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NEIL Lennon admits his “tidying up” job at Wanderers has not all been smooth sailing – but that he will learn from the experience
Despite making an immediate impact on his arrival last October, the Whites boss has had to re-adjust his sights in the last few months at the Macron Stadium.
Talk of a play-off charge died down quickly after the festive period and even looking towards the future Lennon appears to have geared himself up for a long-term project.
While he insists he has come to terms with the financial realities around the club, there was little he could do about the number of players he lost through injury after the New Year.
And added to the fact he had to sell key playmaker Chung-Yong Lee, the Northern Irishman seems happy to have come through last season unscathed.
“I think the rigours of the Championship are something I need to get used to,” he said. “I did feel we had some good players here when I arrived and that has proved to be the case.
“There were mitigating circumstances when you think of maybe Chungy – it was a real surprise to me how good a player he was.
“Unfortunately we only got to work with him for a couple of months with his situation the way it was we had to sell.
“That was a loss for us in the second half of the season.
“I was surprised by some of the quality of the players – some are better than what I thought.
“But there’s no doubt we weren’t doing as well as we should have been when I arrived.
“We tidied that up and kept ourselves in the Championship.
“It wasn’t as seamless or as plain sailing as we hoped it would be.
“That was a good experience for us – myself, Garry and Johan.
“We know what lies ahead of us now going into the new season.”
Lennon has thanked the fans for the backing they have given him so far – and the patience they have shown in what was an inconsistent finale.
As someone used to partisan support in his time at Celtic, the former Parkhead boss has been genuinely impressed with the Bolton public.
“The reception we have had since we come through the doors has been brilliant and it has been consistent throughout.
“I think the Bolton public were aware of the job we had on our hands.
“They knew it wasn’t going to be easy but they have been patient.
“I think the home support has been fantastic and whatever fans we take away have been with the team all the way through games, even when things weren’t going so well.
“That has been a good surprise how warm and how passionate and deep the fans feel for the club.
“I have really enjoyed that aspect of it.
“It also makes you more determined to bring success to the club for them m as well as the players, yourself and people within the club.”
Wanderers fans headed into the summer on somewhat of a dour note, having won just once in nine matches in the run-in.
Lennon had mitigating circumstances, having lost so many players to injury and plugged gaps with an unprecedented number of loan players.
“The latter part of the season was very frustrating,” he admitted.
“We had niggly injuries as well as long-term ones, for example Craig Davies who would come in, do really well then we would lose him for six or seven weeks.
“It meant we had to use the loan market which wasn’t ideal.
“You really only want to use three or four at best and keep the core of the squad as contracted players.
“That brought about inconsistency really.
“Sometimes it is out of your hands.”
One thing Lennon is looking to replicate next season is the club’s home form, which has shined in most of his time at the club.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t play well at home,” he said to the club.
“We have the crowd behind us and the pitch is excellent.
“It’s a quick pitch that suits the style of play we want.
“For a long time last season we looked unbeatable at home.
“It took a very good team in Watford to break the unbeaten run and even on that day we should have won the game.
“It was probably the best game of football we were involved in.
“We had chance after chance but against a team of Watford’s quality they are always likely to come back and hurt you of you don’t put them away.
“Even though we lost that game, the quality of performance from the team was exceptionally high.
“That gives me a lot of encouragement going forward for the style of play we want and the personnel we need to play that style.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13318035.Wanderers_boss_Neil_Lennon_is_learning_on_the_job/
Despite making an immediate impact on his arrival last October, the Whites boss has had to re-adjust his sights in the last few months at the Macron Stadium.
Talk of a play-off charge died down quickly after the festive period and even looking towards the future Lennon appears to have geared himself up for a long-term project.
While he insists he has come to terms with the financial realities around the club, there was little he could do about the number of players he lost through injury after the New Year.
And added to the fact he had to sell key playmaker Chung-Yong Lee, the Northern Irishman seems happy to have come through last season unscathed.
“I think the rigours of the Championship are something I need to get used to,” he said. “I did feel we had some good players here when I arrived and that has proved to be the case.
“There were mitigating circumstances when you think of maybe Chungy – it was a real surprise to me how good a player he was.
“Unfortunately we only got to work with him for a couple of months with his situation the way it was we had to sell.
“That was a loss for us in the second half of the season.
“I was surprised by some of the quality of the players – some are better than what I thought.
“But there’s no doubt we weren’t doing as well as we should have been when I arrived.
“We tidied that up and kept ourselves in the Championship.
“It wasn’t as seamless or as plain sailing as we hoped it would be.
“That was a good experience for us – myself, Garry and Johan.
“We know what lies ahead of us now going into the new season.”
Lennon has thanked the fans for the backing they have given him so far – and the patience they have shown in what was an inconsistent finale.
As someone used to partisan support in his time at Celtic, the former Parkhead boss has been genuinely impressed with the Bolton public.
“The reception we have had since we come through the doors has been brilliant and it has been consistent throughout.
“I think the Bolton public were aware of the job we had on our hands.
“They knew it wasn’t going to be easy but they have been patient.
“I think the home support has been fantastic and whatever fans we take away have been with the team all the way through games, even when things weren’t going so well.
“That has been a good surprise how warm and how passionate and deep the fans feel for the club.
“I have really enjoyed that aspect of it.
“It also makes you more determined to bring success to the club for them m as well as the players, yourself and people within the club.”
Wanderers fans headed into the summer on somewhat of a dour note, having won just once in nine matches in the run-in.
Lennon had mitigating circumstances, having lost so many players to injury and plugged gaps with an unprecedented number of loan players.
“The latter part of the season was very frustrating,” he admitted.
“We had niggly injuries as well as long-term ones, for example Craig Davies who would come in, do really well then we would lose him for six or seven weeks.
“It meant we had to use the loan market which wasn’t ideal.
“You really only want to use three or four at best and keep the core of the squad as contracted players.
“That brought about inconsistency really.
“Sometimes it is out of your hands.”
One thing Lennon is looking to replicate next season is the club’s home form, which has shined in most of his time at the club.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t play well at home,” he said to the club.
“We have the crowd behind us and the pitch is excellent.
“It’s a quick pitch that suits the style of play we want.
“For a long time last season we looked unbeatable at home.
“It took a very good team in Watford to break the unbeaten run and even on that day we should have won the game.
“It was probably the best game of football we were involved in.
“We had chance after chance but against a team of Watford’s quality they are always likely to come back and hurt you of you don’t put them away.
“Even though we lost that game, the quality of performance from the team was exceptionally high.
“That gives me a lot of encouragement going forward for the style of play we want and the personnel we need to play that style.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/13318035.Wanderers_boss_Neil_Lennon_is_learning_on_the_job/