Crespo's glowing assessment of TLB's first year in charge of Ra Sellick

[ian1964 10,720]

Twelve months ago today, Neil Lennon was on his way to Ireland to check out a player.

 

Little did he know that, in his absence, Tony Mowbray was about to check out of Celtic and open the door for the then second-team coach to be handed the biggest challenge of a life already defined by huge challenges.

 

The bitter disappointment of losing his first cup final as a manager at the weekend was just another loop in the roller-coaster ride which Lennon has negotiated since he took control of a Celtic side lurching so badly that it threatened to come off the rails.

 

His record shows that, in the 49 games across five different competitions in which he has sent out his side, Celtic have won 37, drawn five and lost seven. They have scored 105 goals en route, and conceded 40.

 

Impressive stats, but they do not even begin to tell the story of how Lennon ââ?¬â?? ably assisted by Johan Mjallby, Alan Thompson and Garry Parker ââ?¬â?? has turned a juggernaut around.

 

The prefix ââ?¬Ë?successfullyââ?¬â?¢ may have been attached to this, but, at the moment, it does not seem fully justified, least of all in the eyes of Lennon.

 

Only when the SPL flag is flying above Celtic Park once again will he believe he has returned the club to where they should be.

 

For any manager, setting such a goal is ambitious, especially given how far Celtic lagged behind Rangers when he took over ââ?¬â?? 10 points and with two games more played.

 

Factor in the double handicap, firstly that Lennon aimed so high with no managerial experience behind him, and secondly in the knowledge he was going to have to completely rip apart the team he inherited and start again, and you begin to wonder if he bit off more than any man could reasonably expect to chew.

 

But, like an attack dog, as soon as he was unleashed, Lennon went for the jugular.

 

He set himself an initial three-point plan:

 

Closing the gap between Celtic and Rangers in the league ââ?¬â?? which he found embarrassing ââ?¬â?? was the first thing in his sights.

Beating Rangers in the final Old Firm game of the season ââ?¬â?? something Mowbray had fatally failed to do during his nine tortured months in charge ââ?¬â?? was next up to post a declaration of intent for the following year.

Claiming the one piece of silverware still available to Celtic at that time, the Scottish Cup, was the last aim.

 

That final objective came crashing down around Lennon�s ears when Ross County rocked him and everyone else in football by defeating Celtic in the semi-final on April 10, just three games into the new manager�s reign.

 

Even allowing for his 100% record in the eight SPL games ââ?¬â?? including victory over Rangers ââ?¬â??that Hampden humbling could have shaken the confidence of men like Dermot Desmond, John Reid and Peter Lawwell, not to mention those supporters who had put so much faith in the former captain riding to the rescue in the clubââ?¬â?¢s hour of most need.

 

What it did not do was shake Lennon�s own belief that he was up to the job.

 

In a perverse way, it actually strengthened his resolve to prove he was the man to shake Celtic out of their decline and take them back to the heights he enjoyed as a player with them, under Martin O�Neill and Gordon Strachan.

 

No one, least of all the underachieving players, were left in any doubt many futures were on the line, not just those of the rookie boss and his hastily-assembled backroom staff.

 

More than a few did not survive the summer cull required to allow Lennon to build his own side.

 

Touchline critics tried to pick him off with claims that, just like Mowbray, he was bringing in too many new faces at one time.

 

However, given the mis-matched squad he inherited, Lennon had no choice but to wield the axe on much of it and start again.

 

Given licence to stamp his own mark on the team, aided by the money generated from selling players such as Aiden McGeady, Artur Boruc, Stephen McManus and several others, and releasing the wages being paid to loan signings including Robbie Keane, Diomansy Kamara, Landry Nââ?¬â?¢Guemo and Edson Braafheid ââ?¬â?? the latter reputed to be collecting around Ã?£40,000-per- week ââ?¬â?? Lennon had to prove to his paymasters he could get more bang for their buck.

 

His years of watching men like O�Neill, Strachan and even Mowbray had confirmed to him that, ultimately, a manager is judged on two things: the signings he makes, and the trophies they deliver.

 

To this point, he has been proved to be astute in the transfer market, having unearthed nuggets among the 14 players he has recruited such as Emilio Izaguirre, Gary Hooper and Beram Kayal.

 

Others, such as Joe Ledley, Kris Commons, Daniel Majstorovic, Charlie Mulgrew and Anthony Stokes have also proved to be genuine value for the money paid, either in terms of wages for the Bosmans or relatively small transfer fees.

 

Of course, when you are trawling for so many players, a few are going to get caught up the net who you might prefer to throw back.

 

There is no doubt that Efrain Juarez, who cost just a tad less than all the aforementioned put together, has been a major disappointment, while Daryl Murphy, Cha Du-Ri, Freddie Ljungberg and a few more currently stuck in the stands have also failed to fire.

 

However, Lennon has signed enough players of the required standard to haul Celtic to the top of the SPL and into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

 

True validation of his credentials as a manager who can return the club to where they need to be will not arrive until he gets his hands on the SPL trophy he last held aloft as a coach under Strachan.

 

If he can do that, a well-earned increase in the terms under which he has operated for the past year will be forthcoming, along with the eternal gratitude of a support who, 12 months ago, began to disengage with the club.

 

They have not only re-affirmed their bond, but now stand to a man behind the rookie boss who is battling not only to take his team back to the top, but to be allowed to lead from the front, or, at least, the touchline.

 

The on-going war with the SFA is a side-issue which Lennon could well do without, and he must remain vigilant that he does not become pawn in the game which has been played out between Celtic and the Hampden hierarchy since the season began.

 

Lennon has enough to contend with as threats to his safety and that of his family have forced him to operate on a daily basis against a sinister backdrop which would be a distraction to even the strongest character.

 

A year ago, he was carefully articulating how he planned to bring Celtic back from the brink.

 

Today, his silence says even more as it amplifies the pressures, both personally and professionally, Lennon is now challenged to endure.

 

He is older, he is wiser, and he is even more determined to succeed with the experience of the past 12 months etched on his soul.