Is a 3-5-2 a more viable alternative for Celtic for the time being at least? I’d love to see Martin O’Neill play his own favoured formation at Paisley on Saturday night…
Giving the injuries that currently plague us, especially in the defensive area, could a change of shape and formation benefit us going forward until the new manager arrives with his own ideas.
Folk will most likely think 3-5-2, the formation that served current interim manager Martin O’Neill so well in his ever so successful spell in charge of the club at the beginning of the century, but would it work for us in the present?
We have three centre backs in JSP, Liam Scales, and Austin Trusty who would slot perfectly into a three man central defensive unit.
As for wing backs, on the right, that position is tailor made for Alistair Johnston, but unfortunately the Canadian is still recovering from injury, so it would have to be Tony Ralston who took that position for the time being, or even Arne Engels who is no stranger to playing out on the right.
In the left wing back role would be Kieran Tierney, who like AJ is perfectly suited to a wing back role. Whilst Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate could fill the midfield slots.
Up top would be Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny, who are both hardworking and capable of finding the net, if the right service is available to them, and with the likes of KT and Arne Engels, Reo, Benji, and Calmac supplying them I’m sure both would thrive in this system.
It’s only hypothetical though, and I’m using the game on Saturday against St Mirren as an example, as in the coming weeks we will most likely have a new manager, and several players coming back from injury.
What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s a system that would best serve our needs, for the time being at least? I certain think there’ mileage in it and Martin O’Neill more than most knows exactly how to get it working effectively.
So against St Mirren I hope Martin gives it a go, and plays 3-5-2 with this line-up: Schmeichel; JSP, Trusty, Scales; Engels, Nygren, McGregor, Hatate, Tierney; Maeda and Kenny.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
We have had three very good domestic victories with the system the players are familiar with, not broken don’t tamper, it would be very risky imo to alter the formation for one game. I also believe Tounekti will cause Saint Mirren problems on their RHS
LB is correct and leaving Tounekti out would be a gamble. St Mirren have caused us issues in the past, but not recently.
Interestingly though, the alleged* soon to be new manager Nancy uses a 3xcentre back system in a 3-4-3 malarkey at Columbus. So, who know what’s round the corner…
* (PL compensation cock up pending)
Would be amazed if the MoN and Maloney would even consider changing a winning set up, this weekend imo?
Even with an injury list as bad as it is, there is still competition for starting positions, all the same.
Which means that there are options available from the bench.
Our current squad has been built upon having ourselves a back 4 in place.
If the new manager is going to be Nancy, and is looking to change team set up?
Then that could well change roles for many of our players currently within our squad at present imo?
Without any breaks until March now, is there any chance of making big changes now?
Somehow doubt it, especially all the while we find ourselves playing catch up football at present.
Something that has to be taken into consideration, especially with the fixture list, injuries, and a January window looming.
And that’s without the African cup of nations, along with so many players, potentially looking at a world cup come the end of season?
So if Nancy, or even any other possible manager, is already looking at a fair few footballing decisions, that have to be taken into consideration regarding planning, and ourselves not even at the mid way stage of a season yet?