The radical approach Ange could take to fix Celtic frustration

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For all the nature of our last-gasp win against Dundee will have buoyed the Bhoys, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou must be wondering what more he can do, in a sense.

Defensively – in general – Celtic have massively improved on last year. From open play, Celtic very rarely concede. Domestically, at least. Bodø/Glimt showed there are still adjustments to make long-term. In the main, though, our preferred back-four of Juranovic, Starfelt, Carter-Vickers and Taylor have solved a lot of the issues last season brought.

The press has generally worked, from front to back. Ange Postecoglou seems to have a personal beef with his side not having the ball. As supporters, we’re of the same mind. So, a lot has been positive. However, the Hoops boss is wrestling with an issue that’s dogged us for years: set-pieces.

Whether in the league, Europe or cup competitions, corners and free kicks go beyond being an Achilles heel. Yes, we’re broadly better, with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt impressing with aerial duels, it’s still our most significant weakness. Between Ange, Gavin Strachan and John Kennedy, there must be endless frustration.

So, what to do? Something radical. We’ve heard of set-piece coaches being utilised elsewhere. Aston Villa have Austin MacPhee, a name familiar to Scottish football fans, for this purpose [The Sun]. Italy, winners of Euro 2020, had Gianni Vio working on their set-pieces [Guardian], while even Notts County have a dedicated expert.

Largely, it’s a marginal gains thing, a coaching position used to squeeze more goals out of a campaign. Can the same approach be used for defending set-pieces, however?

Should Ange and Celtic try radical coaching approach to fix set-piece woes?

Now, we’ve already banged the drum when it comes to improving our attacking play at set pieces. There has been improvement; if not from deliveries directly, then how Celtic respond to winning the ball back, or what happens when a corner routine breaks down. Take, for example, Reo Hatate’s first goal against Rangers.

All fine and well, and we could really improve there. Still, there’s a staggering truth about this Celtic side: over half the goals we concede are from set-pieces [WhoScored?]. That has to be something fixable.

Now, there are variables, of course. Stevie Woods, our goalkeeping coach, could probably afford to coach Joe Hart about his aerial presence at corners. From open play, he is the dictionary definition of “commanding”, but his lack of presence in his six-yard box is a concern.

More generally, the zonal marking Celtic use is more effective than it isn’t, but it does sometimes seem as if not everyone knows where they’re meant to be. These things take time, but over halfway into the season, you’d hope for better.

Celtic have the adequate funds to bring in someone specifically to sort this problem. Ange Postecoglou is a modern type of coach, who’s used the transfer market to address specific deficiencies in the Celtic squad. So, why not from a coaching perspective, too?

This is going to continue to bite us until it’s fixed. Teams know where their opportunities are against us. Again; over half the goals we’ve conceded this season have come from dead ball situations.

We’ve seen examples of coaches being brought in to add goals from set-pieces. But to take goals away at the other end?

It doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

Read more: The Celtic selection switch-up that could work against Bodo/Glimt