And so it’s Lenny. Let’s put some easy to apply context onto the decision, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez were not about to pitch up in the east end of Glasgow, those names were placed in the pubic domain by those in the betting markets. Jose is pondering his next move, with a number of oil wells pumping away at his disposal. Should Rafa leave Newcastle, he has a mind-blowing deal on the table from a Chinese club, and that’s before he is on the market. There was not a candidate of Brendan’s calibre.
Salzburg manager, Marco Rose, ticked lots of boxes. Salzburg were scintillating against Celtic this season, but the whole of Europe knows about Rose, who will join ‘some German team’ in the summer.
We could have had David Wagner, two great seasons with Huddersfield before it all collapsed, but never having managed a club bigger than Huddersfield (or any other club), the risks were evident. How would he cope with the scrutiny and pressure to win every game, when he has not actually won anything? Before he joined Schalke, he was a possibility, but not a clear favourite.
We could have thrown the field open and gone for a Ronny Delia-type candidate, someone who has outperformed – and won things, in another European league. There is a time for this kind of appointment, but is that now?
This month saw new names on the market, like Chris Hughton. Hughton did for Brighton what Wagner did at Huddersfield. He was a worthy candidate but there were red flags among the green. Hughton spent £77m at Brighton this season (selling £12m of talent), but it was careless. £17m went to Alkmaar for Alireza Jahanbakhsh, but the player was given 90 minutes only four times. This is the kind of shabby recruitment that values Oliver Burke at £15m. It is as wrong for Celtic as it was for Brighton.
The major consideration, and why Neil got the job, is that Celtic have a major rebuilding exercise to undertake. They need to replace Lustig (whether he remains as backup or not), Boyata, Benkovic and Mousse Dembele. Despite the mainstays of central mid being under contract, this area of the team needs at least one significant recruit.
Not only do they need to spend money this summer, but they need a high success rate from the new arrivals. Signing the likes of Burke, Toljan and the legendary Compper would jeopardise the most precious of properties in football – a place in history.
Whatever you think of Brendan Rodgers, Celtic know very well the commercial impact a manager of his calibre brought to the club, but that level was not open this time. We could have repeated the Ronny Deila experiment from Europe, or picked up someone recently out of a job in England, but not at this time.
Everyone at Celtic knows that for the next 100 years, fans will look back at this period and ask one of two questions: What was it like to live through +10-in-a-row? Or, How did they not get 10-in-a-row?
We need to spend, what for Celtic, is a lot of money, perhaps more than ever. It needs to be spent well, with a lot more hits than misses. If we break our transfer record again this season, the player(s) needs to an outstanding success.
Whatever Neil’s strengths and flaws, one comment from Peter Lawwell immediately after the Cup Final gave insight into what the club seen in the manager, “he has a great eye for a player”. This appointment was not about stepping up when required, being a real Celtic man, or winning the league and Scottish Cup. This was about spending a lot of money to make sure we get nine and then 10-in-a-row.
Celtic believe Neil Lennon can spend your money effectively. That is why he is here. Buckle up.
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It is possible to distrust the Board’s agenda and yet at the same time be pleased that NFL has got the gig.
They are not mutually exclusive positions.
Just sayin’.
Where do Sevco come into it?
Forster
Ledley
Commons
Virgil Van Dijk
Wanyama
Hooper
Watt (1m profit)
Ki
Neil Lennon signings CSC
SFTB
Great post, thanks.
I think in the end up, Lenny was the best available candidate. Its quite as simple as that. We can discuss why other, higher profile and more experienced candidates weren’t interested, or whether this or that lesser profile coach might have been a better choice, but it’s of limited value now.
I’m afraid it came down Lenny, or the devil you don’t know, and with so much riding on the outcome of the appointment, we chose the devil we knew.
I expect Celtic to pour a shed load of money into the summer player recruitment efforts. While Lenny is a lower risk than the willing and able alternatives, he is by no means zero risk, and with so much dosh in the bank it makes good sense to use the cash to backfill for it.
One thing seems pretty clear – the coming 12/24 months are going to be the most anxiety-ridden in the history of the Game in this country, and Lenny is going to be at the centre of it. For that alone, he deserves our full support.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/no-major-rebuild-needed-for-celtic-says-peter-lawwell-1-4934950
Pistol Pete strikes again. ?????
How many more times are fans going to be taken for mugs by this charlatan & now we know why Brendan left, this board do not have the same ambition as fans.
Shafted fans over resolution 12 and promised us if we have the silver bullet he’ll fire it lol.
We sit and slag the Sevco fans about Dave King FFS.
Peter Lawwell is untouchable just like the corrupt governing body in this country.
He is the biggest threat to 10IAR.
Anytime now the board apologists will be on soon to feed us some BS.
Paul I’ve got a question for you.
Why is it in 2012 you slated the Sevco fans for not asking tough questions of their board and now in 2019 you’re doing exactly the same thing as them with this nonsense and not questioning our board?
Guys like yourself and other board apologists are doing more harm than good to our cause by not questioning their motives.
Love Lenny and he’ll get my full support. Football has been mostly dire since he came in, but totally excusable in the circumstances. Of course patience will quickly wear thin if it continues next season and we fall behind in the league.
I won’t be buckling up as I’ve been here often enough with the CEO not to get too excited about a transfer window. I don’t expect much. Some last minute, low ball buys would be par for the course.
I do wonder who’s doing the recruitment. Can’t be any worse than Congerton, although I worry it’s either his latest list of duffers or whoever Lawwell fancies.
O’Donnell from Killie is the level of buy I expect and would be fine. Just okay.
We need to create space for Henderson, Johnson and Dembele.
We need to get rid of around a dozen or more passengers from the squad and bring in enough decent quality to give our core a rest after 3 punishing years. Be great to keep a hold of Benkovic. I have high hopes for Shved.
We need to sell a couple of our marketable players to bring in some dough – N’tcham and Rogic for me (love him, but he’s peaked at Celtic).
We have a very decent core of Bain, Ajer, Jozo, KT, Christie, Broony, CalMac, Forrest, Eddy and hopefully Griff. The young guns will add to that. And hopefully a few reasonable additions.
That’s a team to win 9 in a row, so long as Lenny can up his own game next season.
That’ll do me fine.
Henrik1967
If you actually read his comments in context and ignore the headline chosen, he states we have a core of good players, which we do (Bain, Tierney, Ajer, Brown, McGregor, Rogic, Christie, Forrest, Edouard) who are big players for us, supplemented by some very exciting youth prospects. So its not a total overhaul.
Then he states “But we understand that we need to be better, we need to be stronger and that will be our intention in the summer. We won’t stand still.”
^ This is the crucial bit. Lessons need to have been learnt from last summer or his words are meaningless.
HH
Am I right in saying, Lenny hasn’t signed and sealed the offer ?
I appreciate that it is likely to be 98% concluded.
But I hope Lenny is sitting enjoying his Sangria somewhere sunny, and putting down a list of his demands.
Of which, at the top of the list there must be a transfer budget upwards of £10 million.
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 27TH MAY 2019 2:32 PM
Agree with most of that….would agree on Ntcham but would retain Rogic. Question marks also about Jozo. Big player if fit but how long till the next breakdown?
HH
TBB said @ 2:17:
“One thing seems pretty clear – the coming 12/24 months are going to be the most anxiety-ridden in the history of the Game in this country, and Lenny is going to be at the centre of it. For that alone, he deserves our full support.”
Because I agree with TBB`s comment, I have a mixture of anger and sadness that Neil Lennon won`t receive that support from quite a few on here.
I honestly do not think there is a team in world football who could have experienced the success we have over the last few seasons then received such negativity from its own supporters and from the Media in its own country.
I believe I have some understanding of the psychological reasons why people are so negative . Even so, I find it thoroughly distasteful.
Cheerio.
JJ
JJ
When I read that we had sold 50000 season tickets and that there was a waiting list i thought that the job was neil’s.
Fake Scotsman news alert.
Where does the phrase below , allegedly a verbatim quote from P.L. , appear in the article ?
‘No major rebuild needed for Celtic’
Tony Watt signs for CSKA Sofia, so he won’t be coming!
HH
Not being enthralled with the appointment of Neil Lennon, for me anyway, does not mean I will not support him. I just wish the board genuinely tried to match the hopes and aspirations of the supporters with their own. and It angers me that posters on here who would question and criticise are called “huns” etc.
TRADITIONALIST88 on 27TH MAY 2019 2:32 PM
Would you trust someone who has concrete evidence regarding resolution 12, promised shareholders he would fire the bullet if shareholders provide that bullet and he went back on his word when those guys provided that billet ?
A fully fit Christie and McGregor give us the basis of our midfield for next season.
It would appear that another midfielder is desired… we’re apparently somewhat down the road with the WBA lad. We’ve also been linked with 2 dutch lads. The one at AZ Alkmaar, and one at Fortuna Sittard.
Between start of September, through to New Year, the games are thick and fast… with domestic and European football. I would not expect Brown to play as regularly as he has this season, or those gone by.
Ntcham… is he part of the party or not ? Is he seeking a move ? If so, sell and re-invest the funds.
Rogic… as much as I love the big guy, he’s not had a good season this year. He’s definitely worth keeping, but is in danger of becoming a peripheral figure. Needs to up his game, or he may be utilised more as an impact player from the bench. If we sign the lad from WBA and/or the player from AZ Alkmaar.. then Tom will have proper competition.
The Scotsmanarticle to which Macjay referred:
“But while Lawwell confirmed Lennon will be fully backed in the transfer market, he feels the foundations are already firmly in place for Celtic to achieve their ambitions.
“We still have a core of a lot of good players,” said Lawwell. “I think people are maybe overestimating what we need to do or overstating it.
“But we understand that we need to be better, we need to be stronger and that will be our intention in the summer. We won’t stand still. Listen, we’re not dependent on another club, we’re independent. We want to make Celtic as best as it possibly can be. That’s our desire, it’s our need and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“I think there have been other clubs recently who have made managerial appointments sooner than they should have,” said Lawwell.
“There was no purpose, no reason for us to do anything quicker.
“We knew Neil would be here at the end of the season. We just felt we’d take our time, get to know each other again and then make the right decision.
“It’s a fantastic job and I’m sure there would be people looking from afar who had an idea of coming here.
“We had approaches from many, many agents, many representatives of managers across the board. How credible it was, you never really know. We put them in the file, just left it and kept our word to Neil, really.
“We had a mini board meeting right after the game. We knew that Lenny was getting the job. We decided that we should kill the speculation on a high, get it out and let our supporters know and the media know.
“Neil knows the club inside out, he knows the city, he knows what’s required. He’s a great coach and has a great eye for a player. He’s got the strength of character to take it through. There’s probably nobody better at the moment, I would think,made for Celtic than Neil. He’s made for this club.
“He’s more experienced than when he was our manager first time around, a little more calmer, less emotional. That’s a great sign that he’s a learner and developer.
“We hope that he’s not going to say ‘No’. He’s been offered the job, our intention and belief is that Neil will take it and become the Celtic manager. We just need to clarify the details.
“The choice we had was – do we leave it until Thursday or Friday and let the speculation roll, or do we just kill it and then do the detail next? We decided to just kill it.”
JJ
Out De Vries, Toljan, Izzy,Hendry, Gamboa, Boyata,Bankovic,Com
HENRIK1967 on 27TH MAY 2019 2:42 PM
Would you trust someone who has concrete evidence regarding resolution 12, promised shareholders he would fire the bullet if shareholders provide that bullet and he went back on his word when those guys provided that billet ?
=================
I don’t know what hes got on Res 12 or the current status but I think he wants to win 10IAR. Paul67 is regularly accused of being PL’s voice and he said this today:
‘We need to spend, what for Celtic, is a lot of money, perhaps more than ever.’
HH
You are having a laugh Paul67 , Surely the CEO that you love and will never critisise is duty bound to get the best Coach he can possibly get , It sounds as if he couldnt be arsed yet you defend him to the hilt . The whole thing is amateur hour right down to the timing of the announcement . Imagine Neil turned down the job offer as it was after all only an offer . How stupid ( stupider ! ) would Lawell and the board look then ? Once again we are found wanting and showing no ambition whatsoever. From being on a huge high after the game to then hearing that Neil was being offered the job because among other reasons ” he knows glasgow ” WTF !!!! whats that supposed to mean . Talk about putting a dampner on things ! If Lawell thought he was pulling off a master stroke by making that announcement he knows hee haw about the fans . Then to really boot us in the bollox he comes out and says that the squad rebuilding is being over exagerated…….
UNFekingBELIEVABLE ………………..Having said all that Yes I will back Neil 100 % but until that man you refuse to criticise , Mr Lawell gets to hell out of our club , Celtic FC will continue to under achieve
Amateurhour @CFC
Compper,,Allan,Burke,Benyu, Mulumbu.
In Shved,
We need at least 6 quality players in. Sorry for splitting the post in two.
Lenny’s transfer kitty should be the cash received for Moussa, Armstrong and the VVD windfall. We need quality 1st team ready players. Invest the majority of it back into the team. Isn’t that what we were promised would happen? No more projects.
Now the 47 mill pound question does anyone believe that we will even spend the money we pocketed for Brendan fecking off? Nah me either. Will Bayo, Sheved etc be given a chance by NFL? In my estimation we need 5 1st team ready players.
Interesting summer ahead
most people will have Jack Hendry on the list of players to leave.
But I’m not convinced it will be that easy. Paid just over £1 million for him. He’ll be on half decent wages. Too much for other Scottish clubs.
Unless a club in the 3rd tier of England want him, I’m not confident he’ll be moved on.
Compper too, still has 1 year left. He’ll likely be happy to sit tight for as long as possible.
Can see a severance agreement with him come January.
So the allegedly biggest game in football between 2 also-rans about to kickoff
TRADITIONALIST88 on 27TH MAY 2019 2:52 PM
Time will tell buddy but I know who my moneys on.
If I was Lennon the first signing would be a security team. We know he will be a target as the season heats up.
Who put the target on his back ?
Lucky
I’ve said earlier his first signing should be his backroom staff
Post on Twitter from queenmachine67
Everyone, and I mean everyone, from the media to the fans slaughtered the SFA and in particular Alan McRae for the appointment of McLeish. There was no proper process, old pals act etc. Lawwell has done the exact same thing yet there’s a section of Celtic fans who don’t see it.
Lennon is the manager and has my support 100%. PL is correct we dont have massive rebuild to do, but we do have a lot of dead wood to shift and we need to bring in 4 quality players
1st choice Rightback is a must. Ralston is decent back up and perez will be here in january,
Church and hayes can back up KT and gutman is here in january.
We need someone in addition to Eduard, bayo and leigh so a striker is a must.
Cant see lennon wanting rogic (does not work hard enough) and there is a very good chance ntcham is for the off. Mulumbu will also likely head off too. So new centremid needed.
Centreback is a must, like jozo and ajer but back up of henry and compper gives me the fear. Can see bitton staying cause he Can add a little depth to midfield and Centreback.
HH
On Saturday I ignored the news about NL – I simply revelled in the win and what it means.
As each minute (and pint) passed the achievement got greater and greater in my mind – Treble Treble
It’s up their just behind, European Cup Winners 1967 and being the first team to win 9IAR
A momentous brilliant achievement
It’s now Monday and I have allowed myself to think about Neil Lennon
I am delighted for him what he has endured on our behalf is heroic, bombs, bullets, assault, family being abused, attacked on the touchline, and graffiti depicting his death have all been thrown in his direction
To ignore that and return to Celtic is as good a commitment as we can ask from anyone
However this does not guarantee we have the best Manager available
I have mentioned before about pursuing a Category A Manager Benitez, Howe, Rose etc
Accepting that it would be difficult to get one at least talking to one/some of them would be beneficial
Quite simply – you never know
To learn that we did not talk with anyone is a bit of a let down
But reality always suggested that it would be a Category B Manager Lennon, O’Neill, Moyes etc that we would install as our next man
But to also learn that we did not talk to any of them simply beggars belief
It makes me ask why
Is it possible that as glamorous as managing Celtic is – it comes with a boss, PL, who has proved he is difficult to deal with, perhaps the application list was not very inspiring
Why would you not go through some sort of process to see who was available – if that resulted in NL then brilliant, lets’ get on with it
I get the argument that NL has seen it and done it, he knows what 9 and 10 mean to Celtic, it makes sense.
I do not doubt that we have got the best Celtic supporting Manager available
I just question if we have got the best manager available
Time will tell and in the meantime NL gets my full support onward to 9
67ECW
Post on twitter from magic_bhoy
I’m convinced when Rodgers intimated he was going as soon as an offer came in, PL engineered Lennons departure from Hibs. Rather than pay Hibs to get Lennon, Hibs were forced to pay him off. Lennon was his man.all along.
Hhmm.
I’ll repeat something I posted four hours ago.
“We see things not as they are but as we are”.
I feel genuinely sorry for any Celtic fan so angst ridden just TWO DAYS after we have won the TREBLE-TREBLE.
These are the good times.
Hail hail
HENRIK1967 on 27TH MAY 2019 3:24 PM
Post on twitter from magic_bhoy
I’m convinced when Rodgers intimated he was going as soon as an offer came in,
======
Did he?
HH
The pain of so called Tim’s on this blog is unbelievable.
Your tears are delicious.
???
???
???
????
Reality check bhoys – we are not on anybody’s radar – no managers of clubs taking in hundreds of millions a year are interested in us. We are on none of the big boy’s lists. Making a success out of 1 million pound signings and less, loanees and some home grown very good SPFL players is not attractive when at least 2 English leagues can buy squad players for millions.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 27TH MAY 2019 3:23 PM
Could it not just simply be, that like me, they knew they had the right Mhan for the job?
HH ????
RODDYBHOY on 27TH MAY 2019 2:54 PM
Yep… totally agree.
An invincible treble
A double treble
A treble treble.
I’ve never known underachieving like that…. ???⚽️?????