Don’t back against Neil Lennon; there are brains behind his heart

Friday, 23 July 2010 13:33

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Our new columnist Jonathan Watt makes his debut in The Away End.

By Jonathan Watt

Many seasoned experts within football will be ready for it.

Fate has thrown six Celtic managers to the scrapheap when pitted against the nous of Walter Smith.

Obituaries written for them all, passionate men undone by a cold tactical killer:
   Billy McNeill, Captain of the Lisbon Lions (1987-1991), 
   Liam Brady, Republic of Ireland Legend (1991-1993), 
   Lou Macari, Ex-Celt and Manchester United Legend (1993-1994), 
   Tommy Burns, Mr.Celtic (1994-1997), 
   Gordon Strachan, Three in-a-row Winner (2005-2009), 
   Tony Mowbray, Inventor of the Huddle (2009-2010)

Despite the weight of history, the 39 year-old Lennon is not nearly ready to join the battalion of the dead.

Growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles, his induction into life was daily sectarian violence on the news, as for his love of football?  There was no choice; he was born a Celtic fan.

Behind the obvious passion Lennon has shown for Celtic over the last decade, since a £5,750,000 move to the club from Leicester City, there is a very cerebral side to the Ulsterman which was masked by his devotion as much as his misbehaviour during his playing years at Celtic.

Check over the life story and you’ll see a poor boy making good through graft but also guile, his very role in O’Neill’s Celtic side was to sit back, analyse the game win the ball and pick the right pass.  Lennon’s success as a footballer in Glasgow was far more to do with his brain than his feet or his fitness and he makes no bones about admitting it.

The realigning of mentality, for a Celtic team that did little to prevent Rangers winning successive SPL titles, has been Neil’s priority since being named as caretaker manager.  When asked what it took to play for Celtic he replied: “Twenty percent ability, Eighty percent mentality.” 

Celtic’s new assistant manager, Johann Mjallby admitted to me in May he shared this view: “You want players who are mentally strong and tough, especially up here. Where you are expected to win almost every game otherwise you are going to get slaughtered by supporters, or press which is fine but that's why you want players who are very strong mentally.”

While demanding players respect the jersey, Lennon has signalled a departure from the Mowbray School of good football to a more pragmatic Martin O’Neill/Walter Smith style set up.  “Tony had his sort of style and I would maybe adapt a different type of style. I want us to get out of the traps in games, I want us to put teams under pressure, I want us to play, I want us to believe, but I want us to be smart as well.”

Taking a weakened Rangers side on at their own game is a better idea than playing the kind of football Rangers have been accustomed to repel easily over the three years.  Mowbray’s enemy was (in his eyes) counter attacking football but Lennon’s rivalries are more tribal.

Over 50,000 season tickets being sold at Parkhead can be taken as confirmation that the faithful are prepared to sacrifice style for substance.  The successful retailing of season tickets has enabled Celtic to make key investments in their playing staff with the club relentless in their quest to bring more quality players to Celtic Park.

Celtic beat off interest from AS Roma to sign Cardiff’s Joe Ledley on a contract reminiscent of Lennon’s playing era. Republic of Ireland striker Darryl Murphy has signed up on a deal believed to be around £1.5 million.  Charlie Mulgrew arrived in a low risk deal from Aberdeen.  Efrain Juarez was signed after helping Mexico to the last 16 of the World Cup for an undisclosed fee estimated at around £3 million.  South Korean full-back Cha Du-Ri has also been added to the register for this season after a solid world cup.  The added quality will pump up the competition for first team places which can only result in more positive performances.

On the other side of the City, Rangers have endured the loss of Steven Smith, Damarcus Beasley, Nacho Novo, Kris Boyd, Kevin Thomson and most recently Danny Wilson without a player signed in reply.  Smith has spoken of the need for an additional three players but with six already gone; defence of his ninth title could prove to be Walter’s hardest.

Yet overcoming the Godfather of Scottish Football would be a challenge for even the wisest veteran, never mind one younger than Rangers’ current captain.  A lack of experience hasn’t been addressed with the appointment of a consigliere such as Stuart Baxter. Smith will also be buoyed by the notion of going out on a high of three in a row given the financial turmoil going on around the squad.  His place in Rangers history is already assured.

However, Lennon hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his role as manager.  His interview after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup was one of the most refreshingly honest ever recorded.  It made him hungrier to prove himself and improve the fortunes of the club.  His league form was eight wins out of eight and that includes a win over Rangers.

So how will Neil Lennon’s obituary read?  Passionate Ex-Captain and Manager (2010-2011)? Not likely, he has time and (fortunately enough) money.