It’s no secret that the style of our football has become rather stale and predictable in recent weeks, which has led to supporters crying out for Brendan Rodgers to ring a few changes today. However is it a change of formation that is really required instead?
Brendan Rodgers arrives at Celtic Park ahead of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Celtic FC and SC Braga at Celtic Park on October 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It’s extremely doubtful that will happen as we know how stubborn Brendan is when it comes to his footballing philosophy, but it could well be what we need due to the predictability of our current system.
One of the options could be the famous 3-5-2 formation favoured by Martin O’Neill which served us so well, not just domestically but in Europe as we went all the way to the UEFA Cup final in 2003. That’s exactly what Sporting Braga forced the Celtic manager to do in the second half on Thursday evening and Celtic looked a better side due to this change.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel fails to stop a shot from distance Ricardo Horta of SC Braga who scores to give Braga a 0-1 lead. Celtic v Braga, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Celtic Park, 02 October 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock
Watching Braga who deployed the same system on Thursday night furthered my belief that it’s a system we could not only adopt, but one that could serve us well with our current squad.
The Portuguese side are no great shakes but theywere well drilled and it showed in large spells of Thursday night’s costly defeat for Celtic. Braga’s win was in a big way down to the shape of their side. Three compact centre backs with two wing backs providing great width, a well balanced midfield and two industrious centre forwards, sounds so straightforward doesn’t it?
We could quite easily go to a flat back three with Cameron Carter Vickers, Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney slotting in perfectly. AJ when he comes back would be a perfect fit for the right wing back slot, whilst the impressive Marcelo Saracchi would be just as great for the left side.
Colby Donovan in action during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Celtic FC and SC Braga at Celtic Park on October 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Calmac, and Reo would be ideal as the two creative playmakers in the middle, with Benjamin Nygren a perfect ‘number 10’ playing off the creative and industrious Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho up top, although that’s just an example as we have several other players who would perfectly fit into that system.
I believe that would make us a more productive and potent force in attack, although I’m not a qualified coach, I’m just an ordinary Bhoy, so what do I know?
Brendan, as I mentioned above is a tad stubborn and won’t tinker with his favoured 4-3-3 style unless he absolutely has to – like at half-time on Thursday. But sometimes even the best of coaches have to bite the bullet and adopt a different approach to get the best out of their players.
Ricardo Horta of Sporting Braga celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Celtic FC and SC Braga at Celtic Park on October 02, 2025.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill for instance wasn’t afraid to alter his favoured 3-5-2 to a more compact 4-4-2 on occasion when required. Will Brendan ditch his own stubbornness to do similar today. Personally I can’t see it happening, but ultimately I don’t care too much so long as we pick up the three points this afternoon.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Stubbornness, the common trait that all elite managers possess.
Agree 100 %. Everyone saying Braga not great but I’d rather watch them than us! Side to side nonsense being ditched everywhere for attacking football. Quick forward passing, shooting. Old school.
Whatever formation BR play’s won’t entice Murderwell fae vacating there 18 yard box (don’t believe their attacking hype pish)……
The biggest change needed for Celtic to succeed against this boring tactic is to……shoot, shoot, shoot fae midfield I’m all for attractive attacking winger beating football but FFS sometimes just hit a bastarding shot at goal……..
HH
ONeill had to change to 442 after League Cup Final defeat to Rangers.. he was slow to do it, but eventually changed. Rodgers wont change
I totally agree and have been saying this since Rodgers’ first stint with Celtic . To play 4-3-3 in the modern game you need really talented , fit and fast players . The type of player Celtic can’t afford whilst still playing in the SPFL . Flood the mid-field and you will cancel-out any skill or talent Celtic have —-(the) Rangers and other teams have been doing this for years .
When are Rodgers and his backroom staff going to realise this ? I call this stupidity and not ” Being Stuborn ” . Some elements in the fan-base are now starting to realise Rodgers’ deficiencies and it won’t be long until the restlessness changes from focusing on the Board to the correct scrutiny of the manager .