Not so long ago, I read a quote from Tony Watt saying that he didn’t want to be remembered as the guy who scored against Barcelona when fans look back on his time at Celtic.
After us being knocked out of another domestic cup competition at the weekend, is Neil Lennon at risk of being remembered as the manager who beat Barcelona and took us into the last 16 ?
I’ve been going to Celtic games for as long as I can remember and outwith Seville, I can’t think of any better an achievement than getting into the last 16 of the Champions League. However, this season for me has been a massive let down.
I’m not one of the fans who think that Celtic have a right to win every match but as and when we do suffer a defeat, the one thing that I expect is for the players to go down with a fight.
I also expect our manager to change things to at least allow us to battle. Against Aberdeen, too many players were off form. Too many passes were not reaching their intended target. That’s ok, that sort of things happens but what is not ok is the fact that not enough of the players seemed to be willing to get the sleeves rolled up and get stuck in.
I think back to when Neil Lennon and Johan Mjallby were playing for us. They’d fight until the death and they’d never stand down against an opponent so why have they not passed that on to our players ?
While watching the game, it wasn’t going our way from early on so why didn’t the coaching team make any major changes? During Gordon Strachan’s time as manager, part of my criticism was that the football wasn’t particularly exciting to watch, this season, it’s felt similar to me.
My question now is what do we have to look forward to a Celtic fan? On Sunday morning, my first thought relating to the football was that Fergus McCann is coming back for the opening day of next season but there’s nothing in between.
This seasons signings haven’t exactly lit the heather on fire. There’s no cup football, there’s no European football to look forward to.
Is all that’s left for the season the thought of playing for a record that not very many people care anything about? I’ve said before that I don’t care about records, I’d much rather see us integrate younger players. That is of course, if we have any left as most seem to be out on loan.
The next thing that I want to comment on is the double standards that we seem to encounter when hearing about how fans are treated. Some Celtic fans have been arrested for signing some songs. I’m not looking to debate whether or not I think these songs should be legal or not.
But I do want to know why our fans are often singled out for when other fans can do what they like.
Aberdeen fans singing songs about Jimmy Saville and how we are in the
wrong country, there was songs about ferry departure times. Did anyone condemn them ? Not from our club.
Our club seem quick enough to slate our own fans but seem to be very quiet when other fans are involved.
I guess on a more cheerful note, there’s another home match next week and the result and performance of that match will be sure to dictate how our mood is but with no competitors in domestic football, I feel that we’re badly missing a chance to move forward with our club.
For the Lenny,must go brigade on here.
Super Joe Ledley, “He is a Celtic man
through and through,and the club means
everything to.him.His mental strength is
incredible.
From day one the manager was just brilliant with me.He’s done a great job at
Celtic.He’s NEVER had a lot of money to
spend.
I have tremendous respect for him and
always will have. ”
Super Joe,I salute you.
I will take my usual place at Celtic Park on
Sunday.My support for Lenny wil be stronger than ever.
Yes,he had made mistakes.But,I see no
greater man,with his passion,who will
ultimately prove his doubters wrong.
Will his critics on here,be at the game on
Sunday ?
GBNL.
I hope your right, and Lenny does prove his doubters wrong. But I think you maybe confusing your support for NL the man with your support for N the football manager. Can you honestly say that if another manager, say Gordon Strachan, was making the same mistakes as NL and getting the same results as NL that you’d give him such unquestioning support?
Strachan was only the third Celtic manager to win 3IAR – though in very different circumstances to how Lennon looks likely to achieve it – and got brickbats for his troubles.
As for managers having a shelf life of 3 years – as WGS himself had said – sorry but I think only a certain type of manager has that 3 year “life”. It is hard to exceed expectations year on year. It’s like a successful sales guy who keeps exceeding targets so the target gets higher and higher, until its unachievable.
Lennon won the title – fine we need to do well in the Champions League. We exceed expectations in the Champions League and get a league & cup double. Right this year we need last 16 Champs League, League and Cups treble to be taking the team forward.
At some point there will be a year where you can”t keep exceeding yourself – that’s the year your character shows… rebuild the team and take it on from there…
Para,
Sorry, it took me so long to reply, the Mrs wanted the house decorated.
I respect your viewpoint, re Lenny.
Yes, his record in domestic cups is poor.
But, his overall record as Celtic manager
is good.
IMO I would be happy winning the league and qualifying for the CL groups
every season.
Judging Neil as manager,he has achieved
the above goals.Cups are less important.
I know, by mistakes, you mean shape of
the team and tactics.
I agree,some selections are questionable.
But, where it matters in Europe,he has
mostly got it right.
The Europa league experience paved
the way for CL success.Neil was lauded
for his tactical nous.
This season the first 3 games inCL group
were good.It was the last 3 games that
were telling.Rather than blame Neil, I
feel Lawwell short-changed by selling our 2 best players.Neil also.wanted a target man,who could have made the
difference ( eg Milan away ) but Lawwell
did not bring one in.
Strachan was a good manager for us,
but remember,he had a 7 pt advantage,
and only had to beat hearts and hibs to
win the league.
But,like MON in his last game, both managed to blow the league.
So, I feel Lenny,is still the man to take us
forward.Tactics ? Strachan is always heard saying, ” Forget tactics,all you need is good players, this game is about
players ”
I concur with that view.The onus is now
on Lawwell to deliver these good players,
as I feel Neil deserves quality additions.
I kinda agree with the general view that a manager has a shelf life of about three years. Of course there are exceptions like Fergie but he had money to spend and (quality) player turnover prevented staleness. Lenny must be getting bored and quite frankly so am I. Looking at the crowds many fans are also getting bored. I think it is time for a change. It is the right thing for NL and Celtic. Personally I would bring in Malky and who would bet against us doing the treble with him in charge. I read NL tried to motivate the team by showing a video of last seasons cup final – he has ran out of (material) inspirational speeches – hence I believe in the three year shelf life. This is by no means an insult to NL as we all have limits to our ability and eventually keep repeating the same experience. We can’t keep finding new tricks. NL will always be a Celtic legend but he should take offer of EPL when it comes along for his sake and Celtic’s.
the real evidence that lenny is done is that aberdeen game. Seriously he had just been abused, spat on and had coins thrown at him by aberdeen fans at hearts, then we play them in the cup? lenny should have told the players how angry he was by what happened and that he would love it if those players of his went out and hammered aberdeen 10-0. the fact the went and got beat so cheaply shows that his players cant think too much of him. if my manager had been through that i would take it as a personal insult to myself and went out there and gave 1000%. lenny the man will always be admired and loved by all celtic men, lenny the manager not so much. i have to disagree about malky replacing him though? malky? seriously? we need a tactician with a record of beating bigger/better teams in europe.
Scott Mckenzie…. I think you are on to something there mate. I agree.
Celtic was started by a Irish Maris Brother and men from Scotland and Ireland for the Catholic poor of Glasgow Please let not for get this ever Hail Hail JMJ
Can, t really add new facts for now ,as fellow wise posters have covered tne failings very well , but I, d like to highlight the money wasted on dross last summer , I, e, = pukki , balde, borregter, molinoyko, biton, etc, has squandered the sopporters season book cash and then some .? Players that no sensible clubs would and didn, t consider good enuff for a decent club .?
Then I, d like to quote , lawell n lenny , s opinons of a january transfer window, s usefullness ? Their word, s have been the same over lenny, s time as mgr “”” we as a club don, t rate the system available as the players up for auction are normally the poorer grade one, s that couldn, t find a decent club in the previous summer sales “”” –lovely quote from the people who said 4 years back they had a cunning plan to elevate our club to the euro elite ??? Yip don, t all laugh at once ! Times up for those who, ve set us back , again , let, s chase the overpaid non triers , and I include lawell in that bracket .. lenny, s no doubt a trier but it, s a bit late to say , sorry , cos the fans deserve more and been short changed big time !!
Gerard,
Totally disagree.
Transfer window this summer will provide
quality.The board know,the fans disenchantment.
Trust in Lenny.