During my downtime, I enjoy strategy games. I bought a new one recently, Hearts of Iron IV, the Paradox title which lets you re-enact World War II from the perspective of any country you choose. You can be the Greeks, holding out against the Axis, or France, trying to quick-build a military capable of halting Hitler at the border, or the Soviets and decide to conquer all of Europe before the Americans are ready to move … it’s pretty excellent.
For years I’ve studied World War II keenly, as it presented some of the finest strategic and tactical decisions of all time for our study and review, and my admiration for seeing a well-executed plan unfold extends as much to the Nazis as it does the Allied Powers.
The western campaign is a case in point; it was spectacular in its scope and imagination.
Good tactics can overcome what seem to be even insurmountable odds.
We’re not facing insurmountable odds on Wednesday, but I half expect to see a surprise.
Brendan was already talking openly about a tactic where we played two strikers.
With none fit that was shelved at Celtic Park, but Griffiths looks like he’ll make it. Dembele won’t. But I have a sneaky feeling that we might see a two striker system anyway … it’s the very last thing Rosenborg will expect, and that’s why it might very well work.
If you were in charge of their tactical line-up right now you would see our main thread coming down the left, with Kieran and Scott Sinclair. So you’d focus your game on that, as they did at Celtic Park. But what if, on the night, Sinclair played with Griffiths up top, and Hayes played wide with a remit to cut inside? You’ve prepared for Sinclair, you’ve built your tactics around closing off delivery from his side of the park … and instead Celtic plays everything through the middle.
How would they cope with that? Would they be able to?
It seems like a risk, and it is.
But if it got us an early goal the entire complexion of the tie is different right from the start.
The advantage is ours. Even if it doesn’t deliver an early goal, they will get more frustrated and nervous the longer the game goes on, and we have options for changing the system up which could create total confusion in their ranks.
One of the most interesting things about Brendan’s management style is how often he makes tactical changes in games, and he’s not afraid to spring it on the big occasions either. In the League Cup semi-final at Hampden we were all over Sevco, it was a one sided battering … but Brendan didn’t want to wait indefinitely for the goal, so he made a smart tactical decision and brought on the second striker … and it worked to great effect.
I expect to see a surprise or two.
Whether we start the game with one or not, Rosenborg ought not to assume we’ll finish the same way.
Brendan will twist and turn every which way here.
It is going to be one Hell of a tactical encounter.