Martin O’Neill’s first 100 games in charge:
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P 100
W 80 (80%)
D 8 (8%)
L 12 (12%)
F 241 (2.41 Average goals per game)
A 72 (0.72 Average goals per game)
GD +169
AFTER 100 games:
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1/1 SPL title.
1/1 Scottish Cup.
1/2 CIS Cups.
Qualified for 2000/01 UEFA Cup Round 1.
Reached Round 2 before knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Bordeaux.
Qualified for 2001/02 Champions League group stage by knocking out Ajax 3-2 on aggregate. (including 3-1 win in Amsterdam)
In the 2001/02 group stage we gained 9 points, including a 4-3 win against Juventus and a 1-0 win against Porto.
Desperately unlucky not to qualify for Last 16 for the first time in our history.
In Round 3 of 2001/02 UEFA Cup, we went out on penalties to Valencia, after a 1-0 home win made it 1-1 on aggregate.
Despite a diappointing CIS Cup exit to the new Rangers manager Alex McLeish, the rest of the season didn’t disappoint.
6 wins out of 8 games against Rangers – P8 W6 D0 L2 F19 A11 GD+8.
After 100 games, Celtic were 13 points and 13 goals ahead of Rangers in 2001/02 and barring a miracle, 2/2 SPL titles under O’Neill.
Most back to back wins under O’Neill in this 100 game period = 12 (30th July 2000 to 23rd September 2000)
Top 5 wins after 100 games in charge:
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1) Juventus 4-3 Home
2) Rangers 6-2 Home
3) Porto 1-0 Home
4) Ajax 3-1 Away
5) Rangers 3-0 Away
Gordon Strachan’s first 100 games in charge:
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P 100
W 69 (69%)
D 16 (16%)
L 15 (15%)
F 200 (2.00) Average goals per game
A 95 (0.95) Average goals per game
GD +105
After 100 games:
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2/2 SPL titles.
1/2 Scottish Cup.
1/2 CIS Cup.
Failed to qualify for 2005/06 Champions league group stage.
Failed to qualify for 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage.
Out of Europe before September 2005.
Qualified for 2006/07 Champions League group stage.
Whilst in the group stage we gained 9 points, including a 1-0 win against Manchester United and a 3-0 win against Benfica.
Qualified for Last 16 for the first time in our history.
Barring 2 Refereeing howlers in the San Siro, qualification for Quarter Finals of 2006/07 Champions League was certain.
4 wins and 2 draws out of 9 games against Rangers – P9 W4 D2 L3 F10 A7 GD +3
After 100 games, Celtic had just won 2/2 titles under Strachan and started off the bid for 3/3 titles with 4 points from our opening 2 games.
Most back to back wins under Strachan in this 100 game period = 11 (1st February 2006 to 9th April 2006)
Top 5 wins after 100 games in charge:
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1) Manchester United 1-0 Home
2) Benfica 3-0 Home
3) Rangers 3-0 Home
4) Rangers 1-0 Away
5) Copenhagen 1-0 Home
Neil Lennon’s first 100 games in charge:
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P 100
W 74 (74%)
D 12 (12%)
L 14 (14%)
F 210 (2.10 Average goals per game)
A 74 (0.74 Average goals per game)
GD +136
After 100 games:
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0/1 SPL Title.
1/2 Scottish Cups. (Ross County in 2009/10 down to Lennon not Mowbray)
0/1 CIS Cup.
Failed to qualify for 2010/11 Champions league group stage.
Failed to qualify for 2010/11 Europa league group stage.
Out of Europe before September 2010.
Failed to qualify for 2011/12 Champions league group stage based on 2010/11 season; no CL qualifier for 2nd placed team
Qualified for 2011/12 Europa League Group Stage but only by default, in reality we lost 3-1 on aggregate to FC Sion.
Despite taking 1 point from our opening 2 games, we gain respect with 4 points against Rennes and a 1-1 away to Udinese before narrowly failing to qualify for Last 32 stage.
5 wins and 2 draws out of 10 against Rangers – P10 W5 D2 L3 F15 A12 GD +3
After 100 games, Celtic are 4 points and 1 goal ahead of Rangers in 2011/12 having been 15 points and 13 goals behind them – albeit they had 2 game in hand – just 3 months ago! At this moment in time, we have won 17 back to back domestic games and our fans have real confidence that a treble could be on.
Most back to back wins under Lennon in this 100 game period = 11 (18th December 2011 to 11th February 2012)
Top 5 wins after 100 games in charge:
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1) Rangers 3-0 Home
2) Rangers 2-0 Away
3) Rennes 3-1 Home
4) Rangers 1-0 Home (Either March 2011 or December 2011)
5) Motherwell 3-0 Hampden
I now fully regret my article writte in the wake of the 0-0 Hibs game – The last time we failed to win in domestic competition.
I have learned my lesson from early November that you should never to write off the fighting qualities of our articulate, determined and ever improving manager. Now let’s hope our squad have learned their own lesson from early May that you can never be complacent and to take it one game at a time. Hail Hail and the jelly and ice cream is on me!
p.s Green Brigade members if you are reading, please start the “There’s only one Neil Lennon” chants at Celtic Park again, our gaffer and the entire stadium would very much appreciate it.
