GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Neil Lennon (L) and Stiliyan Petrov after a UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Leg match between Celtic and VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park, on February 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Neil Lennon was in no doubt over who was to blame for Celtic’s defeat against Ferencvaros.
It can all be piled entirely onto the players.
Lennon was on co-commentary duty last night as Ferencvaros cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win in the Europa League.
A generation ago Celtic Park was a genuine fortress under Martin O’Neill and Lennon.
One season Rosenborg, Porto and Juventus all lost in the Champions League.
Two seasons later Lyon and Anderlecht fell before Bayern Munich celebrated a 0-0 draw.
Times change. Last season Braga, Stuttgart and Roma all won at Celtic Park after Kairat Almaty took a 0-0 draw in the Champions League Play Off.
Times change. Celtic in 2026 aren’t a patch on the side that O’Neill managed first time around.
With about £80m sitting in the bank after another financially profitable transfer window fans anger is pointed at the boardroom.
LENNON ONLY FINDS BLAME ON THE PITCH
Lennon was twice appointed manager after initially being caretaker.
On duty for TNT Sport he was very clear over where the blame lay for last night’s 3-1 defeat.
The Daily Record reported Lennon saying:
It’s the players. There’s loads of experience out there.
I think the game management of this team has to be called into question, whether it be LASK away or Rangers away and even tonight at times.
Whether it be decision making, not taking enough responsibility on and off the ball.
Of course the manager always gets questions asked but he made four changes tonight to freshen it up and its still the same response.
What should Celtic Fans Collective do with Not Another Penny?
CONTINUE- This is the main way to protest
SUSPEND- Let us see what Celtic Connect produces
ABANDON- No longer required or useful
Lennon is as entitled to his view as anyone. He watched Celtic crumble. Within five playing minutes of equalising they were 3-1 down and looked a beaten team.
Ultimately the buck stops at the very top.
The CEO appoints the manager who prepares and selects the players.
Two years ago Celtic opened their Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratilslava.
Last night’s team was barely recognisable.
There are seven more tough Europa challenges ahead with the next one at Benfica on October 15. After that Celta Vigo are in Glasgow. Two teams that most fans would rate well ahead of Ferencvaros.
O’Neill has an opportunity on Sunday to halt the flow of bad results and criticism.
Issues at Celtic will remain regardless of Sunday’s result in the Glasgow Derby.
However a win stalls the build up of pressure. A defeat would kick off 20 days of chaos before facing Motherwell at Fir Park on October 11.
Lennon hasn’t got the balls to call out Desmond and Co.Sure the players are to blame so is the Coaching staff.they see it every day ,The Rot is systemic.all the way from the Top.O’Neil now knows he is a mug.and has been used.
100% correct. He’s a board happy-clapper. Changed times indeed when JMcH is siding with him.
Lack of physique in midfield clear since start of season. They have quality players but not a team
Everyone knew last season we need more physical midfield players ,yet we bought only attack minded players. The players we signed at the last minute will not be good enough for first team. The holding midfielders we really need we did not get. The board dallying with other clubs has cost us again. This has to change now while the players we have should show more fight and spirit
Good attacking players, but no real service to them. Still no ball winner in midfield and no depth or “pressure to play well” in defence. Goalkeepers – one young and learning fast and the other, although experienced is very nervy. Last minute signings out of panic to get players in. I would like to see MON move upstairs a head of football/recruitment and Kjetil Knutsen brought in as team manager. Please do not allow Sean Maloney to become our manager – his tactics would put us all to sleep.
There is something wrong, and, to me it was from the moment the teams came out to warm up. Looking at Ferencvaros, there were two groups warming up. The difference was one group had shorts on, therefore the starting ten. Both were following an intense warm up led by a coach. They then stopped and went into a passing drill etc etc. for the time they were out they never stopped moving, every one of them. Contrast this with Celtic. Starting 10 working with coach on mainly static stretches , then some running with dynamic stretches. Then it seemed to be do your own thing with some passing. What were the subs doing? Standing in a small circle passing, keepie upper, basically nothing. The scene I had was one team where everyone was constantly moving and the other was static. Celtic might have started on the front foot but their opponents were quick to respond as they were ready.
I wasn’t able to vote in your poll regarding the Celtic Collective, no matter as my choice wasn’t included anyway.
I want to see an escalation of sanctions imposed on these leeches we are all sick to the back teeth with.
As for that cunt Lennon, I haven’t forgiven him for blaming the fans for us not winning the covid league although we didn’t set a foot in Celtic Park all season, go figure.
He’s a yes man,as is Petrov,who is a pain in the hole to listen to into the bargain.
If we had spent some of the cash we have sitting, rotting in some bank vault instead of sticking another £15m made in player trading in along with it.
We are stuck with a team of chicken hearts and this season is hoing down tge shitter rapidly.
The Celtic Collective should have been all over this developing shitshow and called a boycott of Sunday’s game against the huns but we all know that we as a fanbase are very selective in how much we wanna protest.
Absolutely scunnered that we would rather pay HMRC the cost of a decent holding midfielder instead of millions in corporation tax.
Lennon is a snivelling wee c**t. Probably fancies himself to get the job after O’Neill gets sacked or walks.
Playing as we are we wouldn’t beat Spartans let alone Rangers. Too slow, too many back passes and Pussey footing at the back. No midfield whatsoever. DROSS is too good a word for Celtic at the moment.
Maybe they should send the first team of duds to play Clachnacuddin on September 26th…
The Lilywhites would probably stand a better chance than they would v Celtic U21’s !
Tony @ 3.06pm…
We won’t be beating ‘Rangers’ as they are dead as the dinasours…
That said good point about our ability to beat Spartans !
O’Neill @ 1.54pm…
Nothing more would surprise me to be honest…
They’ve had Martin three times in desperation so they’d think the square root of f*uck all in appointing Lenny three times !
The ginger whinger mouthing off again this clown Lennon is in no position to criticise any Celtic manager or player after he totally f****d up our 10 in a row and organised a junket half way around the world during covid lock down just to sun his bollox and get some R & R payed for by ordinary Celtic fans.
It all started with this wee shite. Bought big Christian and bolingoli to fix the centre half and left back for champs league the days before cluj. Never played them an put Calum at left back. Enough said. All downhill from there. Had to turn sound down as it was fckn brutal listening to that we shite.
F**k off Lennon you snake in the grass, DD & Board arse licker……after his carry on at Hibs and nearly breaking Bolton not to mention the balls he made of his other jobs his lucky to still manage a pub team.
Selling your best players every year and thinking you will improve is the definition of football insanity.
The way BR was treated by DD & Son is a guarantee that no managerial Agent would risk the reputation of his agency by recommending Celtic FC to any quality manager.
DD & Son with the aid of Mute Mike
were desperate and turned to Martin who was equally desperate after being dumped six years previous.
Given 10 minutes to respond MON’S words not mine!
He responded….etc…etc..etc.as the King and I once said.
Now Martin is up shit creek without a paddle or a quality assistant manager or director of football
He is being Hung Out To Dry by DD&Son and Mute Mike.
Lenny knows this but is part of that can say, won’t say,pundit club who know that if he calls out DD & Son then he will be of the pundits list and his mobile will fall silent.
Lenny Manager of Dunfermline FC should not be moon lighting making derogatory remarks about professional football players at other clubs for profit.Time the Scottish League or SFA stepped in and stopped this behavior.
.