Neil Lennon has explained what was behind his exchange with some fans during today’s defeat from Inverness Caley Thistle.
Despite leading the SPL with a game in hand Celtic season ticket holders have been left frustrated by disappointing home form.
The highs of Champions League victories over Spartak Moscow and Barcelona have come in-between home defeats from Kilmarnock and Inverness Caley Thistle leaving supporter patience thin on the ground
“They are frustrated,” Lennon explained about the exchange with supporters. “I disagreed with them, I didn’t like what they said about the team.
“Look, if they are not happy with what I am doing and they want me to go, I will.
“If the fans make it clear that they are not happy and they want me out then that’s okay, I will do the honourable thing.
“I can’t repeat it (what fans said) because it is public arena but there were a lot of expletives and heavy criticism, which I didn’t think was justified and (there was) a lack of patience with the team as well.
“If there was a lack of application and commitment I would be the first to criticise the team.
“I didn’t see that today but I did see a lack of composure and quality in the final third and that’s what cost us.
“If I think it is justified then I don’t have a problem with it but I don’t think it was justified today but they pay their money, they are allowed to say what they like. I’ve got my opinions on it and sometimes I give them as well.
“I am not happy with the league form, it is my team at the end of the day so I take the responsibility for it. It’s not for the lack of trying to find the answers.”
CLICK HERE for Murray hits out at BBC
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Time the fans forgot about barca it was a great win and a great night but we can’t play like that every week were going through a bad spl spell just like we do every year al put money on it the guys calling for lennys head are the same guys who wanted him out last year and booed him as a player. The time to get behind the team and lenny is times like this not when were beating barcalona HH
Sorry Helsingborg I don’t agree about the improvements. We were totally outplayed by a very good Athletico Madrid side who didn’t get out of 2nd gear last year and again by Benfica this year.
Our domestic performances have been way below acceptable far too often. If you accept less, then you will always get less. Players are clearly not pulling their weight, knowing they are automatic picks for the bigger games. Time the axe was wielded and others given a chance.
Lennon is just like any other manager, he should be getting maximum from his resources, we are clearly under-performing where it matters most – our bread & butter in the SPL. Last year we were 0-3 down to Kilmarnock, fully expected a super charged 2nd half…yet we continued on in the same vein until Stokes pulled the game out of the fire…although we nearly blew it at the end with Killie missing a sitter. I’m not blinded by pulling back a 15 pt deficit, I am annoyed that we were 15 behind in the first place. Now we should be blooding young players, trying new ideas instead we are toiling towards the title.
If not for Park finding some gems where we would we be…more Daryl Murhpy’s !
Lennon and quite a few of the players better get themselves sorted pronto as the odd European result will not be enough. If they need extra motivation than playing in front of 40-50,000 and getting handsomely paid…then move on and let someone else enjoy the hardships.
We have had 2 great results this season: Spartak and Barca.
Outwith those we have been for the most part a poor team.
Just does not seem to be any fight or passion about them.
Step it up bhoys
Justshatered:
Couldn’t have put it any better..
Absolutely spot on…what I’ve been saying for a long time…
Fancy startin’ up a fitba’ team…:0)….?
I for one am 100% behind Neil Lennon. He’s our manager and he deserves support from the fans. While I agree our domestic results should be better, the club is turning heads in Europe and the ‘thunder’ is back at Paradise. We are still top of the table and I’d bet it all we’ll be top of the table at the end of the season. We still have it all to play for, we are still in every competition we were at the start of the season. So as far as I see it there is no need to point fingers and panic just yet. Keep the faith. I really believe the position of Celtic manager is one of the most difficult on all of football, one week we are the giant, next week we are the minnow,you’ve got to keep players motivated, we have a bare bones budget, huge expectations and pressure from our own support, pressure from the board, pressure from the bigots and their disgusting hate tactics, idiots attacking him on the pitch, on the motorway, at his home… it never ends for the manager of Celtic, particulary for this one. I’m proud to be a celtic supporter, proud to have Neil Lennon as our manager. He’s a legend in the making, in my eyes. I hope the fans at least wait until the end of the season to throw stones, nothing good will come from it anyways. HAIL HAIL!!!
It was a pathetic result and yet with the very poor home performances one point out of nine Celtic are still top so not really mega damaging. Only worrying thing is that the manager does not seem to learn anything from his own decisions. Playing Hooper, Brown, and hinting in the pre-interview before the Benfica game he would have played Forrest is quite scarey. Three players who had rarely kicked a ball in weeks (you could include Sammy in that too) in a vital game. The Martin O’Neill approach that players are Gods and can never be critisied is the opposite of good management.
Brown I have a lot of time for he really tries to make an impact just his injury/fittness let him down. Hooper on the other hand no suprise he was fit till the end of the match as he rarely puts any shift in even when fit.
The losses are acceptable if the players and management learn from them sadly I dont see this. We dont have a great pull of players our pathetic league revenue will never allow us to be strong in every arena. This does not excuse not changing things that are at best poor decisions. Arguing with the fans is something hopefully our manager regrets not because he has no right to just that it gives the media a chance to mis-represent him at every opportunity. Having patience with the team was called for I disagree playing like you are earning your wage would be more apt.
IMO the loss against ICT is no big deal the loss against Benfica was avoidable although the fact we thought we should have won/drew with Benfica is a step forward. The manager should seek more honest advice from his management team about team performance and support his players only when they are offering their all (some do some dont).
Neil Lennon is a great manager in the making and the best we could have but he needs to be more selfish. Players are not automatic picks, very few in our team are. Picking the best team not favourite players is always the best way to go. Jock always did the Lions always say you were one game away from being dropped.