing Celtic side have the burning desire to clinch a treble Treble that will NEVER be topped.

The interim Hoops boss admits he has astonished at the run of predecessor Brendan Rodgers but he is determined to finish the job by lifting the league and Scottish Cup in the coming weeks.

Celts have won seven trophies on the spin and Lennon is convinced his big-game hunters have the appetite to set their names in stone this season while all of their rivals are hellbent on stopping them.


He said: “I thought the going the season unbeaten and winning the treble was something I’d never see again.


I thought the double Treble was good.

“Now they’ve done two and they’re on the cusp of a third.

“It’s fantastic for what they’ve done for the domestic game.

“Everybody wants to beat them and they overcome all those obstacles and challenges and they just keep going



“It must be fatiguing mentally and physically at times and we’ve probably seen a little bit of that but when the big games come they really sharpen their minds again and focus.

“Will a treble Treble be out of reach for any other team in our lifetime – yes, probably.”

Lennon hailed the achievements under Rodgers but he insisted this squad are not done yet.


He said: “It’s phenomenal what they’ve done, absolutely phenomenal. The hunger to keep going, I think it’s fantastic.

“It’s not like ‘ach we don’t need it now, we’ve done that’ the hunger is still really there. Brendan has to take a lot of credit for that too.

“I’d take a degree of satisfaction, yeah.

“It will all be down to the players and the foundations Brendan’s put in place over the last two and a half years.


Twenty-five cup ties in a row, it’s not a fluke, is it? It’s not a coincidence.

“It’s really, really strong consistency. I think it’s a Scottish record. It’s never been done before.

“Incredible. Incredible. I can’t even believe we’re sitting here discussing it. I said to the players when we won the treble in 2001 it was the first time in 30 years or something like that, these guys are on the cusp of three.

“But we can only talk about it because they created it with their own play and dedication and mentality.

“You can’t avoid talking about it or being asked questions about it but we have to just focus on the here and now and the next game is Aberdeen.

“They will be a tough nut to crack, as they’ve proved.”

Lennon reckons Celtic could not face a more difficult cup tie against a Dons side that sunk Rangers in Glasgow in both cup competitions.



Attacker Oliver Burke is facing a fitness fight while Filip Benkovic was sent for a precautionary scan on a foot injury but is expected to be fit.

But Lennon insisted Celtic are far from the shattered side some critics have suggested are there for the taking on the back of last week’s home draw with Livingston.

He said: “We’re getting more towards full strength, that’s for sure. It might be a psychological thing with all this talk of a treble Treble and getting near to the end of the season but I don’t think the players looked tired last week.

“We had plenty of chances and although it wasn’t exhilarating by any means I keep going back to the fact that it takes two teams to make a really good game of football.



You always want that breakthrough goal where the opposition have to come out and play and we have only ourselves to blame for not winning the game.

“We’ve got some more bodies back. Tom Rogic had some game time in his legs last week. Olivier Ntcham, Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor, obviously, so these players who had long layoffs, it’s good to have them back and champing at the bit to be playing.”


And Lennon insisted his own future as potential permanent boss is irrelevant with the side fighting on two fronts.

He added: “I’m not the full time manager, at the end of the day. I am in charge with my staff but it’s all about the players and they’ve got four games to complete something that would be really historical – that’s our focus.”