NEIL LENNON raged at his Celtic flops after their latest capitulation in the 2-1 nosedive against St Mirren at Parkhead.
After this latest utterly abysmal performance, it looks as though the champions have thrown in the towel during their haphazard and apparently half-hearted historic quest of achieving 10 successive titles.
The lack of commitment, desire, courage and professionalism have been painfully evident in a catastrophic campaign.
They have now dropped TWELVE points in six games in 2021 – TWO MORE than they did last term after 30 games when they clinched nine-in-a-row.
That x-certificate statistics highlight the glaring flaws in character in this assortment of individuals who have failed spectacularly in an incomprehensible and inexplicable manner.
Eighteen points up for grabs with the team in with a chance of turning the tables on Steven Gerrard’s table-toppers who are 23 points ahead.
Twelve points thrown aside in reckless, careless fashion tells its own story. Two defeats, three draws and one solitary win. That is totally unacceptable for any performer wearing green-and-white hooped jerseys and calling themselves Celtic Football Club players.
We can now forget about having two games in hand. After this afternoon’s dreadful showing, no-one would take a victory as a certainty for this collection of misfits.
Callum McGregor, Kristoffer Ajer and David Turnbull put in a reasonable effort against Jim Goodwin’s well-drilled team. After that, you are struggling to find anyone who would get five out of ten.
Lennon admitted he had suffered the lowest point of six years managing the club as he delivered a withering assessment of yet another woeful display that saw the Paisley side win in the east end of Glasgow for the first time in almost 31 years. One of the Saints’ marksmen back then was a certain Paul Lambert at the beginning of his fine career.
Asked if the players were letting him down, under-siege Lennon, speaking to Scotland on Sunday, answered: “I think, yes, they are.”
The shell-shocked added the damning sentences: “And they have done for quite a while this season. It’s difficult to turn it round. You are looking for motivation, ideas.
“We have tried different formations, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 4-diamond-2. So, we haven’t changed our philosophy or training programme.
“I just think the mind-set of some of the players has changed. If we play like that, we are going to win NOTHING. If we approach the opposition like that, we are going to win NOTHING.”
Lennon continued: “This is a real test of adversity and you have got to show strength. I want to show strength, but I need some support and performances from players. Too many of them have been insipid this season, to say the least.
“Look, whatever walk of life you are in, you need to have a form of professional pride. Especially at a club like this. To be fair to the players, over the years they have done.
“That has been sadly lacking this season. For whatever reason. Maybe the pressure of doing the 10 has been too much for them.
“Maybe they have just got tired of winning, tired of playing in Scotland, tired of living in Scotland I don’t know. That’s a question you need to ask them.”
Lennon, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “It was dreadful, just not good enough.
“The first-half performance was baffling, short of energy and confidence. And short of any quality at all.
“There’s nobody (fans) here, so there’s no pressure on the players. But there has been no consistency. We’ve gone from being a really good team at the beginning of lockdown to coming back with our attitude, intensity and behaviour dissipated, for whatever reason.
“Individuals and their level of performance or fitness, ultimately yes I’m responsible for that.
“That’s why I’ve taken heavy criticism this season. But other people should be accountable, too.”
MISERY MOUNTS ON SHAMBOLIC CELTS
