Neil Lennon

Do you only get quality players in the Champions League Semis?

 

Van Dijk and Wanyama I take it?

 

No but you do get a * shitload of quality in it.

 

I don’t get his point...

 

There’s two players playing in Champions League Semi Finals that Neil Lennon brought to our club.

People are saying that a big name manager will attract quality.

I’d be very surprised (and Randy Marshing) if any big name manager or any manager at all, manages to get somebody as quality as Van Dijk for us.

 

Our scouts not getting any credit ?

 

We didn’t get Wanyama or Van Dijk when they were Champions League semi finalists. Every player has to start somewhere, finding them isn't all down to your manager. Hindsight is great.

 

Do you not think they were quality at us? It wasn’t hindsight at all but I’d say that was foresight really.

 

Signing Van Dijk and Wanyama when we did isn’t the “attracting quality” people are talking about. They were relatively unknown when we signed them, Celtic was a big step up for both of them. We struck gold, 2 out of how many signings? Lennon isn’t getting all the praise for that. He wasn’t going out identifying targets week in, week out.

 

The manager and his back room team. If Congerton proved quality then the snake gets the credit for appointing him

 

Yes because Lenny implemented a scouting network that he trusts and we could go out and identify the targets, week in, week out.

Van Dijk was in the Dutch team of the year and was wanted by Ajax.

Well, if Van Dijk and Wanyama aren’t the right type of quality, what is?

 

Ok so they want the quality players to cost more then. Is that a good thing

 

Well no, John Park was there long before Lennon was. The Scouting System was implemented, a rookie manager doesn’t come in and demand random scouts to come in. I’m sure he had a say.

You’re looking at this the completely wrong way.

Nobody is saying they weren’t quality. We’d all give our left nut for 11 of those signings.

I think people want a manager with better reputation, to bring in known quality. If you get what I mean? I’m not saying known Semi Finalists. Just your Sinclair (for example) type signings. Even Ledley I’d say is one and that was Lennon, someone I was surprised he was able to bring in. Known quality.

I’d rather go scout the Belgian, Dutch leagues etc and find these gems as well as that of course.

 

Read my above comment. They want known quality. It’s all good sitting here years later being able to say we signed two FUTURE Champions League Semi Finalists.

 

The point is he had an eye for talent. If as you say the system of scouts predated Lenny where was the quality unearthed before he came. If we can build a team of quality from lesser known leagues and make profits on it then it’s more desirable than signing the like of Sinclair who’s value decreases. It’s what has made Porto success foe many years

 

I agree with you about scouting lesser known leagues. I was just telling you why people want that big name manager.

I do refuse to give Lennon the credit for spotting Van Dijk and Wanyama. They’d be on a shortlist, he’d have numerous reports and if he was serious about wanting them, it’s then he’d go out and watch them himself.

I can’t answer your question about where the talent was before, because the scouting was there. Remember Lennon signed some dross too and the scouts, particularly Park took the blame. So why does Lennon get the credit?

We’ve had plenty of talent come through our club. We were just lucky to have those two in close succession, who have worked their * off to get where they are now.

 

He was there the season before and Neil and him worked very closely together when he was in the youths to get the full thing off the ground. It was his and Park’s work and working relationship. Probably the best thing about us at that time, that’s why they trusted each other so much.

It’s amazing the lengths our own fans go to, to try and deny Lennon the credit he deserves.

 

Especially while Ajax are competing in the CL semifinals with a smaller budget than us...

Some of the reasons for wanting Lennon to get the job are becoming embarrassing

 

Go back in this thread and Lenny has been blamed for the bad signings. I have also replied to those blaming him and have not tried to shift the blame to Park moreover I point out that the bad signings are more than made up for by the bargains we have had. As a whole the in and outs have given us a positive balance sheet while enjoying the quality of players like Izzy, Kayal VVD, and Vic and the frees like Mulgrew, Ledley and Matthews have also proved good additions.

It's hard to believe anyone outside of Lenny and his team thought Mulgrew would have any sort of career with us.

 

Ajax would put nearly all of Europe to shame with their youth set up. What about team like Juventus. Real Madrid, Man Utd. and PSG whose budget dwarfs Ajax not being in the semi final. We are in good company