Neil Lennon ‘got’ Celtic. He was a rookie appointment, and the early weeks were far from comfortable, a Hampden defeat to Ross County looked like an ominous early sign, but from the start of his first preseason he didn’t look back.
He was a hugely successful Celtic manager in Scotland and in Europe. The Barcelona team of the last six years, possibly the greatest team in history, were at their peak when they visited Celtic Park in November 2012. Neil came up with the game plan which brought Celtic victory and raised our profile across Europe.
What he had to endure off-field during his time at Celtic was atrocious and a blight on our society. But he overcame it. He stuck it out when you or I may have left, and now he leaves on his own terms – an undisputed winner.
More at another time on who next, but if we get a man nearly as capable we will be doing well.
Take care, Neil.
1,817 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- ...
- 48
- »
Morning all, another day to support Celtic.
Thanks Neil for all you did. Good Luck in all you do.
Life goes on though, just ask Tony.
Thought I’d copy n paste the wee entry from Tony’s blog this morning. As some may know he was rushed into the Emergency Room on Tuesday, but he’s back home now. He has a special cap doffing to all the CQN folks who have posted jokes on his site.
From Tony..
“Later
I’ll entertain you with my bladder story later this week, but suffice to say I’m glad the past day is over.
Many thanks to the members of CQN who have been posting some great jokes in the comments section.”
From Mrs RWE and myself, thank you.
http://www.dontshrink.com
HH
Thanks to Neil Francis Lennon for bringing back the Thunder. I for one would have liked to see him continue, but life, and Celtic, goes on.
Last wee snippet from FF (I’ve gone over my self-imposed 5 minute limit, and the smilie is mine!)
“Paul Brennan = CQN = unofficial mouthpiece of Fat Pete = ignore anything that comes out his twisted little mouth”. “Brennan appears to be in a state of delusion”.
:-)
SSN David Moyes being investigated concerning a serious assault. That’s him ruled out then.
RWE
Great that Tony is back home!
Maybe catch up with you and Celt45 in New Orleans?
I have just invested 20 euros @ 100/1 on who will be our next manager, come to daddy.
HH
Guardian Breaking News
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is being investigated by Lancashire police over allegation of assault following incident in wine bar. More details soon
HH
Paul le Guen: Only 50, Catholic, willing to manage in Scotland, winner, Euro experience, plays attractive football, stuck in Oman where birds and booze get your peter (Lawell) cut off …
It’s an unusual day this …
Who else feels a wee bit … excited?
Fresh start time! New manager, new ideas, new targets …
I always feel this way when we get a new man at the helm. It’s not a reflection on Lenny.
Of the names mentioned Malky makes most sense to me. Although Guus Hiddink would be great if he would come and was committed.
Guys Guys Guys
Parkhead cross is awash with some fine tanning establishments.
Perfect for Jimmy Calderwood to take up the reigns at Celtic.
Siesta time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
James Forrest is praying for The Unconquerable Oscar Knox
Not many managers have walked away from Celtic in our history.
It’s becoming a habit for our successful ones now with no job lined up.
That concerns me.
Gutted NL has left Celtic. I felt he was trying to build a cracking young side.
Can;t be easy building a team while the board are dismantling it. Feel sorry for him. I’m often accused of being a happy clapper. Usually always back the board but they must get the next managerial team correct. They have a hard act to follow!
LB
Q A W
Uv just gave me a possible nightmare. grrrrrrrrrrrrr
Davie Provan mentions “rangers recent demise” on live TV.
Welcome to the “list” Davie.
Anyone know what wim Jansen is up to these days …
Maybe we should not bother with a manager … Let the CQNrs pick the team and tactics
Quincy Adams Wagstaff
Calderwood’s shade of orange is more than skin deep so it’ll not be him.
Besides, when it comes to tanned hide, David Dickinson’s the real deal.
Paul67 et al
No truth from Pravda?
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
apologies for that my friend : )
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar:
Yeah I know what you mean … as i said in the piece, I am going to leave writing about his possible reasons for another day … I am glad the man no longer has to endure this country and its media, and the irrational level of hate that surrounds him.
I do suspect it played a HUGE part in his decision … but wasn’t the only factor, of course.
To be honest, when Mjallby announced he was going we should have seen the writing on the wall.
The Singing Detective..
Hiya, Palomine..
Pleased tae Greet Ye,,
Yes..Neil Did A Runner..
No Nice..
A Let Doon.. a Fly wee Trick..
Look, Neil, Has Left us
In the Lurch…
Jist afore oor European Adventures..
No Nice. at Awe..
Sure, He wiz thinkin o Leavin.. Since. Last Year..
He is Ambitious. Nothin the Matter wi that?
Right?
So. Off He wull go. Intae the Wide Yonder.. ( Definitely, No the “Blue” Wan.. Right? ..ed)
Where is he Going.. ??
Ah Dunno.. But.
Ah Feel a Predo comin oan…
“Neil, Wull Struggle. Mightily,if he Goes Tae A E.P.L Club.. Yes. Mightily..
if he goes tae wan of the Lower Divisions , In England. He May last the Pace..but.. He is Far too Inexperienced a Fitba Manager.. tae even . THINK aboot.. Managing an English Premier Club..”
Celtic’s New Manager.. ?
Easy..
Ah kin Hear the Band Strike up. Right Noo.. Canny No Hear It??
“Oh Ma Name is MacNamara. n Ah am the Leader o’ ..
The CELTIC!”
Yep..
Mr. Mac for me. He wull Dae Fine.
Nice Chatting
Kojo
Still Mad as Hell.
glendalystonsils
:) chortle
Where’s Amadeus…
Tae Gie Us The Low-Down..
He Crossed The CQN Firmament..
Like A Comet..
And Then He Was..Gone!
I said 6 days ago that Celtic couldn’t risk a new manager in a years time , when Rangers reach the top division. A rookie manager and incredible refereeing allied to Rangers overwhelming need to win was a recipe for disaster in Mowbrays season. I don’t think this was entirely Neil’s decision at all, and it was absolutely nothing to do with playing budget.
Neil was a success as manager, however the club had a decision to make. So did Neil. Could both commit to Neil being around for another 2 years, and the answer on both parties behalf would be no,
Better to make the change now .
As to who we should get. David Moyes would be top of my list, by a long way. There won’t be opportunities that would appeal to him in England, and British managers are not in huge demand in Europe.
He was shafted by a bunch of ageing prima donna’s at Man Utd. Prior to that his record was absolutely outstanding
ryecatcher
14:32 on 22 May, 2014
Best wishes to Lenny…..Decent job under an incredibly tight fisted board……
Prudent my erchie………not when they were paying out bonuses……
One small point though…..sorry
Barcelona team we beat under Lenny were only as good as Munich showed them to be at the business end of CL that season.
Lenny will not go down as one of our great managers….Good?…yes….Great?…..Sorry!!
———————————————————-
I do not understand your reasoning.
Budget/resources,compare spend, net and actual.
EPL.
La Liga.
Bundesliga.
The best wee country in the world.
This would be a good day for someone to slip an admin day in unnoticed…………
Appointing Lenny as the manager was a monumental gamble at the time, even though he has under achieved in my view, through the prism of my thoughts at the time he has far exceeded my expectations. He wrung some exceptional performances from a bunch of unknowns from lower leagues in Europe’s top tournament. That night against one of the best side’s world football has ever seen will go down as one of my finest memories at Celtic Park. A team down south is about to get one hell of a manager.
Lenny’s success to the board was like buying a £1 scratch card and winning £100,000. They cannot make the mistake now of thinking they got this one right and gamble on arguably our greatest ever player. Henke is box office, Henke will sell season books, Henke will be cheap but Henke isn’t ready.
This manager we are about to appoint will have to face down Rangers, yes a urine stained facsimile of Rangers, but a team in blue none the less with all of the establishment help that will go with their first season in the Premier League. Imagine the Mowbray honest mistakes multiplied by 3. We need somebody with nous, who has dealt with pressure. That’s not Henke. Not yet.
The board got lucky with Lenny, there is nobody with a sane mind who could say otherwise, at this juncture we can’t afford to take a gamble like that.
They have to get it spot on.
Moyes for me.
gary67
12:54 on 22 May, 2014
Manager – Stevie Clarke (good wealth of knowledge/experience in European Football)
Assistant – Peter Houston (good experienced domestic coach)
1st Team Coach – John Kennedy (learn, develop and takeover in due course)
…………………………………
Very good suggestion with succession management built in. Not sure about Peter Houston though. I know he’s a Tim but didn’t he have a bit of a running verbal battle with Lenny a couple of seasons ago and didn’t he bog up the Huns or something.
“To be honest, when Mjallby announced he was going we should have seen the writing on the wall.”
Indeed; plus, Sammi’s comments underlined that all was not well and that changes were coming.
…..or a new TV deal……
I tell you what I’d quite like. A manager that has never or played in or managed a team in a Celtic v Rangers game. That way we can avoid the whole ‘do you miss them?’ line of questions.
Guus Hiddink is going to be the dutch coach after the World Cup
Barcabhoy
14:45 on 22 May, 2014
So Celtic are going to replace Neil Lennon with a manager who is guaranteed to be around in two years time?
How does that work then?
Posted on twitter by Henry Clarson think it’s from KDS
vlad
22 May 2014, 12:36 PM
I was told in confidence, by a source very close to Neil’s agent that he had drafted a resignation letter in the wake of the league trophy presentation.
He feels severely let down by Peter Lawell in terms of bringing players HE wants in rather than being presented with cheaper options identified by the scouting team.
Also the failure to retain players he wanted to keep and who wanted to stay, has finally scunnered him.
Ledley found himself on a plane to London despite being eager to stay.
Hooper wanted to stay.
Samaras similarly.
I am gutted that it has come to this now, by all accounts it came damn close last year.
That’s pretty much my take too.
A year ago, Neil was saying that he regarded the CL as winnable, (albeit with a few of the usual caveats about getting the breaks, being able to field all of the best players, favourable draws, etc.) In much the same way that St. Johnstone should start a Scottish Cup campaign believing that winning the trophy isn’t totally beyond them, Lennon saw Celtic as having a fighting chance of reaching the business end of the CL and perhaps even winning our second Big Cup.
And why not? Obviously we’d be outsiders but a team that can beat Barcelona, qualify at the expense of Benfica and generally look the part at that level is entitled to believe it has a chance of success.
Our outstanding players were promptly sold. We still await their replacements. Meanwhile, a procession of duds, crocks and projects is cluttering up the parts of Lennoxtown where the footballers are supposed to be working.
A year after beating Barcelona 2-1, we watched through the cracks in our fingers as the score threatened to hit double figures in the Nou Camp. Is there any one of us who didn’t think we were in danger of sustaining a record defeat that night? What made it worse was the realisation that the only thing that could save us was the hope that Barca would ease up at some point or miss the sitters that they were capable of creating at will.
That wasn’t an inexplicable off-night. We knew that it had been coming. We were truly rotten against Ajax in Amsterdam, we got hosed by AC Milan at Celtic Park and we’d barely scraped past some staggeringly poor teams in the qualifiers in the first place. We were lucky to take any points at all in the group. We were completely out of our depth.
I would be amazed if Neil Lennon fancied a future that saw him under intense pressure to qualify for a tournament in which Celtic are going to become cannon fodder for proper football teams. Our best player at the moment is arguably a Dutchman who was deemed to be dispensable by a team that is as far behind Ajax as Partick Thistle are behind Celtic. And you can bet that he’ll not see out his contract with Celtic unless he suffers a career threatening injury. Rather than add to our Big Cup triumph, it must have become crystal clear to Lennon that the limit of the club’s ambition is to collect the appearance money and hope to avoid too many humiliations.
Suddenly the job has became damage limitation rather than making progress. The players the manager wants to keep are sold or released. More will follow. And if Celtic reach the CL group stages again, we’ll be on the wrong end of more thrashings. I can see why he wouldn’t want to be around for that happening.
I don’t blame him.
God help his successor.
Thank you Neil. Now go get David Moyes, Peter.
Any truth in the rumour that Moyes banjoed Lawwell in a wine bar when he was told what the budget was?
weeminger:
An excellent point. I’d love to think we’d bring on a continental coach.
It would be the most exciting development at our club in years.
So now we’ll see what PL’s succession planning was all about…..
Neil Francis Lennon
Thanks for all that you have achieved and endured.
As a player and a manager you were unbowed and left a champion.
You were one of my favourite all time Celtic players.
A signed print of you hangs in the wee loo in my house.
Every time I take a tinkle ,I have you at my back.
You managed Celtic at time where we enjoyed the greatest financial advantage over our rivals of any Celtic manager.
That financial advantage helped you win 3 titles.
I suspect it was the financial management of the club that has led to your departure.
I hope that you can now inform the fans as to what Fat Sally said ,and just how much say you had over the signing of first team players such as Balde,Bangura,Boerittger,and Myokolu.
Unbowed as always.
Thanks for the memories.
TT