Coverage of Neil Lennon’s press conference was curated to show the manager angry and apparently confused about the health of his squad. The reason for his anger was omitted from the snippets available online yesterday afternoon, then mocked by those who should know better.
Neil clearly explained what upset him (full transcript from GlasgowLive). The country is following medical advice to maintain a 2m social distance. Football has followed this rule and it was the determining factor in isolating Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney when they were within 2m of infected Stuart Armstrong with Scotland in October. Only Christie and Tierney had to isolate as the rest of the squad were not within 2m of Armstrong for any period of time.
Clubs across the UK have made travel arrangements accordingly, keeping a 2m distance between players where possible, or accepting the risk if packing them in any tighter. The 2m rule has been absolute and continues to feature in public health adverts.
What happened politically after Celtic left for Dubai is why you saw an angry Celtic manager yesterday.
On 5 January, Nicola Sturgeon used her daily PR conference to reference photographs of Celtic players in Dubai poolside, and while admitting she had no actual information to backup what she was saying, questioned if Celtic were following her rules. Celtic were following the rules, but that is irrelevant to the Show Trial the First Minister launched.
As Neil Lennon explained, the Scottish Government turned on Celtic, creating a brand new 3m rule for them, while every other club in Scotland with a positive case has been asked to observe a 2m rule.
This is the reason our number of excluded players was as high for the Hibs and Livi games. It is the reason we were subsequently forced to keep players 3m apart when travelling, or 3 players to a 52 seater bus. The rule change was not announced by the First Minister at her PR conferences and has not been forced on any other club, it was delivered below the radar on a vulnerable club with a baying mob (including former players who care nothing for us) ready to lap it up.
Despite the acres of gorging media coverage, no one has solicited a comment on Neil’s claim from the Scottish Government. The Celtic manager appears in front of the country’s media to explain how the Government apply one rule to Celtic and another to the rest of the country, and the headlines are all about his anger! Do you want Tony ‘Take it on the chin’ instead?
The First Minister is on the hook for this. She promised action on Celtic despite knowing they followed her rules, and she followed through with this 3m punishment. It keeps eyes away from her day job. But Neil did the inverted commas sign and he’s having a nightmare season, so some would rather mock, speculate about his mental health or drinking habits. I hope it’s worth the clicks.
Maybe my views were forged when the SFA’s Jim Farry had one rule for Celtic and another for everyone else, but I think the only acceptable reaction to this from a Celtic manager or supporter is seething anger. This is no different in execution or consequence.
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Schools closed until mid Feb
Any update on police Scotland investigation into the abuse our players got before the game at ipox. Think a few of them were eye witnesses.
Bad if the main at risk groups are immunised by mid Feb it will be 3 weeks after that the rules will be reviewed.
The Blogger formally known as G M @12.18,
You make some very sweeping statements in your post.
If one person thinks black is really white and 10 million think it is black surely then opinion is divided.
You have no way of knowing how EVERYOINE else thinks so why claim to know.
I am sure your final three words “What A Cretin” were certainly penned by a cretin.
As an aside, and to finish, please learn how to spell before going public.
Martin42
The only thing you can say is “IN MY HUMBLE OPINION”
Gene
1 arrest last week for the verbals, 2 arrested for using fireworks, think I saw it on BBC website news report.no certain though it was that site.
Gene- review on restrictions in Scotland on 2nd February
DESSYBHOY on 19TH JANUARY 2021 2:39 PM
Gene
1 arrest last week for the verbals, 2 arrested for using fireworks,
Is that just the polis?
31003 on 19TH JANUARY 2021 2:32 PM
Surely if we were instructed by the government to isolate 13 players even though we followed the rules applied to every other club, we can demand the last two games are replayed
——-
After the CEO came out last week and thanked the SFA and Scottish Government for assistance regarding matter?
Good luck with that one.
Dessybhoy
Thanks – sounds a bit like a couple of scapegoats talking one for the team – bit like arfield’s birthday party.
Bada
Doubt we will hear any more of it.
Bada
Can’t see anything changing unless it’s more tightening.
Big Jimmy,
if they HAVE evidence to substantiate his contentions then they should not have left the delivery of the silver bullet to NL.
I suspect that they either DON’T have anything significant, or they are too lily-livered to defend our position. Either answer makes them unfit for purpose.
All of this detracts from the main issue, that we have been on a downhill spiral for the best part of a year or more, most noticeably on the pitch.
Even had we NOT been forced to isolate 13 players I would not have been surprised to see us being held to draws in our last 2 matches. That is the saddest part.
Surely this can’t be true? From Jim Traynor
“ Been asked to keep it to myself for the last month or two, but delighted to announce I’m back in the PR game with @CelticFC .”
Does anyone think the laptop loyal will be tuned into wee Nicola,s questions .
GENE on 19TH JANUARY 2021 2:35 PM
Any update on police Scotland investigation into the abuse our players got before the game at ipox. Think a few of them were eye witnesses.
They would need to shop themselves and their pals, would they not?
BADA
You seem beguiled by Judith, and I can see why. Here’s the meteorologist on a small Latino TV station. The weather forecast is hot ( I think ).
https://youtu.be/Gmtx-IBLcEA
TOSB,
Without looking at wherever you found that statement, I can say it is 100% a parody.
:-)
Jimbob
🙃
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson: “Neil Lennon’s bizarre press conference yesterday resulted in a spike in traffic to the next Celtic manager market, with Eddie Howe easily the most backed.
“All bookies offering odds on the market have now installed Howe as the odds-on favourite, with some implying an 83% chance that Howe gets the gig at Celtic.”
Next Celtic manager odds:
Eddie Howe – 1/5
Jack Ross – 10/1
Martin O’Neill – 12/1
John Kennedy – 14/1
Gordon Strachan – 16/1
Slaven Bilic -16/1
Dan Petrescu -18/1
Roy Keane – 18/1
Damien Duff – 22/1
Henrik Larsson – 25/1
We’ll just condemn the Celtic support and put up barriers and we can leave wee Neil to face the wrath of
Scotland.
The Bored
Ernie 12.35 – glad to see you noticed the quotation marks.
Ray Singh-carr
PL had a silver bullet on Res12 and ignored it – he has form
The Battered Bunnet
I don’t know how many people were on the flight but if you look at the attached summary of La Compagnie LOPA (Lay Out Pax Accomodation) for their bus class A321NEO which we used, you can factor into your calcs
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/La_Compagnie/La_Compagnie_B0_Airbus_A321neo.php
The pitch of the seats (back of seat to bcak of seat ) is 62in so would be under 2m.
they could have sat one to a double seat and in all 19 rows and had them oblique to each other which is 38 people and possibly over 2m
no way 60 people
Coneybhoy
The academy bhoys were in the hold
JAMESGANG on 19TH JANUARY 2021 1:29 PM
I love it when you talk p1sh. It’s done with such effortless authority that you carrr it off every time! 🤷🏼♂️
==========================
Practice big guy, practice…
No transfer news is good news
Surely the Board must now see that despite Celtic assisting in every way possible, we are still.a target with no love lost.
Gloves off,contest the legality of the rule changing,investigate replays,stir up the SFA,call out the corrupt Officials,and the preferential treatment given to our rivals,which equates to date to circa 18 points,with a combination of red card influences and penalties.
Ignore the suppprters engaging in attacks on the Manager,sure we can do better but NL is one of us and perhaps he should move on,but not because he is berated by his own fans.
Twice now Sky and Stv have had a Blogger on giving views,instead of calling out rule changes and Officials he rambles on about the Club being a laughing stock,because of adverse results and tactics.
Just what they want to hear,numerous fans and Blogs doing damage to the Club under the guise of being concerned supporters.
I might not consider NL the ideal Manager but if the Board had half his passion and stood up against prejudice,then I can live with a dis-appointment.
A fair contest is what’s required.
Why did Peter come out and apologise? Why have we as shareholders and season tickets holders not been updated about this by the company/club? If what Paul says is correct then fair enough but why have we as a club rolled over and left it to Neil to say what had to be said but then stood back as this was twisted. We need strong leadership and communication.
BSR
You would hope that no transfers indicated a reluctance to back our current manager and to keep funds, if any, for the new one.
Wouldntholdmybreath CSC
Interesting comment from today’s Scottish Financial News …
The administrators of Rangers FC who were maliciously prosecuted have been paid more than £20 million, The National reports.
Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark were appointed as administrators of Rangers in February 2012 and the club was liquidated in October that year, shortly before both left their positions.
Do they still have Lodge meetings to decide on retribution for non-believers ?
!!BADA BING!! on 19TH JANUARY 2021 2:25 PM
https://news.stv.tv/politics/scottish-government-u-turn-over-1500-taxi-driver-grant
===================
Mate’s a taxi driver – seems to think he’s doing OK in terms of custom / income. Says he made enough over Christmas and New Year so see him through very well, by his own estimation (this guy knows the picture and date stamped on every last penny in his pocket).
Personally, I’d have though, with many less people out and about, the trade must have taken a huge hit.
In any case – it seemed like a very counterintuitive initial decision – odd.
HH
BGFC
CONEYBHOY on 19TH JANUARY 2021 3:15 PM
Is that the only seat configuration possible on that aircraft?
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 19TH JANUARY 2021 3:28 PM
People less inclined to use buses and trains though.
RAY SINGH-CARR on 19TH JANUARY 2021 2:49 PM
Big Jimmy,
if they HAVE evidence to substantiate his contentions then they should not have left the delivery of the silver bullet to NL.
I suspect that they either DON’T have anything significant, or they are too lily-livered to defend our position. Either answer makes them unfit for purpose.
All of this detracts from the main issue, that we have been on a downhill spiral for the best part of a year or more, most noticeably on the pitch.
Even had we NOT been forced to isolate 13 players I would not have been surprised to see us being held to draws in our last 2 matches. That is the saddest part
………………….
You MAY be correct that it should NOT have been Neil Lennon to highlight ” Rule changes ” in relation to social distancing etc, but NONE of us KNOW IF Neil INSISTED on being the rep from Celtic to deliver this as HE Admitted that the Dubai trip was HIS Idea ?
If that WAS the case, the matter SHOULD have been taken out of his hands by Mr Lawwell, wew can only speculate ?
Likewise, IF Celtic do NOT Produce any evidence of wrongdoing by the Scot Gov…..its going to be be worse for Neil and Celtic….and again ( I am speculating here)..Neil Lennon could accuse Mr Lawwell and Celtic of hanging him out to dry, IF he was ” Advised” wrongly by someone at Celtic prior to his Presser ?
I am watching Scot Gov from Holyrood live, and almost One Hour in Nicola Sturgeon has made NO Mention of the comments made by Neil yesterday…….She hasnt been asked about it from other Parties…yet….but maybe she is very reluctant to bring up the subject matter to what Neil said yesterday in relation to Social Distancing on Planes and Buses being CHANGED….AFTER Celtic were given the okay to go to Dubai….and the Scot Gov FAILURE to advise Celtic etc and the Airlines of any such ” change” ?
It will be rather IRONIC IF The Scottish Tories were to take the Scot Gov to task IF indeed the Scot Gov were found to be GUILTY of making changes regarding social distancing etc…WITHOUT advising the nation, Celtic and Airlines…and therefore SUPPORTING what Neil Lennon accused the Scot Gov of yesterday….imagine the Scottish Tories being seen to actually supporting Celtic in anything ?
The Covid Session has now finished on TV…Celtic, Neil etc etc were NOT Mentioned by anyone in the Chamber.
I would have thought that Nicola Sturgeon WOULD have been very eager to ” Shoot Down”, the accusations made by Neil Lennon yesterday…but she didnt utter a word…so maybes Neil was correct ?
HH.
Big Jimmy – from earlier, thanks for the comment.
I rarely get it to the point I’m not just rambling.
Ranting between working focuses my mind 🤣
Martin 42 @2.38 – Jesus wept. Usually when something is bracketed by quotation marks it means the content is ascribed to someone else, in the case Musters @ 12.06, whose comment was not only sweeping, but devoid of any logic.
You plough on with your 10 million to one shots. I’m sure you’ll get lucky one day.
GO TELL
Well that’s the way I see it,
Nicky Hammond and whoever does the selection should be included in the clean sweep.
Self imposed embargo and review, is the least we can ask, play the bhoys no more deadline day loans,
the money has been squandered so why would they get to pick again?
They passed the rubicon months before they got to Dubai
Lenny’s presser was a car crash. Awful, incoherent, rambling and illogical. Lets go though a couple of the things…
Firstly – The thing I loved to skewer Rangers fans on – whataboutery. Lennon’s outburst was full of whataboutery. Who cares? Aberdeen/Hamilton/whoever are *irrelevant* to us. What is required of us is to follow the rules *to the letter*. If we disagree with them? Take them to task whilst following them to the letter. It’s really that simply.
“We were totally professional” – Hmmmmm…. Might want to let John Kennedy know that Neil. If you’re totally professional, you follow the rules.
“We weren’t doing a conga” – Well done Neil. Honestly, well done. Lets excuse Celtic from any other rules because we weren’t doing something that we, pretty much to a man on this board condemned as the SFA playing fast and loose with our players. When players returned with Covid, we were all cool about it, right? Right? Oh… wait…. we weren’t.
“Or travelling up and down from” – Again, well done Celtic. We weren’t Typhoid Mary, so we’re all good. Call off the dogs and give the club a badge of merit. Unless….. the SNP condemned Ferriers action, suspended her from the party, called for her arrest and tried to call for a reelection. This isn’t a defence of the SNP, it’s just pointing out the insultingly stupid defence Lenny put forward. It reminds me of inside No 9 – “Mummy, I’ve done a bad murder.”
“No players tested positive” – Yes, he really said that. But then followed it up with “except two” – Given the latter, the former is rendered untrue. And again, it’s a stupid, embarrassing claim. And one that was guaranteed to elicit “WTF”‘s from all and sundry.
It’s one rule for us – No. We were the only club travelling abroad, so of course rules will only apply to us when travelling from locations where an imminent closure of the travel corridor is coming. Can some of you actually not see that? That different rules apply commixing from abroad than domestically? Absolute weasel words from Lennon again.
Why is it being described as a jolly, it’s an insult!” – Put simply, if you don’t want to have something labeled a jolly, told tell people it’s for a bit of “R&R”. Own goal by the club there methinks, but…. who called it R&R? Oh…. Neil Lennon did. Yeeeeeah.
No wonder he’s hitting out – in an absolute car crash of a season, the only thing Neil Lennon has demonstrated is that it isn’t his fault. None of it. Even. Nothing he has done has been wrong, or even a miscalculation. It’s been… Rangers fault, the SFA’s fault, the SNP’s fault, the players fault – Lazy, uncaring, distracted etc etc etc (all (c) Neil Lennon 2020)… everyone’s fault bar Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell and Neil Lennon. The holy trinity of the cabal are seemingly untouchable, and heaven forfend anyone that claims otherwise – especially on CelticWeaeponsOfMassDistraction… sorry…Pravda….. sorry…. CelticQuickNews.
The problem now is that the party line is in disarray – Lawwell says one thing, Lenny another. And Dermot is presumably quiet because he’s in a bunker somewhere, like Dr Evil’s malevolent brother, planning how to kill more old people now his interest in Castlebeck is gone. Lawwell apologises, Neil comes out swinging at anything that moves and Dermot has doubled down on teaching the serfs (you and I) a lesson. The only happy person in all of this? Paul67, because he gets to continue the ongoing politicisation of CQN into the paramilitary branch of Scottish Labour.
Utter shambles. Anyone defending Lenny and the Celtic hierarchy during this period should be ashamed of themselves. Defending the indefensible and actually making things worse for Celtic. We deserve better. much much better. A little humility, and a little less arrogance might go a long way – Dare I say it – but Fergus McCann wouldn’t have handled things this way – he’s have made sure we were squeaky clean and advocated ONLY for Celtic, not for self interest.
One other thing – the more paranoid accusations on here read *exactly* like FollowFollow did 6 months ago. Have a think about that and ask yourself if that’s something to worry about or not.
Still… on the bright side, at least we haven’t announced Gavin Williamson as our new PR person…. yet.
/p