"Neil Lennon Tells His Players DON'T DO A CARDIFF"

I've been trying to find the words to properly express the way I feel not only about Monday nights performance but our season in general.

But Neil Lennon just about covers it in this article;

“I don’t look at certain games as sticking points, they’re all the same to me. Look at Cardiff on Monday - not many people would have predicted Boro going there and being three up after 21 minutes.

“We’ll definitely use that as an eye for what might happen if we’re not right at it from the start against Inverness.

“I think hunger is the key in any championship-winning team whether it’s here, England, Italy, Spain or wherever. You must have the hunger and desire to take on all challenges.

“You must adapt to different situations, formations, styles of football and overcome them. The top teams are up there because they do that consistently well.”

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/05/04 ... -23106091/

I accept that we have accumulated a record number of points this season in fact 79 points in a season at this level is the best return in over 50 years for our club but for me we didn't self destruct on Monday night, NO, our promotion dream has been suffering an almost creeping death from probably November.

5 wins in October including IMO the best team performance in the 4-0 away destruction of Leeds Utd followed by the 3-1 defeat of Norwich City sent shock waves through this league as we become the only team to displace QPR at the top of the league this season. The result was that teams looked to first and foremost stop us playing and it was at that time through November - December that we needed to adapt to how teams were playing against us, call it style, formations or tactics those challenges needed to be met and overcome AND WE DIDN'T DO IT.

The lack of desire to resolve the poor run of results was clear for everyone to see but there was such a lack of desire or HUNGER as Neil Lennon says to overcome the challenges the team faced at that time it was SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE. All our Manager seemed to say is WE ARE STILL SECOND or THERE IS STILL A LOT OF FOOTBALL TO PLAY

Before long we were no longer second and our Manager changed tack slightly by saying WE ARE CHASING DOWN THE TEAMS ABOVE US or THERE IS STILL A LOT OF FOOTBALL TO PLAY but still the inconsistency in the team was evident. Ramsey arrived and a good run through February with that great victory at the Liberty served to paper over the cracks and even Carl the developed a theory that be within 2 points of 2nd place at the end of February and automatic promotion was ours for the taking.

But March started badly the inconsistency returned the HUNGER of the team and the ability of the Manager to overcome the tactics of the opposing teams left us yet again adrift of 2nd place. But then came the incredible statement that WE HAVE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE 8 GAMES AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK - THE 8 GAME SEASON this was to be the time when we made that final push that would see us over the line and god we got so close but after a great run of performances and results led by our talismanic captain Craig Bellamy we arrived at Monday night.

Again when the dice rolled against us the ability off the field to meet the challenges on it and change things positively in our favour was clear again, I accept that some players lacked the hunger for the challenge but that only mirrored the situation off the field. Later disclosures about players out on the piss to all hours only serve to increase the frustrations.

Whatever happens Saturday or in the weeks to come and I hope we win every game we have to play it must not paper over the reality of what has been missing from this campaign. That is we have lacked the HUNGER to go out in every game and impose our will on our opponents we have lacked the DESIRE and Basic ABILITY to adapt to the varying challenges our opponents present us with on a consitent basis and we have shown an acceptance to accept defeat and that is unacceptable in professional sport.

As I say the 79 points accumulated by the team this season is a record for DJ during his time at the club, a 50 year record for the club at this level and all of that is of great credit to the team and manager but it is for me at least 12 points short of the potential for this squad.

And that is the most disappointing aspect of this season not Monay night performance that was just symptomatic of a deeper seated problem at the club.

I know some think this is not the time to analyse but I disagree things need to be said.

TOP CLASS POST

Totally agree!

Yet again another Top Post from you Castleblue

Yet again another Top Post from you Castleblue

Annis I know you want things to be positive this week but I had to get that off my chest.

Yet again another Top Post from you Castleblue

Annis I know you want things to be positive this week but I had to get that off my chest.

Yes I did, but Sadly the players are ruining it for themselves/Us/ Our Club with their off the field antics.

You've just given your opinion/feelings and some facts

Yet again another Top Post from you Castleblue

Annis I know you want things to be positive this week but I had to get that off my chest.

Yes I did, but Sadly the players are ruining it for themselves/Us /Our Club with their off the field antics.

You've just given your opinion/feelings and some facts

Thanks

Good post castleblue.

I think Saturday is a truly massive game for us.

NOT because we could go up if QPR lose points.

NOT because we need to win to stay ahead of the JB's.

The reason I believe the game is so massive is that I want to see what sort of reaction we will get from our players and management to the much deserved criticism and negativity that there has been in general since that dire performance on Monday.

Make no bones about it - we have a squad of players who, if they play to their full potential and with 100% commitment can not only overcome Burnley on Saturday but can get through the play offs with something to spare.

On the other hand if we see a performance like the one on Monday we can only assume that the players really have no pride in themselves or their club and that they really deserve all that they're getting at the moment.

If any of the players or management are reading this then I hope they realise what this means to us - you have let us down too often in recent seasons and let yourselves down also. Now is the time to show the character commitment and talent that we know you have to get us all where we want to go.

Fantastic post, agree with everything you said.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... -28633051/ heres the lennon newspaper report!

really good and spot on post im going to get slated for this in some quarters but maybe agreed with in others ill wait and see,we all know the jist of the post it all boils down to hunger and desire we know the ability is there,but if sam hamman was in charge of football matters would the hunger and desire have been allowed to diminish the way it seemingly has i think personally he would have had them chomping at the bit on monday,just my oppinion im going now to let the preverbial shit hit the fan from some quarters

really good and spot on post im going to get slated for this in some quarters but maybe agreed with in others ill wait and see,we all know the jist of the post it all boils down to hunger and desire we know the ability is there,but if sam hamman was in charge of football matters would the hunger and desire have been allowed to diminish the way it seemingly has i think personally he would have had them chomping at the bit on monday,just my oppinion im going now to let the preverbial shit hit the fan from some quarters

You're only saying exactly what I have been thinking from November onwards he just would not have sat back and let people get away with it. No way

well, well, well. celtic losing 3 - 1 at the moment

bloody hell they lost 3-2

bloody hell they lost 3-2

So they have done a Cardiff

Yes bottlers

Yes bottlers

bloody hell they lost 3-2

So they have done a Cardiff

No done a fookin Celtic, much worse

Bad as Monday was, Boro are a much better side than Inverness Caledonian Thistle. I just hope that we don't do a Celtic on Saturday. SPL, you can not be serious