Neil, Brendan and the risk-free dream appointment

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I’m seeing a bit of “Neil Lennon cannot get the job now” comment after our capitulation at Ibrox this afternoon.  Brendan Rodgers got things equally wrong at Ibrox in December but no one was calling him the wrong man for the job.

If you think the primary issue Celtic have right now is tactical choice and team selection, you are overlooking what is staring you in the face.  Celtic are playing with a squad that has changed little since Ronny Deila days, despite the volume of new faces introduced to the club in the intervening period.  Seven of today’s starters and eight of last weeks’ were at the club under Ronny.

Ronny won two of our eight consecutive titles, but his final squad was in need of significant overhaul.  Three years on and Odsonne Edouard, Oliver Burke and Jonny Hayes are not going to significantly change things.

Neil could have played Scott Sinclair, but Scott has been dropped by both Neil and Brendan at various times over the last two seasons, there is no guarantee he would have made a difference today.  He could have risked Kieran Tierney, or perhaps James Forrest, but for a dead rubber when we have a treble treble to compete for?

Eye on the prize and the prize right now is the Scottish Cup.  And if you want a tip on who will be our next manager, it will be whoever we think will successfully improve the squad.  Whatever Neil’s chances are, I doubt they were influenced by today’s performance.  And if you believe any appointment is risk-free, dream on.

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  1. Very poor.

     

    Virtually no shots on target.

     

    Never in their faces.

     

    Heartless.

     

    Poor passing.

     

    Little commitment.

     

    Actually, embarassing.

  2. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Paul67………… so Neil’s getting the job, if that’s what your saying… say it.

  3. Paul

     

     

    Your ability to rewrite history is fascinating and fantastic.

     

     

    You have praised every transfer window we’ve had in the last three years. If the squad needs an overhaul it’s because we settled for loanees to plug holes where real money needed to be spent.

     

     

    if you think today was NOT as a result of the manager’s utter tactical ineptitude it’s YOU who is dreaming.

     

     

    If Lennon gets the gig it is a backwards step of EPIC PROPORTIONS.

     

     

    If Lennon gets it we’re going backwards, and I don’t believe for ONE MINUTE that we will try to cover that by spending proper money on the team. At the point where we give the gig to a third rate manager we’re chucking it as a forward thinking club.

     

     

    Yes, the team needs an overhaul but that’s been readily apparent for a while. Underinvestment has cost us big time, and I very much doubt we’re going to see a lottery winner’s spending spree now. The Rodgers appointment worked because he knew how to get the best out of footballers some of whom looked like they were going nowhere.

     

     

    Lennon has shown red today; his response to that result was to bollock the players in public, the players who stand on the brink of a third consecutive treble. There was not a shred of self analysis.

     

     

    If he gets it, it’s a disgrace and that would have been true no matter today’s result so that has the sum total of nil to do with it either, but for many people, yes, it sealed the deal.

  4. If NFL knew he wasn’t getting the job (or possibly didn’t know whether he was) there would have been more passion, urgency and commitment than was on show today.

     

     

    No way was he going gentle into that good night against that mob if it was going to be his last chance.

  5. Paul firefighting early but there’s no escaping the fact that we’ve no discernible pattern of play under Lennon and performances have markedly dropped.

  6. No analysis of that debacle today only that our squad is in serious need of a rebuild as we are basically playing with Ronnie’s squad. Well that’s a damming indictment of our recruitment policy over the past few seasons.

  7. New manager

     

    New squad

     

    New main stand

     

    New CEO

     

    Get that New Balance gear tae!

     

     

     

     

    Looking forward to the summer break for the first time in years because of the imposters wearing the hoops all season ..

     

     

     

    They make snooker look exciting!!

  8. I take that leader as meaning Neil Lennon is getting the job, not good at all, how are season ticket sales going? Hope plenty have asked about Res12.

  9. overseasbhoy on

    Oh dear peter 67 – Lenny should be nowhere near the job. Steve Clarke for me.

  10. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    NFL was the only viable appointment when BR left,I love the man

     

    but he is not the too take us forward.

  11. Paul67 got his excuses in early for this game. It won’t wash. We’ve seen this team go backwards for weeks under Lennon.

  12. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Lenny it is then. P67 preparing the ground. I won’t hold my breath for the squad overhaul though.

     

     

    Next year is going to be painful I fear.

     

     

    At the very least uncomfortable. As sitting on your hands tends to be.

  13. I am on the waiting list for a season ticket,

     

    i expect to be offered one this year,

     

    i will stay on the waiting list if Neil gets the gig

  14. If we’ve sat on hands for three months to appoint Lenny full time then it’s more than a squad overhaul we need. Start at the top and work our way down.

  15. James Forrest how many times are you going to chuck posting on here? Asking for a friend!! H H Hebcelt

  16. I don’t think Lenny will get the job, just putting it out there as most on here seem to believe it’s certain.

  17. Get shot of Lawwell.

     

    Appoint an overacheiving manager at a lesser club (Clarke) or someone similar.

     

    Get the money out the bank and on the field, giving the new manager the best opportunity of making 40M CL money.

     

    Appoint a new CEO who’s bonus is dependent on CL qualifications, which is the only revenue avenue to grow the club.

     

    Sick of the excuses.

     

    Spend the money.

  18. weebobbycollins on

    I see mister angry brigade is back…how many times can one stop posting on here?

     

    I think he’s going for 9 in a row now…

  19. We were second best from the second minute today.

     

    Total and utter capitulation against a Rangers tribute act!

     

    If only we had around £59m in the bank to improve the situation.

     

    Hey, wait a minute………..

  20. I, like every Celtic supporter, have nothing but the highest regard for Neil Lennon. But please, Celtic, look elsewhere in Europe for our next manager.

     

     

    Today might have been meaningless in the grand scheme of things; it still does not excuse such an abject performance. Neil Lennon seemed to have no idea how to motivate or even change things.

  21. succulentlambstinks on

    Most on here cannot see through the green tinted glasses and flog others for having a valid opinion and the right to criticise.

  22. HEBCELT and WEEBOBBYCOLLINS:

     

     

    I at no point said I was NEVER going to post on here … I said that certain people stop me from doing so regularly, because they aren’t interested in any debate or discussion but instead prefer to play the man and not the ball.

     

     

    At least one of you seems determined to do the same.

  23. huntlybhoy86 on

    Paul,

     

     

    If you truthfully think that NFL is the best available candidate for the Celtic job after scouring the globe then that’s a serious worry. I’ve said this before: if BR left at season end rather than February would ANYONE have called for an out of work NFL (who failed at Hibs this season let’s face it) to be offered the job, not a chance. If Lawwell has primed you to soften up the support with this article then that’s extremely disappointing to say the least.

     

    My first choice would be Benitez (in terms of a so-called top tier manager in line with Brendan) but if we’re looking at the second tier then even Clarke is a significantly better coach and tactician than NFL. Thank you Neil for all you have done for our club but I admit it I’ll be gutted if you’re appointed.

  24. Sorry as much as it pains me it has to be a no to Lenny from me. We need a manager that will demand that the board properly invests in the 1st team squad. Lenny will not do this which Is likely the very reason he will be appointed.

  25. James Forrest define regularily, post as often as you want fellow fan. Play the ball not the man, you re Paul67 pots and kettles. I’ sure Paul 67 is quite capable of defending himself so I will not comment further. H H Hebcelt

  26. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Hi all.

     

     

    For the second season in succession we lost a match to the second placed team after the league was won.

     

     

    Big deal.

     

     

    Bigger fish to fry on 25 May.

     

     

    Hail hail

  27. weebobbycollins on

    If we do 9 the demand for season books to witness 10 will be immense…however, if we fail next season….there will be no waiting list for season 20/21…worth thinking about mr directors…

     

    We have the momentum…keep it going

  28. Afternoon All

     

     

    I’d be shocked if Lennon doesn’t get the job. Once he won the league, he had the job in my opinion. Depressing thought. Love him like all Celtic fans however he ain’t the answer.

     

     

    Apart from right back, the most glaring deficiency is central midfield. A Stiliyan Petrov type, strong, technically good and a powerful box to box runner who can break the lines in midfield. How many times did Toljan pick up the ball in space in 2nd half and when closed down have no option but to turn back.

     

     

    Agree with most that 9 and 10 in a row is far, far, far ( times a million ) from certain especially if they keep Kent.

     

     

    HH

     

    Roccobhoy

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