Neil Lennon´s art in team building

In the modern era of football any manager is judged on his potential to sign players. Gone is the time of bringing through quality youngsters and those “Celtic minded” players who have faithfully been with the club since their 14th birthday.

On his arrival at paradise the signing of Neil Lennon, a linch-pin in his success a Leicester City, must have been on the mind of O’Neill. However, after inheriting a team including Paul Lambert, O’Neill was patient in bringing his fellow Northern Irishman to Paradise.

Instead of making Lennon his first signing at the club O’Neill patiently filled voids in the starting eleven. Chris Sutton and Joos Valgaeren forged a ridged spine to the team and provided a structure that would allow O’Neill to get this most from his side. Lennon was then brought to the side to provide additional strength in midfield after other needs were satisfied.

Mowbray however, was the flip side of the coin. Inheriting a team with gaping holes, Mowbray decided to spend 3.5 Million on bringing Fortune to Celtic. Marco Fortune was billed as a forward who “sets them up, but doesn’t score many”. A bemused Celtic support pointed to Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras as two players already in this mould.

Mowbray failed to fill voids in the centre of midfield and the heart of the defence. Loan players did little to provide much to the faltering side that provided what at times looked like schoolboy performances. The rest is history and in came Lennon.

The current Celtic boss began one of the most vital rebuilds in our history this time last year. Thankfully he learned a lesson from his former mentor and bought players Celtic needed rather than those he personally wanted. Lennon had the insight to understand the real needs of his side, the first and foremost being the centre of the park.

As a former midfield general, Lennon understood that the central midfield is the engine of any team. Biram Kayal, Joe Ledley and Efrain Juarez were brought in to aid the captain Scott Brown. Immediately Brown’s performances improved dramatically.

No longer carrying the dead weight of his previous midfield partners, Brown was able to flourish with the quality of Kayal and Ledley beside him. A renewed energy saw the captain play with the tenacity and energy previously only seen momentarily. Previously maligned, Brown began to win back the Celtic support. A slow process which was finally rubberstamped with his goal celebration at Ibrox and 55,000 supporters “doing the broony” in appreciation in the return tie.

Emilio Izaguirre, Gary Hooper, Anthony Stokes and Daniel Majstorovic filled other glaringly obvious holes in the Celtic line-up. Lennon patiently waited until the Christmas window to bring long time target Kris Commons to the club. A move that has thus far can only be seen as a real steal.

Out of all Lennon’s signings, Juarez is the only player that could be considered a bust. For such an overhaul this is impressive if not a miracle. Lennon should be commended for his ability to judge potential and bringing players in when the timing is right. Another thing that should be duly noted is his ability to spot a bargain and use the Bosman system to his advantage.

Even the most sceptical of Celtic fans would be hard pressed to label Ledley’s move to Celtic as anything other than a success. While Welsh international caps are little evidence of quality in any player, Ledley has turned in numerous performances that would see him regarded as Premiership quality.

But here’s the take home point: Lennon landed a quality midfield player in his prime free of a transfer fee. Not only has Ledley provided the solid strength needed in midfield, from a business perspective Celtic surely have a sell on investment.

With the addition of Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews to add to Majstoravic and Commons, Lennon looks to have provided his squad with four first team options for under 300,000 pounds.

Although failing to win the title, Lennon has completed the first phase of the Celtic rebuild. But where does he go from here?

The thinking in most Celtic circles is that the most pressing needs for the current squad are located at Goalkeeper, Centre-half and Centre-Forward.

The signing of Wilson may help improve the performance of the inconsistent Majstorovic. Playing alongside, what we hope to be, a higher quality of player should bring out improved performances. Ledley did it for Brown, Rieper did it for Stubbs. But will Wilson be the answer to our centre-half problems? Who knows?

But with the much criticised Loovens, linked heavily with a move back to Cardiff, and Rogne serving as backups, surely Lennon must sign another quality centre-half. Regardless of any improvement, the 33-year-old Majstorovic can’t be seen as a long term option.

To build a settled partnership for the future Lennon must delve into the transfer market and find a solid partner for the young Kelvin Wilson. Khalid Boulahrouz of Vfb Stuttgart has been mentioned as a player of whom Celtic are interested in. At 29-years-old, Boulahrouz would provide the perfect balance of experience, leadership and strength while still being in his prime.

Such credentials will however suggest a costly transfer fee. With providing our defence with an experienced quality centre half such a glaringly obvious need, hopefully the board will provide Lennon the funds to bring in the right man for the job. In return hopefully Lennon will once again be able to judge real quality.

Celtic hasn’t had a physical presence in the opposing penalty box since the days of Sutton and John Hartson. While Murphy has provided us with a slight aerial threat when called upon, his goal scoring record and performances make it hard to consider Murphy anything more than a fringe player.

Lennon has been linked with prising 6ft 3 Jay Bothroyd away from Cardiff in what could be another Bosman deal. Time will tell if Bothroyd will choose Celtic or the Premiership. If signed the England cap could prove to be another piece of Lennon’s puzzle while remaining another bosman bargin.

The biggest buzz in the rumour mill this summer has been linking Shay Given in a return move to Celtic. Given can only be described as one of the very best goalkeepers in the Premiership. It can be argued however that the price we will need to pay in wages and fee will be too costly.

Last summer Celtic offloaded the Holy Goalie as his price tag and wages could be spent better elsewhere in the side. Are we now at a stage we can invest the same money, probably more, in a goalkeeper? Regardless of Manchester City paying a percentage of his wage, it could be suggested that Celtic can’t afford, or more likely will refuse to pay, for more than one high profile player from the Premiership.

It could also be argued that this is an effective business plan. Realistically Celtic should purchase ONE high profile “franchise player” in a similar fashion to the American sporting teams. Such a player would be paid above the normal wage structure of the club. As the face of the club this one poster boy would be responsible for providing performances to get fans in seats and to sell replica shirts. Henrik Larsson filled this role for years.

Since then we haven’t had such a player. Now that Lennon has filled more pressing matters in his team he should be looking to make this sort of signing. Given is doubtless a world class keeper and yes we need a quality keeper. But if we are to break the wage structure for one player surely it should be an outfield attacking player?

Robbie Keane and Craig Bellamy would definitely fit the role. If buying Given were to prevent us from making such a signing then we should look elsewhere for a keeper.

In an ideal world the Celtic board will look at the once full Celtic park and realise that investment in the first team is truly what will “bring the thunder back” to Parkhead. They would realise that Lennon doesn’t need Given OR Keane OR Boulahrouz, but all three. The board would realise that Lennon’s previous bargain signings have put us in a position to spend the money without risk and that Celtic are the size of club to demand such quality.

The realist in me thinks that the board will once again fail to realise this in time. If so Lennon should look to invest his “star player fund” on an outfield player and look to loan a quality keeper from the Premiership. Ironically this loan could still be a move for Given.

The main priority for Lennon must not be who is coming in, but who is going out. Getting rid of deadwood would obviously help provide transfer funds but keeping our midfield and Izaguirre should be the priority.

Signing wise Lennon should look to provide our defence with an experienced quality centre half, sign a strong physical box striker and obviously provide a reliable goalkeeper.

Hopefully the board will see the error of their previous ways and allow Lennon to add strength and quality to the squad in our three areas of need. Last season saw Celtic rebuild the majority of the squad and reconnect with the fans under Lennon. Surely Lennon should be repaid for this?

Surely the board should realise that Rangers winning 4 in-a-row is not an option and that bringing in high profile quality players like Keane and Given would bring the fans back to Celtic Park.

It’s make or break for the board. Buying one star player would be a good business move…. Buying more than one would prove we’re more than a business. The decision is in their hands.

Hopefully the ambition of our manager and our supporters will be matched by the men in suits. Hopefully we can bring in quality that will see success on the field and continue the progress of bringing the supporters and good times back to Paradise.