Far be it from us to tell Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou what to do, but there were clear errors when the Bhoys faced Bodo/Glimt at Parkhead last week.
Ultimately, it showed on the scoreline. The Norwegian champs, despite lacking in competitive matches, out-thought, out-paced and ultimately out-classed Celtic under the Paradise lights. Good team as they are, though, it remains something of a shock result.
Because Celtic had and have the quality to overcome Knutsen’s side. For Ange Postecoglou, though, it’s about providing balance in his starting line-up, something that was absent in an under-par display against Bodo/Glimt.
Ange Postecoglou started two similar, attack-minded midfielders together in the form of Rogic and O’Riley. From the start, it seemed a gamble. Reo Hatate, naturally more comfortable on the left, has been an excellent complimentary piece to O’Riley in midfield. Though you can normally bank on Tom Rogic to provide moments of quality, it wasn’t his best night in a Celtic shirt.
O’Riley and Rogic seemed to step on each other’s toes a bit. Not only that, neither had the defensive instinct of Hatate or Callum McGregor, something that was needed against a team who broke quickly and made life difficult in central areas.
Then, there was the attacking issue. Celtic dominated possession, had far more shots on goal (16) than Bodo/Glimt and yet only had one goal to show for it [Fotmob]. On current form, you’d surely have to assume Giakoumakis will make his way into the starting line-up, but it was surprising not to see him there last week.
Will Ange Postecoglou make the necessary changes? Or does he have something else up his sleeve?
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic decisions against Bodo/Glimt were understandable, but surely there’s another way
In hindsight, there’s logic attached to how Postecoglou set Celtic up last week.
Going against a defence with new parts, as well as a lack of match sharpness, Postecoglou went for sheer pace. Maeda, Jota and Abada are, on paper, a front three who could yet devastate many a defence. Trouble was, that the trio just didn’t look on the same page for much of last week’s display. Giakoumakis has a more established understanding with the two star wingers.
In midfield, too, form was a factor. Tom Rogic set up a goal in a late appearance against Raith Rovers, while Reo Hatate had played the entire 90 minutes. Theoretically, Rogic could play on the left, given that’s his natural side, but it just didn’t really click next to O’Riley. In fairness, his partnership with David Turnbull took time, too. There’s still potential in that pairing, but it was a risky experiment.
Again, Ange Postecoglou has barely put a foot wrong thus far in his Celtic tenure. This isn’t to doubt, scald or overly criticise the manager.
However, with Celtic needing to score goals aplenty tonight, it surely makes sense to go with momentum and rhythm. Giakoumakis, off the back of a hat-trick, is surely great value to start tomorrow night and do some damage in the Arctic Circle. Hatate, probably our most on-form midfielder, is surely great value to start as well.
Do Hatate and Giakoumakis start tomorrow night? These are two decisions that could make-or-break Celtic’s chances of mounting a memorable comeback.
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