Celtic fans: question for you

[TightEnd]

A lot of you named your best ever Celtic XI and very fine choices there were all round


One question...why does a hero of mine Neil Lennon not get in any of your teams?

He was fantastic at leicester, as soon as he left things began to fall apart..he was the glue that kept out team cohesive

He has been in all of O'Neill's successsful teams allowing others to play round him and Strachan has him as automatic choice too

Finally, a very brave man...stood up to a lot of sectarian hatred in Northern Ireland


Your thoughts?

[BigTomatoes]

 yes tighty Neil Lennon has been a great servant to Celtic

 wears his heart on his sleeve, is Celtic through and through and the Hoops fans love him

 i also agree he was a key player with Leicester

 but i have to say, over the years Celtic have had many,many great players and in my opinion Neil Lennon doesnt reach a Celtic all time great level.

[Nem]

One or two picked Lennon in their teams.

[Rod Paradise]

Lennon's been a great player for us, but unfortunately he doesn't play the 'Celtic Way'.

He's a defensive midfielder & more likely to pass back or sideways than forward. I love the guy, he's done great things for us, but he's not getting into a greats team (even one of players I've seen) when, off the top of my head,  Lambert, McStay & Collins all could do what Lenny does, but have the attacking flair the Celtic Support love to see.

[Hairydude]

John Collins was a fantastic player- he was probably the last world class player Scotland produced- done my nut in to see him play for the dark side of the force tho!!!

[GlasgowBandit]

Rod Paradise is spot on Tighty.  Lennon doesn't play the Celtic way.

Very much like Peter Grant he's an absolute work horse!

Again much like my answer to Brad Stryder who couldn't believe I had Granty in my worse XI again though like Grant I have Lennon in my top 5 heros.

Moreover and this is a point that is not communicated properly but Lennon is hated at every ground in Scotland barring one or two simply because he is a Catholic from the North of Ireland(the Irish thing is important here because there have been many a Catholic played for Celtic and not been given the same level as abuse), he has been abused and assaulted in the street, he was forced to retire from international football because of the bigots in the UDA.  He remains a target for the fascist and ulster loyal contingent of fans at Rangers and Hearts and he continues to go about his business week in week out and captain the team with great pride.

I had the privelage of being invited to a a Celtic Supporters dance in BElfast last year where Neil Lennon and John Hartson where the guests of honour, it was a truly remarkable night and after speaking to Lenny for about 30 minutes I realised just how much it emant for him to be playing at Celtic.

A Celtic legend indeed - but just not a Celtic player in terms of his game.

[Bazzaboy]

Moreover and this is a point that is not communicated properly but Lennon is hated at every ground in Scotland barring one or two simply because he is a Catholic from the North of Ireland(the Irish thing is important here because there have been many a Catholic played for Celtic and not been given the same level as abuse), he has been abused and assaulted in the street, he was forced to retire from international football because of the bigots in the UDA.  He remains a target for the fascist and ulster loyal contingent of fans at Rangers and Hearts and he continues to go about his business week in week out and captain the team with great pride.

I presume you are having a laugh here?? 

The part highlighted in bold is perhaps one of the most ridiculous and innacurate things I have ever read!!

I really do despair when I read such tripe!!!

[GlasgowBandit]

Definately not having a laugh.  We all know the reason why Lenny is hated, and those who hide away from it are ashamed to admit it.

What other reason is there for teh abuse that Lenny takes?  And who was the last player to suffer in Scotland like that?

The only journalist who speaks ths truth on this is Graham Speirs look how he gets treated by the rest of the Media.  It is a good sign that Jim Traynor is coming around to the way the media runs, ref his recent articles on Manager of the year etc.

[RFC]

Moreover and this is a point that is not communicated properly but Lennon is hated at every ground in Scotland barring one or two simply because he is a Catholic from the North of Ireland(the Irish thing is important here because there have been many a Catholic played for Celtic and not been given the same level as abuse), he has been abused and assaulted in the street, he was forced to retire from international football because of the bigots in the UDA.  He remains a target for the fascist and ulster loyal contingent of fans at Rangers and Hearts and he continues to go about his business week in week out and captain the team with great pride.

I presume you are having a laugh here?? 

The part highlighted in bold is perhaps one of the most ridiculous and innacurate things I have ever read!!

I really do despair when I read such tripe!!!

i wouldnt agree with that either
i think lennon is hated in scottish grounds ( apart from ibrox ) becuase of his arrogance towards other players and fans
with the way he always gets into situations he doesnt need to

Personally i think he is a very strong minded player that has put up with a lot of chit and shows it
i met him on the golf course a week after an old firm game and i started a bit of banter with him ( the cuddling martin game)

he gave as good as he got without any of us stepping over the mark
as soon as i got to the club house he came straight over to buy me and my mates a drink and had the respect to let me
buy him one back without the im mega rich patter


 

[Bazzaboy]

Definately not having a laugh.  We all know the reason why Lenny is hated, and those who hide away from it are ashamed to admit it.

What other reason is there for teh abuse that Lenny takes?  And who was the last player to suffer in Scotland like that?

The only journalist who speaks ths truth on this is Graham Speirs look how he gets treated by the rest of the Media.  It is a good sign that Jim Traynor is coming around to the way the media runs, ref his recent articles on Manager of the year etc.

Genuinely PMSL. 

So you are telling me that Falkirk, Dunfermline, Inverness fans etc abuse Neil Lennon because he is a catholic from Northern Ireland??? If that is the case then every club in Scotland then has a sectarian problem.  So is that what you are suggesting??

Neil Lennon gets abuse in the main because he is a particularly obnoxious individual when he is on the pitch, NOT becaue he is a catholic from Northern Ireland.

[GlasgowBandit]

Definately not having a laugh.  We all know the reason why Lenny is hated, and those who hide away from it are ashamed to admit it.

What other reason is there for teh abuse that Lenny takes?  And who was the last player to suffer in Scotland like that?

The only journalist who speaks ths truth on this is Graham Speirs look how he gets treated by the rest of the Media.  It is a good sign that Jim Traynor is coming around to the way the media runs, ref his recent articles on Manager of the year etc.

If that is the case then every club in Scotland then has a sectarian problem.  So is that what you are suggesting??

Yes thats what I am suggesting.

Its typical of the Scottish media to play the sectarian card only on the old firm, but the problem goes much further.

IMO Hearts have the most sectarian support in Scotland.  Motherwell have a probelm with the fash and so too do Airdrie.

What about the slogans paimted outside Lennon's house "Fenian Bastard" is one that springs to mind, that wasn't sectarian right?

[Bazzaboy]

Definately not having a laugh.  We all know the reason why Lenny is hated, and those who hide away from it are ashamed to admit it.

What other reason is there for teh abuse that Lenny takes?  And who was the last player to suffer in Scotland like that?

The only journalist who speaks ths truth on this is Graham Speirs look how he gets treated by the rest of the Media.  It is a good sign that Jim Traynor is coming around to the way the media runs, ref his recent articles on Manager of the year etc.

If that is the case then every club in Scotland then has a sectarian problem.  So is that what you are suggesting??

Yes thats what I am suggesting.

Unreal.  I'll leave it at that as you are evidently a misguided individual.

[TightEnd]

I wish I hadn't asked now.....