Right now, Neil Lennon is the only man for Celtic

What a week it has been at Celtic Football Club. I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the events that would result in our now ex-manager leaving the club, especially at a critical point of what could be a historic season.

The whole fiasco could have killed our season dead with the players shocked and presumably hurt by proceedings. However, as the previous manager left a cloud of dust in the wake of his hasty exit, who was to step through the dust but Neil Francis Lennon?

I understand many are not thrilled with the appointment of Lenny until the end of the season but I think we don’t know how lucky we are. In Lennon, we have a manager who has experienced more success than most at the club in a playing and managing capacity. And, he was only made available three weeks ago!

I honestly can’t think who else could have come in at this time for the club. The obvious argument is John Kennedy, but he is vastly under-experienced managing at the top, never mind trying to negotiate Celtic through what could still evolve into a title race. Who else has won titles with the club, is available and willing to take over on a temporary basis? I can’t think of anyone more suitable than Lenny.

And if anyone was doubting him, they were at least hushed slightly by last night’s result at Tynecastle, a place at which Celtic have struggled over the last few seasons. It seemed apt that it would be Odsonne Edouard’s last gasp winner that would see Lennon get off to a winning start in what had basically turned into one of the most important games of the season.

When that goal went in, we saw something that we seldom did under the previous reign, genuine and undiluted passion. The goal essentially emptied the bench with Damian Duff getting so over-excited he landed a left hook right on poor Jonny Hayes, who was also elated. The whole affair at Tynecastle re-sparked a fire in the belly of Celtic that is far flung from the analytical and calculated side of the game. I hadn’t felt that way for and during a game in some time. 

In terms of football itself, there are some concerns and some promising signs to take from last night. One of the first things I noticed in the first half against Hearts was many passes missing out players in favour of more advanced team-mates. In other words, there was passing with more intent and less tippy-tappy, washing machine football.

Although we should be attacking with more vigour and intent, I don’t think the passing game and build-up should be abandoned altogether. We have been playing some excellent football throughout the last few seasons, and I would hate to see that go. However, if we could incorporate a more explosive and dynamic attack strategy when the opportunity presents itself, then we will blow teams away.

Lennon’s pre-match words gave me a lot of hope that we will change our style slightly in order to get our attacking threats in the game more but he also emphasised the importance of John Kennedy in keeping the philosophy continuous. I didn’t expect the latter statement from Neil Lennon, and it tells me he is taking it very seriously.

In the end, Lennon is off to a winning start when many assumed dropped points was a real possibility and we maintain our gap at the foot of the table. There are many tough games to come against all of our closest rivals, and each one will feel as important as the last – and I can’t wait. I have real faith the Neil Lennon can not only get us over the line this season but also add his own twist in the process.

What Celtic and her fans need right now are winners and in Neil Lennon, we have exactly that.