Neil Lennon must make one change to this Celtic team immediately
By StevieMac
Celtic’s start to the 10IAR campaign has failed to flatter and Neil Lennon must make one change to this team immediately.
The early matches this season against Dundee United and Kilmarnock are going to prove typical of many Celtic will play this season. Especially away from home, and at times, like at Kilmarnock with a plastic pitch to contend with. Battling away with just one up front means trying to find a way through many defenders and as we saw in both matches we are left trying to get shots away from the edge of the box. Although there was plenty of goal scoring opportunities on Saturday, it was looking increasingly difficult to score.
Following the winter break in Dubai last season Neil Lennon made some adjustments to the team formation. Celtic set up in most games as a 3-5-2 and stormed through a series of mainly winning performances and established that eventually significant 13 point lead. So why aren’t the Hoops repeating that formation and why is it necessary to make sure they do?
Let’s start with Odsonne Edouard, a brilliant but still learning his game, young forward. Everyone is still working out his best position and how to play with and against him. Did anyone see John Hartson and Gordon Strachan arguing after the Reykjavik match over whether Edouard is a 9 or a 10?
It ended inconclusively and to some extent it doesn’t matter, how we set up alongside him makes the difference and that could vary from game to game and within matches too.
Locked defences parking the bus, clustering several men around Edouard in the box to block his route to goal can be successful and limit his impact. On his day it won’t work, he’ll dance through as he did against the Icelanders or score for fun as against Hamilton. But it’s a successful way to defend and limit his chances. He can be a tap in goal scorer but it’s not his strength so we won’t always benefit from balls whipped across the box. Assuming we can get the ball past the first defender that is!
Reverting to 2 strikers whether side by side 3-5-2, or one dropped off slightly in a 3-5-1-1 may depend on the personnel available. Leigh Griffiths was the ideal partner for Edouard in that post winter run, but he’s not available for a while. Klimala looks a different type of striker and perhaps comes into play as an alternative and change to formation rather then the answer. Hopefully Ajeti can be the player we need there, his goal against Dundee United was satisfying rather than spectacular, but who cares if they go in regularly!
The 2 striker formation causes more problems for the defence and can pull them apart creating more in the box opportunities. It’s more likely we can have an in the box forward ready to get on the end of crosses, low fired across or with their head, a tactic we’ve not used as much other than at set plays.
The formation means other harsh choices regarding who plays and where. Between Ajer, Jullien, Elhamed and Biton we should have enough to play 3 at the back. If Shane Duffy is signed then it strengthens the options and provides more cover for injuries and suspensions.
Lennon will create some tough selection choices over how he uses Frimpong, Taylor and Forrest in a 3-5-2 for width. That sits alongside how he lines up with Brown, McGregor, Christie and Ntcham. And it may affect selection across Ajeti and Elyounoussi to partner Edouard up front and/or start in place of one of those above.
In making the right selection there may need to be more thought on what is asked of the wide players. Taylor and Frimpong at times seem to cut back inside more often. Crosses can be ineffective and often with a packed defence either sail over heads or get blocked by defenders. The wide players could do more running at the defence looking to either beat their man or draw a foul. Even if that was a feature for some of the game it would unsettle defences and provide more options to get the ball into the dual strikers.
In European matches, it could be quite different. A lone striker up front is probably appropriate, especially where we aren’t the dominant team in a match. So initially, let’s see the two striker approach being for domestic matches.
Whatever that starting line up becomes, there should be strength on the bench, alternative forwards and plenty of opportunity to change the setup and players during the match. Tough choices indeed but a good problem to have. Getting a successful but flexible formation to keep winning can only help secure 10IAR.