OPINION
Celtic’s season has not got off to the way anyone would have expected and after coming under heavy fire for the way his side has been playing, it appears as though manager Brendan Rodgers is willing to take the gambles needed to turn things around.
Their worst start to a league season in 20 years was only a follow on to what was a bitterly disappointing summer for the Hoops, first being knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers – the whole Dedryck Boyata saga rumbling on at the same time – before Moussa Dembele left in a last minute transfer deal, resulting in the Bhoys looking notably lightweight in terms of numbers up front.
Following the Frenchman’s departure, Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard have rotated between themselves leading the line, with Rodgers turning to a single forward up top to try and net the goals needed.
Quite frankly, it has left Celtic looking pretty toothless up top, but obviously playing both senior strikers in the same game is a massive gamble, with injury, suspension, or just the lack of options off the bench leaving the Hoops vulnerable.
However, with the likes of Chris Sutton dubbing the Bhoys “boring” recently, Rodgers has rolled the dice against St Johnstone and put Edouard and Griffiths up top together, confirmed on the club’s official Twitter account.
? #CelticFC starting XI and subs for #STJCEL. #BetfredCup pic.twitter.com/NpY3EYkoDC
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 26, 2018
It is a major risk and one which could see things go horribly wrong, but the fact Rodgers was willing to make such a bold move was the right decision right now, at a time when things are feeling uncertain both on and off the field.
Regardless of how things go at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday, it is a positive sign for the Bhoys, and shows Rodgers is not afraid to make the big calls which can determine success and failure.