So have we all come to terms with the idea of Neil Lennon not sticking by the players who are in good form this weekend?
Yes, his comments on player loyalty after Celtic’s 2-0 win against Kilmarnock on Sunday were worrying. Neil looks all but set to throw the underperforming Scott Brown and Ryan Christie back into the mix against Hearts in our Scottish Cup final this weekend. Olivier Ntcham, another who’s been woeful this season, could be given the nod too given Lennon wants to stick by the players who got us to the final (Glasgow Live).
Forgive me, but a run against the likes of Clyde, Partick Thistle, St Johnstone, and Aberdeen hardly deserves some sort of prestigious guarantee of selection for the final at Hampden.
But nevertheless, it looks as though that’s what Lennon has up his sleeve this weekend. You can understand the morals behind it, but you can’t help but feel it’s risking our momentum.
Then again, a win with these players back in the mix could even be more damaging in the long-term. If Lennon sees Brown, Christie and co put in a good display against Hearts similar to what they did vs Aberdeen, do you honestly see them getting dropped?
Not in my view. I think Neil will use it to try and push as evidence that these players are back after their break and ready to hit peak form. It gives Lennon the ideal opportunity to play his favourites more regularly if we soundly beat the Jambos.
Turnbull and Soro must be given their place back immediately if dropped for Sunday
Who knows what kind of negative effect that will have further down the line. It would, at best, limit the opportunities for Soro and Turnbull to get back into the side.
You see it’s not so much that Brown/Christie/Ntcham would be playing, it’s more the fact that Soro and Turnbull won’t be. The qualities those two players possess can’t be underestimated after steering us to success against Lille and Kilmarnock respectively.
Even though they’ve both impressed over the last week, you still don’t get the sense Neil is comfortable with them being considered ahead of Brown and co. It’s something that he doesn’t seem to want to touch on.
Put it this way, had Turnbull and Soro played in the games leading up to the final but had recently been dropped with Brown and Ntcham suddenly finding form, would Lennon revert back? No chance, so you’re quite right to wonder why it’s different in this scenario.
If he does go with his previous regulars, this has to be a one-off. He can’t use a good display or performance as an excuse to keep them in ahead of players who are offering the club some genuine progress.
If we see off Hearts on Sunday, that doesn’t mean we’ve gotten away with it. Neil’s future team selections will determine that.
Of course, who knows, he may change his mind between now and Sunday if he hasn’t already.
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