FORMER Celtic midfielder Kris Commons has condemned the unacceptable attitude of some Hoops players.
The ex-Scotland international star insisted certain individuals “just don’t look interested” as the champions’ erratic form was highlighted again in the frustrating 2-2 draw with Hibs at Easter Road at the weekend.
It’s the fourth time in 13 games Neil Lennon has seen his side fail to win a crucial Premiership ecounter after losing to Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side and shedding points to Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and now the Edinburgh club.
SPOT ON…Odsonne Edouard kick-starts the fightback with his penalty strike.
The Parkhead men are now 11 points adrift of the Govan team although they have two games in hand.
CQN highlighted the apparent lack of reaction from some of the players against Jack Ross’ side as they gifted a two-goal lead to their opponents shortly after the turnaround before late strikes from substitute Odsonne Edouard, from the penalty spot, and Diego Laxalt, with a thunderbolt in stoppage-time, rescued a point.
Commons, writing in his Daily Mail column, said: “I’ve been very critical of Celtic’s defending at times this season. There have been games where they have looked shambolic at the back.
“But for Neil Lennon to call some of the players ‘lazy’ shows the depth of the problems he’s currently facing as manager.
ANGRY BHOYS…Kristoffer Ajer and Scott Bain remonstrate with Jeremie Frimpong, Nir Bitton and Scott Brown at their lack of support at Hibs’ first goal.
“As a player, a comment like that should really hurt you. To be called ‘lazy’ is pretty much the worst thing a manager can possibly say about you.
“But I can fully understand where Lennon is coming from. There are certain players in this Celtic squad who just don’t look interested any more. Their attitude is leaving a lot to be desired and, not for the first time this season, Lennon has felt the need to make that known publicly.
“The likes of Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and James Forrest would run through brick walls for Celtic and fully understand what’s at stake this season.
“But how many others can you really say that about?
“There are too many players in this team who, frankly, look like they couldn’t care less about ten in a row.
“All it takes is for two or three bad apples to spoil things in the dressing room. If they start downing tools, it can begin to spread and become a major problem.”
IT TAKES TWO…substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard after the Frenchman’s penalty-kick.
Commons, who was signed by Lennon from Derby County in January 2011 and spent six and a half years in Glasgow before leaving at the end of Brendan’s first year in 2017, added: “This is one of the biggest seasons in the club’s history. If some players aren’t giving every ounce of effort, then they really shouldn’t be anywhere near the place.
“I still firmly believe Lennon is the right man for the job and, in a way, Saturday’s result showed that he retains the support of the vast majority of the players.
“You don’t fight back from 2-0 down unless you’re fully behind the manager and playing for him.
THE EQUALISER…Diego Laxalt thunders in the second goal in stoppage time.
“But there’s clearly an attitude problem with certain individuals in the squad. Maybe some of them feel like they should have already left the club and secured a big-money move elsewhere. Maybe the Covid crisis has stopped that from happening.
“But, ultimately, that doesn’t matter. You can’t just down tools and spit the dummy. You’ve got to suck it up and get on with it.
“The worry among supporters is that Celtic’s season is disappearing down the drain.”
