Celtic: Foolish to use the full-backs?
Mowbray may be forced into drastic measures
Last weekend, we made a joke remark about Celtic playing a weakened team at times due to including Lee Naylor at left back. Yes, that is a bit harsh on a player who undoubtedly tries his best but just isn’t up to the standard of what Celtic need.
Mind you, he has never pulled a stupid handball like Edson Braafheid did at Pittodrie.
Anyways, Naylor at left back is a major concern for Celtic fans.
Can you imagine what it will be like if Lee Naylor plays at centre half?
This could be the scenario as Tony Mowbray outlined, when asked if his defensive options would be limited to young centre half’s Rogne and Thompson:
“It might not be”
“It might not be a centre-half. I might play Mark Wilson there, I might play Lee Naylor there, we will see.”
“You can play full-backs at centre-half no problem, it’s been done many times, as long as they have a defensive mind and understand the danger.”
Given that Celtic have struggled with centre half’s in the centre half position, playing full backs there may not be the answer that Celtic fans are wanting to hear. Especially when you remember the two easy goals that United scored against at Tannadice.
Even when you take away the title race (if it still exists), Celtic need to give their fans something to cheer them up and playing a centre half may not be the best way to do it.
Then again, it is not as if Tony Mowbray has too many other options. With Darren O’Dea’s stupidity in giving Ian Brines the opportunity to send him off at Aberdeen, the Celtic backline is really down to its bare bones and the choice is:
A positional player with little experience
Or
An experienced player but not in that position
Tony Mowbray has not had the luck with injuries and his defensive line-up may see him get even unluckier this weekend.
Can Celtic survive and take all three points on Saturday?
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Their rollercoaster form should see them beat Utd 3-0 though having said that, Celtic and clean sheets don’t seem to go hand in hand this season. One things for sure, if Rangers can win a tricky away game to St Johnstone in th early kick off game, it will test the mettle of the team and the supporters, knowing that it could be as bad as 13 points by the end of the day.
As you say, how can you seriously attempt to predict what will happen.
It’s like that comment (and it has taken on almost mythical status so who knows who originally said it)
“I don’t make predictions and I never will”
You never know, Cillian Sheridan could breathe life into the Celtic title campaign up in Perth and then Robbie Keane could narrow the gap to 7 points with a virtuoso show.
Or Rangers could grab a late win over a plucky St Johnstone and then Celtic could go 1-0 down early on….cue carnage in the stands! Either of these could happen and obviously so many points in between.
This is the first Saturday Celtic Park game since Robbie Keane signed so it is likely there will be a bigger crowd at Celtic Park but the mood and optimsm has turned a lot since the 1st of Feb.
1st of Feb….its now the 19th….it seems as as though Keane has been here for ages.
Oh well, another weekend of incident and madness is likely to occur….and talking about rollercoasters, you wonder how Aberdeen will bounce back?
Should Loovens and Hooiveld fail fitness tests then it will be Thompson and Rogne on the day. it is far from ideal having such inexperience at the back, especially against the aerial might of Lee Wilkie, Dods & co., but I would rather have these 2 than Lee Naylor or Mark Wilson at centre back. The mind boggles.
I just hope they get one of those easy afternoons that can happen. Thompson has done as well as can be expected but really needs a steady hand alongside him to guide him through and show the ropes. Dare I say like Wilson and granpappy Weir.
Hasn’t Zheng Zhi played CH for club and country before?
Can you fathom the reaction at Parkhead tomorrow if the teams were announced with a CH pairing of Naylor and Wilson? What next? Artur Boruc on the wing? Crosas in goals?
celtic should draft in john reid after all he was defence secretary .
Hoho Jaz, you’re on form!
Zheng Zhi has featured at the back and could be an option – but who knows how it could pan out tomorrow at the back for Celtic.
Nah, Mowbray doesnt fancy Crosas, if he plays him, he subs him, not good for a goalie!
Excellent comment jaz but did John Reid manage a clean sheet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!