Wingers! - A different style of play!

to be fair when izzy is back he is like a winger

 

As I've said many times on this forum, I'm a huge advocate of the so-called 'Celtic way' of playing. Barcelona, Ajax, Man United all have a style which is implemented right through the club from the youth system right up to the first team, except in certain tactical situations. These are namely an adaptable 4-3-3/3-4-3 for Barca, with a false nine, two creative midfielders, no real wingers and attacking full-backs; a very fluid 4-3-3 for Ajax in which no player has a set position as such but can be asked to fill in anywhere throughout a game; and of course a direct, passing game based on getting the ball wide quickly in a 4-4-2 for United.

Celtic teams largely followed the template set by Jock Stein of a very attacking 4-4-2 which most of all relied on good wing-play. Other tactical features would include attacking full-backs, a creative midfield partnership to sit slightly deeper than normal and a striker to 'drop off' the other. Wingers however have almost always the key component of Celtic's play, in Stein's day Johnstone and Lennox were the men in wide positions, where Johnstone would stay wide and dribble, whilst Lennox almost acted as a third striker occasionally. Our youth team has played this way occasionally this season with George out on the left hand side, Slane on the right and a creative midfield of Twardzik and McGregor with Watt up top.

I feel this could work well for the first team if Lennon just had faith in his attacking flair. Since we are terrible defensively, this would be a shout and similar to our forward play at times last season. With Forrest and McCourt on the right and left respectively I think we could destroy teams using the pace of the former and sublime skill of the latter. Since Matthews/Wilson and for the moment Ledley are good at getting forward from fullback, they would offer great support. A central midfield of the destructive Wanyama and equally destructive but far more creative Kayal would offer balance, while Stokes playing off the likes of Hooper or Bangura could make a decent strike force.

Just a thought guys!

 

Dont mind your idea

but I think 433 is the best formation in the world

(With one of the 3 midfielders sitting back to protect the defence and act Sweeper)

 

I think it's what might be needed. Last season we basically defended from the half way line. Yes we had a great defensive record but that was down to defending up high as our defence was still *.
As they always say attack is the best form of defence, and we have attackers in abundance.

 

This.

Basically perfect. Lennon is far too scared to do it though. As you said we are playing more defensively to make up for our frailties at the back but sacrificing attack.

If we play this team we will:
1. Keep possession longer thus reducing the oppositions chances
2. pin teams back the way we used to and stop them building attacks and 3. Score more goals.

So instead of scraping a 1-0 or 2-1 we'd hammer teams 5-1. Who cares about a consolation goal? Barcelona certainly don't.