Paddy Sinat over on Vital Celtic touched on an interesting quote from The Athletic Celtic correspondent Kieran Devlin and his post-match coverage of the Cup Semi-Final loss at the weekend.
The subject of discussion arrows in on Celtic’s defensive trio of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Joe Hart and whether that defensive triangle is a suitable long-term solution as Celtic look to progress into European football next season, with Devlin quoted as stating:
“On the question of control and the regression to long balls, in games against opposition of this quality that’s really where you need your triangle of keeper and two centre backs to be good and confident on the ball to play out under heavy pressure, similarly to Bodo at home.
“It’s an awkward, difficult conversation because Carter-Vickers and Starfelt both have great defensive fundamentals and were among Celtic’s better players yesterday, as they were at Ibrox, while Hart made that great double save and is very well liked.
“But *if* Celtic want to realise their potential under Postecoglou playing this style of football, especially in Europe, ultimately they need players who suit it in each position.”
At first reading and given Celtic’s excellent defensive record this season you could suggest as Paddy himself did in his article, that it was a ‘strange’ conclusion for the Athletic journalist to reach, but in truth you’d have to consider Devlin may well be right on this one.
If your ambition as a supporter, or indeed a manager, is for Celtic to re-establish themselves as a domestic top-dog then Hart, Carter-Vickers and Starfelt have proven they cut the mustard in Scotland – and that’s why it’s a tough conversation to have.
Because despite that solidity on the home-front against the majority of teams, doubts have to remain about their abilities against theRangers on the domestic front, and if ambitions lie beyond domestic success, then the European stage also.
That issue isn’t so much their defensive abilities when the opposition have the ball, indeed as the season progresses and the partnerships builds up all three have performed admirably when holding a high line or recently when dropping deeper and defending their box.
Yet it is clear opposition sides, as we saw from both theRangers at Ibrox and at Hampden and the European tie at home to Bodo Glimt, that for Celtic to progress against a higher standard of opposition then an answer has to be found to progressing the ball from defence to midfield.
Teams are clearly targeting the weaknesses of all three players to pass the ball at the back and a lack of composure when progressing the ball forward is beginning to look like a concern. It may not be much of a worry most weeks against domestic opponents but it certainly is something to consider when we play sides comfortable pressing from the front and with players in their ranks capable of man-marking the options in front of our defence.
Devlin is probably right, although all three have a basic control of a football at domestic level, their ability to be accurate with passes under pressure, or indeed carry the ball themselves and break opposition lines, is being found out against better opposition and it brings unnecessary pressure on ourselves.
All three can manage a short pass, but when the range goes beyond that or a passing lane opens momentarily there appears little confidence from any of the players to trust their passing ability over any real distance, without concern of coughing up possession. As a result, the decision reached is often the conservative one to recycle the ball amongst themselves, bringing both further pressure on the defence but also denying the team the option to progress the ball up the pitch quickly.
When Celtic go into the transfer market this summer it is likely quality over the quantity we’ve required in recent windows will be the order of the day. And that is where the transfer conundrum starts.
Hart is an excellent shot stopper and a leader at the back, to replace him with a goalkeeper who is good at progressing the ball is possible, but will it be to the detriment of the other skills Hart possesses? A tough call indeed when Celtic shopping for a goalkeeper who can pass from the back will be a crowded and expensive market given football’s propensity to require such a skill set from their goalkeepers means good one’s will come at a premium.
The same goes for both central defenders. Both have proven themselves as able performers in all areas, bar carrying the ball or passing any distance accurately and consistently. Once again, the market for defenders who can do both will be saturated and costly.
It may well be Ange Postecoglou with more time to work with the players will eke out sufficient improvement of course, but as things stand, if Celtic do wish to progress as a team who can defend adequately and start attacks assuredly from the back – and our aspirations lie beyond the domestic front – then perhaps that conversation, difficult as it is to have given all three’s undoubted contribution this season, is one worth considering.
Niall J
The problem isn’t the defenders or Hart, its the midfield leaving them isolated when they’re under pressure playing out from the back; McGregor sometimes drops back to help them work the ball out of the defensive zone, but not always…
…definitely something needing worked on in the team, maybe have the midfield sitting a little closer to the defence in those situations to give them options, and let the front 3 (or the 3 plus a midfielder) hold an attacking front.
Definitely a problem with playing the ball out from the back.
I believe Starfelt the problem.
Natural right footed player at left centre back turning onto his stronger foot.
Reduces the outlet channels.
Hart the glue that has seen the team gell this season.