Neil Francis Lennon

In my books a supremely talented footballer, not because of his physical attributes, but his brain for the game of football was and likely is, exceptional.

The ubiquitously cliched midfield 'winner' brought the kind of steely mentality that is the difference between success and failure. But his will to win apart, his appreciation for tactics, systems, and the players around him are what seperated Lennon from a sterotypical midfield bulldog. The things that made him great, were in the mind. He didn’t have the pace to take on players, or even cover the ground while defending quicker players. He had to learn how to position himself and how to release the players around him, to allow him to compete against the best. Very rarely, even at 35, did you see him be outpaced.

Technically superior footballers often struggle as managers, and no wonder. How on earth can Diego Maradona be expected to explain how to dribble by a whole team, Or score an exquisit chip from 40 yards. The things Lennon might well struggle with, is guys that lack heart, the determination that allowed Neil to overcome his phyical and technical shortcomings and be a top footballer. Is that a bad thing? Perhaps not. Do we want a team that has a lack of heart, yeah we can have the odd flair player who needs his manager to get on at him/understand that work isnt whats gonnae make him make his mark on a game of football. But what Celtic need is guys who are willing to do what it takes to succeed. Hopefully Lennon will be a massive help with this. Even if this just is in the work he will do with the current squad until June.

Look at the modern game (certainly Britian) - who have been the top managers of the past couple of years, Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Walter Smith, and even Davie Moyes. Only O'Neil was anything like a top player, and again, he was more of a hard working thinker in a great side than actually a great footballer. Certainly leads me to believe that the Lennons and Lamberts of this world will develop into top managers. I remember when my mum and dad got their season books - summer of 2000. I started to appreciate what a truly wonderful player Paul Lambert was. Their seats were high up, angled in the corner, giving a great overview fo the pitch, picking up on bits of lamberts game and the reading of the game that other seats and tv just didn’t do justice. The laughable claim that Lambo and Lenny couldn’t play in tandem was ridiculous, and with those two in one team its no surprise that we rose to the heights of being the best Celtic team Ive ever seen.

I am not saying Neil Lennon is definitely the man for the Celtic job just now, as indeed only time will tell. However I think given the right opportunities and support he can certianly become a top manager for someone. Maybe now is the time for more experience - to galvanise a struggling Celtic side. However are there many candidates of that ilk available at a price that will suit Celtic, on indeed that they can afford. Is a guy with a couple of seasons experience that far above Lennon for the job, could Lennons knowledge of the club, of the players, of seeing the club run well, and the conversely the club struggle, be invaluable, and indeed edge him infront of the Lamberts, the Keanes and even Mark Hughes of this world.

As I said - Only time will tell I suppose...

29/3/2010

“A young, inexperienced, fearless, defensive midfielder with nothing to lose who managed the reserves and is now manager of the team he supported as a boy, loves through and through, and captained through some of its most successful years.”

Pep Guardiola or Neil Lennon?

25 March 2010

The St Mirren game aside, what a great day to be a Celtic fan.

And lets face it, the game was pretty meaningless in the grand scale of things. The League is already over, and perhaps the defeat in Paisley just brought the inevitable to a head.

Celtic have offloaded a desperately underachieving manager, brought in - two, not only fans favourites, but great players, tactically aware, determined and influential characters to steady the ship till the dry land of the close season is found. Lennon and Mjallby have the chance to see if they can show theyve got what it takes (in from a Celtic point of view, is a relatively pressureless environment) from now until the end of the season.

Yes, I would expect an experienced manager to be installed in the summer, however Lennon must be thinking if he can win every match from now to then, he could be in with a shout. Certainly wont do him any harm.

For the new management duo, the most important thing is the balance of the team they put onto the park. There is no doubt that Celtic have the best squad in Scotland, it is certianly the case that Mobray struggled to make a functioning X1 out of them.

The importance of a single match does seem crazy. At a club like Celtic one result can be the difference between being sacked and keeping your job - its easily concievable that had Celtic won yesterday that Mowbray could have been Celtic manager after the close season.

Four goal defeats are unnacceptable, I dont suppose anyone has to tell Neil that.

Good Luck Lenny

St Mirren 4 Celtic 0

Total embarrassment.

Celtic 3 - St Johnstone 0

Paul McGowan was a surprising starter who had a busy game and acquitted himself well - linking up cleverly and involved in almost all our moves.

Bad day at the office for Aiden who looked totally out of sorts. Unlike Samaras who capped a terrific cameo with a superb goal.

Zalusca literally didnt have a save to make

Kilmarnock 0 Robbie Keane 3

The kind of goalscoring performance by one of their strikers that has so often alluded Celtic this season puts them in the last 4 of the Scottish Cup (to play Hibs or Ross County as it turned out).

What has now become a fairly typical - abject performance was churned out in the first half with a few hefty and late challenges giving the only real excitement of the opening forty five minutes. However Keane's movement and confidence in front of goal allowed the other players to play him in and inturn, give Keane the opportunity to take the match ball home.

Falkirk 0 - Celtic 2

Any honest assesment of Robbie Keane's post transfer deadline performance would surley admit that Sunday was the first time he has showed the level of class the he would have been expected to bring.

Sharp movement, link up play, great touch, and ultimately match winning goals.

The first goal was certainly the first time I think Ive seen anything like a partnership forging between Celtic's strikers since McDonald and Hesselink won the SPL with Celtic in 2008. Keane took the quick pass from Rasssmusen excellently leaving a player of his ability with an easy finish. The clever Crosas picked out Keane brilliantly with a quick free kick for the second, showing what Crosas can bring when we play a striker on his level of footballing intelligence infront of him.

Rangers 1 Celtic 0

Yes yesterday was a horrendous and toothless performance.

Yes this has been a terrible season.

However, I would give Mowbray until the end of the season AT LEAST.

Depending on how that goes - Give him until the middle of August - with not a penny more to spend. See if he can mould the players he has signed into a team, before we make the plunge to replace him.

Id love to think this team can improve - but there have been literally no signs that they are.

Plenty of players with what seems like the right attributes, but no coherent style, shape, desire or dominance from us in even one full ninety minutes that show they are moving in the right direction.

The board has backed the manager so much that not only have they bought in the players he has wanted, but have shipped out quite a number he didn’t. Leaving this squad firmly, Mowbray's. Financially and logistically he is best placed to get the best out of these players. So lets hope he shows in the latter stages of this season (albeit without real competitive pressure) and this team make miraculous improvements to a level that merits Mowbray starting next season, as lets be honest Mowbray owes the club that, Its not fair to the board or a new manager to have to deal with this squad as they are at the moment.

I am by no means claiming that given a clean slate I want Mowbray as the manager, just that there are now so many difficulties that arise if he leaves - given the level of backing he has received that he really needs to turn it around - ultimately to avoid the club picking up his mess (and financially not being able to change the squad much).

The technique, touch, close, control, and pace of some of our players is so far ahead of Rangers it is unbelievable - but in truth, Celtic were nowhere near rangers yesterday, or in the league campaign.

No refereeing decisions are big or bad enough to overshadow that.