The spin campaign to ban Neil Lennon has gone into overdrive.
What exactly was said between the Celtic boss and Calum Murray at Ibrox on Sunday is only known to a handful of people.
When the Celtic boss stated that he had witnesses to what was said it kicked off a whole new ball game that could have far reaching consequences.
The potential for a Dougie McDonald style fall-out is there but the identity of a Steven Craven figure to expose the role of the officials remains unclear.
Overnight the relationship of Lennon and fourth official Iain Brines during the first half has been highlighted.
Apparently the Celtic boss was highly critical of the fourth official, so much so that he was unable to concentrate fully on his job due to Lennon’s comments.
If that was the case then surely Brines would have brought this to the attention of Murray during the match. He didn’t.
Every manager and his assistants works on the fourth official during matches, hoping to influence them or at least make them wary of any decision that doesn’t go their way.
Despite headlines of fuming/snarling/outraged Lennon confronting Murray in the tunnel evidence of this is virtually non-existent.
Sky Sports are usually on the ball for these sort of incidents but it was ten minutes into the second half before they had noticed Lennon’s absence from the Celtic dug out.
With Lennon stating that he spoke to Murray in front of witnesses it now appears that this exchange was also in the presence of various Rangers employees- highly unlikely.
One source of agreement seems to be that Lennon wasn’t informed of his touchline ban until he left the dressing room for the start of the second half.
According to one report this was to ensure that his half-time team talk wasn’t disrupted!
It goes without saying that the team-talk would have been very different if Lennon had known that he wouldn’t be on the touchline for the second half.
What were the Celtic players thinking when they looked over to the dug out once the second half had kicked off and noticed that their manager wasn’t there?
It looks impossible to extract the truth from the whole situation without any casualties, someone’s story isn’t adding up.
The SFA have never been known for decisive action or leadership. Now would be the perfect time to start with all the cards placed on the table.
CLICK HEREÂ for referee Conroy finally admits to Lafferty mistake
CLICK HEREÂ for Lennon: Referee deprived me of doing my job
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once again, let us take them on and expose them for the liars that they are .Plea to the celtic board.Get us out of here.
Totally agree . Get us out of this horrible , bigoted , anti-catholic country .
This would have been perfect for Paul McBride to rip them to shreds. Rest in peace Paul.
Lenny’s behaviour leads us to this time and again. Nobody is above the law but he seems to think he is; some people seem to think he should be allowed to behave as he pleases and if you don’t back him your either a bigot or not a true Celtic fan.
I’ve never ever seen a game of football where I’ve agreed with every decision, but in the main the high percentage are correct. And Sundays big decisions were all correct. 3 sendings-off warranted, Rangers second WAS onside. We lost because we weren’t good enough on the day. THE END!!!
And for our manager to behave like a petulant child used to getting it all his own way… fuckin hell. When we need you, you’d lost control, then when we need you, you were locked in a hole away from the game. It was YOUR behaviour that led you there Neil. Nobody elses, YOURS. You didn’t get to do your job properly because YOU fucked up.
There’s a growing number of us getting sick of this behaviour, and had it not been his history as a player and the shocking events of last year, I don’t think he’d be tolerated any more. Sunday was a day for cold calculation, not for running off at the mouth and leaving us rudderless. Nobody to blame but himself.
I’m raging because I saw ghosts of 1999 being slayed, instead I got a poorly prepared/motivated team (the managers job), the wrong selection (the managers job) and the Technical Area more concerned about the officials than what our players were doing (the managers job).
Grow up Neil, eh? Or pass th baton to a man who can take us forward.
Wonder what Henke is up too……?
we have a winner in april already for most idiotic post of the year…well done son you deserve it!!!
not even gona bother ripping your post to shreds you clearly are not worth it!!!
I don’t think you’re not a true Celtic fan or a bigot for your post, I just think you’re an idiot.
I would have to say, Lenny DID get the selection wrong, (like Inverness) only when Commons came on and ran at them did we start to put their defence under pressure.
At a time when we needed leadership, Lenny fell into the trap, he allowed the occasion to get to him.
We lost the game, we move on.
and I am a true supporter, sometimes we have to allowed to express our opinion.
Another anti lennon post by another banger. lenny sticks up for the team always and we should stick by him always. So leftpeg if you don’t like him DON’T COME FUCKIN BACK till he’s away there’s enough anti LENNON from outside the club without you starting it from inside.
we as celtic supporters come from all walks of life and will never all think the same.
the great thing about these blogs are that u can express your opinion and then read other peoples ones too but what must not happen is for us to start attacking each other because we disagree.
i would only say this, its celtic we love and support and everything else is open for your own opinion, be it players,managers,the board,refs etc so please lets act like true celtic fans and not animals(that other lot).
HH
you are reading too many rags,so if you dont like nl,get tae f**k.
to funny…I believe wee have a blue nose in our midst..wooden spoon anyone??
where did u dream up this piece of hullabaloo?
is your name charlie nicholas by any chance?
no plastic brits allowed1
1: Put yourself in the ref’s position. Why should he allow himself to be held accountable – by anyone – in the tunnel at halftime in any game? There is a time and a place and it is not during the course of the game.
2: The Cha sending off was extremely soft and having closely studied the replays of it, there were 3 Celtic players and Aluko in the ref’s line of vision as he was running to catch up – he was 20 yards behind play. Linesman on far side was up with play but did not flag for any offence.
3: Their 2nd goal WAS offside. Whittaker crosses ball into the area – nobody offside – Rogne is beaten to it by Lafferty who gets a slight glance on it with his head, at which point Wallace has strayed 2 yards offside as the ball then lands at his feet on the 6 yard line. Linesman was perfectly positioned but did not flag.
4: At least half of the 4 added on minutes was time wasted, in particular by McGregor, plus none was added on for the Hooper sub(meant to be 30 secs). It’s the only period of play where we were on top and may just have snatched a last gasp equaliser, but the ref actually not only failed to add any more on – AS HE SHOULD – but he blew up several seconds early.
So the ref doesn’t mind getting man handled by half a team last year but Lennon having a word with him is a step to far. Every manager is entitled to ask why a decision is given against his team, apart from Lennon your words not mine.
@dansleftpeg. Wow. How many years have you had on this earth? and yet you either can’t or refuse to think for yourself! You stem from the premise of MSM spin that Neil has actually done something wrong, where is your proof? Simply moronic, in the true sense of the word, the thinking you display is immature ans unevolved.
My problem with people like you Wolfe Tone (name says it all), is that I do think independently and I won’t have my opinion blinkered by groupthink.
If you think Neil’s behaviour is acceptable for a Celtic Manager, or his team selection was right, or the team was motivated correctly, or he was there when we needed him on Saturday, then you’re not seeing exactly what was required for us to go there and win on Saturday.
Neil lets things get to him and it detracts him “from doing his job properly”.
His job is done, he’s galvanised the support. Time to move onto the next level, and that can’t be achieved with him there.
actually for Saturday, read Sunday! Old habits die hard!
Firstly, we didnt really get out of the blocks and rangers went in front after 11 minutes of dominating. OK, this isnt the first time we go there and have to endure them having a spell on top early on.
So we play on and hope to grow into the game.
Then comes the sending off. Its not a stonewall red yet the ref is quick to decide it is. That is frustrating for a manager. Our manager has endured poor decisions against his team since the goal and now has to swallow this.
Do you think Wenger of Ferguson would be taking this on the chin? Would they F@@@! They would be berating the 4th official.
So poor old brines cant take it anymore. Poor wee lamb. Grow a pair Brines or get out of the game.
There are mitigating circumstances why Neil was sent off. As a Celtic fan I dont like to see our manager lose control. However can anyone here say for certain that he lost control?
I didnt see any evidence of it. As Joe says why wasnt the ref informed during the match. The whole thing stinks if you ask me.
I think any reasonable Celtic fan would give our manager the benefit of the doubt here and back him until you (yes you Dansleftpeg and your ‘us’ collective) have evidence to suggest otherwise.
I’d find it difficult to criticise team selection. Lenny has always played 4-5-1 at Ibrox and it has usually paid dividends.
My only slight quibble with the line up was that I expected Matthews to start at right back, and Izaguirre, who was obviously fit, should have been on from the start. Hindsight’s a great thing, for how many of us would have been certain that Kris Commons, after a very indifferent season, would have played as well when he came on as sub?
In the picture showing Brines talking to Lennon as Lennon sits on the bench, Brother Brines is poking his finger into Lennon’s chest. Why is he allowed to do that? If Lennon did that to Brines he would be given a 30 match touchline ban and labelled a vicious, out of control yob.
Good observation. The body language counts for a huge part of our communication. Brines leans over Neil who is sitting with a relaxed posture, Brines leans his head in over and above Neil while pointing his fingers at chest and neck level. He shows Neil absolutely no respect, its a parent/child scenario. He is SPEAKING AT Neil in what is a domineering and aggressive manner, not with him, it’s not conversation or debate, its a lecture. A classic case of putting uppity Timmy in his place!!!
The fact Brines has poked Lennon in the chest should be the story here. If Lennon or any coaching staff or player (except Rangers players because they only manhandle referees with dignity) did that to an official they would be in in big trouble. Lennon should be making an issue of this at his hearing.
Nobody knows what was said in the tunnel but I would believe Neil Lennon before anyone associated with the SFA.
Celtic deserved to lose on Sunday. The inclusion of Cha, for me, was a mistake. However, Neil Lennon was never going to be allowed to finish the game on the touchline. I think Corrib above commented on Ferguson and Wenger and this is spot on. It is also true of countless other managers across the country every week. They approach the ref and want to know why things were given/not given. Seldom are they sent to the stand, sometimes they are, but not usually. However, I have been watching football for 40 years and I can’t recall a manager being forced to watch the game on the telly under the stand. Therefore Lennon is right he was prevented from doing his job.
Cha did not deserve to be sent off. The rules of the game say a ‘clear goal-scoring opportunity has to have been denied’. No one in the ground could have said this was ‘clear’. Forster was on his way out of the goal, the ball seemed to be very far in front of Wallace and moving away from goal, and Celtic had defenders moving across. Nothing clear therefore the ref should not have had his card out of his pocket in two seconds flat. It took him a lot longer to send off Bocanegra for the penalty.
I am delighted that Lennon, and hopefully everyone at Celtic seems to be fighting back. For far too long nothing wwas said. We had the ‘immigrant mentality’. You say nothing, accept it and try twice as hard to overcome the obstacles in front of you. But it is the beginning of the 21st century not the start of the 20th. Our rivals have been caught cheating and defrauding the whole of Scottish football for years, possibly decades. Complicit in this are the liars, cheats and thieves at the SFA, who are actually exactly the same people.
They have brought the game into disrepute not us. It is Ogilvie, Whyte, Murray, P.Murray, and if you think the Walter Dignity and the fat no mark that is McCoist knew nothing of their crimes, then you are seriously deluded.
Celtic should contest every single poor decision, get them to explain everything. Accept nothing from them but the truth. For any Celtic supporter not to believe this is a shock to me. If Celtic do not continue the fight that was begun last year it will ensure that our great-grandchildren are still wondering why so many bad decisions are still given against Celtic.
Keep on keepin’on Neil. Most of ‘us’ are right behnd you.
Why are people getting upset at the photo of Brines leaning over Lenny? How do any of you know what preceded that? Or why he felt the need to do it? Is it just not possible that Lenny may already have given Brines a severe ear bashing?
Besides, it wasn’t a Sunday afternoon tea party where either could stand there having a pleasant chat, was it? It was in the middle of an intense Old Firm game with over 50,000 screaming abuse at each other, and with, sadly, our manager letting himself, the club, and us fans down – again?
The manager never let me down so speak for yourself
neil lennon is a young manager who has endured more abuse , death threats , and assaults than any other manager , ever. Our manager is a roman catholic from lurgan , in the occupied counties , and NEVER will he get fair treatment here in scotland .Thank God we now have a manager who is not scared to stand up to those cheating rats .
No wonder we get labelled as moaners with those who think it’s okay to fly in the face of any rules and regulations.
Are those of you who think like that too thick to realise that that’s exactly what the authorities want the likes of Lenny to do? i.e. break the rules by confronting the referee in the tunnel at halftime?
You can bet your boots that they’ll ban him for sure after that, simply because he broke their little rules. We might not like their little rules, but they’re there, so why make things easy for them by breaching them? I do not see the logic.
It’s okay for anyone on here to think Lenny was right by doing that – he wasn’t – and the reason he has let us all down is because the inevitable ban he’ll get will prevent him from being where he would have been had he not broken their daft rules – on the touchline.
In fact, who’s to say that with the charges mounting up against him, he may also be banned for the Cup Final – IF we don’t underperform against the Jam Tarts?
My issue with Murray was that he seemed to apply the rules more harshly to one team than another. There was contact but Cha, sure, but it was outside the box and he wasn’t the last man. There was more contact when Ledley (I think) was wrestled to the ground inside the box – no foul.
Murray was the ref at the “shame game” – he was shouted at and manhandled by Rangers players but declined to offer so much as a yellow card, yet Lennon is sent off for questioning his first half performance? Even if Lennon raised his voice it doesn’t seem a banishing offence.
Establishment FC 3-0, 2 man advantage, with 3 minutes to play? Give they tims a pen AND send one of the peepel off – hah, that’ll stop them saying I favoured a side! Murray must have keeched himself when rogne scored!
Final point – how do we think the huns and the press would have reacted if Lennon stood in the tunnel and tried to shake Lafferty or McCulloch’s hand as they walked off having just been defeated?
dont care who you are,you aint no celtic supporter ya tube.
you miss the point of it all by a long shot.
as a football manager, neil lennon is entitled to answers for the decisions tht referees make during games in which he is managing his team, just like any other manager.
also, u call us all complainants, yet u come to complain about our complaints. are u for real?
are we all paranoid, or are u afraid to stand up for your rights?
you have to wonder if some of these posters are huns trying to wind us up or just morons with a computer
Well, having followed Celtic since gentleman Jimmy McGrory was our manager, it certainly ain’t me who’s a “hun”.
Yet another example, though, of our reputation of being “paranoid”? The slightest bit of criticism and our thin skinned “fans” are accusing others of being “huns”. Dearie me.
I knew exactly how that game was going to go a week before it happened! Nothing surprised me! Celtic were NOT going to be allowed to win that title at Ibrox! The problem, is not with Lennon, it’s with Scotland!!!
lol…suppose that answers the above question?!
Totally agree gerry huns or morons there’s no difference can’t see good Celtic men slating a manager who lives and breaths the club SHAME ON YOU
“a manager who lives and breaths(sic!) the club” does not deprive his team of his services from the touchline by allowing his emotions to get the better of him – does he???
Because by doing so he just leaves himself wide open to the SFA “morons” to hammer him – yes??? Of course, “yes”. And hammer him they will, make no mistake. Is that what any of us wants? No, but it is what’s going to happen.
I can hardly think of another in the long line of Celtic managers I’ve known who has such a talent for breaking the rules. Lenny’s certainly passionate, but if he can’t control his behaviour, what use will he be in the stands?
So, instead of just replying with juvenilistic insults, which any of us could do but which achieves nothing, try telling me why I’m wrong in my observations?
your right green forever,we should just accept what ever is thrown at us in games against the huns and the rest and say nothing and be good bhoys just like the SFA want us to be. Sack lennon he’s well out of order how dare he stand up for his players when it’s clear as day the ref was having a great game. your right mate sorry for saying different it’s all clear now.forgive me hail hail buddy enjoy the rest of your day.
Interesting posts from green / forever…
The referee was abismal … full stop…
Another poster mentions Sky who are very good at pinning the camera in position to destroy anyone … Not just Football.. Nothing was known about the terrible upheavel neil caused… Why bcause it never happened. If it had the decision to send Neil packing would have been taken at the time of his runin with Brines not at halftime… That fact gives an interesting insight to what went on in the officials room… Phychology is simple … Made up by the unscrupulous 4.
Now G/F I have on occasion argued against the mass (Celtic Supporters) .. Not on this occasion young man. The shocking decisions throughout this game by this ref was their to see worldwide..
If you wish to do a tour it is very much noticable that you have jumped in head first with a guilty verdict on our manager.. World press differ…
The truth will out hopefully just like the Dundee U. episode..
Lets for a minute head back to last season when McCoist well outside his area indeed 1 yard from the celtic dugout was a disgrace to Rangers Football club.. Being held back by a good number of his own officials lambasting Neil whilst he sat in the dugout with his arms folded…Fact.. Indeed Sky actually had the lot on camera. Fact the other black person (I don’t call him a football player, Him who spat on a fan and was found guilty as charged in court..Guilty as sin as seen on live television Christ he ran more than halfway across the pitch.. To confront Neil who was within his technical area minded his own business THE TEAM CELTIC.
McCoist had much to answer don’t you agree.
Another poster mentions in detail the second Rangers goal … Factually correct it was offside due to the knockon from Lafferty.. Fact.
Let me mention another who as far as I’m aware escaped any punishment from this decrepit referee.
Whittaker… How on earth he wasn’r red carded or at least book after pulling the jersey from Izzies back I shall never know. Infact not one pull but 3 as on each occassion Izzie attempted to regain his balance with his back to Whittaker he was again fouled. Punishment as shown live was a wee smile from the amatuer referee on show. A foulf given for intentional fowling and from the freekick low and behold Whittaker again pulls I think Ledley back from the cross. Fact.. Penalty and red card or at the least his second within 30 seconds. No chance G / W.
Look I have been controvercial in the past… The new criminal legislation for example .I agree maybe due to the fact my behaviour is never a problem to anyone. Behave as we mostly do and it will effect other clubs like them more than any other.
It is shocking that someone who is supposedly one of us has condemded our manager. I will say this though Neils comment regards Scotland my country was/is out of order.. Scotland, change to Ibrox, Tynecastle, SFA, SPL yes.. That would be 100% correct…
Neil Lennon is our manager of our football club and untill proven guilty of any major crime he will always have my backing. 4 officials dress in ref tunic I have no confidance with regards truth… Likewise the Tories and the Labour Party MPS ..
Why did Neil forske the directors box.. Easy cast your minds back to the game when the best fans in the world were banned.
I shall not mention names. Celtic had a few supporters their sitting in the directors box at Ibrox. Oh’ yes they did..No names mentioned although at least one for a short while I became friendly.. They left before game ended covered in spittle.. and abuse without any Ibrox security attepting to protect..
Imaging Neil up their EH!
Lennon will I think have a very difficult time trying to find witnesses who can be accepted as impartial. Unfortunately the SFA treatment of the last Assistant to eventually tell the truth will ensure that no-one else EVER breaks ranks and comes out against the referee.
While it is all very well, saying Justice must not only be done, it should be SEEN to be done….this is clearly not the mantra of the Referee’s association. They will NOT accept anyone undermining their officials in a case of word of mouth disputes.
Whoever decided that the Assistant whistleblower should be barred from officiating at ANY level of the game has done football a massive dis-service.
Neil Lennon has not let me down.
So, by: 1:Getting too het up with the 4th official.
2:By confronting the ref in the tunnel at halftime in contravention to SFA rules.
3:By getting himself sent to the stand in the second half with the team a man, and a goal down.
Lenny did not let the fans down???
Well, yes, perhaps there are some “huns” on here after all. I mean, who else on Sunday could have benefitted by Lenny not being allowed back on the touchline in our hour of need???
Honestly, if some of you lot saying “Lenny didn’t let me down” had a brain, you’d be very dangerous!
Think you’ve got some sand in your fanny blue forever, every manager is allowed to ask why a decision has gone against his team. So why is it wrong if Lennon does it ? Look at last season when fat Sally started a touch line brawl and the only one that got a ban was Lennon, riddle me that batman !!!
Confronting the referee? “Confronting” gives the impression there was a confrontation instigated by Lennon, Lennon says he SPOKE to the referee. There’s a difference. I know who I will trust to tell the truth of what happened.
Lennon didn’t let me down either. The referee, the linesman and the 4th official let me down. I wanted to see a fair, passionate, game of football. I was let down big time.
you have a mouth the size of portsmouth ,greenforever,so less of if you had a brain you lot would be dangerous.ok.
dont u just go n support a team which u do not hold in contempt…u need ur head checked!
Several decisions on Sunday were at best “contentious” – Any manager worthy of the job would show concern and seek a word the with official. Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho et al are not slow to let the referee know of any displeasure.
I’d certainly not say Lennon alone is not allowed to seek answers to what he see’s as mixed application of the rules. I’m sure the referee himself could have handled the matter better, a clear explanation at half time would have resolved matters….alas it seems this was not forthcoming.
A poster on KDS summed it up for me, she/he said that with Celtic, rules are enforced. When it is Rangers, rules are interpreted.
HH
I agree completely with david hay,who was my idol in the stein of murdoch, auld ,johnstone macneil. the players are in this instance to blame for sunday ,and one point that I must ask of neil.please tell the players to shut it in the days before games,asi see that idiot ledley at it already in the press saying what we are gonny do and what not.honestly,we are pissed off with it and let us see you do it on the pitch.