Celtic have a rare chance for instant redemption on Sunday afternoon when they welcome their city rivals to Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops lost 3-0 to Rangers at Ibrox in the quarter-finals of the League Cup last Sunday, as they were left frustrated by a dismal performance against their rivals.
Unfortunately, they followed that up with a 3-1 loss to Ferenvcaros at Paradise in the Europa League on Thursday night, which shows that they did not produce an immediate reaction to their cup defeat.
However, they now have the chance to put things right and avoid a third successive loss in all competitions when they welcome Rangers to Parkhead this weekend.
How Celtic can get back to winning ways against Rangers
One of the ways in which Celtic could get back to winning ways against Rangers could be to strengthen the revamp the midfield structure, because it was far too easy to play through in the last two games.
Mika Baur, who scored against Ferencvaros, and Callum McGregor both started in the double pivot as the Hoops conceded six goals across the two matches, whilst Oliver Sorensen played in the number ten role and offered little on Thursday night.
Earlier this season, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started matches against Falkirk and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership and excelled in and out of possession in both outings.
|
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |
Vs Falkirk |
Vs Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
78 |
63 |
|
Pass accuracy |
94% |
88% |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
1 |
|
Dribbles completed |
4/4 |
0/1 |
|
Ground duels won |
6/6 |
1/2 |
|
Aerial duels won |
1/1 |
0/0 |
|
Fouls committed |
0 |
0 |
|
Dribbled past |
0x |
0x |
The former England international won eight of his nine duels across the two games without being dribbled past a single time, and he could provide the strength that Celtic have been lacking in midfield.
Instead of bringing Benjamin Nygren back in as the number ten, the Hoops could switch to a 4-3-3 formation and play Oxlade-Chamberlain and Baur either side of McGregor, making it more difficult for Rangers to play through them.
Celtic must bench £11m star against Rangers
The move to a more traditional 4-3-3 shape without a natural number ten in behind the striker means that Martin O’Neill would have to deploy a mobile number nine who can make runs in behind and move around to get the ball.
Therefore, £11m summer signing Kasper Hogh should be benched by the Northern Irish manager because he does not have the attributes to thrive in that kind of role.
After coming off the bench against Ferencvaros, the Denmark international lost all five of his ground duels and committed a staggering four fouls in 45 minutes of action, whilst he also failed to take a single shot on goal.
The former Bodo/Glimt star has fantastic movement in the box and makes brilliant runs, but his lack of mobility, strength, and technical quality when faced with quicker and stronger defenders is a concern.
He has scored three goals in eight appearances for the Scottish giants since his £11m move from the Norwegian side, and all three of those goals came in the same match against Kilmarnock.
Hogh has cost the club between £3.6m and £3.7m per goal so far this season and his recent performances do not suggest that he is set to add to his goal tally any time soon, having gone six matches without a goal.
|
Kasper Hogh’s Celtic career |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Opposition |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Ferencvaros |
0 |
0 |
|
Rangers |
0 |
0 |
|
St. Johnstone |
0 |
0 |
|
LASK |
0 |
0 |
|
LASK |
0 |
0 |
|
Dundee United |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilmarnock |
3 |
0 |
|
Dundee |
0 |
0 |
On current form, the Danish striker would not even get a game at Rangers on the other side of Glasgow, as their strikers have been more impressive than him.
Kevin Kelsy, in fact, outperformed him when they both started in the League Cup quarter-final clash between the two sides, with a goal and an assist against Celtic.
The Venezuela international was signed by the Gers for £9m on deadline day and has registered more assists in three matches (one) than Hogh has managed in eight (zero) appearances for the Hoops.
Ryan Naderi, with three goals and one assist, and Lawrence Shankland, with four goals, have also both delivered more goal contributions than Hogh (three) in all competitions this season as strikers for Rangers.
There are, arguably, three strikers at Rangers who would be picked ahead of a centre-forward signed by Celtic for £11m, at least based on the evidence of this season so far.
Hogh, who has lost 67% of his ground duels in the Premiership, should, therefore, be left on the bench for this clash with the Gers at Parkhead because he does not have the quality or the mobility to thrive as a lone striker in a more compact 4-3-3 formation.
O’Neill should go with the more athletic and willing runner, in Camilo Duran, and leave Hogh on the bench in the hope that he can come on and make an impact if needed.