It’s the question that Neil Lennon has never been forced to answer- what is his best Celtic XI?
Every week the Celtic boss has been without a handful of players with defence the greatest problem area with Kelvin Wilson, Emilio Izaguirre, Mark Wilson and now Daniel Majstorovic suffering long term injuries while Glenn Loovens, Adam Matthews and Thomas Rogne have all had spells on the sidelines.
Should everyone ever be fit there are easily two back fours available with youth team defenders Marcus Fraser and Joe Chalmers getting closer game by game.
Midfield is equally competitive with Victor Wanyama emerging as a must-pick despite the centre of the park having more competition than any other area of the team. James Forrest is certain of his place at the moment but with Scott Brown, Biram Kayal, Ki Sung Yeung and Joe Ledley battling for places Lennon isn’t short of options as well as the re-emergence of Georgios Samaras to play wide left.
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In attack Gary Hooeper and Gary Hooper are most supporters preferred option with Mohamed Bangura yet to make an impact. In the bigger matches Lennon has gone with one striker which doesn’t seem to suit Hooper or Stokes as much as playing alongside each other.
Assuming that everyone is fit I’d go with a back four of Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew and Izaguirre with Forrest, Wanyama, Kayal and Ledley across the midfield supporting Hooper and Stokes.
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I’d have chosen Kris Commons ahead of Sammy over the course of a season though.
For the game against Rangers we really need to get our line-up right. I am certain Rangers will adopt the same tactics they used in the LCF & again to great effect in the last game.
Lennon has problems obviously in defence, Wanyama has made a huge difference but I think we MUST get control of midfield and he is vital there.
In fact I’d go with Wanyama, Ki & Ledley with Kayal dropped to the bench…Forrest & Brown wide with Sammy leading the line or Forrest & Sammy wide with Hoops leading the line (But needing quality service and support)
Both full backs will come under pressure in the air but I feel Matthews has the pace to recover and is a better player than Cha. Mulgrew should be restored to central defence with Wilson, Rogne or Loovens. It’s important we stop any quality delivery to Laffatme & Jelly as they will pose us problems in the air.
On the other hand we have to get at their defence to expose their lack of pace and keep the tempo high.
At least we know the players are used to constant changes of personnel so losing Dan won’t hinder us too much (if at all)
Hi Bhoys
I think Lenny now has a preferred set-up, which in some ways is the most important step. It’s a 4-3-3 which changes quickly to 4-5-1 when we don’t have the ball.
With this in mind, for me, Stokes is the man to miss out as Hoops is the all-round better player.
Agree with your back 4 – Matthews, K Wilson, Charlie & Izzy. Then a midfield 3 of Brown/Kayal, Wanyama and Ledley, with Forrest and Sami/Comons supporting Hooper. If we can play that team for most of the rest of the season – I think the league will be safely back where it belongs 🙂
Forster
Mathews Mulgrew Rogne Izzy
Forrest Brown Kayal Commons
Hooper Stokes
Young, Enthusiastic and bottom line is that all these players give 100% every game..
Samaras is hot and cold
Ki plays well against the chaff
Ledley is maybe unlucky in that Kayal and Brown are there before him
Wanyama is an outstanding prospect but still a bit raw
Wilson has not played enough to call
All of the above however would be on the bench and what a bench it is!
signs are good
Do we have a first 11?
You know something, I dont think we do anymore.
I know that I had a starting 11 at the start of the season but with all the injuries and the way lately each and everyone of the bhoys picked to play has stood up and been counted, then I think its harsh to claim there is one. e.g my original 11 at the start of the season did’n’t feature Dan nor Sammy and now they probably deserve a shout.
Also I never thought Commons and Ledley wouldn’t ever be in my 11 but again recently Celtic look good in their absence albeit its a major boost to have them back and an inform Commons would feature every day of the week.
My favourite 11 right now and should feature against the Orcs:
FF
Matthews Wanyama Mulgrew Izzy
Brown Kayal Ki
Forrest Hooper Stokes
Btw Loovens would never ever play for me again and I’m not sure Rogne has it either.
Wanyama is a revelation at the back and its also Mulgrew’s best position imo
I’m a massive fan of Stokesy but believe Sammy will get the nod on 28th. On current form I can accept that.
HH 1NL YNWA TAL 😀
Am a great believer in playing form players therfore ad stick wae the 4 2 3 1 formation that has served us so well against St Johnstone n Udinese.
When we attack we have the equivalent of 4 forwards when we defend we have a five man midfield.
Vic n Charlie as the centre backs Ledley if fit for left back for the huns game too early for Izzy.
Longer term I think the first two picks in midfield are Vic n Beram.
Cant see a place in the team for Scot Brown except thru loss of form or injury,Commons Sammi an James are all better wide men an Vic Beram Ki n Joe are better central midfielders.
Competition for places is want we want,sort the defence an we will have a great Celtic team.
On recent form, for me, its ledley at lb with cha at rb. Charlie and victor at cb. Middle 4 of sami forest Kayal and brown. Hooper and stokes up front.
I think its important to note bhoys that we should pick our team bearing in mind that Broony will always feature for NL when fit so accept it.
He’s ultimately more or less building his team round Brown and with signing a new deal there’s no way a fit brown will not feature.
Kayal will always probably accompany him in the engine room (not bad) and giving Ki the freedon to unlock defences like of late is starting to look the part imo albeit I rate Ledley very much.
I must say I totally agree with Bigskoon about us finding a system now and with personnel like Ledley, commons, Paddy and even Wanyama waiting to slot in its fair to say I’m now confident in numerous starting line ups.
Apologies for gettin carried away with this topic Lhad…..”I just can’t get enough!”
HH 1NL TAL 😀
Thanks Jimmy
Once we get the system even more established, there are loads of personnel options as you say – our bench will be frighteningly strong once we get everybody fit again. If we can just get to January 4 points behind or better, I just think we’ll be far too good.
Whilst Lennon’s learning curve has brought some frustrations at times, I’ll be so happy for the man if he does it this year.
BS
I don’t think Lenny has a scoot who his first 11 are. I made this criticism of him back in Sept/Oct. he needs to find his strongest set up for the Rangers game and then for all other 10 teams.
The Rangers game will be won or lost on his team selection up front. Playing Sammy as he did in last years New Year game worked really well as much for the surprise factor, but it’s failed to produce in any of the subsequent Rangers games.
Last New Year we were severely hampered by injuries etc and pulled a performance out the bag through adversity, we need the same level of performance again on the 28th however I’d love for once for us to go out and play our team to suit our game and not set ourselves up wholly to combat them.
I know if they deploy a 5 in midfield which they will it can be necessary to match up with that but Kayal and Wanyama have proven in recent weeks to be a match for any midfield. They’d shit themselves at the thought of having to deal with Stokes/Hooper up front. Let’s make them worry about us for once
Joe
similar to yourself but
I’ve gone for…
4321
Forster
Lustig Wilson Mulgrew Izaguirre
Kayal Wanyama Ledley
Forrest Samaras
Hooper
with back-up …
Majstorovic
Commons
Matthews
Stokes
Brown
Ki
Cha
Zaluska
McGeouch
McCourt
Bangura
Loovens
Wilson
Rogne
Toshney
Plus a load of other youngsters
(i prefer Commons to Sammy but KC had been off the boil a little, then injured, and anyhow, when Sammy is running at players, he’s decent)
maybe too, if we have Victor, we may not require Beram (altho the two of them together was working well) and hence can then bring in playmaker/ghost(?) Ki
all about opinions