Neil Lennon's abuse in Scotland

[Narborough_fox]

A couple of my family members are Celtic fans (shame on them) and they say Lennon has got a serious chip on his shoulder. It's not just him being a Catholic which gets him the abuse (some of which is too far) but it's him being an all-round eejit. 

[The Horse's Mouth]

he's a vile ****

[Jordan]

But it's not just Rangers fans. It's not 'whataboutery' as they say up here.

Plenty of neutrals , me included, lost respect for Lennon every time he got in a ref's face, goaded opponents or made gestures at fans.

I'm slightly offended that you have lumped any critics of Lennon, me included, in with the red white and blue Orcs.

You don't need a sectarian motive to consider some of his antics dickheadish.

The fact he served City well shouldn't reduce his duty to behave himself.

By no reasonable measure (ask the SFA) did he behave himself.

I was specifically referring to Rangers fans, but if you want my opinion about your case: I bet you can rattle off a whole team's worth of UK-based players and a manager that act worse or just as poorly as Lennon (and are probably much bigger ***** outside of football, too, including ex-cons). In that imaginary squad, how many of those men receive anywhere near the kind of abuse Lennon has?

If someone mailed Joey Barton a parcel bomb (real or fake), or threatened to kill Luis Suarez, would you say, "well, he's brought a lot of trouble on himself...?"

Obviously, Lennon has had problems with his temper, but I think a bigger problem than Neil Lennon's behavior on the pitch and touch line is grown men allowing themselves that worked up by Lennon's actions.

For another take on Lennon's combustible style, here's Barry Ferguson: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barry-ferguson-loved-battles-pal-3598823

[Vacamion]

I was specifically referring to Rangers fans, but if you want my opinion about your case: I bet you can rattle off a whole team's worth of UK-based players and a manager that act worse or just as poorly as Lennon (and are probably much bigger ***** outside of football, too, including ex-cons). In that imaginary squad, how many of those men receive anywhere near the kind of abuse Lennon has?

If someone mailed Joey Barton a parcel bomb (real or fake), or threatened to kill Luis Suarez, would you say, "well, he's brought a lot of trouble on himself...?"

Obviously, Lennon has had problems with his temper, but I think a bigger problem than Neil Lennon's behavior on the pitch and touch line is grown men allowing themselves that worked up by Lennon's actions.

For another take on Lennon's combustible style, here's Barry Ferguson: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/barry-ferguson-loved-battles-pal-3598823

It IS possible to deplore Lennon's behaviour and think him a dick without mailing him a bomb or jumping out of the stand at him, you know.

I deplore the attacks and threats on him.

Doesn't detract from my original assertion that he did himself no favours by repeatedly acting like a turd in the combustible environment of Scottish football and, in particular, Old Firm football.

You can't compare the situation on the West Coast of Scotland, with all its baggage, with how footballing dickheads are perceived and treated elsewhere. It's different here.

[Vacamion]

By the way, I was reading that Roy Keane might be in line to succeed Lennon.

Not known for his diplomacy is our Roy.

I think the only more combustible appointments in Scottish football would be El Hadji Diouff or Andy McNabb as Rangers Boss or maybe Alex Salmond at Berwick Rangers.

[One Legged Beaver]

By the way, I was reading that Roy Keane might be in line to succeed Lennon.

Not known for his diplomacy is our Roy.

I think the only more combustible appointments in Scottish football would be El Hadji Diouff or Andy McNabb as Rangers Boss or maybe Alex Salmond at Berwick Rangers.

 

Now that would be a sight to behold

[ozleicester]

Ive just seen "Sunshine on Leith", i cant believe any of those lovely cheerful scotch people would ever be nasty, what with all the singing, dancing and love, and the beautiful sunshine and pretty streets.

 

Scotland is so warm, pretty and filled with lovely folk.

 

  

 

I call bullshit on the whole Lennon story.

[Finnegan]

There's a few people being deliberately obtuse in here. Not sure what's to disagree with that Vac is saying.

Yeah, Lennon gets the level abuse he does because he's a Catholic, Northern Irish manager in the Old Firm.

And equally, Lennon gets the level of abuse he does because he's a nasty little shit stirring **** who gets off on the drama and can't help himself getting involved. This coming from a known leftist that struggles to hide a disgust for Rangers FC.

Sorry, Jordan, and others, to suggest it's entirely Rangers' problem is just simple. If I go and stand outside a Millwall supporters bar on a match day, singing forever blowing bubbles, waving my cock at them and giving them the Vs - I'm probably going to get battered.

Nobody's going to defend me afterwards saying, well it's not his fault, he was just singing in public, those guys shouldn't take it so personally. I mean they'd be right, you should be free from violence and aggression in football. But we all know we aren't, Lennon especially.

He just does it anyway. Stirring things up for the limelight and throwing the Old Firm back in to the dark ages again instead of being progressive and attempting to build bridges.

[Vacamion]

Scrub what I said about Keane, this would cause far more hilarity, and also quite a few public order incidents...

 

Paolo Di Canio puts himself forward for Celtic managers’ job

 

 

 

[Finnegan]

Scrub what I said about Keane, this would cause far more hilarity, and also quite a few public order incidents...

Paolo Di Canio puts himself forward for Celtic managers’ job

Yeah I saw this. MattP would be gutted!

[LCFC Rennie]

One day he will come back to Leicester as a manager, mark my words. I absolutely love the man! Purely because he is a massive bellend and everyone hates him apart from the club he works at. However is very antagonizing and controversial but that does not mean some fvcking Rangers fan can send him death threats and bullets through the post. Scum of the earth Rangers fans. Ask any Wednesday fan about their pre-season friendly last year. They fvcking tore up Sheffield!  

[Guest MattP]

There's a few people being deliberately obtuse in here. Not sure what's to disagree with that Vac is saying.

Yeah, Lennon gets the level abuse he does because he's a Catholic, Northern Irish manager in the Old Firm.

And equally, Lennon gets the level of abuse he does because he's a nasty little shit stirring **** who gets off on the drama and can't help himself getting involved. This coming from a known leftist that struggles to hide a disgust for Rangers FC.

Sorry, Jordan, and others, to suggest it's entirely Rangers' problem is just simple. If I go and stand outside a Millwall supporters bar on a match day, singing forever blowing bubbles, waving my cock at them and giving them the Vs - I'm probably going to get battered.

Nobody's going to defend me afterwards saying, well it's not his fault, he was just singing in public, those guys shouldn't take it so personally. I mean they'd be right, you should be free from violence and aggression in football. But we all know we aren't, Lennon especially.

He just does it anyway. Stirring things up for the limelight and throwing the Old Firm back in to the dark ages again instead of being progressive and attempting to build bridges.

 

Saved me a reply, bloody good post as well.

 

As for Paulo I'd love to see him up there, I always liked him but I think he's burnt his bridges with Celtic fans after the telling everyone he's an open facist bit.

[Stevosevic]

he's a vile ****

This

[Guest MattP]

Actually given the fact Celtic Park was shut down in 1941 for a month for continued crowd disturbance and pro German/Nazi chanting by their fans it would be a bit hypocritical for them to not want Di Canio there because of his political views.

[Jordan]

There's a few people being deliberately obtuse in here. Not sure what's to disagree with that Vac is saying.

Yeah, Lennon gets the level abuse he does because he's a Catholic, Northern Irish manager in the Old Firm.

And equally, Lennon gets the level of abuse he does because he's a nasty little shit stirring **** who gets off on the drama and can't help himself getting involved. This coming from a known leftist that struggles to hide a disgust for Rangers FC.

Sorry, Jordan, and others, to suggest it's entirely Rangers' problem is just simple. If I go and stand outside a Millwall supporters bar on a match day, singing forever blowing bubbles, waving my cock at them and giving them the Vs - I'm probably going to get battered.

Nobody's going to defend me afterwards saying, well it's not his fault, he was just singing in public, those guys shouldn't take it so personally. I mean they'd be right, you should be free from violence and aggression in football. But we all know we aren't, Lennon especially.

He just does it anyway. Stirring things up for the limelight and throwing the Old Firm back in to the dark ages again instead of being progressive and attempting to build bridges.

I just don't get how I'm being "deliberately obtuse" when Lennon himself has made many efforts to "be progressive" and "build bridges" that simply get ignored. Lennon's willingness to play for a united Ireland football team helped inspire death threats that forced him to quit the NI team. Lennon has publicly criticized the Green Brigade and other elements of Celtic's support for songs/chants/banners promoting sectarianism and terrorism, yet somehow, Lennon is the "Lurgan Bigot." Lennon gets along fine with several players/managers with whom he's had fierce public rivalries (Ally McCoist and Barry Ferguson, as two notable examples) yet Rangers fans that are ostensibly grown men cannot let these things go.

 

When "respected" Catholic managers were in charge of Celtic, they may not have ever been assaulted or threatened with their lives, but don't act like all of a sudden, things were going well until Neil Lennon ruined things for everyone by being a fiery fellow in a derby where even the most mild-mannered men can become maniacs. 

 

When Neil Lennon walks into the Louden Tavern while wearing this and chanting, "PIRA!" then maybe we can talk about whether or not he had it coming. But in real life, I think a much bigger "bridge" can be built if Old Firm fans themselves worry about their own aggression problems instead of Neil Lennon's. Pretending otherwise is just a cop out.

[Vacamion]

I just don't get how I'm being "deliberately obtuse" when Lennon himself has made many efforts to "be progressive" and "build bridges" that simply get ignored. Lennon's willingness to play for a united Ireland football team helped inspire death threats that forced him to quit the NI team. Lennon has publicly criticized the Green Brigade and other elements of Celtic's support for songs/chants/banners promoting sectarianism and terrorism, yet somehow, Lennon is the "Lurgan Bigot." Lennon gets along fine with several players/managers with whom he's had fierce public rivalries (Ally McCoist and Barry Ferguson, as two notable examples) yet Rangers fans that are ostensibly grown men cannot let these things go.

When "respected" Catholic managers were in charge of Celtic, they may not have ever been assaulted or threatened with their lives, but don't act like all of a sudden, things were going well until Neil Lennon ruined things for everyone by being a fiery fellow in a derby where even the most mild-mannered men can become maniacs.

When Neil Lennon walks into the Louden Tavern while wearing this and chanting, "PIRA!" then maybe we can talk about whether or not he had it coming. But in real life, I think a much bigger "bridge" can be built if Old Firm fans themselves worry about their own aggression problems instead of Neil Lennon's. Pretending otherwise is just a cop out.

A. Again, it is not just about the Old Firm. He alienated just about the whole of the rest of Scottish football, not just blokes from Larkhall with red white and blue underpants who play the flute...Hearts, Aberdeen, Ross County and the rest? They don't like him either. Why is that?

B. That said, your description of him as a progressive bridge builder made me . As a player and manager he had a special talent for winding up the massed ranks of the Orcs. Kofi Annan he ain't. I have never heard him described as a peacemaker, not even by Celtic fans, not even online.

Finnegan nailed it earlier in the thread - Lennon was a bit of a shit stirrer who seemed to revel in the bother he caused and knowingly caused further bother with his eyes wide open.

[fleckneymike]

Weird how since his move to England Lennon hasn't been dogged by controversy or accusations of shit stirring etc. I wonder if it wasn't him but other people's problems with his faith which was to blame...

[Webbo]

Weird how since his move to England Lennon hasn't been dogged by controversy or accusations of shit stirring etc. I wonder if it wasn't him but other people's problems with his faith which was to blame...

It's probably that no one in England gives a shit.

[CosbehFox]

Weird how since his move to England Lennon hasn't been dogged by controversy or accusations of shit stirring etc. I wonder if it wasn't him but other people's problems with his faith which was to blame...

He's not lost any of his touch line nature. Sent off twice on the touch line including his Bolton debut.

[fleckneymike]

He's not lost any of his touch line nature. Sent off twice on the touch line including his Bolton debut.

But strangely no death threats, assaults, accusations of kicking bottles of water in a provocative manner.

[Freesolo]

Ranger's fans are scum they are like the Leeds of English football.