Slightly on/off topic, I guess starting your strongest eleven isn’t necessarily the best eleven for every given game. Celtic home last season it worked perfectly putting mulgrew and watt on at half time, pace had gone out game slightly, and they could influence game better, though wouldn’t have made a difference had we been trailing 0-3 through.
5 subs obviously benefits bigger squads, but I really thought we’d see more tactical innovation from managers, i.e you can almost replace half a team, for example I thought more managers might go for a new attacking midfield 65 min mark, but it’s not made great difference. I’d have thought potentially it can change way you approach/manage games.
Always remember the euro tie where Houston played Goodie wide. What got us Europe that year was playing two central strikers. Went out of the competition on a whimper as we couldn't create chances to score goals which is how you progress. I'd play Fletcher & Cudjoe through the middle with Middleton on the right. Watt on the bench. Middleton & Cudjoe could switch now and again to give AZ something to think about. Cudjoe had a poor game by his standards on Saturday. All the more likely to have something to prove against better opposition imo.
Last edited by zeek; 01-08-2022 at 01:25 PM. Reason: mistake typing
This.
Ross has some very big decisions to make here. Stick with 442 where McMann Cudjoe and Harkes have all struggled or change to a back 3 to get wing backs higher up to support our attack.
Going with a back 4 at Killie maybe suggests he prefers a 4. IMO Freeman offers a more attacking threat on the right than Smith and Cudjoe have so far.
Does he start Behich? Could Niskanen add pace to get at them and cause uncertainty?
I sense that Ross will play a bit safe. I think he'll keep faith in Harkes. I think this is the team he'll play
Birighitti
Smith Edwards Mulgrew Behich
Middleton Sibbald Levitt Harkes
Fletcher Watt
Maybe Middleton on the left in front of Behich instead of on the right as listed above.
Wouldn't be surprised if he persists with Cudjoe at the expense of Middleton.
I'd prefer
Birighitti
Edwards Mulgrew Graham
Freeman Sibbald Levitt Niskanen Behich
Fletcher Watt
I'd ask Niskanen to interchange with Behich, covering the space behind him when he gets forward. If we're still not ahead by 60 minutes sub Niskanen for Middleton.
I'd do the same interchange thing with Freeman/Sibbald.
We need to get support up to Watt/Fletcher, get in behind if possible, get crosses in when possible and imo Freeman Niskanen and Behich will do more of that than Smith Harkes and Cudjoe. Pace, commit defenders, surprise, disrupt.
It'll be interesting to see what Ross does.