As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of
America, Benjamin Franklin once said "In this world there is nothing that
is certain except death and taxes.” Franklin passed away approximately 224
years shy of adding Celtic’s 2013/14 SPL title to that list.
Despite this piece of silverware that’s had Celtic’s name on
it before the season began, all is not well around Parkhead. Many fans may now
be left wondering if Neil Lennon is becoming one of the Founding Fathers of
mediocrity at this once great footballing club, as by far the best team in
Scotland was dumped out of yet another
Cup competition this season.
Although the Hoops’ blushes won’t shine as brightly as those
left by Morton in the 1-0 defeat in the League Cup, they are still as red as
the hair that adorns the head of their manager, who claims they’ve had a “brilliant
season”, despite being defeated 2-1 by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. Things
have gone from bad to worse for Lennon and his Bhoys on the domestic front this
season. Fans have little to slake their interest barring an unbeaten League
run and Fraser Forster’s clean sheet record.
This is a far cry from how the Green and White faithful
were gearing themselves up in early February last season, as Celtic
prepared to face Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League. Heroic
victories against Barcelona and Spartak Moscow were a redemptive message of
renewed ambition- a lift for a club who were supposed to be left in dire straits following Rangers’ liquidation.
Despite reaching the Champions League this season, one reason behind Lennon's “brilliant season” boast, Celtic went out
with a whimper. Inadequate replacements for Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama
meant the Hoops never stood a chance among the Big Boys
in Europe. His team's under-performance in the Champions League provided ammo
for those who don’t think Lennon is the right man for the job. His inability to
lead his team to victory against Morton in the League Cup cocked the gun, and
his side’s defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup placed a finger firmly on the
trigger.
In his proclaimed “brilliant season” Lennon saw his team’s few admirable performances in the Champions League go to waste; arguably
because of a lack of serious business in the summer transfer window. His talk
of being in a position to spend £6 million on just one player in the January
transfer window was met with actions of only two players being bought, in the
form of midfielder Stefan Johansen for £2 million and striker Leigh Griffiths
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £1 million. Fan
favourite Joe Ledley also departed south of the border to ply his trade with
Crystal Palace. And now his team’s
failure to reach the quarter finals of both cup competitions for the first time
in 32 years, can cap off what many fans will agree is an anything-but-brilliant
season.
It is not a divine right of Celtic’s to claim the domestic treble
in any season, but without the threat of Rangers in the SPL it is
expected that they should come close, a lot closer than they have this season.
Nor is it expected that a relatively inexperienced manager, in his first job, can
work miracles. However, time and time again Lennon has displayed an inability
to gear his players up for the ‘important’ games against the less able opponents in Scotland. The blame cannot lie completely
with the Northern Irishman, but it has become such a trend that he can’t be
exempt from it either. A Celtic manager should expect nothing less.
Like our friend Benjamin Franklin, Lennon also had a thing
or two to say with regards to storms. In front of an electrifying crowd, who had just witnessed their club lose out on the title race, he vowed to bring the thunder back to Parkhead. His words struck hope in the hearts of the Celtic faithful and a surge of expectation flowed. The defeat to Aberdeen has well and truly defused this. Unfortunately, this term, Benjamin would be left flying his kite for a long time in Celtic Park.
