Lennon takes both plaudits and flak with pinch of salt
THE clocks have only just turned back yet this season they have seemed to tick louder than ever for the Premiership’s managerial fraternity.
Even before we escape October, half of the dozen top-flight bosses have had their employment status called into question.
Kilmarnock’s new man Angelo Alessio was first to stumble after an embarrassing European defeat to Connah’s Quay Nomads. Neil Lennon soon took it in the neck for another unforeseen European defeat for Celtic, before the pressure transferred along the M8 where the Edinburgh duo of Paul Heckingbottom and Craig Levein remain charged with gross underachievement.
For Tommy Wright and Derek McInnes there is a common theme of over-familiarity breeding, if not quite contempt, then certainly discontent among sections of the support at St Johnstone and Aberdeen respectively.
For Lennon, who rode out the storm of a bizarre Champions League loss to Cluj to thrust his team to the top of both its domestic and European league tables, the very notion of McInnes being imperilled seems ridiculous yet not ultimately any great shock.
‘I’m not surprised because we live in this day and age, but I know Derek very well and the qualities he has as a manager,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘He’s one of the best in the country and has been for a long time. He’s done great things at Aberdeen. When he came in, they were finishing eighth and ninth and he’s turned them into one of the top clubs in the country.
‘He has had a lot of injuries and that bites any squad. I had it myself at Hibs last season when we were struggling and weren’t getting results.
‘Fortunes can change very quickly in this game, I’m very aware of that. I don’t think I’m the greatest and I don’t think I’m the worst. I don’t pay any attention to it.
‘We come in and do our work and do it as conscientiously as we can. I don’t listen to it because I don’t believe it anyway; and I don’t believe all the nice stuff that’s said either.
‘I’ve been through this before, so I don’t take too much notice of it. I can’t control it. Managers are almost treated like politicians these days. Hero to zero, zero to hero, in a matter of days, hours.
It’s not real and we have to have a realistic sense of perspective on it.’
On a high after the midweek Europa League win over Lazio, Lennon knows reality could bite quickly at Pittodrie today. Celtic have stumbled on their last two Premiership away games.
If there was sense of Aberdeen bottoming out after exiting the Betfred
Cup and then losing heavily at Rangers at the end of September, the Dons’ last performance at Fir Park suggested a team with a point to prove.
‘Derek is starting to get players back, he’s got Sam Cosgrove flying and they had a fantastic win at high-flying Motherwell,’ admitted Lennon. ‘That was a real statement of intent from Aberdeen last week, so we’re probably getting them at the wrong time.
‘We couldn’t have asked for a stiffer game after Thursday but the players will look forward to it.’
Ryan Christie is suspended and Lennon will run checks on full-backs Hatem Abd Elhamed and Boli Bolingoli, each of whom was substituted late in the Lazio game. Should Bolingoli not make it then Greg Taylor, yet to make his debut since signing from Kilmarnock, could find his way into the matchday squad.
‘It’s been difficult for Greg because Boli has come in and been consistent,’ explained Lennon. ‘We’ve had a chat with him about it and he knows the situation. He’s not been kicking down doors or anything like that, he’s been training really well and he knows his time will come.
‘The fact he’s not been in the squad is because we have Jonny Hayes. It’s pointless having one bona fide left-back on the bench when you have a player who can factor in a couple of positions for you and Greg totally understands that.
‘Working every day with the players, sports scientists and fitness coaches here will make him better but I understand there’s a need for him to play and he’ll get that opportunity because there are so many games coming up.’