Trailing rivals Rangers by 12 points in the league in November is a massive no-no for Celtic fans and this was clearly evident after the final whistle at Celtic Park with mass boos ringing out after Celtic were held to a 0-0 draw with Hibernian, days after beating the Easter Road side 4-1 in the League Cup quarter finals.
Neil Lennon stated previously that he would walk away if Celtic were not moving forward under his tutelage, who can honestly say that Celtic are moving in the right direction?
Lennon's assistant Johan Mjallby has admitted that jobs are on the line due to the club's form this season.
He stated: "As coaches it's the most critical week of our careers at Celtic. We can't lose any more ground to Rangers and we have important games against Rennes and Motherwell in the next couple of days.
"It's a big opportunity to gain some confidence as, of course, we are battling to save our jobs. Not only the players, but the people in management are low in confidence right now. I was here six years as a player and I know this club. Nothing surprised me and it's good in a way as these are testing times.
"Sure, I would be happier if the team was playing better and we were getting results. It's important that we all work harder as a team."
Rumours are rife that there has been some sort of dressing room bust-up at Celtic and while there is no proof of that, on the pitch the players looks disinterested and a shadow of their former selves. On Saturday only James Forrest looked hungry for the ball, he showed desire and some fight and then Georgios Samaras and Victor Wanyama came on late on in the game - they too added some desire and fight - sadly the rest of their team mates continued to show nothing at all to warrant their wage packet.
I have stated previously that Ally McCoist is seeing his Rangers side consistently winning games in the league, because he has an experienced management team behind him. Neil Lennon has not got that. His whole management team is inexperienced and while they know how to win games on the pitch, they do not know how to inspire, how to impart their knowledge and desire to the players under their charge to get them over the finishing line.
Last season clearly showed this, when Celtic could not beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle when the league title was Celtic's to lose. Then there was the 0-0 draw at Ibrox which was another defining moment. But those two games were not the sole reason why Celtic lost the league last season, you will have to take into consideration the games that Celtic dropped points over the Christmas and New Year period more so.
Celtic's players showed desire, fight and a need to win games for Neil Lennon, given what he had been going through with the parcel bombs, bullets and being attacked. That was their inspiration and for the most part that overshadowed the problems with Lennon's tactical inexperience and lack of ability in the role.
This season the Celtic players have not got those sickening incidents to fire them up and so they need a manager and coaching team to boost their morale, to inspire them and use the experience they have picked up over the years to make sure they get the best out of every single player. Celtic does not have that.
Chopping and changing the team, threatening to name and shame players in public, failing to make substitutions when they were clearly needed, top players last season failing to perform this season and unforeseen injuries have all played their part.
But with the only consistency this season, being how poor Celtic have been, the fans who cheered and lauded Neil Lennon in their final game last season against Motherwell could turn their back on a manager who falls into that category of 'Celtic-minded'.
Sunday 15th May 2011, Neil Lennon stated that this was not the end, just the beginning. Six months later and the Motherwell game could prove to be the end of Neil Lennon as Celtic manager.
If Celtic do not pick up all three points on Sunday then Lennon should walk and allow someone else - whoever that may be - come in to try and salvage Celtic's season before it is too late.
Andy Muirhead is the Editor of Scotzine.com and produces the Scottish Football show The Final Whistle for Pulse 98.4FM. He also works on a freelance basis and has contributed to the Daily Record, The Scotsman, the Daily Mail and hasfeatured on BBC Radio Scotland and Sports Tonight TV.
RSS feed