In games against other SPL opposition, Lennon has again learned from his mistakes. Against Hearts at Tynecastle Celtic adapted a 4-4-2/4-4-3 formation which included Samaras on the wing and seemed to be about giving Hearts respect. We lost that game and ever since Celtic have played the 4-4-2 formation with devastating results.
When it comes to his signings, once again Lennon has to be praised. Kayal, Hooper, Izaguirre and Stokes have all been huge successes, with the likes of Ledley, Mulgrew and Majstorovich becoming more influential as the season has went on.
Lennon has also managed to resurrect the careers of players at Celtic who have underachieved or went missing through injury. Mark Wilson has performed admirably at right-back and centre-half, Charlie Mulgrew has came out of nowhere to become a fine centre-half and Georgios Samaras seems to have become an expert in games against Rangers, who don’t seem to know how to handle him. Lennon has also showed his ruthless side by demoting/getting rid of the likes of Loovens and Hooiveld after they didn’t cut it.
Most importantly of all, the football that Celtic are playing at the moment is a free-flowing attacking style which other teams can’t seem to cope with. It has got the fans excited again, and after the last couple of years of tedium Celtic Park is the place to be once again. In my opinion, even though no trophies have been won as yet, Lennon has already done more than enough to obtain a long-term contract as manager of the club, in fact announcing it this week would keep the feel-good factor at the club going, but that seems unlikely to happen. Still, at least Lennon, his back-room staff and the team on the pitch have given the fans our pride back, and hopefully the collective will is there to push on and make this season to remember.
