Lennon Refusing to Change

Although bans and backlash were levied at Neil Lennon to put the Celtic manager in check after a row on the touchline violation versus Hearts at Tynecastle in November, the young manager, back now in the dugout after a ban of five matches, states emphatically that his style will remain unchanged.

Citing bias in the Scottish Football Association’s handling of other managers’ infractions Lennon claims that he will keep a “close eye” on Aberdeen manager Craig Brown and Motherwell chairman John Boyle after a heated confrontation between the two. His goal: to see if the punishment falls as hard on others as it did—at least according to Lennon—on him.

Over the past couple of months, Lennon has stayed out of the public’s eye and has not addressed the media often at all. But when he came back, he came back with a vengeance, stating unequivocally that he feels he was singled out and punished harshly.

Lennon is on record multiple times stating that the initial six-match ban was a “gross over-reaction.” But just how much of that is actually true and how much of that is a guy crying foul for the sympathy vote?

Fan or not, the gusto shown by Lennon is appreciated to an extent. Footballers love the fiery, passionate manager in their corner, willing to tell things like they are – or at least how any football squad sees it (us against the world). However, the problem-child behaviour, which Lennon practically insists will not cease, can also be a distraction and can turn a well-performing club into a train wreck in no time at all.

Should Lennon grow up and take his licks? It may be true that Lennon’s hand is smacked with a ruler while others’ infractions earn only a stiff finger wave. But with two guys stranded in the woods, the wolves are going to surround the loudest. The quietest and calmest, well, he can get away with walking through the den while the pack is preoccupied with their loud, crying meal.

If we were to break this down into a betting formula, what are the odds that Neil Lennon gets into a confrontation or oversteps the line in criticisms and gets smacked with a fine or ban? If this statistic was found at the best online casinos and sports books out there, we’d probably be looking at 3:1 - maybe even lower if the firecracker can’t pluck his fuse in the coming days.

When asked about the “close eye” comment, Lennon stated that he was only “looking for fairness” and stated that other managers also “criticise referees.” As any Scottish Football fan knows, that’s true. Confrontations and criticisms are nothing new at all. Most managers, however, have a proverbial off switch and can avoid turning a molehill into a mountain.

If you’re begging for punishment, you’re going to get it. Lennon will be made a martyr off, sure enough, if he cannot curb that attitude. Whether he’s right or wrong is not the issue. It’s the time, place, and the limits the league is willing to accept before putting its collective foot down.

Maybe with blackjack online we’d be looking at better odds, but for Lennon, we’ll hold solid to that 3:1 that he ends up suspended for future games or ends up with his wallet a bit lighter as a result of his ranting.