The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pace, guile and strength, but ...
Stopping Celtic is a tough task at the best of times but, with 10 in a row on the line, the Hoops could be a runaway train this season.
The challenge for Dundee United, up against the league’s best team, biggest budget and some of its biggest characters, is huge but they should have hope.
Although the Celts dismantled Hamilton on opening day, Kilmarnock showed slowing down the Parkhead express isn’t impossible, earning a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park prior to Boli Bongoli’s holiday putting a stop to their season.
The champions have been back in action since, hammering Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavik 6-0 in a Champions League qualifier in Glasgow on Tuesday night.
However, this evening represents their first Premiership assignment since left-back Bolingoli’s coronavirus rule breach and there could be a little chink in Celtic’s armour for United to exploit.
System
Neil Lennon lines his team up in an extremely dynamic and balanced 4-2-3-1, which possesses frightening pace and attacking guile.
Greek keeper Vasilis Barkas is a relative unknown to Scottish football but an experienced shot-stopper nonetheless.
In front of him, Jeremie Frimpong plays more like a winger than a right-back, with Greg Taylor growing into the green and white hoops with each passing week on the other side.
Both are hugely important to Celtic’s attacking identity as much as they are the back four.
Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer are towering presences in both boxes but also comfortable with the ball at feet.
Scott Brown and Callum McGregor set the tempo and the standard for Celtic in holding midfield roles while the front four get the work done.
Whether it’s the pace and crossing of James Forrest, the individualism of Ryan Christie or the special talent that is Odsonne Edouard, the Bhoys can play any way they want and still win at this level.
Strengths
The ability to exercise an almost complete control over proceedings at all times is the Hoops’ greatest strength.
The likes of Brown, McGregor and Forrest have masses of experience winning in the top flight, with the latter two in particular making their side tick.
No matter the situation or how much they’re up against it during matches, at any given point Celtic have the ability to flick the switch and produce a bit of magic.
That, and the attacking talent in their ranks, is something no other side in the Premiership possess. That includes Rangers.
Having won nine straight titles, Lennon’s men also have a winning mentality which means, once they go ahead in games, they very rarely take their foot off the gas.
A scary proposition.
Weaknesses
That said, there are imperfections in the Glasgow side’s make-up the Tangerines should be targeting.
Never was that more evident than in the Killie divide in Ayrshire a fortnight ago. Simply put, Alex Dyer’s side got right in Celtic’s faces and they didn’t like it.
That fear of the unknown – a team actually having a go at them at domestic level – had the Hoops shocked and somewhat neutered.
The Rugby Park side stifled the Hoops, rendering them impotent, while also exploiting some of the weak points in their defence.
As much as he is a dominant central defender and a handful at set-pieces, Frenchman Jullien proved he could be got at by a clever striker after giving away a penalty in fouling Nicke Kabamba.
He, and Ajer, certainly wouldn’t relish going up against a returning Lawrence Shankland, if the Scotland star passes a late fitness test.
Depth
Although the Celts may have one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Ferencvaros, they have the depth to cope.
So far this season, they’ve introduced from the bench £4.5 million midfielder Olivier Ntcham, Polish under-21 international Patryk Klimala, Swiss star Albian Ajeti and experienced Israeli Hatem Abd Elhamed.
That’s not to mention the likes of Nir Bitton and Mohamed Elyounoussi also getting game time and players like Tom Rogic, Leigh Griffiths and Mikey Johnston sitting in reserve.
Their strength in numbers is enviable and, regardless of who walks out in green and white at Tannadice tonight, the Terrors will be in for a tough evening.
Dangerman
For all the stars in their ranks, the one who stands head and shoulders above the rest is hitman Edouard.
The £9m French under-21 forward has the ability to go right to the top of the game, taking a similar path as compatriot and former Hoops team-mate Moussa Dembele – now starring with Lyon.
He is the complete striker, possessing pace, power, natural finishing ability and incredible movement and awareness.
Being assigned to the 22-year-old will be the biggest test United centre-halves Mark Reynolds and Mark Connolly face all season.
After bagging a hat-trick against Hamilton and notching the Hoops’ fifth over Reykjavik, he will not only be deadly as ever, but full of confidence as well.