There will be no one better prepared to take a team to Easter Road tomorrow than Neil Lennon, but while Hibernian fans are likely to feel generously to their former manager, by all accounts there is little love lost between him and the Hibs players. They will give everything for a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Neil has only had a few days with the players and I doubt he will have changed anything. John Kennedy is his assistant specifically to ensure continuity at this time.
If our reception at Tynecastle is any kind of weathervane on how we will be received tomorrow (I suspect it is), the most important quality we will need is discipline. Our treble treble could go on the line through rashness, provoked or otherwise. Remain composed, pass the ball and get forward with the pace we possess, and a place in the semi-final is ours.
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eddieinkirkmichael on 1st March 2019 1:26 pm
Agree with that.
I remember an article Paul wrote a while ago about how managerial appointments are often a reaction against the failings of the previous incumbent.
Neil Lennon would fit this thinking. A “real Celtic man” who wouldn’t quit mid-season and can also do the pragmatic stuff in Europe.
I’m not sure if this ever really works though. You end up lurching from one style to another, buying in players who fit that style then getting rid of them and getting new ones in when you change again!
I think we should have a “club style” (identity/philosophy/whatever) and bring in managers who can implement that style. Brendan did a lot of good things, both in terms of playing style and infrastructure. I would be looking for someone who has a similar style but could tweak things a bit, particularly in regards to making us more of a counter-attacking team in Europe
At a loose end for a couple of days so here’s a wee short tale of a moment in a 2009 meander round Southern Africa. It’s tangentially Celtic related, but to me it’s so much more; it remains one of those formative glimpses of the common cause that ripples across the world and how something so enjoyable as football with friends can reinforce those connections, if we let it.
The memory often invades my sleep allowing me to relive the sights, sounds and emotions of humanity’s common heartbeat.
***********************************************
Lost and alone, somewhere inland as I headed back to Cape Town from Jo’burg, I stopped my campervan.
I peered through the hedge surrounding the remote village.
Twelve players, goalposts of old branches, a patch of unlined mud, four invading goats and a ‘something-to-kick’ that may or may not have been a ball in a previous existence. The early morning mist and the stillness were complemented by the silence in which the thrust and parry of the game was conducted.
A million metaphorical miles from the great arenas of the football world.
And then the scene froze!…. apart that is from the twenty-four eyes following the flight of a brand spanking new shiny ‘Celtic’ football arcing, propelling hand unseen from behind my concealing hedge. It bounced twice and then rolled to a stop beneath the makeshift goalposts.
They looked around, but I was camouflaged; “Ach who cares where it came frae” I thought of them saying, and then with a mighty hoof the old ‘ball’ was dispatched for eternity, scattering the goats, to RIP in the embrace of the long grass.
They sprinted, smiling and shouting for the new ball; the game became fun. The sun broke through for me; I think it did for them too.
Mystery is the music of the imagination so I didn’t interrupt them, but Celtic Park seemed a bit closer and I was no longer lost or alone.
I smiled.
Hail Hail
Matt
How we play tomorrow will go a long way to determining how long Lennon shall remain at the helm.
He made it clear on Wednesday evening that this tippy tappy around the defensive line is unnecessary and won’t be tolerated under his management.
You can rest assured that he’d have drilled this into the players throughout training for the remainder of this week.
So……if we continue to do it tomorrow, there’ll be trouble, and it won’t end well for NL.
As for Rodgers, post summer could be very interesting when Benkovic returns to Leicester. I’ll be watching with intent to see how that one plays out and how their relationship “develops”.
No matter what Celtic, just see off this other Edinburgh mob.
HH
Chris1888
With all the recent news (re the guy formerly known as gaffer) .
The Antrim man has gone replaced by the Bhoy from Lurgan.
Challenging times ahead for the Celtic ship and crew.
Sure it’s a grand old…..
I hope posters aren’t advocating hoofball?
Keep the passing from the back and like anything it’s a risk sometimes but so is hoofing it up front to a team of wee men. We miss Callum and others to help recycle the ball.
As for the team suggested, Burke is not a number 10 but a fantastically direct and quick player with some poor technical parts to his game. Play him wide and put James more central…
Big Wavy,
I don’t think anyone is advocating hoofball.
I think, and certainly my stance, is that we move the ball wide or through the middle on our 3rd or 4th touch along the back line, and not on the 9th or 10th which ultimately leads to a rushed pass to Bain, a harried pass to god knows where, and a defender scrambling under serious pressure….a la Wednesday.
Our players should be good enough and clever enough to know when there’s enough space to move the ball into in a forward direction with only 1 possibly 2 players pressing, as opposed to being trapped with 3 or 4 players now pushing.
Yes, the latter exploits gaps and we’re excellent at exposing those gaps when it works. But at what cost when it doesn’t work?
Wednesday isn’t the first time we’ve almost caused our own downfall, and it won’t be the last.
HH
Chris1888
So , BR says he left because he had done all he could do at Celtic . Kinda contradicts what he has also said about improving us in Europe.
BIG WAVY on 1ST MARCH 2019 2:19 PM
I hope posters aren’t advocating hoofball?
Keep the passing from the back and like anything it’s a risk sometimes but so is hoofing it up front to a team of wee men. We miss Callum and others to help recycle the ball
===
Certainly not. I’m not sure why people may think this is the only alternative.
A world of difference between getting the ball to your midfielders, and hence your dangermen earlier, with 2-3 passes as opposed to 10+.
HH
I wouldn’t believe another word out of the mouth of Rodgers, he sneaked away and I wont ever forget that, Fraud sums him up.
Tempo tempo tempo
keep the same plan of play but do it quicker,
Looking for bars in Hurghada region of Egypt showing Celtic games. Thanks in advance.
https://twitter.com/90MinuteCynic/status/1101481894804373504?s=08
Somewhere in the middle, re passing the ball out…
” Hoofball ” has a place, we just need to sign a striker like Pierre Van Hooijdonk
The post from EddieCarmichael
Is right on the button. Regards to the longer term manager role at Celtic.
There is an obvious emotional tie towards Neil Lennon. And that is reciprocated by Lennon towards the club.
That shouldn’t impair the overall judgement however, in terms of selecting the best possible manager / coach. Personally I think Lennon will do a grand job short term. His enthusiasm and passion is just what the doctor ordered at this stage.
Medium to long term however, I think he is a mid-level Manager. Scottish Premiership or English Championship at best.
We need to aim higher. 110%
Names that I would pursue : Roberto Martinez, Ralf Rangnick, Marco Rose…. and a few others of that ilk
SE7EN on 1ST MARCH 2019 2:46 PM
Looking for bars in Hurghada region of Egypt showing Celtic games. Thanks in advance.
————–
Wow, I know we have supporters clubs all over the world, but that’s pushing it. ?
If you are stuck for choice install ” Live TV Net” and a subsequent VPN. You will then be able to watch whatever. Viola.
Seriously, good luck and HH.
big wavy on 1st March 2019 2:19 pm
I hope posters aren’t advocating hoofball?
==
No just a more pragmatic approach rather than retaining possession at all costs would do nicely. When a defending and there isn’t an obvious safe pass on – then by all means hoof it up the park – put it out of play, anything but gift your opponent’s a goal scoring opportunity.
Primary5defending. CSC
A variation of pace and tactics would suffice.
Tweaks not wholesale change is what’s required.
Yes, when the (relatively short) pass to a midfielder/creative player is on, PLAY IT!
What we are currently doing is deliberately making several passes amongst the GK and back 4 and then ultimately ending up at the same point where we pick out the midfielder anyway.
All it does is waste time when our dangermen could be fed the ball and increases the risk of a mistake gifting the opposition the ball.
And when the last line of defence makes an error, its serious.
A defenders job is to DEFEND CSC
Ruggygman
Having seen a Marco Rose team play us off the park. I would like him as Celtic manager.
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 1ST MARCH 2019 2:12 PM
eddieinkirkmichael on 1st March 2019 1:26 pm
Agree with that.
I remember an article Paul wrote a while ago about how managerial appointments are often a reaction against the failings of the previous incumbent.
Neil Lennon would fit this thinking. A “real Celtic man” who wouldn’t quit mid-season and can also do the pragmatic stuff in Europe.
I’m not sure if this ever really works though. You end up lurching from one style to another, buying in players who fit that style then getting rid of them and getting new ones in when you change again!
I think we should have a “club style” (identity/philosophy/whatever) and bring in managers who can implement that style. Brendan did a lot of good things, both in terms of playing style and infrastructure. I would be looking for someone who has a similar style but could tweak things a bit, particularly in regards to making us more of a counter-attacking team in Europe
————
I’ve not yet decided whether NFL on a permanent deal is the best option (for all concerned) ….as if my view mattered!!!
But the post above is excellent and accurate.
HH jg
BJB
My orange Armagh tap is getting looked out again.
Mon the Lurgan Bhoy.
SMILING FACES –
https://youtu.be/3GXSHRJYxTQ
https://youtu.be/Yr96T8_-G2Q
GREENPINATA on 1ST MARCH 2019 2:52 PM
” Hoofball ” has a place, we just need to sign a striker like Pierre Van Hooijdonk
#bringsammihome
Good points fellas about the passing from the back, the press, the unnecessary overplaying of it and mixing things up.
I suspect it will continue to make goals and lose goals as we develop it.
Pierre Van Hooijdonk is 49 years old…..
Frustration is not the correct description, if you think it is you are very very wrong.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 1ST MARCH 2019 3:08 PM
Ruggygman
Having seen a Marco Rose team play us off the park. I would like him as Celtic manager.
I agree but see no reason why he would choose us over his present employers.
It was refreshing to see a guy understand and implement a playing system properly.
Interesting JK saying it was PL that appointed him assistant manager. I guess Lenny like Ronnie had little say in who their number 2 would be.
Rodgers still in full David Brent mode talking about head over heart decision, family upset with his leaving etc. Rodgers enough with the pointless platitudes. Thanks for the memories now feck off
I hope Lennon will be more pragmatic than Rodgers. We should not play possession and short passing but we should vary things. We shouldn’t play 4231 all the time but we should vary our formation throughout games.
One of Rodgers faults was playing in the same manner allowing opposition the chance to study how we play and set up to exploit it. Our European games in particular were an example when we played the same no matter the opposition.
Neil Lennon will play to win not to safeguard his reputation like Rodgers did.
Not letting the opposition know what we are planning would be a help
IT’S been almost four months since Rangers made a formal complaint about Willie Collum – and he hasn’t refereed any of their games since.
The Light Blues attacked the referee in a blistering statement in which they criticised his judgement and accused him of an “underlying issue”
If the huns are picking referees they don’t want,they are picking referees full stop.
Brendan” a club like Leicester” care to elaborate!!
Delaney’s:And why not Eamon McMahon from Lurgan( one game with Celtic I think ) played in goals for Armagh in All-Ireland final of 1953 v Kerry.
Oglach
When PL spoke to Kennedy he knew Lennon was the new Manager and had probably discussed this with Lennon by phone. Rodgers had tried to clear the club out with not only coaches but Sports Science and Analyists. PL knew he had to move quick to secure important people like Kennedy and Woods. They were both there pre-Rodgers.
It was critical that the Celtic Board acted quickly as it was essential that we won on Wednesday. Rodgers didn’t resign until Monday night and the Board had already a new Coaching team in place.
I believe that PL had many scenarios in place and while not thinking Rodgers would walk out, he would have been prepared for any eventuality. He might not be liked by everyone but in 15 years at Celtic he knows the job
There really should be no discussion on Lenny’s position.
It should be made clear at the end of the season as to his prospects.
It’s all about results now, not idle speculation.
It seems that Parker was the problem at Easter Road and that Celtic didn’t want him aboard.
I hope one of the lessons learnt is that we build an infrastructure at the club that is not at risk of being dismantled by a departing manager.
No other industry would leave themselves in such a precarious position and if Lawell knew something that is piss poor amateurism on his behalf.
I often wonder if it is really true that, Brendan was brought here to defuse the same club issue on the return to the SPFL of the team from Ibrox ?
All the talk of trophy stripping seemed to stop when Brendan arrived, and now that he’s gone, so it seems has any chance of the team from Ibrox being punished, for any of their cheating, and now the cheating has started again!
Have we missed the biggest sitter in our history ?
Will we tell the grand children that we were duped ?
How will the Celtic support look in the annals of history, when folk, from all club’s will see that there was lots of evidence, approved by the Supreme Court, to prove the extent of the club from ibrox’s cheating, and nothing was done about it ?
What if a new type of ebt cheating starts again, what then ?
Will we be reaping what we have sown ?
Will our grand children also have to reap, what their grand parents have sown ?
What a mess.
bigbhoy on 1st March 2019 4:03 pm
Wasn’t intended as a criticism of JK. Just curious as to why Lenny’s go to guy Gary Parker didn’t arrive at paradise with NFL or why Scott B wasn’t given the nod over JK. Yes the board had to move quickly and indeed it did.
Fan-a-tic
I agree re : Marco Rose. It would be difficult to entice the guy to make a side-way move. Depends what he is earning at Salzburg, and whether we could better that package by much.
I guess the sentiment is, if not Marco Rose, then someone cut from that same cloth
Glasstwo….,I think we should have a “club style” (identity/philosophy/whatever) and bring in managers who can implement that style. Brendan did a lot of good things, both in terms of playing style and infrastructure. I would be looking for someone who has a similar style but could tweak things a bit, particularly in regards to making us more of a counter-attacking team in Europe
******
I had exactly the same thoughts last night.
If Whitisname left a dossier behind, it should be used as a manual for the club and whoever takes over has to fit that criteria.
Continuity breeds stability breeds success.
Jamesgang 3:08
Thanks for that. It just makes sense to me and I think other clubs are going down that sort of route.
Have an identity which encompasses playing style, recruitment and youth development. Managers come and go and there shouldn’t have to be a complete upheaval every time. We should always have an eye on who is out there with a similar style.
We should also have young players ready to come into the team, even if it is just to do a job until the next window opens. We shouldn’t have to be playing players out of position nor should we have a load of highly paid squad fillers who rarely contribute.