Rejuvenated Celts control Killie

Last game: Celtic 3 – 1 Kilmarnock

Celtic form after 5 games:  WWWLW

By Séan Walsh

Neil Lennons debut taking over the managerial hotseat, what ESPN sensationally described as the “poisoned chalice” , began in great fashion with an evidently rejuvenated Celtic side looking to make up for the week’s prior embarassment at St Mirren. Although Lennon is viewed as an iconic figure in East Glasgow, there were no guarantee’s that he would be given any quarter from the vicious and temperant Celtic support. It was with great relief that 20 minutes into the game that Lennon had looked like dragging the players out of shame and stupour into some resemblance of passion. Its no coincidence that the fiery Irishmans first start saw motivation and fight from the team. Mowbrays Celtic looked devoided of motivation and belief throughout the season, and the introduction of Neil Lennon as interim manager would at the very least giving the players a first hand experience of what really is passion at the club.

Lennon, despite never being accreditted skills such as technique, flair or vision – very much delivered the main ingredients that made Martin O’Neils team consistantly cause problems. Lennons philosophy is obviously one that looks to invoke a sense of pride mixed with passion, determination with grit and effort with Johan Mjallby screaming at those who don’t produce! With the season very much over, there isn’t much room to develop his own team or brand of football from scratch. Lennon has clearly been brought in to great the team playing the basic game of football and make them understand the shirts history, culture and identity that it should represent to them every minute of every game. Lennon very much continued with the same team that Mowbray fielded, with only Edson Braafheid dropped to accomodate Englishman Lee Naylor at left back. Brown continued to remain as captain paretnering N’Guemo whilst Samaras gradually is allowed to become accustomed to his new role on the left flank. Lennon is here to change mentality, not the team itself, not yet anyway.

Celtic gave a solid performance that saw greater fluency and pressure against the opposition throughout. With most of the play being afforded down the wings, Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras produced excellent performances showing ability, willingness to pressure and confidence to continue dribbling at the defence. Scott Brown and Landry N’Guemo continued to sit fairly deep which was reflected in the lack of touches in the central area of the oppositions half – but Brown notched up a rare goal from midfield whilst N’Guemo continued to hurl his body at players in order to win possession. Undoubtedly the midfield worked at a much higher rate than at St Mirren, with a sense of urgency and rhythm previously missing throughout the season.

The back line had very little to worry about all game. Outside a deflected longball that gave Kilmarnock a consolation goal, Artur Boruc rarely touched the ball but when he did it was enjoyable to see the great Pole quickly distributing play with long range throws. Andreas Hinkel showed why he remains number one contender for player of the year, perhaps the only player to show any consistancy throughtout the season, eager to bomb forward and frustrating Killie with several tackles. Lee Naylor, a player who seems to be lambasted when he is on the pitch, and demanded when he isn’t gave an assured senior performance that saw him perhaps clinge to close to the halfway line but nevertheless an improvement in comparison to certain Bayern Munich loanee’s. In the center, youngster Josh Thompson worked well with an ever growing Darren O’Dea to keep pressure in the opposite end of the pitch. O’Dea in particular looked eager to move the ball into counter attacks on several occassions and despite Thompsons age and ever changing partners he has had – gave a decent performance for a teenager who has barely played in more than 30 games of football in his career – particularly at Celtic Park, where younger players are given no time to develop and ruthlessly criticised by the fickle pie eating football manager obssessed crowd.

Up front saw an ever industrious Fortune playing the role of target man, shielding the ball and allowing Robbie Keane space to run into, despite lack of goals – the £3.5 million man makes a mockery of his equivalent valued counter part and cheat 2 miles down the road. Most of the plaudits have to go inevitabley to Robbie Keane, who has now scored 9 of Celtics last 11 goals and continues to give the Celtic support something to discuss happily at walking down London Road. Both goals were magnificantly taken and his movement continued to torture Kilmarnock defenders. His absence next year will undoubtedly be something the ne wmanager must address immediately – and where better to look than this years World Cup.

Overall, a solid effort that was much needed orchestrated by some Lennon motivation and thinking. Now the hard part, how long can it continue – and even harder, if it does, what will happen to Neil Lennon post-season?