DON’T want to write too much this evening after what has been a very emotional day.
Putting Lisbon to one side, this is the most remarkable thing that Celtic have ever achieved. Nine trophies on the bounce, invincible in domestic cup competitions for over 30 games spanning three seasons, until today no Celtic side had ever won the Scottish Cup three times in a row. Cesar nearly managed it but his side lost a penalty shoot-out to Aberdeen in 1990. Today that was achieved.
And then after we had left Hampden we got the news that Lenny had been offered the job. Some of the stuff by some Celtic Supporters and online commentators, some who have admitted to not doing to any games, has been unbecoming to say the least. Today The Celtic support chanted Neil Lennon’s name – loudly.
Listen, my least favourite option of all these mentioned for the job was David Moyes but you know what? If he got the job, I’d have still gone to the games and he’d have had my backing from the off. I understand that the likes of AVB, Rafa or Mourinho would have been hugely impressive captures by Dermot Desmond but were they every realistic options? Lenny or Moyes was always the most likely.
Lenny came in when 10 in a Row was at its most vulnerable. Yes we had a lead but we were away to Hearts and Rodgers had a poor record there. We’ve seen leads evaporate before and a defeat that night could have swung the momentum away from us towards crisis. Rodgers had taken the bulk of our football department with him, a defeat at Easter Road in the Scottish Cup quarter finals and it would have been mayhem.
Just imagine what Neil Lennon would have had to endure had those two games been lost.
In the end he lost at Ibrox in what a Dead Rubber (and it was), won the league by a wider margin than the lead he inherited and retained the Scottish Cup beating three top six sides Hibs, Aberdeen and Hearts.
The squad he inherited was a year behind in the rebuilding and there are players who have come to the end of the road at Parkhead. The non contributing need to look elsewhere.
Ask yourself this. The managers who have contributed to the 8IAR are Lenny, Ronny and Rodgers. Draw up a wee list of their five best buys and they look at the three of them and you’ll almost certainly go for Lenny, then Ronny and last place Rodgers.
???? Neil Lennon speaking at Hampden Park after securing #CelticFC the #TrebleTreble and being offered the manager job on a permanent basis. pic.twitter.com/SWLqjOAEas
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 25, 2019
Lenny is a winner, he knows what is going to come our way, a glamour name may or may not have adapted quickly. We’ve been hit and miss with new managers coming in, let’s be honest about that, and the likes of Rafa or Jose were never going to get the transfer budget he’d want.
From day 1, when Lenny came in, we were aware that Lenny getting the job would be on Peter Lawwell’s terms and we now intend to hold the CEO to account regarding the funds being given to the manager to strengthen.
This year was the Rangers’ best chance to stop the Ten, Lenny will do everything he can to deliver that for us and the party we’ll have that night will be even better than tonight.
Now that the decision has been made all of us need to get behind Neil Lennon 100% and give him our backing, support the team and roar them on. Just like I’d have backed Moyes after he was appointed, those Lenny bashers need to put that behind them now and give him your support and it all goes horribly wrong you can say “I told you so” and stuff like that. Maybe just maybe you’ve been wrong all along and Lenny will prove that in the most glorious way possible by winning Ten in a Row.
He’ll also do it by building his own team and cutting loose the deadwood we all know is there. Give him your support, it’s what we are faithful through and through.
Moet, is being poured here, and we are toasting Celtic, Neil Lennon and Odsonne Edouard, today’s Man of the Match and a real Celtic Star.
