Charlie Nicholas has well and truly bitten to the stinging criticism from Neil Lennon, proving that he is more than happy to dish it out but less than happy to take it back.
Writing in his Daily Express, column, as reported by The Daily Record, Nicholas doubles down on his claims that Celtic haven’t had a good transfer window.
So what has Nicholas said?
When responding to the Lennon’s comments that slammed the former Sky Sports pundit for always being negative towards his side, he said:
“Yes, they may have spent money but have they made the team better than last season?
“My answer is still no.
“David Turnbull was probably around £3million and he is not going to get in the team, Albian Ajeti hardly played at West Ham, but has been the star signing and Vasilis Barkas is no better than Craig Gordon and he is certainly not an upgrade on Fraser Forster.
“At left-back they tried two or three options before they got there with Diego Laxalt.
“A lot of the signings including Mohamed Elyounoussi, Shane Duffy and Laxalt are loans.
“Neil is quite happy to tell all the fans and his social media that Charlie has been slagging Celtic off for years.
“Neil has tried to get back at me by playing the old card, Charlie is the negative man of Celtic and I should show more respect!
“You play well and get the results, then you – and Celtic – will get total respect from me.
“I make no apologies for having a go. I’m not a media sheep.”
So is Nicholas correct?
No, he’s just digging an even bigger hole for himself. Celtic are sitting in pole position domestically, win their next home game and they will be top of the league and in Europe – although missing out on the Champions League – they have progressed to the group stages once again in the Europa League.
They have been far from their fluent best and yet they have still only dropped points once this season, hardly cause for alarm.
The players that have been brought in are all international players, except for Turnbull who is arguably the country’s hottest talent, and although Ajeti wasn’t a success at West Ham, his record at Basel – who are an established Champions League side – was exceptional.
Who's in the right?
Neil Lennon
Charlie Nicholas
Lennon has kept his key players and strengthened his squad with better ones, Nicholas can mump and moan all he wants about not being a “media sheep” but it doesn’t make his opinion any more valid, especially when it is as unfounded as this one.