As tonight’s game against Real Betis is definitely not a ‘dead rubber’, is there still scope for Ange Postecoglou to make some changes to the team that won’t affect the style of play or change the high press intensity that we have all become accustomed to?
Against Hearts last Thursday, Ange had to make three changes in a short space of time and we could all see how that impacted the teams performance.
Sure, coming off the bench naturally affects the flow of the game anyway, but as we all witnessed last week, it was just how much the three changes affected the game that is concerning as Hearts dominated possession for a long spell after the substitutions.
So do we have the quality to make those changes and still provide a high standard of performance?
There is one position that Ange Postecoglou could afford to make a change and on the A Celtic State of Mind podcast, contributor Colin made a massive selection call ahead of tonight’s kick off, “I think he might give Bain the gloves. I think he might. I’ve seen a bit of faith being placed in Scott Bain in the fact that he’s got this contract.
“He is the one that has stuck around the squad.
“Barkas has been disappearing. He is the one that has been working with Joe Hart.
“I do think Scott Bain could potentially be the one that would come in.
“I wouldn’t think we’d need to rest Joe Hart but I can’t see it doing any kind of harm.
“And I think Bain will come in trying to impress everybody.”
Bain has only made two fleeting appearances this season, against Hearts on the opening day of the season and FC Mjidtjylland in the Champions League qualifier.
Both matches ended in 2-1 defeats for the Hoops, so maybe luck isn’t on Bain’s side at the moment.