It’s high time Lawwell found his voice amid the Celtic maelstrom
PLAYERS aren’t playing for the manager? Nonsense. Criticism of a Celtic team with two wins in 11 games? Undeserved. The opinions of anyone outside the dressing room? Not listened to.
Where do you start with those sentiments expressed by Nir Bitton after conceding another four goals — this time to AC Milan — to remain Europa League bottom feeders?
You’d normally hammer the Israeli along with Leigh Griffiths for insisting he still wouldn’t pick a single Rangers player ahead of their Celtic counterpart.
The thing is, though, no one is listening to what comes out of the Parkhead dressing room any longer. It’s just noise, rendered meaningless by mediocrity on the park.
Scott Brown did a piece with Celtic TV after Ross County. Dead eyes, duller script. Like an ISIS hostage video with sponsorship chucked in.
Lennon’s stuff about being ‘delighted’ by aspects of Milan was just more of the same and it’s unfortunate to see him in a situation where his words carry such little weight.
Yet, that’s what happens when you lambast players after losing to Ferencvaros, vow to get shot of them — and then spend months telling the world all is well.
In reality, there is not much more these guys can add unless someone spikes their sports drinks with truth serum. This situation, this refusal to recognise the implosion of the football department, needs explanation from those at the top.
Yet, their only meaningful response to rising anger within ‘the Celtic family’ is to erect fences and put out website statements.
Sticking out five pars of quotes telling the customer base to keep the faith doesn’t cut the mustard, though. Chief executive Peter Lawwell needs to speak publicly and answer concerns rather than leaving players and an exposed manager to take the flak.
Sitting in his lair, tinkering with the disco lights between Zoom calls, is no longer on. Not on his wages.
Months of contradictory piffle have proved no one can explain what Celtic are playing at on the park. Time we knew what the thought process is off it.