Big clubs carry four strikers .. Celts have only got big Edouard and he needs a partner for 8 in a row
MARK BURCHILL remembers when it was standing room only in the Celtic striker department rather than last man standing.
The former Hoops hero isn’t surprised Brendan Rodgers is on the hitman hunt and reckons capturing Timothy Weah and Vakoun Issouf Bayo would give the Parkhead squad the numbers needed to add up to eight in a row.
Burchill – who these days scouts for Premier League outfit Bournemouth – has watched the PSG kid and Dunajska Streda poacher and believes Brendan Rodgers shouldn’t target one or the other. The Celtic boss needs both. The ex-Hoops hitman knows it’s changed days from his time at the club when he had Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Shaun Maloney, Tommy Johnston and Lubo Moravcik for company in the front line of the attack.
The game has changed but the Hoops still need fire power on the pitch and in reserve if they are to fight off the Rangers title charge this term after Leigh Griffiths’s absence and Odsonne Edouard’s injury problem left the champions short.
Burchill – who is set to lead the line for Scotland in the Star Sixes at the Hydro this weekend – said: “It’s amazing when you think about it how few strikers Brendan has had since he walked through the door at Celtic.
“He has liked to have one or two, possibly three at any one time.
“I can see why he does it. It gives the players the focus and the formations have changed in recent years.
“Back in the day it was always two up front but now it’s one. If you have one key striker and three competing for the role, the ratio is the same as having six with two up top.
“But going with so few can cause problems. We’ve seen it when there’s injuries or when someone gets sold late in the window.
“It has left Celtic short. It also doesn’t allow much room for losses of form.
“Most clubs have to run with four strikers. It gives more scope and there’s also the option to play 3-5-2, or two up with a diamond, even three up top when you have versatile forwards like