Lennon No More

SO - the Ginger Whinger is no more, Super Lenny/That wee Lurgan Lout (delete according to your religious prejudices) has departed Celtic Park.

 

We will miss him, there was always good copy to be had around Neil Lennon. I don't actually blame him for going - without the other lot to worry about, he has been almost sleep-walking through the past couple of years at least. It must be difficult to motivate yourself to appear interested in a competition you know, before the first ball has been kicked, you are going to win.

 

Now, we have to consider Neil Lennon's term as Celtic manager. Of course, this will best be done by some future football historians. Today, with his departure so recent, is not the time when rational analysis can be carried out.

 

Three titles in a row is good; his record in domestic cup competitions less-so; as is his European record, albeit at a time when European campaigns are becoming ever harder for Scottish clubs, or indeed clubs from outwith the mega-rich, English, German, Spanish and Italian leagues to mount.

 

But, since we have to give an instant reaction, here goes.

 

Neil Lennon was a Celtic Man, to an extent Gordon Strachan could never have hoped to be. He had to operate in a strange world where he was expected to prevail domestically, but, didn't prevail to the extent he probably should have.

 

He was expected to go far in Europe with a squad of, at best, in European terms - second or third-rank players. Again, he failed, but, here, failure was to a degree relative.

 

I don't think he has left a lasting legacy at the club. He hasn't put in place a system which will keep good, young players able to take themselves and the club to the "next level" - the knock-out stanges in Europe on a regular basis. But, there again, I sincerely doubt if, ever again, a Bob Kelly-like figure, prepared to accept a few barren seasons while the young boys mature to be ready to win the big prizes, can be allowed to emerge in Scotland. Nowadays, it is all about winning THIS SEASON.

 

He has certainly been good copy and has been a much-maligned person. for his own mental health, it is perhaps as well he has gone, before (if they ever do) the Rangers tribute act gets into the Premiership to muddy the waters.

 

In some ways, Neil Lennon was a Scottish Muhamad Ali. The American establishment and their reactionary Redneck cheer leaders truly were scared by that "Uppity Nigger" - I think their smaller, but no-less reactionary Scottish heirs, half a century on, were somewhat scared of that "Uppity Tim".

 

We will miss him. I wish him well in his future football career.