Since Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at Celtic Park last May, there has mostly been absolutely nothing to complain about for supporters. Last summer they qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage, won every domestic trophy available to them and were not beaten by a Scottish side for the entirety of the season.
Early into this season though and their European ambitions hang in the balance after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Rosenborg on Wednesday night. With injury problems and suspensions, the Hoops were left under-powered in key areas and those problems became glaring issues in their performance against the Norwegian champions.
In truth, Rosenborg could have won the game, having a number of glaring chances in the second half as the Hoops push further and further forward.
The tie is in the balance and if Rodgers addresses some key problems and Celtic play at their best, you’d still fancy them to go through. The question is though, can they do that?
We’ve picked out THREE of the biggest problems the Hoops boss faces if they are to get the result required next Wednesday…
Tom Rogic doesn’t work as a striker, false 9 or not
One of Celtic’s big problems on Wednesday night was going into the match with no senior strikers fit or available for action. Moussa Dembele could miss the entirety of the Hoops’ qualification campaign with an injury and while Leigh Griffiths was suspended for the Rosenborg match, he was injured anyway and would not have featured.
Brendan Rodgers’ answer to that was playing Tom Rogic as the most advanced attacking player, ostensibly as a ‘false 9’, a striker who drops deeps and brings his teammates into the game around him with skill and dribbling.
It didn’t work out like that though and it became clear quite quickly that this isn’t where Rogic’s strengths lie. In the second half Rodgers dropped Rogic deeper into the midfield and he looked a lot brighter, able to pick out teammates ahead of him.
Whether Griffiths is fit next week or not, it’s clear that the Celtic boss can’t play Rogic like this again. Who plays there in the Scotland international’s absence is not clear, perhaps Jack Aitchison can get a senior start or Scott Sinclair will get the nod.
Solving this problem and finding the right player to lead the attack could be the difference going through and going out.
Jonny Hayes must start in place of James Forrest
While none of the Celtic team particularly covered themselves in glory during the 90 minutes against Rosenborg, some Celtic fans have found themselves particularly frustrated with James Forrest. He never really got going in the match and despite seeing plenty of the ball in the first half, which is to his credit, he simply couldn’t do anything with it that looked like threatening the Norwegian defence.
Jonny Hayes has looked pretty sharp in his last couple of appearances and for our money deserves a start next week at Forrest’s expense, especially if Leigh Griffiths is fit enough to take a place through the middle.
Hayes is a more direct and fearless winger and works harder too. In a tough arena against a proud team, Celtic are going to have to dig deep to get a result and the Republic of Ireland international could prove a more effective option.
Dropping Stuart Armstrong should be a consideration
Stuart Armstrong doesn’t look himself in the Celtic midfield this summer. Whether that’s a fitness issue, a confidence issue or because his contract situation has yet to be resolved isn’t clear, but he has lost the form that made him such an effective midfielder last season.
With their European ambitions on the line next week, Brendan Rodgers can’t afford passengers and we reckon bringing in Callum McGregor in Armstrong’s place could be the way to go in Norway.
It’s at least an option that needs to be considered. McGregor was sharp against Linfield and will at the very least run himself into the ground trying to deliver a result.
That kind of energy could be the difference next week and if Armstrong is not on it, Rodgers must make a difficult decision.
