“His experience is going to play a key role” – Celtic player named as pivotal to interesting tactical change

One thing I like about Ange Postecoglou’s playing style is that it seems fairly straightforward.

Once you get your head around the inverted full-back position and their roles, it is simple.

High pressing and relentless attacking football.

It was very effective last season and, ultimately, paid off as the league title and cup now rest in the Parkhead trophy room.

But there was an interesting article in The Athletic which highlighted a subtle tactical change in Ange Postecoglou’s system.

Joe Hart’s role in the team.

The Celtic keeper is key to how Ange wants to play his football.  Passing out from the back to keep possession and your opponents under pressure.

Kieran Devlin refers to Hart as Celtic’s ‘third centre back’ due to how high he now plays up the park when in possession.

This was evident in pre-season against Legia Warsaw and against Aberdeen at the weekend.

It is a risky tactic but does prove effective when trying to keep possession of the ball and allow a more direct attacking option for the team.

But former professional goalkeeper and now coach and analyst, Matt Pyzdrowski, was looking at the tactical change and said that Hart’s role in this will be key.

Speaking in The Athletic, Pyzdrowski says of Hart, “His experience is going to play a big role. 

“Obviously it would be different if he was 25, 26, 27 when he didn’t have so many big games behind him and he wasn’t as secure in himself as he is today, but that experience allows him to play freer.

“The big thing for him the last few years since leaving Manchester City was he didn’t have a team who believed in him before Celtic.

“At Celtic now his spot is secure, and that’s what allows him to learn the system and develop.”

How many times have we had our hearts in our mouths as we watch the back four play the passing from the back in and around the Celtic penalty box?

At least with this new change, the danger of being dispossessed is moved further from the goal.

It will be interesting to see how this new tactic plays out this season and if it will continue should it cost the team on the park.

I do like the look of it. I like the fact that it gives us more control of the game and more attacking options.

The only question I would ask would be is it viable to use in the Champions League where the quality of players is so much better than in the SPFL?

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