In terms of new recruits there will be little to assess for those tuning into this afternoon’s friendly with Sheffield Wednesday and even the three 30-minute approach to the game indicates a training session with a competitive edge rather than a proper game of football, yet seeing a Celtic team back on the grass and under a new manager makes this afternoon’s workout far more interesting than it otherwise would be.
There may be a chance to see new signings like Liam Shaw or Osaze Urhoghide and despite their low fee signatures and profiles that indicate players who will be around the match day squad rather than a first team regulars this season, it will be interesting to see just what attributes and promise the new Bhoys will bring to the party.
There will be a chance for youngsters already at the club and starved of opportunities to play last season, be that Covid impacted football outside the first team environment or a lack of game time afforded to them in a pressure filled season, to stake a claim for first team football under the clean slate and fresh tactical approach of Ange Postecoglou.
The like of Ewan Henderson, Luca Connell, Leo Hjelde, Karamoko Dembele and contract extension lifeline recipient Anthony Ralston will all be looking to impress a new manager who has evidenced affording opportunity, alongside the development of young careers in his time in management, and as such there has never been a better opportunity for Celtic’s young stars to stake an overdue claim for regular inclusion than this afternoon ahead of this upcoming season. Newport and Sheffield Wednesday may well seem a strange location to grasp the nettle but the opportunity knocks today.
🟢⚪️ 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 – Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge! ✅
🆚 @swfc
⚽️ Pre-season friendly
⌚ 15:00
📍 Newport
🚫 Behind closed doors
🎫 Live on @CelticFCPass
💻 Live Worldwide on @CelticTV #SWFCCEL 🍀 #COYBIG— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 7, 2021
And it won’t be just youngsters who will feel they have a point to prove today. Players like Leigh Griffiths have a chance at career redemption whilst last season’s big signings Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti have an opportunity to draw a line under a disappointing time last season, where little opportunity was offered, and even with the proviso that the pandemic landscape made shining at a new club and integrating with methods and teammates difficult, performances were disappointing, especially given the expectation their transfer fees came with.
Starting today and with a blank canvass to work with these players have a chance to show in a much more normal footballing environment that Celtic didn’t overpay for their previously evidenced elsewhere talents last summer.
There are also some of last season’s wantaways who still haven’t got away. They too will either consider this as an opportunity to show their worth to future employers or recognise there remains a possibility that without suitable offers the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham may well have another season at Celtic to navigate.
It will be interesting to see just what sort of attitude those individuals will exhibit given all have uncertain futures at present.
🐉 Dragon Park, Wales 🏴
Our pre-season training camp gets underway! ⚽️#COYBIG 🍀 pic.twitter.com/LD5RuGipxw
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 6, 2021
For Postecoglou himself today and the rest of the training camp may well be an opportunity to offer these players a fresh coaching perspective that may well encourage those he may wish to impress enough to keep to join his revolution. If nothing less it will allow him to judge who will act professionally and who may well have an adverse impact on squad harmony.
Perhaps then the biggest takeaway from today will be how Postecoglou lines up his team, what formation he plays and even at such an early stage we may see the style of play the new manager wishes to strive for begin to take shape.
We are already fairly certain the new coach will operate with a back four but we’ll likely see early doors if the full backs will supply the width or if they’ll have an inverted role to play. The same for the attacking wide players, will they be encouraged to hug the touchline or will they be the ones that come inside and link with the midfield and striker?
In midfield will we play with two number eights and a number 10 and go all-out attack, or will we have a holding midfielder, two number eights and for-go a number 10? Is there even room in this team for Postecoglou to play with two strikers or a main target with a second striker playing in behind? Is there even a thought that Postecoglou will dispense with a back four altogether given the lack of full back availability and switch to the 3-4-1-2 we’ve seen operated so often at this year’s Euros?
There may not have been much change in personnel so far at this stage of the season and today’s friendly may not be much more than an extension of a training ground session for Celtic’s new manager but there is plenty to be looking out for when Celtic take the field for Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge. It may only be a friendly but it is not to be missed.
Niall J
ℹ️ Important @CelticFCPass information for STHs ahead of #SWFCCEL 👇
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) July 7, 2021
