Ange Postecoglou didn’t just allow new signings to make an impact at Celtic.
The signings of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda certainly helped – all of whom were examples of the benefits the Australian brought beyond tactical expertise.
Postecoglou brought quality from Europe too, with the help of club scouts – Josip Juranovic and Jota both came to the club in his first transfer window.
Some of the biggest success stories of the tenure, however, were existing players. Anthony Ralston was all but done as a Celtic player when the managerial change was made – he is now a regular for club and country four years later.
Someone who grew into an even more important role was Greg Taylor, who made a unique tactical role his own.
At Postecoglou’s new club, one player stands out as a candidate to replicate Taylor’s role.
Greg Taylor Celtic role can be emulated by former Arsenal man
Debate has surrounded the circumstances of Postecoglou’s move to Forest, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s unusual sacking confirmed less than 24 hours before the new head coach was announced.
This led to debate around whether the club’s summer business was potentially geared towards a managerial change – and one signing certainly indicates that.
READ MORE: Chris Sutton expresses one Ange Postecoglou doubt as Celtic hero talks ‘Angeball’
Oleksandr Zinchenko is one of the first players who comes to mind when someone mentions the term ‘inverted full-back’ – so it’s pretty handy that he will now be working with Ange Postecoglou.
The Ukrainian played the role to great effect in his first season at Arsenal, keeping Kieran Tierney out of the side in doing so.
With Mikel Arteta moving on to favour more physical defenders, he eventually found his first-team minutes limited.
Much like Taylor, Zinchenko was a midfield player earlier in his career. It was, in fact, the position that Manchester City initially signed him in.
One former SPFL goalkeeper sees it this way, too.
Zinchenko will be interesting to see in the ten role says Tim Krul
If Postecoglou’s Forest are to start scoring more goals, full-backs making contributions will be a key route to doing so – and for former Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul, this will be a fascinating thing to see.
Speaking as a guest on Sky Sports News, Tim Krul said: “Zinchenko, inverted full-backs going into the ten role, it will be interesting to see.
“It will take a bit of time for him to implement it. Some players won’t come back until Thursday, so they can’t really train very intensive.
“It will be all tactical – he’s just trying to get the main points across in 24 hours. But it will take a bit of time.”
As a Dutchman, Krul knows the 4-3-3 system well – Postecoglou has cited Johan Cruyff as a key influence of his.
If he can have his Nottingham Forest side playing even remotely similarly to Cruyff’s, Postecoglou will leave the City Ground as a living legend.
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