Firstly let me make it clear that I appreciate that it's a bad doo to think that we will likely never know how Neil Lennon would do as Bolton Wanderers manager with a few quid to spend.
With tonight's internet tittle-tattle linking the former Celtic boss with a backwards step to join Championship nobodies Reading, I've come to the conclusion that despite the aforementioned regret, I'm not actually bothered that he may well be leaving the club.
Odds suddenly slashed on #bwfc boss Neil Lennon becoming next #readingfc manager. https://t.co/9QdV1dmtvq... https://t.co/EUaUXY2Yog
— TFS Reading (@TFS_Reading) December 8, 2015
I was as excited as anyone to hear that he was coming to the club in the aftermath of Dougie Freedman's disastrous spell in charge, and admittedly his initial impact was great to behold.
Since then however, things have gone downhill and fast.
Whilst trotting out the same rhetoric on a weekly basis about such-and-such a player having been a transfer target, or about how we have to learn to be more ruthless in front of goal, it's hard to argue with the view that under Lennon the (once) mighty Wanderers have taken a few steps backwards.
His signings have been hit and miss:
Name |
Hit? |
Miss? |
No Idea |
Eidur Gudjohnsen |
Hit |
|
|
Emile Heskey |
|
Miss |
|
Filip Twardzik |
|
Miss |
|
Rochinha (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Adam Le Fondre (L) |
Hit |
|
|
Ben Amos (L) |
Hit |
|
|
Simeon Slavchev (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Barry Bannan (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Saidy Janko (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Giles Coke (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Paddy McCarthy (L) |
|
Miss |
|
Jordan Lussey |
|
|
No Idea |
Gary Madine |
|
Miss |
|
Derik Osede |
|
Miss |
|
Stephen Dobbie |
|
Miss |
|
Lawrie Wilson |
|
Miss |
|
Francesco Pisano |
|
Miss |
|
Jose Manuel Casado |
Hit |
|
|
Paul Rachubka |
|
|
No Idea |
Shola Ameobi |
|
Miss |
|
Prince-Desir Gouano |
|
Miss |
|
Wellington Silva |
Hit |
|
|
Luke Brattan |
|
|
No Idea |
So there you. I judge it as five 'hits', fifteen 'misses' and three 'no ideas'.
For a man with so little money to spend, can we afford to be bothered about keeping someone with such an average track record in the transfer market?
Not for me.
Then there's his league record. According to the only stats I could find, he's been in charge for 58 games, winning a mere 24% of those. Comfortably the worst in recent memory. We keep hearing that we're too good for the bottom of the league, but this season alone we've won just once. About 90 days ago. I can barely remember that game.
So in conclusion, the negatives have outweighed, comfortably, the positives in his leadership. The team appears directionless, rudderless, and is ambling towards relegation in the manner of one of those zombies from the Walking Dead. They are as far away from what you would expect a 'Neil Lennon team' to be. It has concerned me for a long while now.
I have no idea whether there is any foundation in the rumour. That we would not receive any compensation for a manager on a year-long rolling contract is not a blow to me. He's a high-earning, underachieving manager and as Owen Hart once said - enough is enough, and it's time for a change.
So what do you think? Are you fussed about Lennon staying or going?
Join the debate and comment below.