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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Rodgers did want Kennedy, very well known at the time, not knowing this, or denying it to suit your agenda further confirms your troll status.
🤣😂
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 6:17 PM
Careful now, you’ll be asked to justify your existence and what seat you sit in at Celtic Park.
Scullybhoy
My son in law is a Stokie and is not impressed with the win rate – far too many draws.
Stoke’s record this season is
P31 W11 D12 L8 so about a 30% win rate withe one of the most expensive teams in the league.
Complacency has killed us and performances have fallen off a cliff .. simple as …
Aye to put out the cones. As I said.
Neil lennon has achieved and endured a lot mentally and indeed physically in his time at Celtic as player and manager and his resignation comes somewhat as a relief, nevertheless a great Celtic man.
A team manager’s shelf life nowadays is probably little more than three years after that it’s time to move on. Even the great Jurgen’s days at Liverpool may be numbered. Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Real Madrid despite guiding that club to it’s record tenth Champions League title.
Happy and healthy future Lenny.
No, as he’s a committed, hard working, coach.
And you have simply moved on to your next target, it appears your aim is to make everyone as miserable as you are. I’m sorry life has given you a bad deal.
Hope you find some joy 🍀
“To put the cones out.”
Some might find that difficult… :-)
Gene on 24th February 2021 6:34 pm
Good point Gene and that is my only concern. He does know how to organise a team to work hard and be difficult to beat. Having said that he is a sharp cookie. He might really blossom with better players to work with – certainly a tactician as well. Anyway, just my view and, as I say, we have to stop attacking people (not you BTW – everyone now is paranoid), Managers, players and fellow supporters. This is meant to be a discussion forum.
HH
MARTIM1980 on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 6:38 PM
Another clique member who never fails to have a go.
Kennedy is associated heavily with the debacle of a season we are having. If he was, as you say, a top coach another club would have come calling for him or Celtic would have replaced the failing manager with him long before now. If Rodgers had really wanted him, he would be with Leicester City.
I’m happy that Neil is gone the most important to Hong is to make the right permanent appointments.
In the meantime I’ll give JK and his team my support.
“Nevet fails to have a go”
Is your full time job, can you not see that?
Just repetition of dour non-constructive guff.
SadiesBhoy,
can you let ONIL know where you sit, he was wanting to know
-)
to Hong – thing
Maybe he stayed because he was a Celtic supporter. Weird concept ih?
Gene…who’s Hong? Manager? DoF?
Kennedy, Maloney…..this is no job for a rookie
MARTIM1980 on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 6:44 PM
You cannot help yourself.
I have told you before.
Scroll past, no need for the snide comments and digs at me.
I’m sure there are lots of people who post on here who think your comments are boring but maybe they just scroll by them without feeling the need to act in such a way.
As much as I love Celtic, I think some have to realise that others outside don’t see Celtic how we see them. Yes, we have 60,000 fans; yes the chance of trophies; yes the chance of Europe but let’s face it, no elite manager would want to come to our league.
I think these days even Serie A would struggle to get the likes of Pep or Klopp outside the Milan two or Juve; they wouldn’t entertain the idea of the Bundesliga other than Bayern or the French league outside Paris.
China is a footballing backwater but people go there for ridiculous money. Rafa was on £12m a year to go there. We simply won’t pay that and quite frankly, I don’t think we should.
The next appointment will come with an element of risk but as I said before, it’ll either be an unproven “potential” manager or a decent manager looking to boost his reputation after taking a hit.
I’m wondering if the sporting director should be appointed first and have a say as they’ll have far more extensive knowledge of who’s out there than the usual names being bandied about.
Germany or Austria would be a good place to start looking.
Sr. Madeline Dorsey, Maryknoll and witness to history, dies at 102 https://aleteia.org/2021/02/23/sr
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eu73HjOXYAI73EX?format=jpg&name=small
St Tams – it was on my to do list but life got in the way. I put it off when doing the first lot of research as, realistically, a lot of those doing well will probably stay where they are as they’ll see getting a team promoted as thier best chance of managing in the English Premier League – a bit like Dyche, Wilder, etc.
I’ll try and do over the next few days (kids and work permitting).
MARTIM1980
I like your comments, often quite funny, thanks for that, with much admiriation
THE CLIQUE
Aye my point exactly.
LOL
you hurtin pal ? I thought you would be happy tonight, that guy you really disliked has left the club ?
Guy comes on here to insult Neil Lennon. Day after day, nothing constructive, just Lennon is a wage thief, a troll, yada, yada. So, someone has a wee go and suddenly he is the victim…
Get real…
!!Bada Bing!! on 24th February 2021 6:47 pm
Kennedy, Maloney…..this is no job for a rookie
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Totally agree. JK, SM or Damian Duff – WITH AN OLD HAND.
Full set now.
31003…
I had exactly the same problem
Thankfully you haven’t the same problem as me. I got a reply from Paul. My account has been ‘pulled’ apparently for not treating people with respect. I was told there were several issues, but only one given (and it was wrong too!) about me referring to ‘cancerous Celtic fans’ – in fact I referred to two people who litter their replies with ad hominem insults, and I didn’t name names, but it has got me ‘pulled’.
Apparently it’s not the first time, despite in fact it absolutely being the first time. Because up till now I’ve had no messages and no failed log in.
Someone on this blog is able to hack accounts.
In my case it’s a mod – for not being ‘respectful’ enough.
I talked to Paul. He has no idea who either
You got a better response than I did! :D My account pulled, seemingly permanently, and for nameless infractions. All the while the guy that insulted my (dead) father as a means to get at me still posts. Others pepper their replies with insults and lies, and nada… Maybe it’s who you know, not what you know! :D :D
That said, I did get a reply, might not have liked it, but I got one.
So… I guess I’m on borrowed time before the mods see this post as my new moniker will be pulled too.
It’s been fun on CQN.. Over 15 years posting to now be ‘part of the problem’. Hey ho, life goes on. I guess I’ll take my chipped shoulders somewhere else. ;) Hopefully the walk isn’t too far with my metal hip and knackered knees! :D
/p
Saint Stivs, the clique really isn’t what I imagined it to be 🤣😂
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clique_(film)
We need to have an improved back four with a big Bobo type to put fear in the opposition and an experienced keeper to build a team around. Maybe get the big man back from Southampton or failing that, Marciano from Hibs. We gave up far too many easy goals this season by not being able to defend our own box at corners and free kicks.
They say that the best defense is a good offence sadly we had neither this season. Too may games where we were a goal up and calamitous defending ensued.
Any new manager we get in has to be tactically astute and be able to change formations at the drop of a hat, be allowed his own staff and be intertwined with the DOF and scouting department, we have been sadly lacking in all these areas.
We need grinders in our squad that know how to keep a lead and see it out and there are plenty of these players in our own backyard.
GSU
ffs,
Brendan now on Radio interviews endorsing JK as an outstanding coach, a great defender , and a good fit , while being “most loyal” to celtic.
What else was Rodgers going to say about JK…
Paddy8,
I read your posts, I saw nothing insulting in them, a spritied defence of your position on things.
keep it lit,
you have been a great controbutor over the years, always liked a detailed forensic method and the bolding.
Steve Clarke’s odds on PaddyPower drifted right out…
I’m sure the real reason a manager has a “shelf life” is other managers/teams learn over a period of time how they will set up and play.
Ideally, the perfect manager is someone who not only has a plan a and b, but also a plan c and d. Someone who can change with the tide and knows how to counteract the oppositions game plans.
Not too many out there I’d guess but there must be somebody.
Do we want a big name manager from a big name club? Or would it be better to get someone who has consistently come up against big name managers and big name clubs?
Eddie Howe anyone?
ffs John in greenock is on clyde,
he slagged off Neil for loads of things, and now tonight he is a bit sad and it is all Peters fault.