Chris Sutton has said that Neil Lennon might consider moving to a back four when Celtic take on Rangers on Saturday, making the comment whilst appearing on the Daily Record Celtic podcast.
Sutton reckons that Lennon could move to the four at the back system, which Celtic haven’t played in weeks, as it could make the team look more solid at the back.
“Many, many different options”
“I don’t think it’s impossible that Celtic go back to a back four in this game. With the nature of what may be the best set-up he might feel that Celtic can be a little bit more solid, if that happens he’s got many, many different options of the way he can play that” Sutton said, appearing on the Daily Record Celtic podcast (15/10/20, 15:35).
That would certainly be a gamble by Neil Lennon. Returning to a system that you haven’t played for a while would certainly be an intriguing idea. However, maybe it is just the kind of curveball that the Hoops manager would throw.
After all, he picked a Celtic team with striker up-front before. If Celtic do go four at the back, the likely defensive partnership would be Ajer and Duffy. The reason for that – they have been playing together recently. Christopher Jullien would be on the bench.
Choice to be made at left-back
Jeremie Frimpong would start as the right-back, with either Greg Taylor or Diego Laxalt at left-back. Probably Taylor, as he has been a regular for much of the season.
Ajer could play at right-back, but that would probably be a gamble too far.
That defence won’t have played together in that formation before. However, if, as Sutton says, Lennon feels that it gives Celtic a more solid look, than the Hoops boss may decide to move to a back four.
However, with Celtic missing players due to the Corona-19 virus and players just returning from international duty, Neil Lennon might well decide to stick with his tried and trusted three at the back.
That would be less of a gamble than changing the system for a derby, which might not even be in the manager’s thoughts.
In other news, AC Milan’s Ante Rebic may miss next week’s Europa League tie versus Celtic.
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