Several systems look workable for this squad. That should excite us, not create another argument about finding one perfect formation.
One of the most interesting things about Celtic right now is that several tactical ideas make sense.
We can play with two strikers. We can use a 3-5-2, keep a back four or ask one of the wide players to move inside. None of those options is ridiculous, and none should become the answer for every match.
That is the important part.
A manager does not choose a formation in isolation. He looks at the players available, the opposition and the kind of game he expects to unfold. The right plan for a Premiership match in Glasgow may not be the right one for a difficult European night in Germany, Italy or Spain.
That is not inconsistency. It is management.
Martin O’Neill has already spoken about changing how Celtic play, and I welcome it. For too long, opponents could look at our team and know roughly what was coming. The names might change, but the basic structure rarely did.
A side with several workable systems is harder to prepare for.
Celtic’s current squad gives the manager those possibilities. As we noted in our assessment of Camilo Duran, his ability to operate through the middle or move into wider areas creates options without requiring an immediate substitution.
That matters.
If Duran begins beside another striker, he can move wide when Celtic need to change shape. If he starts on the flank, he can come inside and provide support closer to goal. The formation can change while most of the same players remain on the pitch.
Nygren offers another kind of flexibility. He can play from a wider starting position, but his most interesting work comes when he moves into central areas. Put him behind two strikers and he can find space between midfield and defence. Move him elsewhere and Celtic gain something different, but perhaps lose part of what makes him dangerous.
These are good problems.
Every tactical choice has a cost. Playing two strikers may remove a midfielder or winger. Using three central defenders can provide security in Europe but may be unnecessary against a Scottish opponent sitting deep at Celtic Park. A narrow midfield creates combinations through the centre while asking the full-backs to provide width.
The manager’s job is not to discover a system with no disadvantages. Such a thing does not exist. His job is to choose which advantage matters most on that particular day.
That principle, choices being shaped by their surroundings, is not unique to football. A streaming package available in Scotland may differ from one offered in Ireland, while a football app used in Germany may present different features in Spain. The same is true of online blackjack in Canada, where location helps determine the version of the product on screen. Context changes what is available before anyone makes a choice.
For a football manager, that context is constantly moving. He is not choosing between abstract formations; he is selecting a plan for a particular squad, opponent and match. Change any of those conditions and the best option may change with them.
The team sheet is only the first decision.
What happens after kick-off matters more. Celtic might begin in a 3-5-2 and move into a back four. A winger can be introduced to stretch the pitch. An extra midfielder can help control a European away match. The best managers do not simply select a formation; they recognize when it has stopped working.
Matt Bloomfield’s discussion of how a manager develops a game plan makes the same broader point. Preparation begins with the team’s own identity, but it must also account for the opponent and the problems they are likely to present.
Celtic should always retain an attacking identity. At home in Scotland, we should expect to control possession and put opponents under pressure. In Europe, particularly away from Glasgow, the balance may need to change.
The philosophy can remain consistent even when the shape does not.
That is why the number of tactical options available to O’Neill should be viewed positively. We are not talking about change for the sake of it. We are talking about making Celtic less predictable, giving good players suitable roles and allowing the manager to respond to the match in front of him.
For once, opponents may have to prepare for several versions of Celtic. That is an exciting prospect for us.
Image Source: unsplash.com
