“I said to the players at half time that we were shaming the club at the moment and they had to go out and show some pride in the shirt”, the words of Neil Lennon to the BBC after the game on Saturday.
Pride in the shirt is a requirement any manager should ask of his team, and it is notable that the subsequent goal-scorers both have strong connections to the club, but it probably had little to do with the second half performance from Anthony Stokes, Charlie Mulgrew and our the impressive James Forrest. Calls to pride are limited in what they can achieve, genuine talent is far more effective.
At the AGM on Friday and again in his post-match comments on Saturday, Neil alluded to the fragility of his own position. Had the game finished 3-0 to Kilmarnock I think he would have walked away. This would have been a great pity.
Neil is learning on the job. He was not gifted the benefits of experience without actually having to work through difficult times as a manager. Before his thoughts turn to his own position, before our season is too far gone to save, he should recruit an experienced assistant. Someone who knows the challenges of working with a disparate group of players, who can deal with the challenges of a demanding board and supporter base.
The need for a mentor was evident 18 months ago and is screamingly so now. For the sake of Celtic, do the necessary.
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JoeLedleyCFC says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:28
Joe you need to up your medication…nurse nurse..
Pantaloon- and Ebbe could mentor Freddie, in a cool Nordic cool way.
MMMmmmmmmmmm… almost as cooooool as these e-Lites.
But if Freddie isn’t interested, how about ole Gorgeous George Galloway?
..he’s not doin’ much just now, and his chances of spendin the winter sunnin’ himself with ole Col Gaddafi seem slim.
As soon as I finish me e-fag I’ m goin’ to write to Mr Bankier and suggest ole George.
markdaly2 Mark Daly
by celticrumours
Rangers board members Greig and McLelland resign, claiming they’ve been isolated from Craig Whyte’s takeover. Don’t miss my prog onThurs…
3 hours ago
Looks like everyone on CQN will need a hat then lol
excathedra44 – Only 2 things normally motivate people Fear and Money,and in the case of footballers obscurity.
Money is a good motivator, but you can only motivate people so far with money.
Fear, whether it be fear of failure, or fear of reproach from one’s boss or peers, is a terrible motivator. People tend to freeze up, physically and mentally, when gripped by fear.
The best motivation is hunger for success.
To give yourself the best chance of success, you need to be able to visualise it, plan for it, and get into the habit of thinking your best thoughts rather than being distracted by fear. (thumbsup)
Headtheball says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:32
Imagine your boss calls you in and tells you he’s going to appoint a mentor to guide you as your work hasn’t been up to scratch even though you’ve been doing the job for some time now. What would your reaction be and how would it affect your confidence?
————————-
Seriously, my reaction would be that the boss has taken a decision that keeps my job and gives me the chance to enhance my career.
JoeLedleyCFC says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:28
Ref JJ.
Enough,you gave it air time, I hope for a laugh.
You cant be serious or your history does not go back far enough to remember him as a player,long before he was a repugnant Manager.
tictalker @12-50
The reality is we have coaches who lack the ability to implement even the most basic system properly.
You talk a lot of sense and seem to have a firm grasp on what’s happened in most matches but unfortunately we have coaches who seem to want to implement a failed system.
We are not a team and have no cohesion on the field.
The fact that individual players like Stokes on saturday rescue or win games for us rather than any great team or coaching strategy is worrying.
The central midfield with to deep lying non contributing players says it all.
We are easiest team in the league to defend with our predictable sideways passing and hopeful crosses to our outmanned strikers while our centre mids watch from their half way line viewing point.
Was talking to a Dandy Don earlier, and he remarked about Dean Shiels being a good player in his estimation. I said that it was amazing how well he plays, despite having only one eye, and that depth perception must be a problem.
Don – “Poor depth perception for a submariner could be a lot worse”!!
Well, I thought it was funny.
Ulcyr
Given that no one with a worthwhile reputation to protect would take the job under DD and Pl’s regime of fiscal prudence at the expense of all else, any talk of Neil Lennon being replaced is simply a lot of hot air.
As for a mentor. Do we really want involved in another Stuart Baxter farrago?
See Dr. John was playing the rally round the flag card on Friday.
Pity it was’t a flag of the SPL variety.
mcfadgen no brainer playing in epl…..could have said same about hartson and sutton not coming here…..if the money would have been right heed have come……………..on the mentor thingy who is to know that walter still not checking on alistair every now and again
McNair is the greatest says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:30
——
Yup, exactly what I was thinking…
HH
Giggs
McNair is the greatest says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:30
bobbycfc says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:26
McNair – and where did that get us?
All it did was paper over the cracks.
You didnt know Jock played/captained/trained us – why wouldnt you know this?
Sorry – my mistake, wasn’t born till a long time after that.
However, the cynic in me says Lawwell has stage managed this whole thing – from taking Lennon around supporter meetings last year to the Motherwell game on the last day of the season.
Yes, you could say that ont hat day we were showing we were the greatest suppoerters on the earth. Alternatively, you could say we were the most manipulated.
It suited Lawwell to see his rookie manager , who he got on the cheap, getting all the support as it saved him a lot of money. We lost the league but the fans didn’t seem to care – how cushy a job is that to have??
There is a lot of loyalty to Lennon and if he was any other person, Celtic fans just would not accept this lack of success. Time and time again, Lawwell & Co have looked at Rangers and used them as a benchmark whether it be spending power or whatever. Meanwhile they have won 3 in a row.
fritzsong says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:16
Hiro Nakamura says:
17 October, 2011 at 13:53
Tommy Craig
——————-
Tommy – great player – outlived three Celtic managers each of whom was sacked. During Tommy’s tenure we won nothing. Nor did John Collins at Hibs.
…………
Won nothing?????
Except the Double in our Centenary and the SC in 89
Bobbycfc- Jock Stein had no connection with theclub prior to being named Manager?????? You might want to check that again. A few wee clues, DOUBLE winning Captain, Reserve coach etc etc.
Wim jansen anybody?
Emb’dy heard any good one-eyed submariner jokes lately?
philvisreturns says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:36
Yes I agree, fair point.
Unfortunately I do not see a lot of planning or visualisation potential staring out the dugout each Saturday,I guess that is why I believe a Mentor would only be a variation of the present theme.( Perhaps he would recommend a sub around the 60 min mark )
Eye, me.
bobbycfc says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:15
…if ye know the history…..
create Fear Uncertainty Doubt – use the acronym, you are one
yes WIM would do for me………..maybe he knows of another LUBO out there
bobbycfc says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:41
McNair is the greatest says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:30
bobbycfc says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:26
McNair – and where did that get us?
All it did was paper over the cracks.
You didnt know Jock played/captained/trained us – why wouldnt you know this?
Sorry – my mistake, wasn’t born till a long time after that.
Jinky used to play for us, you probably have not heard of him as you were not born then. In Lennon we trust – not loyalty young man.
excathedra44 – There does seem to be a lot of fear and negativity about Celtic at the moment. (thumbsup)
So what are Lennon’s credentials that you think he is a good Celtic manager?
What kind of Celtic supporter wouldn’t know Jock Stein played for us?
Celtic Football Club is a name known the footballing world over. Our history shows that we are a club that’s always challenging for honours, playing football in an exciting & attacking way.
Well if anyone has a look at us now, they’d think they were looking at some other team. Rangers are going for 4 championships in a row, we’re struggling to get 4 wins in a row. The lack of belief within our squad is heart wrenching to all of us but what can be done to help us ? In my opinion Neil Lennon is way out of his depth, along with his backroom staff. I used to hate seeing Tony Mowbray sitting in the dugout, looking like he wished he was somewhere else, now Neil look’s that way too.
The board must act now & do something because if they get their 4 in a row, we’re in deep stuff. The board themselves are culpable in this sad affair too. For far too long their interests have been on the bank balance, not the football field. Many heads should roll but i can’t see this happening whilst our majority shareholder remain in place.
Celtic needs people on borad who wish to see the team win trophies, not to see balance sheets paraded to the world.
Hail Hail
“Thirty Years On, The Present Players Could Still Learn From Johnny Doyle”
Before the match at Kilmarnock on Saturday I took the opportunity to attend the ceremony at the grave of Celtic legend Johnny Doyle who passed away thirty years ago on October 19th.
It was a well-attended ceremony; with ex-team mates Danny Mc Grain, George Mc Cluskey, Bobby Lennox, Dom Sullivan, and Peter Latchford present along with John’s son Jason, and daughter Joanna.
Johnny Doyle used to travel to away matches on the team bus wearing a Celtic scarf; that was in case he wasn’t selected to play; then he would sit amongst the travelling support; because Johnny was first and foremost a Celtic supporter; being a Celtic player was the icing on the cake.
I believe Neil Lennon has a similar feeling for Celtic; it’s just a pity some of his players don’t; I will never openly criticise Celtic players; as was done at the club AGM on Friday; but I have always believed that if a player is not with you then he’s against you; so get him out.
Lenny needs to determine who is up for the fight and who isn’t; the ones that aren’t need to be moved out ASAP; and replaced with players who want to give 100% for our great club every time the pull on the jersey.
Doyley used to say “As long as it’s got green and white hoops, any number between 1 and 11 will do for me, I’d even settle for 12 or 13 sometimes. Numbers don’t bother me as long as I’m playing for Celtic”.
When Celtic won the league in May 1982, the chant went up all around Celtic Park, “We Won The League For Doyle, Oh Yes We Won The League For Doyle” it showed that if you gave 100% for the Celtic cause; then the Celtic support would give you 100% support back.
Neil needs to find that commitment to the cause within the present playing squad; if it’s not there then we need to find players who will give us that commitment. The player who rescued a point on Saturday was the youngest player on the park, James Forrest; some senior players could learn from the bhoys determination.
Finally I would like to congratulate the Celtic Graves Society for the wonderful work they do in finding and restoring the graves of Celtic players who have passed away; this is another example of what makes our football club unique; I just wish some of our players realised it
bobbycfc says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:50
Before anyone answers your questions, maybe you should indulge us with your credentials for questioning anything to do with Celtic, players, management or board.
Fear Uncertainty Doubt
Afternoon Paul & all.
I asked this on Saturday afternoon, don’t think I got a reply (apologies if I did & missed it). Was it Neil’s choice not to have a mentor?
There were several names being thrown around at the time, but nothing came of it.
I hope for our & Celtics sake that the choice is made to bring in someone & now
Hail Hail
Dontbrattbakkinanger says:
17 October, 2011 at 14:44
Emb’dy heard any good one-eyed submariner jokes lately?
Is this a Captain Nemo thing ? 20,000 leagues under the sea. Perhaps he knows one our current squad is capable of winning ?
Naw, big Jock played for Celtic, see this cqn, learn something new every day……
Wim didn’t sign lubo,he wasn’t that good. Did sign larsson though. Wim perfect foil for lenny. But what about big johann,thommo and parker?
Was unsure if I should paint the kitchen “Pale Powder” or “Wispy Green”.
But my mentor has sorted it.
I’m doing the living room, hall and bedrooms as well.
Laters.
Much, much laters.
53
Maybe Alec Baldwin could give a motivational speech to the team. (thumbsup)
bjmac
Just a plain old Celtic fan thats maybe guilty of typing while at work without thinking through his question fully. I will mention this at my next Confession.
Now, what credentials does Neil have to be a Celtic manager?
bobbycfc
A benchmark is the supposed to be the least that you aspire to.
The problem is that DD and PL’s aspirations lie well below those of Rangers.
As long as the books, even in the face of falling income, can be balanced that is good enough for them.
The aspirations of the fans don’t matter a tuppeny damn to them.
If you don’t believe ask DD directly.
From personal experience his attitude is one of ‘I don’t tell you how to spend your money, so don’t tell me how to spend mine’.
Problem for him and Peter is that in the face of their joint disinterest more and more fans are making money spending decisions.
DD apparently cannot attend agms due to other pressing commitments.
Five gets you ten that come the next cup final Celtic appear in he will be swanning around, flower in lapel included.
The article states that Neil is struggling. In the last week Lenny has stated or intimated the following: ‘samaras could get me the sack’, his comments on his thoughts at being 3 down at half-time saturday, alluding to Dermot guiding his public persona. Neil has all but admitted he is struggling. The board have appointed a novice manager to appoint a novice coaching team. As to player purchases there are a lot of potential players playing for us just now, again no experience. The level of progression must at least ask for changes in the coaching set up or a change in the direction of recruitment of players.
Players can be dropped but what about coaches?
TET
Played for Blantyre Vics so did his brother Adam.
members of the same lodge as an old fella that drinks in my local.
bobbycfc at 14:41
However, the cynic in me says Lawwell has stage managed this whole thing – from taking Lennon around supporter meetings last year to the Motherwell game on the last day of the season.
Peter Lawwell is by no means the favourite person in Celtic cyberspace but do you remember the reasons why the support reacted the way they did on the last game of the season? This was due to the year long period of indimidation carried out against Neil Lennon, from bombs and bullets and disgraceful press coverage culminating with the assault at Tynecastle 3 days earlier. We knew at the start of the game that there was little or no chance of winning the league but 55,000 people turned up to give their support to Celtic and Neil Lennon in particular. For anyone to suggest this was stage managed fails to completely understand the feelings of the support at the end of last season.
Your first point might have some validity as the support for Neil at the roadshows gave Peter Lawwell the chance to appoint him knowuing he had the support of the fans.
Mort
hen1rik,
doesnt someone professing to be a Celtic supporter who knows nothing about the history of our club and its greatest manager make you the least wee bit suspicious ?