Celtic Blogs

Lennon under pressure as Sutton suggests “different voice” could be required

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Neil Lennon is a game in hand away from being just a point behind Rangers, currently on the same points as last season, and in the group stages of the Europa League, yet finds himself under increasing pressure.

Former team-mate Chris Sutton, speaking on the Record Celtic podcast, reported by The Daily Record, believes that it is the manner of defeats in big games and the general form of Celtic this season that is most alarming – and something the gaffer needs to rectify as soon as possible.

So what has Sutton said?

When asked to reflect on Celtic’s chances with AC Milan coming to town on Thursday, he said:

“This season is very much retrievable for Celtic. The facts of the matter is, though, they haven’t performed well and in the big games they’ve come up well short.

“Ferencvaros is a massive problem for Neil Lennon, off the back of going out to Cluj in the Champions League qualifiers last year. That’s added pressure.

“He got himself out of trouble in many respect with the good performances in the Europa League, that’s all forgotten after the start to this season. Out of the Champions League, losing to Rangers and losing badly.

“That’s the third performance against Rangers in a row where Rangers have been the dominant team and it’s pretty eye opening for Celtic fans. They’re thinking ‘How are we going to turn it around?’.

“The truth of the matter is we’re all sitting there and thinking AC Milan, in the form they are in, will come and turn Celtic over easily.

“But Neil Lennon somehow needs to get a tune out of his players, otherwise Peter Lawwell might be thinking ‘we need a different voice, I can’t let this carry on’.”

So is Sutton correct?

To an extent, yes, but it is very much a case of being careful what you wish for, Lennon has delivered every trophy since he took over from Brendan Rodgers as well as getting to the knockout stages of the Europa League last season, we are literally talking about less than a handful of games that his side has under performed.

What do you do?

Give Lennon time?

Give Lennon time?

Give Lennon the boot?

Give Lennon the boot?

The defeats to Cluj and Ferencvaros were poor and in both games there were tactical issues that would have pointed the finger of blame at the gaffer, however, those defeats were also littered with soft goals and individual errors that he couldn’t do anything about.

Celtic haven’t as much dropped off in form – we weren’t firing on all cylinders this time last year either – rather that Rangers have improved, but only one side has shown the mental strength to pull away in a title chase season after season, and it isn’t the one from Govan, patience not panic should be the mantra, for now at least.

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