Calm after The Thunder, now it’s back to the Results Business for Neil Lennon

A few days of intense drama surrounding the managerial future of Neil Lennon appears to be over – for now. The club’s response came via boardroom whispers to Celtic friendly journalists and wheeling out former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill to speak up for Neil Lennon.

On the other side of the argument the support were getting up a head of steam and from what we could see there was a growing consensus that Neil Lennon’s time was up. The Celtic Star tried to cover all of this fairly, balanced and with Celtic’s best interests at heart.

The Green Brigade then appeared outside the stadium yesterday morning, unfurled a banner and then released that image together with their statement on social media. Many supporters were unhappy with the banner stunt, but perhaps didn’t factor in that this would otherwise have happened at the next game had crowds been allowed in, so they deserve to be cut some slack from this who objected to yesterday’s banner display.

By the time Neil Lennon and Scott Brown faced the media, there was a feeling that the pot was already off the boil and it wasn’t because Peter Lawwell had briefed a few of his trusted allies in the mainstream media and in the Celtic fans media, or what Martin O’Neill had said but because enough in the support were concerned about that banner and perhaps some of the social media abuse that was by this time being directed at Neil Lennon – which is incidentally way out for order.

Neither the Celtic manager, nor his captain, who seemed a little tongue tied at times yesterday, were particularly convincing in their media performance yesterday. Was the last half hour at Easter Road the best we’ve played this season? Even if that particular bar isn’t very high we weren’t impressive enough to brag about how we finished the game.

Then the manager, with his backroom staff and squad headed to the airport to catch the flight to Prague. Celtic will now be given time from the support to deliver the win of form that the Board reckon is possible, our manager reckons os possible and our captain believes the players can deliver. If draws had been wins then we wouldn’t be in this position was Neil Lennon’s argument, pointing out he’s only lost one domestic game all year.

That’s true of course but so are the very valid points that the support has raised and he’d do well to take on board. A few immediate fixes for him would be to desist from playing Frimpong at right back, and instead go with a stronger, defensive minded back four – for example Elhamed, Jullien, Ajer, Laxalt. And get Odsonne Edouard in the team. Play 4-2-3-1 from now on, the playing identity that has got us to where we are since July 2016. Then if you can deliver the wins as promised then get the tactics right for Ibrox on 2 January, remember we won there the last time we played them and the away team has won the last three Glasgow Derbies so we can do it.

Neil Lennon reckons that he is the man to deliver the Ten. Let’s hope he is right. Let’s start rescuing this season this evening in Prague against a side who humiliated Celtic a fortnight ago.

Sparta Prague v Celtic kicks off at 5.55pm and is live on BT Sports 3. COYBIG.

Comments are welcome – please share you views via The Celtic Star by emailing editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll compile with other supporter comments and post later today.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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