When Brendan Rodgers left us in the lurch in February 2019 we were fortunate to be able to turn to a known quantity in Neil Lennon as interim boss. His first week was totemic, wins at Hearts and Hibs sent him on the way to the league and Scottish Cup, completing our third successive treble.
Neil took the job on condition he was considered for the permanent position. Celtic agreed, but I doubt they expected he would get the job. Ultimately, hopes of attracting another tier one candidate were dashed, as you and I occasionally observe, Never follow Sinatra. Few wanted to fill Brendan’s sunbed. The choice was between Neil and an earnest candidate who had won promotion to the Premier League in England, before relegation and unemployment. Neil was thought to be the better choice by the club for what would be a pressured season, but it is fair to say there was consternation when the announcement was made after that famous Cup Final win over Hearts.
The fourth consecutive treble, by now an expectation in some places, was not as easy as previous seasons. Newco’s loss-inflated side reached their first final in five years, got to the last 16 of the Europa League and led the domestic table in January. After defeat at Celtic Park to their challengers on 29 December, Celtic won every game for the remainder of the domestic season in league and cup. It was a fantastic response from a manager who looked to be on the ropes.
More impressively, a difficult Europa League group was won; famous victories over Lazio will live long in the memory. Last season, Europe also provided a portent of troubles ahead; an inferior Cluj, eliminated Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers, Copenhagen amazed themselves by doing the same in the Europa knockout rounds. Something was not right.
The capitulation this season has few precedents in our history. Despite retaining all key members of the side, ignominious defeats arrived in waves. Ferencvaros, Sparta Prague, twice, Ross County, twice, Newco at Celtic Park without making an attempt on goal. The Europa League group was an omnishambles until Neil rested players for a dead rubber against Lille and discovered talent waiting in the stands. This helped his cause but not his reputation.
I don’t buy the theory that were disproportionately affected by lack of fans, we made a series of missteps, in magnitude no greater than at the start of Brendan Rodgers last season in charge, but this time our challenger scarcely lost a goal, never mind a game.
With the direction of travel well established, there was a window to change manager in the autumn. When I argued the case to act for the good of Celtic’s season, I was counselled on the need to attract a manager who would work for a club who will sack a manager that’s never lost a trophy and had only lost one league game. There would be some takers, but not the ones you want. I believe this avenue was considered. Our options were John Kennedy as interim or a candidate miles out of their depth.
Among the many emotions Neil Lennon will feel today, I am sure a sense of disappointment in how he was treated by some among us. As well as giving us some great days, the worst that can be said about him is he made several bad football decisions. After what he has been through to be a Celtic player and manager, his treatment in places was atrocious.
I remember Jock Stein’s last four seasons, that produced only one league title, not to mention Gordon Strachan’s four, which resulted in only one league loss. Both were hounded by uncontained angry fans. The only difference now, is that the uncontained have social media to organise around. Neil, is in good company.
He will undoubtedly experience relief, but Neil has opened up previously on his fragilities, I suspect he will be haunted by regret, one of the more pernicious human emotions. However, as the Chairman of the Board once noted, ‘Regrets, I’ve had a few, but too few to mention.. The record shows’, NINE-IN-A-ROW.
Neil, thanks for Lazio, Rennes, the leagues and cups and the many euphoric victories. I cannot imagine how difficult on a personal level this has been, but the very best of health for the future. You will never walk alone.
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Green pinata.
Aye fan pressure to change board members is pie in the sky.
Celtic shared vision cannot be enacted on a PLC.
I am reminded of the manu fans going after the Glazers.
Mm.
How much is your own season card ?
Mines is 650.
MM
For area 441, I pay £644 plus a £3 donation to the foundation. A total of £647.
HH.
PS: That is not the main Stand.
Turkeybhoy-
Jardim’s not for me. He had a good upward trajectory and first stint at Monaco merging together some big-price buys (Falcao; Moutinho) and a crop of top class youngsters (Mbappe; Lamar). Once they sold those he wasn’t able to rebuild.
He was sacked, re-hired, and sacked again. He’s been out of work for over a year now. I think with a rebuild needed he’s in the “too risky” category – he may well have peaked. He’s also been incredibly unlucky in his career and we could do without bad luck!
Deniabhoy- totally agree! We tend to spend c£12m per year on players and apparently paid Lennon £2.4m per year (what Martinez is on at Belgium). I’d be more than content to cut our player spend by 2-3m per season to pay a top quality manager – though clearly for some money isn’t the be all and end all!
But we could certainly attract a better quality of manager than Lennon or Alex Neil…
First choice- Howe
Interesting choice- Ibrahimovic
Boring choice- Clarke
Disappointing choice- Kennedy
Wtf choice- Goodwin
Raging binned season ticket choice- Billy Davis
TOSB
“Seriously??? You’re still having a dig at the fans.”
———————————-
“Some” not “the” fans.
Every diddy club in the world has fans who identify with the need to sack and change a previously successful manager because of a downturn. They always think it will be for the better and never consider the other two possibilities.
My views are not specifically about the Neil Lennon situation- Neil had to go – we all knew that but….
Some people could not help but make it personal as if he ahd deprived them of something they were entitled to get from him.
I am a supporter of Celtic. I rejoice when we win and I hate it when we lose but I never demanded they be a winning team or else! It is sad to see some of us reach that state.
“the worst that can be said about him is he made several bad football decisions.”
Yeah well, off the t of the h, that covers recruitment, fitness, coaching, tactics, in-game management and the Dubai debacle.
So, otherwise a stellar job.
Madmitch:
You’re like a stuck record. Clean the fluff off you’re needle and give us some fresh patter
Did you know Billy Davis is in 5th spot of the worst managerial record in the history of the EPL with Derby.
Jock Stein should have been sacked after the Milan debacle.
Club never recovered.
are EH and his coaching/training staff still looking employment , get it done , no more jobs for the bhoys, major clearcut required from academy level to first team long overdue.
greenpinata @ 4.26
Ha Ha, bloody hell he must have been pure gash.
Maradominic
I said a while ago the rebuild would be huge – we potentially only have around 13 first teamers left next year:
Three goalkeepers who aren’t up to it;
Welsh (who in my view isn’t good enough);
Taylor;
CalMac;
Soro;
Turnbull;
Mike’s Johnstone (again I don’t think he’s going to be good enough);
Forrest;
Griffiths (and he should be punted in my view);
Ajeti (ditto); and
Klimala (who probably should go on loan to get matches).
Plus a few youngsters: Henderson (does he still count as a youngster); Connell; Robertson; O’Connell; Alafobi; and the new fella from Sheffield Wednesday (assuming we’ve actually signed him).
We actually can’t put together a back 4 from that – O’Connell; Welsh and Taylor are it defensively! Can’t wait for the CL qualifiers 😳🤦♂️
clearout
Adi…….
?????
You’ve lost me.
TICTAEWIN on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 4:29 PM
Indeed. 🙂
RC – rumours are Howe and his coaching team aren’t on speaking terms after his assistant (Tindall) took the Bournemouth job when Howe walked…not sure if that’s true or not
Jim Spence
@JimSpenceDundee
·
2h
I’ve no view on Neil Lennon’s departure. That’s a football decision. But I have a view on his treatment in Scotland. Vile anti catholic anti Irish bigotry marked much of it. Those who washed their hands of it show us what kind of country we were and are capable of being.
Sftb @ 3.45pm
So Neil has gone.
I’ve said all I want about his situation and have already thanked him and wished him well in the future.
We are still in dead man walking teritory. Nobody is in the mood for a familiar interim managers to get the job for good. We want new bling as we are bored with the old toy.
Neil Lennon is no longer around to be the recipient of bile from the begrudger and the boor. But the free-floating vitriol needs to be channeled somewhere.
Give us a new manager we can hate!
Appoint someone whose selections and signings we can call out as bonkers!
Give us this day our dailly two minute hate speech!
I did not get where I am today by being able to empathise with another man’s struggle.
I am entitled to a Punch & Judy show with an ever changing cast of Judy’s that get killed off every two to three years.
Football: The Bread and Circus Years
If that’s yourself you’re talking about fair enough.
But that’s not me.
I’ll always support a successful manager.
On the other hand,one who continuously makes mistakes….
Jim Spence an honourable man who acted as a journalist; ask questions, proclaimed truths and that’s why BBC Scotland bumped him.
Replaced by several ebt tax cheats.
P8ddy
I had exactly the same problem
Someone on this blog is able to hack accounts.
I talked to Paul. He has no idea who either
In the rebuild Jim Spence should be put in charge of the PR department.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 3:45 PM
Not a clue.
Well said, Jim Spence. At last, someone in the media has told the truth about Scotland’s shame. I have a feeling he lost his job at BBC Scotland for the very same reason.
Thanks for all your efforts Neil Lennon!
Celtic Men don’t come any bigger.
T
I second the suggestion that Jim Spence be put in charge of our PR department.
Im in 204, and I get a free pie at half time.
I cant bring myself to saying Im not renewing.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 4:45 PM
Snap
I win🤣😂😉
On Managerial salaries:
Lennon was paid more than:
18 Serie A managers (only Conte at Inter and Fonseca at Roma paid more);
4 English Premier League managers (Potter at Brighton; Wilder at Shef Utd); Smith at Villa; Dyche at Burnley);
13 French League 1 managers; and
10 Bundesliga managers.
As creidble as it seems Jim Spence could do an excellent PR job for Celtic, hoever, he and/or anyone in that position would not be free to respond how they might want to.
Bound by Stock market rules if you want to operate as a PLC.
Martim 1980,
Yes, you win by a wee neck.
Should have seen the signs ,when my season ticket went up to £666…main stand rear…
Obviously Tiger needs to work on his ” Driving” !
HH.
Off the wall suggestions.
Jim Spence or Michael Stewart as advisers/PR to the new main man. Both straight talkers, not afraid to speak out and know the Scottish game inside out.
I don’t care what teams they support.
Sorry – Dyche gets paid the same as Lennon, so 3 in the EPL.
Jim Spence says what others neglect to say.
After waiting months for the inevitable, it’s all still a bit raw,but don’t mix up legitimate criticism and abuse,the season was an epic failure from manager, to CEO, to majority shareholder,they all let us down. John Kennedy is a no from me,the PL umbilical cord is cut now,let him go and see if he can be a coach/manager on his own,if he does well, it might happen in the future.
Stivs…………………
I like Jim Spence – cut from a different cloth and has fearlessly made his opinions plain. His thoughts on Neil today are excellently put………..
Make him “Celtic’s PR” and he would be ignored by the MSM. Anything positive or challenging that the Club had to say would be filtered by hun editors and meeja placemen who favour guid news for the rainjurz.