Neil Lennon

NL: We have some positions we'd like to address and we'll try to do that in the next few weeks."

NL on Kieran Tierney: "Arsenal really showed their interest. It's a challenge he wanted to pursue and he goes with our best wishes."


NL on
@Scotty_Sinclair
: "There was interest in him but it never materialised and he'll be in the squad for tomorrow."

NL on injuries: "Hatem is a doubt for tomorrow . Mikey will just miss out but should be okay for Wednesday.

NL: "It's a tough ask for the players after getting back to Glasgow at 4.30am on Thursday morning. We expect a tough challenge tomorrow from a motivated team.

 

That quote appears to already be back tracking slightly from I want 5 players in

 

THERE is a pathway to Paradise for the young players coming through the Celtic Youth Academy, and the example of Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston, and Kieran Tierney is one that should be followed by the aspiring Celts of the future.

Tierney left the club this week for Arsenal after graduating from the Celtic Academy and going on to play 170 times for the Hoops over the past four years.

And speaking today at Lennoxtown, Neil Lennon said: “I hope Kieran does brilliantly and that will reflect well on what we’re doing here

“It’s a fantastic example of the work that’s done behind the scenes here, not just at Academy level but development coaches, the first-team coaches, and the way the club is *-bent on developing their own.

“We take a huge amount of pride in home-grown players coming through, and Kieran’s the latest one. Obviously, James Forrest and Callum McGregor, and now Mikey Johnston as well, are making a significant contribution in the first-team, and that shows the younger ones that there is a pathway here.

“If you do the right things and you protect your talent, and if we recognise that the talent is there, there is a real ambition here and a real opportunity to play first-team football on a regular basis.

“It’s a very difficult thing to do, to produce a quality, long-term first-team player, but we’ve done that over the last 10-15 years very, very well compared to a lot of other clubs.”

The move, of course, has upset supporters who were obviously keen for the defender to remain at Celtic Park, and the manager recognises their feelings, but also appreciates that the Hoops have to move on, as they have done in the past when players have come to the end of their days at the club.

He said: “I can understand that point of view because they’re Celtic fans and all they see is Celtic, and with Kieran being such a fervent supporter of the club, they might find it difficult to comprehend why he would want to leave Celtic.

“But as he’s alluded to himself, he’s had a great time of it here and probably achieved everything that he’s wanted to achieve, and he’s just accepting a new challenge, a professional challenge as well as a personal challenge in his life as well.”

He added: “It’s understandable. It’s going to hurt us because we’re losing a very good player. These things crop up now and again in football. All teams sell good players eventually, and Kieran’s no different in that regard. It was protracted because we couldn’t agree a deal, but the deal’s done now and he goes with our best wishes.”

 

He wants 5 players in then says he has some positions we need to address. Already * backtracking man.

 

Do we, though? I think we need a couple of projects the likes of Bolingoli to develop with a view to replacing Eddy and Broony in the next season or two and a back up RB; but in terms of real quality just ready to immediately plug and play, all I see is one (at LB), not 5.

Edit: or maybe 2 if we're planning to play a back 3 sometimes. Jozo is excellent back up, but is too prone to brain farts to be a first choice.

 

Bolingoli...a project?

He’s 24 ffs.

 

Plenty time.

 

No way in * do we need projects just now.... This is when we MUST strengthen with quality.... We are only a suspension or a couple of injuries (which come along every other day at celtic) away from being fkd.... Neil is a yes man... That's why he was brought in... He will do and say as he is told and this time won't quit because of it due to seeing that this is the best gig he will get... His press conferences and interviews confirm this with the amount of backtracking he does.... I want the money and need 5 players to we need two or 3 but need to move players on.... Not confident this window will be any different than the last few seasons... All hope topped of with a huge amount of disappointment....

 

His comments are all over the place atm. He is also moaning about the number of games but at the same time trimming an already thin squad

 

I see a good player there, just a player suited to 3 5 2 not 451. At 24 you can still add quality if the basics are there.
You need a good mix of projects and solid experience pros. Luca Connel seems like a great project to me. I would have no issues with another project but not a £7m one like Rico Henry.

 

It's not all about age. Lenny himself said they are happy with him going forward but need to work with him defensively. They will have known that before buying him. To my mind, that's a project albeit he's not a kid.

 

Apart from LB (and Jozo if we are going to play a back 3), where do we desperately need strengthened?

For me (assuming a back 4):

Stickers: Eddy Griffiths and Bayo (need a project to replace Eddy when he goes who can also be back up)

Midfielders: CM, Broony, Bitton, Rigid, Christie, Shved, need a project who can replace Broony when he hangs up his boots.

Wingers: Forrest, Sinclair, MJ (back up = Morgan)

LB: need quality

RB: Hatem, need a back up

CB's: Jullien, Sher, Jozo as back up, Hatim as back up

GK: Bain, Gordon as back up

We need a LB; but apart from that, I'm really happy with the squad. I don't think we desperately need to spend big money. If we can get the right person to upgrade a position (perhaps Jozo), we definitely should spend the money. But Lenny already said that.

There's no contradiction here. We always want to improve if the right investment is there; but if it isn't to be, the squad is good (apart from obviously LB with KT gone)

 

I don't disagree with any of that, I want all that too and I'm sure Lenny does. Hopefully we succeed in getting that, because we should always be looking to improve. Where I disagree is in the word "need". Hopefully we will get some or all of that; but if we don't, it doesn't mean we have been negligent IMHO, because AFAICS the only quality first team player we need is a LB.

If all we get the rest of the window is a decent LB and a few more development projects, I won't be up in arms or accusing the board (let alone Lenny) of not spending enough. Of course I'll be happier if we strengthen a few more positions along the lines you mention. I know Lawwell has a track record of lying; but if Lenny says they are trying to get the right players in but it's difficult and there are no guarantees, I believe him.

 

Lennon said he was joking when he wanted 5 players in, which I thought would be the case when I read it tbh. We don’t need 5 players for our starting eleven. I’d say 3 players that are improvements on what we have in their respective positions (left back being the most important for me at the moment) and we’d have had a good window.

 

Well that's not much * use Lenny as we are playing on Tuesday.