Neil Lennon challenges Rangers, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen to raise standards after ‘drop off’ in quality.
Lennon believes that football, outside of his former team Celtic, is not as attractive as it once was and wants to see an improvement in the upcoming season.
Neil Lennon believes it is time for the Scottish Premiership’s chasing pack to step up their game. The Dunfermline manager believes there has been a significant reduction in quality outside of Celtic in recent seasons, and the football isn’t as thrilling as it once was. Rangers and Hearts have received new money and management ahead of the new season, as they aim to compete for silverware. Aberdeen, who won the Scottish Cup, can look forward to another Euro windfall after securing assured group stage football, while Hibs have benefited from Bill Foley’s Black Knights’ contributions over the last year. Now, Lennon, whose Pars team has also received a cash influx from new owners, hopes the positive vibes in boardrooms at our top clubs can be reflected on the park too.
Russell Martin and Derek McInnes are about to usher in new eras at Rangers and Hearts, and Lennon believes the challenge is there for them and others to raise their game. When asked if the new investment in the game is exciting, he replied, “I hope so.” I haven’t been too thrilled with the levels in recent years. “So I’m hoping to see an increase in the teams’ consistency and quality. “Not only domestically, but also throughout Europe. I believe there has been a drop-off. I’m not sure whether it’s over-coaching or over-analysis. It’s not only in Scottish football.
“It’s just how I see the game generally. I don’t think it’s as good as it was around a decade ago. Not as entertaining, and teams are less consistent than they once were.
Rangers and Aberdeen have been ordered to up their standards (Image: SNS Group). “I will provide an example. My first year back in the Premiership with Hibernian, we finished fourth with 67 points. I’m not sure what fourth place earned you this year, 53. “Take Celtic out of the picture, and I believe the rest of the teams, the big clubs, need to be more consistent in order to give the other teams a bloody nose. “Is it necessary to seek outside investment? I do not know. “We’ve had outside investment before.” Analytics is the keyword in Scottish football these days, with Hearts profiting from Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s Jamestown tool and Hibs following suit with Foley’s Black Knights approach.
It’s also coming into play at Dunfermline, which has new owners James Bord and Evan Sofer. Bord, a former poker champion, launched the sports data company Short Circuit Science. The US-based businessman previously worked for Hearts’ new investor Bloom. Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Connor Young, and Tashan Oakley-Boothe have already been signed using analytics. And Lennon concedes that it all comes down to who can handle data the best. He replied, “Yes, probably. Brentford and Brighton are both classic examples. Those two clubs have made tremendous progress, and their recruitment is excellent.
“It’s all about it; it accounts for 80 percent of my job and will assist me bring success to the football club. It’s not set in stone; if I like a player and suggest that we sign him, he (Bord) will have no problem doing so. “But he brings a new perspective on how to attract a player and what to look for. You need evidence, and Mullen, Young, and Oakley-Boothe have already provided us with evidence that suggests success. “Management is quite different now. Many clubs have a system in place so that if a head coach’s appointment does not work out, he is replaced, but the structure remains.
“That was not the situation when I began managing 15 years ago. Many clubs use that template. We don’t know yet, but I believe James wants to bring it to the club.”
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