Just how quickly will Wilfried Nancy change formation at Celtic?
The ironic thing is that, if Nancy took over as soon as Brendan Rodgers left Celtic at the end of October, then the answer would have been straightforward.
But Martin O’Neill’s interim period has been a success, and many are wondering what Nancy will do for Celtic’s Premiership clash against Hearts on Sunday.
Whatever and whenever it happens, the Frenchman will eventually start deploying his 3-4-3 formation, and James McFadden spoke about the three who will be lining up at centre-back.
Celtic’s centre-back options under Wilfried Nancy
Who plays in a back three for Celtic under Wilfried Nancy?
Nancy doesn’t exactly have a plethora of centre-backs to choose from, with recruitment in the summer going horribly wrong, and compounded by Cameron Carter-Vickers’ long-term injury.
That’s why McFadden thinks Liam Scales and Auston Trusty will be two obvious picks to play in a back three, alongside another left-footer in Kieran Tierney.
Speaking on Open Goal, McFadden can see Nancy going with three left-footed options at the back, as he explained how it would work for the champions of Scotland.
“People are talking about the back three,” said McFadden. “So, what’s the back three going to be? I know it will probably be three left footers. Tierney, Scales and Trusty.
“If it’s three centre-backs with a wing-back. Then Tierney, you know, is going to step in. Then you are basically the same as the back four.
“I don’t think it’s that big of an issue, even if he does, to be honest with you.
“If you play Tierney at left centre-back, and a winger at left wing-back. Then, potentially got a right-back playing the right wing-back.
“You could play the same formation with the exact same team.”
Who else could play at centre-back for Celtic?
Many will point towards the January transfer window and how Nancy will need to bring in added quality if he wants to compete on all fronts.
There are other options available to him right now, but a lot of that depends on whether Nancy views them as the likes of O’Neill and Rodgers did, and that’s not first-team quality.
Either way, here is a list of players who could be used in a back three by Nancy:
- Auston Trusty
- Liam Scales
- Kieran Tierney
- Dane Murray
- Anthony Ralston
- Hayato Inamura
- Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
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