The team has just been announced, and it has told us what we need to know.
Tactics, selections, the choice to go with twin strikers up front. It’s all just been made clear.
Three at the back and not the standard four man backline. An odd combination of wingers and roving fullbacks. Forrest wide left with Frimpong on the right.
Different, I guess.
It’s a midfield three of Ntcham, McGregor and Brown.
The player who drops out to the bench is Ryan Christie.
It’s a three backline … with Duffy the debut boy.
Today belongs to New Celtic, to Lennon’s tweaked and improvised team.
We will see Eddie and Ajeti start upfront together. Most fans would have been disappointed at anything else.
The media will try and make something out that Christie is being benched; we know this already.
They will ask why not Elyounoussi.
They will ask if that’s a vote of no confidence in Taylor.
They have to play their wee games and they will.
Whoever got dropped there would have been stories about how they are on their way out … it’s predictable stuff.
Those thought Edouard might have already played his last game for the club, well today is for you as much as anyone.
He’s back, and he’ll back amongst the goals I reckon.
It might not seem like it, but this is potentially a very big day and we need a victory. It would be nice if was a convincing one, one that sent a message.
With two up front that’s the least I would expect.
When he sat in front of the media yesterday, Lenny appeared reasonably content with the shape of this team. Which is fitting since we’ve spent a lot of money on it and nobody of consequence has gone out the door in the other direction yet.
With the rebuild almost complete – I still think a left back and a right sided winger are important – I’d be very confident of sweeping the boards if we don’t lose any key players. It’s clear though that the manager has been waiting for this moment and the personnel being in place to let him play the style that he wants. Today, his best formation has been unleashed.
Team: Barkas, Jullien, Duffy, Brown, Ajeti, Ntcham, Edouard, Frimpong, Ajer, McGregor, Forrest
Substitutes: Bain, Taylor, Klimala, Soro, Turnbull, Christie, Elyounoussi, Elhamed, Welsh
The CelticBlog faces many challenges going forward. If you like what we do, please subscribe and never miss another article. If you’re on Facebook, join us on our Facebook Group or share us on yours, if you’re on Twitter remember and re-tweet all our work.