Today’s defeat at Tynecastle wasn’t just another defeat because of poor form or because we had 10 men. Our problems are much deeper. Is it the manager? Is it Peter Lawwell? Or is it the board’s fault? Let’s go back a little to have a closer look. The main reason Martin O’Neill left Celtic was due to his wife’s serious illness. He was also told about the massive cut in spending and believe me or choose not to, if you have more info as to what went on, but Martin O’Neill will never return to Celtic while Peter Lawwell is in charge. Peter Lawwell survived!
Gordon Strachan came in and took the job on a much reduced budget and did remarkably well winning three titles in a row, the last sixteen in Europe twice. Didn’t get backed in his last transfer window, lost the league and left by ‘mutual consent’ in his last year. Took his pay-off and a ‘no talk about what when on’ clause and never said a bad word about the Club since! Peter Lawwell survived!
Tony Mowbray came in after relegating West Brom, and also after Owen Coyle knocked the job back specifically when he was told the budget he was on. We also paid a £2.4m buy-out clause to get him and half of that amount to get rid of him! Who appointed him? Peter Lawwell survived!
In came Neil after a trial period, and after much Lawwell/Desmond deliberation Lenny got the job. The rest of the board do what they’re told after PL & DD make up their mind. Fact! I know Lawwell sat Graham Speirs down for his opinion on the possible appointment & he also phoned John Hartson on the same and did so with other football professionals. Word leaked on what Speirs had said to Lawwell & an angry exchange followed between Speirs and Lennon. Giving Neil the job was a huge risk, BUT, if this sticking plaster approach to the problem did come off then Neil had saved much ineptness caused previously by his masters from above! Neil signed some players last season & John Park, the overseas chief scout, recommended some others! This season the only player for sure that Neil definitely wanted was Kelvin Wilson (yes I know, but let’s not lose track for the minute) He wanted a better goalkeeper and didn’t get him! He wanted a better right back and didn’t get him! He wanted another centre forward and didn’t get him. He wanted another centre half and didn’t get him. He got and signed what he could with the money made available to him. Some are not Celtic class and Lennon knows this.
Lennon has made some crucial mistakes and he knows it. He will never get the team he wants or the fans deserve under Peter Lawwell, and in my opinion, if Neil feels he is being made the fall guy because of their lack of ambition, then at some point he will come to an arrangement most likely dressed up as being of 'mutual consent' when his tipping point finally tips. He looks haunted, and doesn't seem to have the verve he had last season. Is this because he has become disillusioned with lack of ambition at board level? The very same reason Steve McLaren parted company recently with Nottingham Forest? I also believe he thinks this financially fiscal situation will be never ending for such a big Club. Importantly, he doesn't deserve to be slaughtered by fans and he will NOT take being booed. He is a Club Legend and must remain so! Question is, whether it’s Neil doing the job or anyone else under such conditions - who will take the job and do the job WE require with the budget on offer? And before anyone says it, the Celtic teams who took the pitch against St Johnstone, Rangers & Hearts should have been good enough to have beaten them. The sticking plaster is not working. Neil, it's your call to do what is best for yourself here if you feel you aren't being backed. If so and Peter Lawwell survives a fourth manager what will he come up with now as a fourth remedy? The mess is the same but the balance sheet looks pretty! Hail Hail!
Lennon has made some crucial mistakes and he knows it. He will never get the team he wants or the fans deserve under Peter Lawwell, and in my opinion, if Neil feels he is being made the fall guy because of their lack of ambition, then at some point he will come to an arrangement most likely dressed up as being of 'mutual consent' when his tipping point finally tips. He looks haunted, and doesn't seem to have the verve he had last season. Is this because he has become disillusioned with lack of ambition at board level? The very same reason Steve McLaren parted company recently with Nottingham Forest? I also believe he thinks this financially fiscal situation will be never ending for such a big Club. Importantly, he doesn't deserve to be slaughtered by fans and he will NOT take being booed. He is a Club Legend and must remain so! Question is, whether it’s Neil doing the job or anyone else under such conditions - who will take the job and do the job WE require with the budget on offer? And before anyone says it, the Celtic teams who took the pitch against St Johnstone, Rangers & Hearts should have been good enough to have beaten them. The sticking plaster is not working. Neil, it's your call to do what is best for yourself here if you feel you aren't being backed. If so and Peter Lawwell survives a fourth manager what will he come up with now as a fourth remedy? The mess is the same but the balance sheet looks pretty! Hail Hail!
Love the article and I would not disagree with too much of it. I do not want Neil to make any hasty decisions as I believe ultimately we will not get anyone better. In my opinion overall Neil's signings have been pretty decent but some guys are starting to lose their way. Hooper has been a poor shadow of the man who played last year. Commons ? Kayal has not reached the heights he did last year and Ki..... You get my drift but Lawwell cannot be blamed for the loss of form or otherwise. The heart has gone out of the Celtic team and I do not believe this is the responsibility of the board. The coaching staff we have just now were all leaders in their own right so why is there no fight when the team goes behind. This for me is the biggest worry.
ReplyDeleteIf Neil does leave then let us get away from the idea of appointing former players. I have been watching Celtic since 1962 and we have only had two successful ex players, Jock Stein and Billy McNeill as managers. The next most successful were Martin O'Neil and like it or not Gordon Strachan. A new approach would be better than the same old same old.
I want Lenny to stay and win the league, but in my heart I just cannot see that happening.
ReplyDeleteIf he is going to do what you say, I hope it comes sooner rather than later. The fans deserve it and to be quite honest, I think Lenny deserves a break from all this.
What you've said, Matt, is all perfectly true. It's the unsaid part - just Who in their right mind (and, from our point of view, of the right calibre) is going to take the job given the financial "prudence" imposed by running the club like a financial institution rather than a football club? That is the crucial question - and I just cannot see a seasoned manager with experience taking Celtic on in the current climate. Which leads me on nicely to what kind of change is needed. Lawwell needs to go. And more than that, our principal share holder who has an 'emotional' (read 'financial') tie to the club ought to get out and let an under-capitalised club grow with a new owner and new investment. Until Lawwell and Dermo go there will be no change in the 'financial prudence' that sees the club run as purely a financial business when it's main business is putting a winning team on the park and entertaining the punters.
ReplyDeleteLack of funds can't be used as an excuse domestically so your article doesn't hold up. ST Johnstone at home? Lack of players he wanted, really?? Also the fact they'd probably be Jimmy Bullardm Sol Campbell or David James. The huns have no money either so stop making excuses for a terrible manager or is he a personal friend? His tactical decisions and team selections have been awful on many an occassion, his refusal to make subs at key times have been just as bad. He has failed miserably, he accepted the job, he accepted working under lawwell so it is no excuse. They are in it together. Both parties should be blamed imo and both parties should leave now. They have run our club into the ground and if it wasn't for the Green Brigade there wouldn't be much good about supporting Celtic right now.
ReplyDeleteNeil Lennon sadly is not up to job. Why?
ReplyDelete1- Mixed signings
2- real failings when it has come to the real key matches
3- A poor and inexperienced backroom
4- poor tactics
5- random team selections and substitutions
The list could go on and his constant pleading to the fans about poor player performance only serves to question his ability while leading to players not responding to him or his management team
All this against a poor Rangers team and a background of Celtic fansmicking a team 10 points clear of Celtic
Another league title nearly gone and a manager sadly out if his depth
Lennon, as a rokkie manager, has not worked,experience was offered and he declined, the big I am, he has failed, time to go and let an experienced man take over, the place needs a lift and the team need a boot up the arse.
ReplyDeleteSo much for 'keep the faith' eh? What a fickle bunch of supporters we have. After everything Lennon went through he still stuck by us and now after a few bad results all of the arm chair Celtic fans come out of the wood work and call for his head? I'd rather you all left and supported a different club.
ReplyDeleteLenny only has the Irish support left all the rest are too impatient too quick to get the knives out ( Back stabbing )Bhoys Eh!. Lenny needs some help his inexperience is showing through,lawwell keeps on telling the media and share holders we have the best balance sheet in football well mr Lawwell the fans dont really care they only want value for money and you dont get that with players from lower leagues. but we are stuck with them for now, dare i say it get O`Neil or Strachan back as mentor to Lenny for the rest of season or both Lenny and lawwell must take full blame and leave together.
ReplyDelete