- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,144,365
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
[Getty Images]
Former defender Jackie McNamara believes it was a "big gamble" for Celtic to replace Martin O'Neill with Wilfried Nancy - and is concerned about the new manager's radical tactical change.
Interim boss O'Neill had won seven out of his eight games in charge and had reeled in Heart of Midlothian's lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
He was replaced by permanent manager Nancy but the Frenchman lost his first match in charge against Hearts - using a 3-4-2-1 system.
"I've played under Martin and know how he would have turned it around. He got the shackles off," McNamara said on the Scottish Football Podcast.
"Yang Hyun-Jun has been a different player. Reo Hatate has had a bit more freedom getting forward. Arne Engels was better.
"Now Yan is expected to play right wing-back. He is not defensively minded. I've played that position and it is very demanding. You are judged on defence and attack. To go and do it so quickly is a big ask.
"But I don't think he will change. Afterwards he said it wasn't the system that was the problem. He won't think it is the system's fault. The players have to respond.
"That's why it think it was such a gamble to change Martin at this point. You want a pre-season to work on a new system.
"You don't want all these memes about a tactics board being used midway through the season.
"If the team is losing, yes, a new manager comes in, but Celtic were going very, very well.
"Now there is a big week coming up - Roma, who might exploit them defensively, and then a cup final."
Former Rangers winger Neil McCann agrees with McNamara's assessment and believes Nancy must be "resilient" if he is to succeed in Glasgow with his new system.
"Nancy set up isn't going to catch fire quickly in my opinion," he said on the podcast.
"These players have been signed to play 4-3-3 and now they've got to fit into a totally new system.
"To change Martin is a huge risk because of the size of the games coming up. In the new year there is the big game against rangers too.
"They've taken a risk by not giving Martin the chance to take the team to the cup final.
"Glasgow is a graveyard for people who get shocked. He needs to be resilient and puff his chest out."
You must be registered for see images
Continue reading...
