With today’s result, it feels like Groundhog Day for Celtic. Another poor, embarrassing result and the manager’s fate surely decided. This is the first win for St Mirren at Celtic Park in thirty one years. Neil Lennon became Celtic manager after a humbling defeat to St Mirren in Paisley and it appears that the result this afternoon will compound Lennon to the same fate as Tony Mowbray.
The defeat today compounds the fact that the players arena playing for Lennon, the manager cannot influence his players or matches through tactics and substitutions and the glaring issues that have plagued us all season haven’t been remedied.
Everyone wanted Neil Lennon to do well this year. From boardroom to fans sitting at home paying for their virtual season ticket. However, much like the virus there have been waves that we really ought to have been better protected against after the first signs that things were deteriorating. There have been numerous ‘St Mirren’ moments this year, games that appeared to compound the fate of the manager but many left the 10IAR bid very much alive. Today, however, it was more than clear that the league is over. 23 points behind, with two games in hand. It is now a matter of when as opposed to if Rangers lift the league title.
The board have been served a couple of warning shots this season, they have been offered up chances to make a chance but they resisted. Unfortunately, now it is beyond repair.
The Ferencvaros game could be argued was a one off, Celtic had shown their bottle in establishing the 13 point lead that was enough to win the league title in 2019/20 and we were without Odsonne Edouard for this defeat. The cracks began to appear when Lennon lambasted want away stars but continued with a similar team. With that said, there was a run of form and the new signings started to show promise – Shane Duffy scored on his debut and Albian Ajeti began an impressive scoring run. The performances weren’t great but the wins were recorded, even if the matches were hard watches.
However, the international break would spark an incredible collapse in form as a number of players contracted COVID-19. From there on in, Neil Lennon’s second spell as manager of Celtic appeared to spiral. Eight wins in twenty two matches, two of them were Scottish Cup ties from last year and the other was a dead rubber Europa League fixture. The results simply haven’t been good enough. The same defensive frailties have been exposed and punished over and over again.
The only crumb of comfort was the Quadruple Treble, a world’s first that seals Lennon’s place in the Celtic fairytale. Albeit, this season has been one of nightmares. Apathy from the boardroom and a real sense of division, one that hasn’t reared its head within the Celtic support in a long time.
Fans called for change, they saw the history beckoning of ten consecutive league titles. A feat that neither Jock Stein nor Walter Smith could manager. Yet the season they were watching unfold in front of them lurched from one disaster to another.
The likelihood now in January with the league over is that Lennon will be sacked. His position is untenable, that sentiment also goes for a lot of the non-footballing department at Celtic.
Neil Lennon shouldn’t be the recipient of any personal abuse as he is a Celtic legend but as a Celtic manager in 2021 he is not good enough to take the club forward. This should have been recognised by the power brokers at the football club and remedied after the back to back 4-1 defeats to Sparta Prague, perhaps.
Lennon will likely be offered up on a platter and the Celtic board will attempt to salvage their place at the top of the pyramid as whispers of a new manager will be touted about in the media. However, the future of Celtic’s immediate future is at stake as The Champions League qualifiers for the second place finish draw nearer. This won’t be the kind draw with Cluj or Ferencvaros, we will enter the realms of big 5 leagues.
It is with regret that I say, 10IAR is over. The next mission is winning 1IAR next season and the preparation for that begins immediately. Dominic McKay, our new CEO from the summer onwards, has a massive rebuild on his hands. His first job will be to appoint a new manager.
Peter Lawwell should finally act in the best interests of the club with regards to the manager’s position and sack Lennon. With a Champions League place still attainable, the club need to act immediately.
He should have walked long ago
All the same words, again and again. it’s now beyond the ridiculous and it’s boring. We’ve gone past the “Laughing stock” and it’s all still Status Quo. I’m just wondering, who is that’s actually suffering the most ?
Those in charge of our club are guilty neglect if they continue with NL, get a caretaker in to see out the end of the season then let the new guy appoint the new Manager.
As recently as this week Lennon has been spouting ” What crisis ?” His comments after repeated embarrassing results this season have been insulting to the support , who genuinely wanted him to succeed despite his obvious lack of tactical nous .
Lawwell has been feted by the press and Lennon for his contribution to Celtic’s success over the past 17 years . His greatest success ( 10 iar ) was yielded with a whimper due to his hubris in sticking with Lennon when a great many of the fans could see what he failed to see . Lennon is NOT a top class coach !
His lack of tactical nous has been shown up by numerous teams ( of lesser ability ) during the past 18 months , both at home and repeatedly in Europe .
Brown/Lennon ? were even calling for a statue to be erected to his memory .That would sit well – the highest paid CEO in the UK , having made himself a millionaire at Celtic , standing beside a man who began the club to feed the poor of the East End of Glasgow .
HH
“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!” – That was Leo Amery In Parliament to Neville Chamberlain in 1940 after the British-French attempted campaign in Norway had ended in disaster.
80 and a half years later it applies to Lennon & co at Celtic.
No team has a God-given right to win just because they turn up ………….like the England soccer team seem to think. Other teams are trying to win as well and sometimes they are successful – if this were not the case then there wod be no point in playing.