Deila’s experience is a warning for Lennon
It is little surprise to find Celtic viewing today’s trip to Aberdeen with trepidation.
Neil Lennon’s side were soundly beaten by Rangers last Saturday, having turned in a performance in which – to steal an old line – they were lucky to get the nothing.
Having to follow it with a Europa League tie against Milan – where the bookies were again proved right in regarding the hosts as the underdog – then an away game against their next toughest domestic rival is the kind of nasty quirk of the fixture list that managers and fans alike almost come to expect.
History is often quickly rewritten in Scottish football, and it is now the perceived wisdom that Celtic had zero competition for the title when Rangers were in the lower leagues.
The truth is not so black and white.
Aberdeen were a consistent challenger, and in 2015-16 – the final year of the Ibrox club’s absence from the top flight – the Dons ran Celtic close.
Broadcasters Sky Sports swiftly said sorry to any viewers who may have taken offence
It was still nip-and-tuck right up until an afternoon in midMarch when Aberdeen crashed to Motherwell at the same time as the Hoops were edging Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Just how much those results meant was evidenced by the fact Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager of the time, turned the air blue with his four-letter celebrations with the travelling fans.
Broadcasters Sky Sports swiftly said sorry to any viewers who may have taken offence.
But the Norwegian was cheerfully unapologetic, stating there had been so much emotion involved.
The similarities between then and now are striking.
A campaign littered with underwhelming performances, a bloated squad that seemed to add up to less than the sum of its parts, and a painful Champions League exit in the qualifying stage.
For Ferencvaros this summer, read Malmo in 2015.
Most of all, do not forget a wounding defeat by Rangers.
In Deila’s case, a Scottish Cup semi-final loss on penalties was the catalyst among the faithful for disenchantment with the man at the helm.
Old Firm fans will forgive their managers quite a few things.
But being perceived to struggle in the derby often proves fatal to career prospects.
Deila’s failure was followed quickly by the announcement he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The club statement praised his character, his honesty and his humility.
The Norwegian himself, however, referenced disappointments, and times when he and the team had not achieved the hoped-for levels. Lennon’s case is different. Where the Norwegian’s recruitment was effectively a bold development project – Roy Keane is on record stating he was offered the job, with Deila as his assistant – the Irishman has considerable history with the club.
As a player, he won every domestic honour and was part of the side that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville.
As a manager, he began the 10-in-a-row run by leading the Hoops to three successive titles during his first time in charge.
In his second, which started last February after the departure of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City, he has helped deliver the last two.
Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell – Celtic’s majority shareholder and chief executive respectively – will be very aware of the back-story.
Yet if Lennon’s stock will not run down nearly as quickly in the boardroom as it will on the fans’ forums, it would be naive to suggest there will not be some concern at the very top.
One of the most revealing nuggets of information so far this season was the manager’s disclosure that Desmond had not been impressed by the Celtic display he witnessed up at Ross County in September.
Given that was a reaction to a 5-0 win, it is safe to assume his thoughts on the passionless display against Rangers will have been more colourful.
Lennon’s argument that his side had to be assembled hastily in response of Covid-19 and injury absences is not without substance.
It was his choice, however, to give starts to Diego Laxalt, Patryk Klimala and Stephen Welsh, a trio who between them had only four previous Celtic appearances.
Supporters, who watched Leigh Griffiths provide what sharpness their side showed all day with a cameo turn off the bench, were left questioning why his experience had not earned a start.
On such decisions are managers’ reputations enhanced or diminished.
As against Rangers, the displays of summer recruits, Shane Duffy and keeper Vasilis Barkas, against Milan are not inspiring confidence for the rest of the campaign.
Today’s game Pittodrie offers an opportunity for a quick fix.
It also carries a risk Project 10-in-a-row will come further unstuck.