Be careful what you wish for over Lennon
BEATING Rangers at Ibrox is a big deal for any boss.
But imagine you are not just any opposition manager.
Imagine you are a hate figure for a large swathe of the home support.
Picture yourself on the receiving end of non- stop abuse from tens of thousands of punters, from the second you take your seat in the visitors’ dugout until the second you walk up the tunnel at full-time.
Now imagine you are a former Celtic player and manager, returning to Ibrox for the first time in five years. Imagine you are Neil Lennon. All of a sudden, that win isn’t just a big deal – it’s the biggest deal.
That’s why you won’t catch me knocking Lenny for celebrating Hibs’ 3- 2 victory at Ibrox last Saturday.
It’s why I won’t criticise him for gesturing to
I’ve heard it argued that Brendan Rodgers would not have reacted the same way
the home fans either.
And frankly, I think the majority of sensible Rangers supporters would agree with me.
Those with any common sense about them will be able to look at it and admit that Lenny was getting dog’s abuse from the off.
By cupping his ears after Hibs scored, all he was doing was giving some back.
Fans getting stuck into opposition players and managers is part and parcel of a day out at the football.
That hostile atmosphere is what makes away games challenging.
But if you think that’s OK, you have to accept that sometimes there will be a bit of banter thrown the other way.
I’ve heard the argument that managers shouldn’t rise to the bait.
I’ve also heard it argued – and I agree – that Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t react in the same way.
But Brendan and Neil are different people – and they are treated differently.
Everybody knows the kind of things Lenny
has had to put up with over the years – and not always from Rangers fans.
The bullets through the post, the assaults, the verbals – it all adds up.
So, I’m sorry, but I believe he’s entitled to respond the way he did.
The police looked into it – including the now infamous arm gesture – and decided Lenny didn’t do anything worthy of action. That’s good enough for me.
Cupping his ears and making a gesture are hardly the worst things in the world.
The way I see it, all Neil is guilty of is whipping up a bit of drama, sparking a few headlines.
Doesn’t football thrive on that sort of thing? Isn’t that sort of passion exactly what whips
up interest in the game? The whole story was kept rumbling through the week as Lenny and Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha went back and forth over the events of last Saturday.
The stories were fantastic – and isn’t that what we all want to see?
Managers, who care about their clubs, having a ding- dong in the aftermath of a controversial game?
There is, of course, a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
When things get physical – or too personal – bad situations can develop.
But as far as I’m concerned, those who are looking to stamp all personality out of managers and players – and therefore out of the game – should be careful what they wish for.