Daniel Brigham 0 Posted February 21, 2014 With Neil Lennon linked to the Norwich manager''s job, Daniel Brigham has trouble working out whether that''s good or bad news for Norwich. Is Neil Lennon a good manager? It''s a genuine question. I really have no idea. Does he believe in win-at-all-costs football or don''t-lose-at-all costs football; tiki-taka or lumpy-bumpy? Is he on the same page as Chris Hughton or from a different planet? I have no frame of reference outside of watching two or three big European matches in which he understandably – and successfully – set his team up to not concede. I have no idea if that''s how he sets his side up in the Scottish Premier League, because I''d rather watch Simon Cowell eat a packet of crisps for 90 minutes than watch the SPL. To me, Scottish football''s only use is allowing time for a toilet break while Football Focus spends two awkward minutes discussing it every Saturday.So, not only do I not know how good a manager Lennon is, I don''t know what sort of manager he is – other than from what I''ve read by people who have seen a lot of Celtic (and also by people who have seen very little of Celtic yet appear to have somehow formed a strong opinion on him). During David McNally’s chat with Chris Goreham (which was disappointingly conducted during daylight hours at Carrow Road rather than on the stroke of midnight in McNally''s secret lair) he did a fiendishly excellent job of sort of, maybe, kind of admitting that he had names lined up should he sack Hughton. From a few little bits I’ve heard hear and there Lennon is rather high up that secret list of names.So what do we really know about him? He''s won the SPL two times in three full seasons. Both of those titles were claimed after Rangers’ demotion, which seems a bit like wining a tennis match with no opponent. You’d back even Cliff Richard to take Celtic to the Scottish title under those circumstances and, also like Sir Cliff, Lennon has his own calendar out in which he, variably, stares moodily into the distance or looks rather pleased with himself, like he''s invented a cure for male baldness but isn''t going to tell anyone. The calendar has been marketed as “official”, presumably to distinguish it from those hundreds of knock-off Lennon calendars flooding the streets of Glasgow. Lennon also has his own website. From there you can buy mugs, pint glasses, fleeces, ladies sweat pants, cardies, wallets, mousemats, beanies and t-shirts, all with his name, initials or face printed on. Imagine all of this in the Norwich club shop. Just imagine it. You too could open your beer bottles without ever forgetting the initials of Norwich City’s manager; you too could run your mouse over Lennon’s face the next time you check the Pink’un. So perhaps there is a vanity to Lennon, but there is also a bravery. He was one of the first footballers to openly talk about battling depression in 2006, a courageous thing to do with such a stigma attached to the illness in sport. Lennon deserves immense credit for speaking honestly about it and helping to combat ignorance.All of this might tell us a bit about his personality but it doesn''t really tell me about his qualities as a manager (despite his mousemat, now reduced to just £5, subtly influencing me by calling him a ''Champion Football Manager). It''s impossible to make a judgement without the greater knowledge only available to those who have seen Celtic play regularly. After all, I know exactly why I don’t want Malky Mackay as Norwich manager. I''ve seen plenty of Cardiff and enough of Watford to form an opinion that although he might create enough of an emotional bounce to get us two vital wins this season we''d be in exactly the same position this time next year while still playing the same uninspiring football. I have also seen enough of Marcelo Bielsa''s sides over the last decade to believe that he would be an inspired choice for next season (should we survive) but a disaster at this stage. Not only is he unfamiliar with the Premier League but Norwich''s players will be unfamiliar with his style of play. It would be like asking morris dancers to master the Harlem Shake overnight.Yet I can’t say with any confidence either way with Lennon. Logic suggests that two Scottish titles in a league with no competition and a couple of excellent European performances shouldn’t be enough to convince McNally that Lennon is suited to a job as a Premier League manager. Lennon does, however, come across as a fighter, a scrapper. He has a bit of the mongrel about him, a striking antithesis to Hughton, who is more of a loyal Labrador. However, that alone doesn''t make Lennon a better manager. Just a different sort of manager.So, can anyone say how good – or bad – he really is? Daniel Brigham is features editor of The Cricketer magazine.Follow him on Twiiter: @cricketer_dan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NCFC for life 1993- 0 Posted February 21, 2014 What a quality post. Great read and very interesting points on Lennon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dubai Mark 0 Posted February 21, 2014 So, we are still non the wiser then? ...."good post" ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted February 21, 2014 Good post.For me, "Classless" sums up Neil Lennon.We''re better than him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PurpleCanary 6,192 Posted February 21, 2014 [quote user="Dubai Mark"]So, we are still non the wiser then? ...."good post" ???[/quote]I don''t think we''re better informed but I would say we are a bit wiser. Because not having a clue whether Lennon is any good as a football manager - and no-one knows - is in itself an answer for a club that is not and will not be in a position to take a risk on someone without a track record in a serious league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Brigham 0 Posted February 21, 2014 Spot on, Purple ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,654 Posted February 21, 2014 Excellent & entertaining article once again DB! You''re well into my top ten posters to look out for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the pigman 0 Posted February 21, 2014 Got Matt Jackson sent off years ago,hate the man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZLF 331 Posted February 21, 2014 Looking at Lifes Rich Pageant of managers (Bielsa is an excellent option and streets ahead of lennon or, what if we give it away to mackay) its clear that those that think Lennon is some sort of superman have just a touch of madness & have me laughing like a hyena. These days, I beleive, norwich fans thinks even the flowers of guatemala would be a better option than CH. DBs conclusion is the only one that can be drawn. If we take the risky option of such a flaky character with unknown capability (a couple of CL games; lutons manager achieved the equivalent in the FA Cup last season showing how you can be successful in a one off, why not choose him?) from the begin the begin you will fund me underneath the bunker screaming cuyohoga and swan swan h before the men in white coats fall on me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,399 Posted February 21, 2014 My gut instinct is that Lennon isn''t a great manager - to me he seems one of those managers who will get a team playing as well as the sum of its parts, but not beyond that. But like many, I just can''t say for certain. What I do know is he has a Twitter account, and I don''t like the idea of a manager with a Twitter account. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Brigham 0 Posted February 21, 2014 Ha, thanks Ron. Very kind. Bethnal, that''s my gut instinct too, but that''s all it is - an instinct. I think he''d be an enormous gamble, and a pretty underwhelming gamble as well. Does he use Twitter to promote his ladies sweatpants? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zemas tendon 0 Posted February 21, 2014 Not really sure what to make of Lennon, defo got more fight in him than Clueless, or that he shows it more on the sideline!! but that said, a Celtic team which he has should not be losing home games in the SPL, bit like Man City losing at home to us!! Never should happen!! but has there been any decent Manager to have failed at Celtic!! only one i can think of who has failed in recent is Mowbray but he was not decent!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray 111 Posted February 22, 2014 Waiting in the wings, that''s where he is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites