Before we get into the meat of the matter, I would like to record how impactful Kristoffer Ajer is at full back. He is not a full back, of course, this is not even his second best position, but he can get beyond his man and send a dangerous cross into the heart of the penalty box. This marks him as unique in our full back options. Of the many lessons from the season, let one be that we need better full backs at both sides of the field.
Conceding fouls inside your own half is not considered a capital crime at other clubs, so we should temper our annoyance at Shane Duffy (or the absent, but often guilty, Diego Laxalt), but we all know Celtic cannot defend set-pieces. At Livingston’s first goal, it was the otherwise excellent Kris Ajer who failed to track his man, not Nir Bitton, who stuck like glue to his opponent but was blamed by a scapegoat seeking Sky co-commentator.
When Livingston breached the Celtic defence for a second time, I was not concerned, as we were playing well and I expected a 30-minute onslaught towards the Livingston goal. Instead, Livingston consolidated their position, aided by four substitutions in 17 minutes either side of the goal, which finished Celtic as a threat. Credit to David Martindale.
Scott Brown’s ‘Get stuck into them’ cameo might have worked in a different era. We have seen similar flailing arms go completely unpunished against us, but it was the last thing we needed last night. By full time, the Livingston pitch resembled a very appropriate white flag.
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“Of the many lessons from the season, let one be that we need better full backs at both sides of the field.”
This is as far as I got. On Saturday, we played Ralston and Laxalt at full back against Livingston’s first team and we kept a clean sheet. Our manager obviously decided that that wasn’t good enough and changed it. And what a success that turned out to be.( Against Livi reserves ) The first goal conceded came in the right back area as everyone marked thin air and let a player run in and score. Neither Laxalt nor Ralston deserved to be removed from the team last night. Ajer is not a full back. His positional sense at full back is terrible. And as for Taylor in for Laxalt, why exactly? What is the thinking there? Indeed did Neil Lennon watch the game on Saturday? Duffy looked far more assured with people who can play full back in the positions. This situation is simply indicative of the manager’s scatter gun approach to team selection and as far as substitutions go, it looked last night like he was taking off our best players deliberately. The whole situation is simply unbelievable for a large organisation.
If you expected a Celtic onslaught for the last 30 last night then you’re more of an optimist than I am, P67.
The only thing really worth discussing is why Neil Lennon remains in post this afternoon ?
I can think of the following reasons:
1) The Board retain confidence in him.
2) The Board are reluctant to pay him off and hope he walks.
3) Dermot Desmond is determined to cut his nose off to spite his face. He’s in charge, got it ?!
Are there any other reasons why Neil Lennon continues to draw a salary from Celtic ?
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:16 PM
When have we ever attracted a top manager or head coach who hasn’t been attracted to the job because of an emotional attachment?
Of managers with a decent cv I can only think of hiddink
The only new thing I picked up from last night was that Neil Lennon’s nickname for Shane Duffy is Duffer.
At least I think it was his nickname but how effin apt…..
The banter year continues
HH
Today’s article, minus the link.
——-
From mid-November, there has been one correct course of action every time Peter Lawwell gets out of bed in the morning. To get dressed, to travel to Lennoxtown and tell Neil Lennon that he has taken his last training session with the club.
That’s it, it’s as simple as that.
It’s been nearly two months since a Celtic statement told us that Lennon would be in post until the January review. The league race was still salvageable at that point. We were not mired in petty fights with half of Scottish football and the government. But it was obvious to almost all of the supporters that this was a gamble too far. Yet our directors took it.
There is something Trumpian about the way we do things right now.
Absolute arrogance as a mask for reeking incompetence.
I watch American politics closely, and it was painfully obvious for that country that the moment Trump lost the election in November that he basically chucked doing the job, which is why the virus is now rampaging unstoppably through almost every state in the union.
At which point did our own directors down tools? Around the same time.
There are problems at Celtic Park that are almost too big to wrap your arms around. The worst thing our club faces in the short-to-medium term has nothing to do with performances on the pitch.
It’s the trust issue.
The unfortunate truth is that the people who can sort this mess out show no willingness to do so, and worse; they are not trusted to do it either.
Imagine we fired Lennon today. Imagine that we appointed the next guy almost immediately. Unless he was the sort of name nobody could argue with, fans would assume he was another Lawwell sock-puppet.
It is probably a fair assumption because no halfway decent manager is going to come to this club whilst Lawwell is in the building.
Believe me when I tell you that his reputation for meddling, interfering and undermining managers goes way ahead of him. The way his behaviour toxified Rodgers’ relationship with the club is known in every corner of the game.
He thinks he’s a marketing genius, but what people see when they look at Celtic from the outside is a “stepping stone” club with zero long-range ambition … which is how he has portrayed us over the past ten years.
He and the other directors might tell themselves that in “backing the manager” they have shown they won’t be blown about in the prevailing winds, but what people outside see is an incomprehensible loyalty to one individual at the expense of the club and a board of directors which rates what they have built so lowly that he might be the best we can get.
They don’t look at Celtic and see a board that is strong in the face of adversity. They see one that is clueless in the face of adversity. They don’t see strength; they see appalling weakness and a failure to act out of fear and the lack of a plan for what’s next. They don’t look at us and see a club that stands by a great servant, they see one where failure is okay if you can prove that your heart is in it. That’s fatal for the credibility of this institution.
Lawwell claims to want the best for Celtic. He personally asked me once if I believed he would ever let this club fall behind.
My twin answer to that is that I no longer believe he does wants the best for Celtic, because if he did he would announce his own departure at the end of the season. I look at his actions and inactions and see a man who has let Celtic fall behind and who’s calamitous and unpardonable decision to give Lennon the job in 2019 is the reason we’re here.
Neither Lawwell nor Lennon cares about this club. It is impossible for this club to heal whilst either man is inside the walls. It’s only their own arrogance which stops them recognising this fact. For this club to heal both of them have to depart.
But they can’t go together on the same day, because like or loathe Lawwell, he has to at least put the framework in place for appointing Lennon’s successor. The framework. In other words, he has to put in place the team whose job it will be to find us the best possible manager we can get. Then Lawwell has to start planning for his own departure.
Trust has to be restored. It won’t be whilst he is here.
Faith has to be restored too.
Faith in the club itself, and in what it strives to be.
That’s much easier to do. Lawwell is already at his desk, but that’s not where he ought to be. He should be at Lennoxtown, delivering the news Lennon half expects. That his time is up, that today’s the day, that it’s over.
We’re another day closer to this crisis spilling over into next season. We’re another step nearer season ticket renewals and with no end of this in sight except wishy-washy talk of a review “within a few weeks.”
But what is there to review?
The league table tells one story. The League Cup semi-finals will be happening without us. Europe was a catastrophe for our continental reputation, and now the manager is charting his own press strategy with disastrous results.
Whatever other “evidence” the board is considering should be frankly irrelevant. Yes, Lennon has served the club. He has won things as a player and as a manager.
Big deal.
This is not the Neil Lennon Appreciation Society we’re running here, it’s Celtic.
With every day this goes on, the hole gets a little harder to dig our way out of. It’s mid-day and since we’re no further forward I have to conclude, with regret, that we have already squandered another one.
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JANUARY 2021 11:50 AM
Neil Lennon is now in the same territory as the Fat Gardener, from club legend, to taking money under false pretences, taking huge amounts of money when they clearly should have resigned.
————
Sorry but this is warped and flat out wrong. Neil Lennon has a contract of employment. This idea that he should walk away from that is flat out wrong. It’s entirely his decision and should be respected. Regards performance issues, I think he should be removed by the board and most folk I know have agreed with that for some weeks now and in some cases months. But that is a decision for his employer and it must be understood that Neil Lennon is entitled to the same employment rights and conditions as everyone else.
Coneybhoy
Never knew that about Hugo’s There !!!
The only german i ever picked up from the Victor and The Hotspur were …Achtung, Hande Hoche and Schnell and Schweinhund (the latter usually preceded by Englisher)
The disappointing thing is we were all jubilant when Lenny got the job full-time. We were so lucky he chose us ahead of all those other offers and knew he was the best we could aspire to.
As St Peter would say, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but who amongst us could have predicted this shit storm in May 2019?
I remember no dissent at all at that time. And anyone who has a different recollection is a hun.
Celtic 40- even if it means Kennedy (I know) until the end of the season, he needs sacked now.If you want Kennedy and Strachan gome too,then let the U21 management take over,McIntyre, McManus, O’Dea, that’s what I would do,because after about 4 months, Lawwell still doesn’t have a clue what to do.
D17- nothing to do with that,his contract will be honoured, pay him up until June 1st,and get him out the door. Respect? What respect does he now have for the Club, and the supporters? His legacy,and stock as a man, is diminishing by the day. HH
Had to laugh when I saw your “no excuses” comment from yesterday, Paul. If there’s one thing we have been any good at this season it’s excuses.
Difficult conditions this time. Probably not much in the way of snow in Dubai right enough.
If we had made a change after the Ross County game and taken maximum points since then we would be six points behind with two games in hand.
Instead we get a statement saying the board believes that Neil and his management team are BEST PLACED to turn the team’s performances around and lead us on to success.
Errrr, how is that working out?
Desmond, Lawwell, Lennon – what a shower!
Paul67, is that the best you can come up with.
Every day we keep Lennon as manager, the harder next season is going to be.
We’re going to be in a fight for second place.
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:33 PM
I’m not sure where you’re getting the 1st of June from.
That’s not how rolling contracts work (assuming he has a rolling contract).
He’ll be entitled to a years wages. There’s probably some negotiation to be had over any bonus provisions.
Bottom line though is, if the board want rid, the ball’s in their court.
It’s unreasonable and unrealistic to expect him to forego what he’s contractually entitled to by resigning.
St Tams- Hibs will finish 2nd,and it will be tight with Aberdeen for 3rd IMO
Neil Lennon lost my respect when his told Mikey Johnston to Eff Off for having the audacity to unsuccessfully try and play through an injury.
If that’s the public face, what goes on behind closed doors?
Turnbull and Griff were not pleased when subbed. Suggests that neither of them were injured or fatigued. Ajer did seem more accepting of the substitution, perhaps we was injured though I didn’t see any evidence of this during play.
I didn’t see Soro’s reaction but I suspect he isn’t the type of person to show any annoyance at this stage of his career.
The subs certainly did annoy me. Best players being replaced by players whose strengths, in the main, are running at speed. Not easy to do on a snowy pitch.
Two strikers up front and players in their correct position. That’s all I ask.
James Forrest
Tremendous article. If I was a reasonable, rational individual I would agree wholeheartedly with every word.
Instead I am an emotionally driven person with a misplaced sense of loyalty to a club leadership that holds me in contempt in return.
Sadly therefore I must conclude that by rendering these criticisms of St Peter you are in all probability a hun in disguise.
In fact, I have now concluded that everyone is a hun except me.
Ernie- if that is how his contract works,put him on gardening leave,and get him out now.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:29 PM
The disappointing thing is we were all jubilant when Lenny got the job full-time.
Eh no we weren’t. Some actually thought that this is where we would end up.
Noticed some talk about Eddie Howe. I would have gone for him two years ago (or at least had him among the potential candidates) and I reckon there’s a good chance we would have got him. He looked like he needed a new challenge.
Modern, progressive coach, same philosophy as Rodgers – would have been a smooth transition.
We are in a very different place now and the job is very different and more structural . More than a pure coaching job now. Have always liked the idea of someone German or Dutch who are more accustomed to this way.
Not saying he wouldn’t be a good choice now, but I hope we look at WHAT we need and work from there rather than just picking a name. And hopefully we at least look at several candidates this time, although unfortunately we are less attractive than we were two years ago.
Would like to see a Director of Football who would develop a football style and culture and ensure that coaching, recruitment and the academy work in harness with one another
N&V. It’s coming.
The figures are not abaiting, tighter restrictions and closures are inevitable.
Can football continue. ?
Unfortunately I think not.
HH.
If PL and DD though NL was good enough to be given the manager’s job, then both decency and the T/Cs of a legally-binding contract mean that if they want shot of him then they pay him off.
Anyone expecting NL to walk away without being paid off is being sanctimonious and unrealistic.
Unless DD/PL are happy with NL absorbing much of the flak. After all DD is happy with the job PL has been doing.
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:47 PM
I think PLB was trying to be ironic
Whether we are waiting for the right manager or there are other reasons for not appointing someone just now, we must do something. This group of players cannot have become poor players so abruptly, NL may believe in his own abilities, it’s fairly obvious that the players don’t share that view. These players could, with no new additions, secure second place, but only if they are properly motivated and coached. We may of course lose players from the squad over the next 2 weeks, the obvious ones like Ntcham, Christie and Edouard would not be missed.
SQUIRE DANAHER on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:52 PM
Yip, just reacted out of context.
My anger is off the scale with Lennon.
BADA BING
Hibs couldn’t beat us when we had 13 players and our coaching staff out.
We’ll get the 24-odd points from the remaining games we’ll need for second with Lenny in charge. 16 games is a long time to entrust to someone who has no experience
GP- I would stop the season today if I could, null and void won’t happen, for the same reasons it never happened last season, money.Prize money, TV money etc,the huns will get awarded it,and I won’t complain. HH
When leicester paid us £9m, we should have taken 2 simultaneous actions
1. Immediately appoint an interim manager until the end of that season. We did and we believe we got the correct man then.
2. Used the 9m to secure the best managerial option we could, maintaining our position as the dominant force in scottish football. Depending on the successful candidate, we may have seen a slight change in direction, new ideas, new development areas
Instead, we pocketed the dosh and we have been on a predictable downward trajectory ever since. We have seen a few highlights and should lose sight of this. However, our momentum has slowed to a crawl.
It was all so predictable. It was all so avoidable.
Frankly, scunnered with the ‘continue to do nothing’ approach.
GREENPINATA on 21ST JANUARY 2021 12:49 PM
N&V. It’s coming.
The figures are not abaiting, tighter restrictions and closures are inevitable.
Can football continue. ?..
========================
I think / hope the impact of the lockdown coupled with the increasing numbers who are being vaccinated will see us crest this peak in the next week or so, and then we should see the level of hospitalisations, ITU admissions and deaths start to reduce (prayers said/fingers crossed).
N&V would be really funny, though.
HH
BGFC
As the situation continues to unfold i believe that the only thing that can explain the manager still being in the job is that the major shareholder is not prepared to bow to ” internet mobs “. So, as many have already stated, the only language that he understands is money and therefore anyone who has the club’s best interests at heart will cut the money supply off. It really is strange to think that if money is the only motive, the damage done to the brand must in real terms be more than any of us could possible contribute.
WITS
I agree ref 🇺🇸 political situation.
That Trump was ever elected is hugely worrying.
That 4 years on, Biden only beat him by a baw hair is terrifying.
The optimist in me hopes for 4 years of peace and greater unity.
The realist struggles to see them electing a non-white woman (I realise other candidates may emerge).
The foundations are laid for a better-mannered fascist in a better-fitting suit.
And your point about foreign wars is so well observed. The greatness of having a first black President has to be seen alongside Obama’s unprecedented levels of killings via drones.
Foreign wars was the only part of the fascist playbook that Trump didn’t employ. Perhaps he was content with war via Twitter and attacking minorities at home.
HH jg
Celtic 40- I admire your optimism mate,I have no confidence of beating anyone, the season is a write off, and getting more embarrassing by the game,I would have no issues putting the U21 staff in charge until the end of the season. HH
I’m pretty sure, if asked, that Damien Duff would see us through to seasons end, along with Tommy McIntyre and 1 other, por cierto
In May 19 we could have got Graham Potter from Swansea. Would have been good appointment imo.
Didn’t take him long to chase Duffy
This clammer for blood, get rid, get rid now then we will all feel better.
Then what?
Its less than 50% of the requirements to remove the management team. In itself, by far the easiest action to take with an immediate release of fan pressure.
The real challenge is in who comes in. If we don’t have a suitable candidate ready to do that now (i.e unemployed) then what’s the point of sacking the manager.
agree Ajer is the best right back we currently have but his final ball into the box is just as poor as the rest of the so called full backs we have , every cross into the box ends up with Ajer puffing out his cheeks (mouth) with hands out stretched or looking to the sky for help.
over £8m (cough) worth of strikers on the bench and we start with an unfit Griff playing lone striker , c’mon gies a break Lenny and just go for you’re own sake and ours.
!!BADA BING!! on 21ST JANUARY 2021 1:01 PM
It’s not optimism though. Based on points per game and previous performances against teams vying for second we’ll have enough.
Not exactly living the dream but with the new formation and faces in the starting 11 enough to get us there.
I read a good summing up of things earlier.
It’s like someone having gangrene from the hip down, but the surgeon only removing the foot.
Obviously Lennon has to go, but getting rid of him isn’t going to solve the issue, not while Terry Cassidy’s tea boy is still CEO.
The parasite is the reason why we are in the current situation.
Jus looked at the table. Half the fixtures completed and the manager is conceding that the league the league is over. £1300 for two season tickets to watch a dozen meaningful games on telly on a crisp stream.
Where is the added value for our two season tickets?