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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Philboy
I rented a flat and moved home last week.
Amazing to see the weans again.
Love ©️SOAL
night night
JG- VG
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 2:45 PM
I really do hope Bankier has no input regards the new manager or DoF.
—-
I wouldn’t worry. Someone will need to wake Bankier up for the announcement.
That blow hard Lambert having yet another go at the Celtic support, 1 more defeat and he will be getting his Harry Potters like his pal
Bankier will be offski
sadie’s boy
RESPECT is not much to ask really
Apart from being patronising to the fans what exactly does Bankier do for his £80k pa?
TOSB @ 6.17
“So you are still having a go at the fans who wanted Neil Lennon to leave. Yet you say yourself that he had to go. So it’s OK to hold the view that he had to leave just as long as you don’t actually articulate it.”
————————————————–
You start with an obviously false deduction and everything that followed this opening is tainted by it.
Of course it was possible to articulate the need for Neil to go because, as you stated, without irony, I myself had already done so. If I allow myself to articulate the need for Neil to go why would you twist that to assert that I was having a go at other people for stating it.
For the avoidance of any further doubt, it was not about wanting Neil to go or saying so, It was about the vitriol and abuse with which some entitled ( I repeat) fans kicked him down the road when stating he should go.
All he did was lose a much desired league. Jimmy McGrory, the legend, was manager for 20 years and won one league in all that time. The generation that lasted through that era managed to remain loyal to Celtic and managed to pass on their love for the club to my generation. The person who passed this on to me never got to see Neil Lennon play for or manage Celtic. I am still 100% sure that they would have loved the Lurgan Man’s fighting spirit and his Celtic-ness. They would still have acknowledged that he should go but it would have been done with more regret than glee.
SFTBs,
Bang on.
x
P8DDY
Sorry to hear that you had your account temporarily pulled.
Nobody on here is owning up to having been offended by anything you said so I am surprised and disappointed that Paul67 felt this to be necessary, because, as Maspapa stated, there is usually a light touch on censorship here.
I hope you will reconsider when you hear the response of many of the patrons of this place who would prefer that you continue to post, at least occasionally.
SFtBs @ 10:12 PM,
Comparing Neil Lennon to James McGrory.
Now we have gone way beyond parody.
When did James McGrory let Celtic down?
Good Luck to John Kennedy, he’s inherited a complete mess… I think he’ll surprise a few.
Hail Hail
Chairbhoy
“Comparing Neil Lennon to James McGrory.
Now we have gone way beyond parody.
When did James McGrory let Celtic down?”
—————————————
Anyone can be compared with anyone, The only mistake would be to equate them, which thankfully, I avoided doing.
James McGrory never let Celtic Down and Neil Lennon never let Celtic down.
Both of them merely lost leagues that Cetic fans thought should have been won. That is their point of comparison.
Chairbhoy @ 10.46
When did James McGrory let Celtic down?
When he rejected the Celtic board’s pre arranged Arsenal transfer?
HH
BSR @ 10:53 PM,
Well the thing was, McGrory of Arsenal never sounded as good as McGrory of Celtic…
… but Bolton Wanderers!?
Hail Hail
it is only an internet rumour but several twitter account have us linked with this guy, his da was a celtic supporter, several high profile caretakers jobs, ready for a step up.
https://www.scotsman.com/images-e.jpimedia.uk/imagefetch/http://www.scotsman.com/webimage/Prestige.Item.1.65325909!image/image.jpg?&width=640
SFtBs @ 10:50 PM,
You are comparing two totally different times.
James McGrory embodied a corinthian spirit that was still seen as noble in those days. The competition in Scotland was way beyond the one horse races that Lenny succeeded at.
Scotland and many of their Clubs were comparable with the rest of Europe and the World in James McGrory’s time.
He was arguably the best player in the world at his best.
A true Celtic man – one of the very, very best
Hail Hail
Alan Thompson
@Alantommo8
·
1h
I’ve had Scottish papers on all day and I think we best let the dust settle , but what I will say to everyone having a pop at Lenny let’s take a step back and think what he’s given the club in 20 years as a player , coach and Manager Soccer ball more successful than not Trophy
Paul 67
“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.”
Yeah its been very difficult pocketing these dollarz for as long as I possibly could , for absolutely hee haw return , I couldn’t sleep at night ….blah blah .
I am sorry Paul i wont let it happen again , when I am back earning quarter of the wages again at hibs or like .
I will be a hero again , somewhere , just not paradise
Really Sorry Paul
Yours NFL
here Lubo.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EvBkVCCXcAQEpqn?format=jpg&name=small
here dobbers
https://twitter.com/i/status/1359945235401482242
james forresr
can you expand on your last sentence?
two down one to go?
hh
Chairbhoy
“You are comparing two totally different times.
James McGrory embodied a corinthian spirit that was still seen as noble in those days. The competition in Scotland was way beyond the one horse races that Lenny succeeded at.
Scotland and many of their Clubs were comparable with the rest of Europe and the World in James McGrory’s time.
He was arguably the best player in the world at his best. ”
————————————–
I am comparing, and contrasting, different people, supports and times. That’s pretty much how comparisons work.
For your original point that my original point was “beyond parody”, you have gone on to make similar comparisons yourself e.g.
“These were different times”
“Arguably the best player”
not a “one horse race” etc;
There was a corinthian spirit , perhaps, but the players would still have kicked their grannies to win- the sport was played by working class boys not by Lords and Gentlemen. Fans celebrated wins wildly and accepted defeats with the same reactions as today- the whole range from stoic acceptance to wild and emotionally diarrhoetic. Make no mistake- most of oursupport were glad to see Jimmy step down as titular manager but none of them gave him a kicking or cast up his earnings or his off field habits.
The one true point of comparison with both is they both wanted to come to and stay with Celtic- that, for me, places them above Brendan Rodgers and John McGinn et al
An Tearmann
I understood it that he was on to getting rid of John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan too.
He can’t have meant Peter Lawwell as he is already walking.
Who else could be forced out- Dermot Desmond? Don’t think so
When we’re allowed back in the stadium, when we have a new management team and a new raft of players, whether I rate them or not (having never played nor managed in professional football), I truly hope to God that I’m not sitting next to many of the folk on here !
(nothing personal)
.
BTW, did any of you see yersels on Al Jazeera last night ? BTs auld man was on it.
GERRY123 on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 10:05 PM
sadie’s boy
RESPECT is not much to ask really
…………….,
Eh? Really
St Tams asked about Championship Managers so I’ve had a quick look. A quick look means I’ve been briefer here than in previous posts, although spent a bit longer looking at some. I’ve started at the top and worked down. This is the top 15:
Daniel Farke – Norwich. Relegated last year they look on course to bounce straight back up, with a healthy 7 point lead at the top. The Norwich fans love him, even though his Premier League campaign was painful after an initial burst, and he seems settled. So no chance here.
Thomas Franks – Brentford. He’s been at Brentford for 4 years now, initially as an assistant head coach before stepping up to replace Dean Smith who went to Villa. His first full season saw him reach the Play-off final. He’s sitting second this year – level on points with the third place team. His team play nice football and he’s known for developing players (sold Watkins and Benhrama for around £75m in the summer – Toney is doing well for them this year too) but questions around his experience (his only previous job saw him finish 3rd and 4th with Brondby which isn’t amazing by any means) and he probably feels there’s unfinished business at Brentford.
Xisco- Watford – only started in December 2020 though the way Watford burn through managers he may be available in summer. Pretty lacking in experience – 4 months and 11 games at Dinamo Tblisi (won a title) was all he had pre-Watford. Has a good win percentage – 66% – but that’s across 24 games and similar to our own win ratio (19 wins from 30 games). Too early to tell how his career will go.
Steve Cooper – Swansea – St Tams highlighted him as one to look at. In his first top level managerial job. Started out as a youth coach at Wrexham before moving to a similar role at Liverpool in 2008, where he spent 5 years. By 2011 he was manager of their academy and played a part in the development of Sterling and Alexander-Arnold among others. He then moved to the England National team set up where he managed the under 16s before taking the under 17 side to the 2017 U-17 World Cup. He won that!!
He got the Swansea gig in 2019, reaching the play-offs. Brentford beat them in the semi-finals. This season they sit 4th, 1 point behind Brentford and 8 behind Norwich.
Some tactical analysis here: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/eflanalysis.com/analysis/steve-cooper-at-swansea-city-2019-20-tactical-analysis-tactics/amp
Short version – some quick, short passing and interchanging football going forward, very vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Again, probably an unfinished business scenario, but worth keeping an eye on if they don’t make promotion – he may feel he’s hit a ceiling with Swansea if he can’t get them up this year. That’s probably too late for us given we need to hit the ground running but would put him in the “worth a call to his agent” category. He’s need to sort that counter-attack vulnerability though…
Vejlko Paunovic – Reading – a largely unknown figure – his previous (and only managerial) gig was a 4 years stint at Chicago Fire in the US. He seems to have done a respectable job there. Took over at Reading in August and now has a team which finished 14th last season sitting in 5th.
Early days for him but one to keep an eye on. Here’s a brief tactical review on thier win over Watford: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/eflanalysis.com/analysis/efl-championship-2020-21-reading-vs-watford-tactical-analysis-tactics/amp
Also – their left back has just signed for Bayern Munich on a Bosman!! Not sure that’s down to the manager though…
Mick McCarthy – Cardiff City – Having left the Ireland job in summer, he was then out of work until taking the APOEL job in November before being sacked in January. He then got the Cardiff job and is flying with 6 wins and 2 draws in his 8 games so far. The guy we probably should have gone for in October or early November to see out the season. Given the need for a new modern football direction, I think McCarthy would be the wrong choice. He is Irish though, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dermot appoint him…
Jonathan Woodgate – Bournemouth – literally just got the job. Was poor at Middlesboro. Pass.
Valerien Ismael – Barnsley – htook over in summer when Barnsley had avoided relegation by a single point, finishing in 21st place. Has them at the dizzy heights of 8th at the moment.
To be frank, his CV is limited with only 4 jobs in total – Wolfsburg where he was sacked after losing 10 of 17 games and Apollon Smyramis where he was sacked after a game. In his only season at LASK he finished 4th.
His team play a 3-4-3/3-6-1 system and appear to be based around suffocating the game and keeping it tight. They score around an average of around a goal a game, and concede more or less the same, although with very few draws they either win or lose by the odd goal. Think Scotland under Steve Clarke. Tactical analysis here: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/eflanalysis.com/analysis/efl-championship-2020-21-barnsley-vs-watford-tactical-analysis/amp
Not sure what to think of this guy – has he just got lucky? Either way, probably a watching brief for now to see what trajectory his career will take.
Neil Warnock – Middlesboro – just no.
Michael O’Neill – Stoke City – Did a great job for Northern Ireland. Done a decent job at Stoke City, turning them from relegation candidates to solidly mid-table. A lot of draws though and seems to sign folk we are interested in – Fletcher and Doughty for instance. May have knocked us back before and I don’t think he’s done enough at Stoke to warrant a second offer.
Gary Rowett – Millwall – got his first gig at Burton Albion in 2012 and had some success in the cup but not much in the league. Moved onto Birmingham City in 2014. Took them from 21st to 10th in his first season and had them sitting 7th in his second before being sacked so new owners could install Gianfranco Zola.
2 years at Derby followed with them reaching the play-offs (but failing to go up) both times. He then left for the Stoke job where he lasted less than a year.
He joined Milwall in October 2019, and he narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season – they finished 8th and 2 points behind Swansea. In 11th this season.
A pass for me – seems to be a solid Championship manager who has a win rate of around 40% over his four clubs, but not what we need.
Nigel Pearson – Bristol City – just got the job and he’s start a fight with his reflection. Pass.
Mark Warburton – QPR….not even gonna go there.
Alex Neil – Preston – have already done this. It’s a no from me.
Tony Mowbray – Blackburn. Nope.
SFtBs @ 11:54 PM,
Well, I think once again we may agree to differ.
I’d have James McGrory, Brendan Rodgers and John McGinn at Celtic before Neil Lennon.
Hail Hail
SPIDEY101:
That’s an interesting run-down mate.
Definitely not the market we should be shopping in.
Let’s all try and be kind and civil to each other.
Night x
MAJESTIC HARTSON:
In a perfect world mate, but there are people on here who lost the ability a long time ago.
Poisonous little bastards.
Apparently one them thinks you can get sued for that word. He’s welcome to join Dermot in the courts. He’s also a sagging ballsack. Perhaps that’s litigious as well.
I am through with being nice to some of the keyboard bullies on here.
JAMES FORREST on 25TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:30 AM
give yourself a night off.
SAINT STIVS:
I’m here about once a week. Too much for ya?
JK,
ranting at a blog sometime in a night.
Been there, seen it , done it.
I thought I was invincible,
the reality was, i had medical conditions that needed treated.
go get help.
in the nicest possible way i could position that.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 10:12 PM
…………
No I don’t think I misunderstood in any way. You’ve had plenty of wee digs at posters on here who have advocated a change of manager since early last season. Your own view on Neil Lennon no longer being suitable came relatively late on in proceedings. You admitted that he couldn’t remain as manager but you still continue with the wee digs as I’ve already pointed out.
You talked earlier about fans who pushed for a change of manager didn’t take account of the fact that there were two other possibilities apart from success. The dissenting voices on here had to read post after post on here about how our views on the need to change the manager was manna from heaven for the media and those who wished to do Celtic down.
Did you ever consider that perhaps Mr. Lawell and the Board may have had a wee read at CQN and thought, “ Och we can continue with Lenny for another season. There’s plenty on CQN who support him. Doesn’t matter that the team’s playing rubbish, there’s a huge number who don’t want us to change now.”?
Bye bye TIAR. Maybe Lenny’s fan club on here played their own part in our failure this season.