Lennon holds up hands

[tonybhoy]

Manager Neil Lennon blamed himself following Celtic's heavy defeat to Dutch champions Ajax in their latest pre-season game.

"This was a bad result and I'll take the rap for the first half because I tried a new formation" - Neil Lennon

The visitors experimented with an unfamiliar back three formation for the opening half in Amsterdam and were made to pay as Siem de Jong, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Thulani Serero scored within half-an-hour. Daley Blind later added a penalty during the second-half after Charlie Mulgrew had been sent-off for handball.

But Lennon was the one accepting the blame and admitting he had got things badly wrong immediately following the 4-0 loss.

"This was a bad result and I'll take the rap for the first half because I tried a new formation with a back three," he told the Daily Record. "We've not had a lot of time to work on that so I will hold my hands up."

The Hoops boss must now go back to the drawing board in preparation for the forthcoming challenge of HJK Helsinki in the Champions League qualifiers.

"You learn a lot about your players in defeat," Lennon added. "We're not demoralised. It has been a good trip and we will now focus on being ready for the Champions League game on Wednesday week."

[magicpole]

Well for fyck sake. There is not a man or woman alive apart from the forelock rugger super fans who don't know our defence, no matter the formation ain't good enough. Now the question is who should be getting paid handsomely to run the team and lead the club but seem to be blind to this keep their jobs? Hard unsentimental appraisal is needed. Brutal and correct. That us why I am continually going nuts, these are simple facts. Continue with men who cannot defend and we are fucked. Get us the 'three or four players' you promised, not me, you and Lawell. If they are to be hollow then both off you can go fuck yourselves.

[tamthetim]

My good man Magic you are a breath of fresh air with your consistency, the fickle wans dae ma fucking heid in.

[Al Garnghadi]

Pish defending costing us dear before the season even starts. The defence came together for a while in the third quarter of last season. But it was too little too late and the inconsistencies killed us against Hearts and Kilmarnock in the cups long after the Europe debacle. Need to buy. No doubt about it.