Celtic take on CFR Cluj in the Europa League tonight.
Alex Rae has been critical of Neil Lennon’s attacking set-up and suggested that players like Ryan Christie and James Forrest are being wasted just to ‘accommodate’ Olivier Ntcham.
The former Scottish Premiership midfielder believes that Lennon is ‘moving too many people’ just to put Ntcham in the starting XI, as he feels the balance of the side is being disrupted.
Over the weekend, Celtic dropped points at Lennon’s former stomping ground Hibernian, and they are now preparing for a Europa League clash against CFR Cluj.
More than likely Lennon will stick with the same set-up that has been working wonders for him in recent weeks, but Rae told Clyde Superscoreboard why the Bhoys manager needs to change things.
“When I was looking at the set-up, Ryan Christie has been one of the standout players in Scotland,” Rae told Clyde. “And when you put him out on the right-hand side at times and James Forrest goes out to the left, I think you are moving too many people about to accommodate Olivier Ntcham.
“I have been champion of Ntcham over the course of the time he has been in Scotland. I think he has been a different player. But you are moving too many players around and I think that upsets the balance. I don’t think Elyounoussi is up to speed yet. And I don’t know where Sinclair would be in that bracket as well because he hasn’t played a lot of games recently.
“You are then left with Hayes or a young Morgan. But you have to get back to the original balance of the team because I don’t think Forrest is as prolific on the left-hand side either.”
When Celtic last faced Cluj, Lennon was criticised for his team selection as his team’s hopes of reaching the Champions League group stages were ended by the Romanian side.
Despite knocking Celtic out, Cluj ended up in the Europa League themselves and they will be looking for a repeat performance at Parkhead tonight.
But Lennon’s side are a much different outfit since then and they will be backing themselves to put the points on the board.
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