Managing a Crisis?

We must keep Lennon – I am in no way saying I am not worried by his apparent lack of ‘learning from his mistakes’, but think the way for us to build a successful squad is to keep a bit of consistency, as since O’Neill left in 2006, our turnover of manager has severely affected the massive number of signings, which I think is a big part of our current problem.

You cant tell from one game to the next who will be played, I can understand Lennon’s reluctance to pick players who he doesn’t think are firing on all cylinders, but when his replacements form is too in doubt – surely from now on you stick by a pretty much pre decided unit. That’s how good teams get to be good. By no means just through having good players, often teams backed into a corner through lack of finance to have other options (see Walter Smith’s Rangers), can become a successful unit. We have too many options. Too many players who ‘could’ do a job. But frankly, too many of them, just aren’t.

It doesn’t seem how much we spend, or how many we bring in, our centre halves are unable to attack the ball with the level of aggression and certainty that other teams even in lower leagues have no problem doing. Majstorovic gets more than his fair share of criticism in my view, as he can at least attack the ball. At times, his mobility and decision making leaves him unable to do little else. However, loads of other teams have centre halves who are just in their for their steel, aggression, and presence, and the balance of their backline is such that the other players do their bit and cover in behind when needed.

Loovens, Hooiveld, Rogne, Wilson, all brought in and showed even glimpses of promise, but are unable to sustain any kind of meaningful partnership. And in all honesty, Mulgrew has done well individually at times, his desire and qualities cant be questioned in the most part, but even he has struggled to secure a consistent back line for us.

It’s not only defence where the balance is wrong. The formation worked last season, we were taking our width from our full backs, the midfield drifting inside to get on the ball seemed fluent, going were need be, fighting for each ball. Without Izzaguire, Wilson (or the other right backs) have tended to sit deeper to protect their defence, and neither side has overlapped, leaving Commons looking a very average player – not given the tools to go and win the match. This season only Ki has kept a good standard (though only shows what he really can do, when the tempo is upped, while seeming unable to dictate the tempo being upped), but all other midfielders have fallen by the wayside. Fitness, suspension, or just plain form – we have been disjointed and out of confidence. I think Wanyama should be used to help us build balance and confidence again. Works hard off the ball, and keeps it simple on it – need to find the other players to use effectively with them. I know Forrest has ability, but changing strike partnerships, and underperforming midfield hasn’t helped him use his skills in the right area, and often finds most joy dribbling across the pitch, and unable to create the goalscoring opportunity for either himself or others that his work should be deserving. A more experience player would have been best served given what’s been around him, keeping wide, and allowing us to open the game up, rather than to narrow the space by running towards players (when no one else is helping to take them away). Our lack of use of McCourt has been again, truly baffling.

Kayal’s attitude on the park has been poor. Last season he was excellent. The type of player I thought we wouldn’t see for Celtic again. Could do it all. Brilliant off the ball, intelligent, composed, and able on it. He looked so gifted, yet still hungry. The perfect personification of what it looked like Lennon was building. But this season, be it contract dispute or lack of form, his intelligence has turned to frustration, composure turned to laziness, and his ability has turned to arrogance.

I don’t agree with how he has been offered contract, for me I would have liked to have seen Celtic say – it’s not the time for contracts at this point for either party, lets concentrate on form and we can sort that out at Christmas. Looks like he has got what he wanted because we weren’t sure how best to deal with it. Giving him all the cards, then going all in. Lets hope he throws a few aces our way for the rest of the season, and maybe it’ll work out for the best. We’ll see.

The players just aren’t helping themselves or the manager. And yes I want more from Lennon, I want to see him put out a more settled, secure, and balanced team, but the manager essentially is looking for our big players to stand up and be counted. But who exactly are these big players?

We need the players to fight out of this current slump.

They need to take responsibility for their part in the poor form; they need to right their own wrongs for us to make progress.

And even if fans do want the axe to fall on Lennon's Celtic career, are there realistically better options available?

I am not aware of many managers who would be interested in coming to Celtic that I would be happier came in and improved things without setting us back again. As if there were, I have little doubt they would have gotten the job ahead of Lennon (and even Mowbray), as it was touted to all and sundry to see what interest we got back. The fact the Mark McGhee didn’t want it - still deeply troubles me. I just don't think a new man coming in and starting again would be the solution.

One minute we are all Neil Lennon – the next minute we don’t want to know. Not good enough from the Celtic support for me. If by summer we still have the same concerns and progress isn’t deemed ‘enough’, by all means re-evaluate then.

But not now.

We’ve got ‘our’ man, let’s stick by him...