SIR KENNY DALGLISH:
I MUST HAVE RUINED A FEW CAREERS
Playing with twin strikers has worked well for Celtic since they returned from the winter break.
On Wednesday night, Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths linked up very well against St Johnstone.
There was a great understanding between them, and they also received brilliant service from the wide areas.
It took me back to my own days, as both a player and manager, when playing two up top was a lot more commonplace than it is now.
As a player, I was fortunate enough to have had more than few decent ones to live of off.
In my young days at Celtic, there were the likes of Joe McBride, Harry Hood and Dixie Deans. In my first season at Liverpool, I had John Toshack.
From there, it moved to guys like David Johnson and David Fairclough. Then Ian Rush came along. He was exceptional, that’s for sure.
At international level, I was lucky enough to play alongside my hero, Denis Law, against Czechoslovakia in 1973, the night Scotland qualified for the World Cup Finals.
That was sensational for me. What an unbelievable feeling, and one that will never leave me.
In a dark blue jersey, I also had Joe Jordan, Charlie Nicholas, Mo Johnston, Frank McAvennie and one or two more.
My goodness, when I think back to them all, I must have ruined a few promising careers!
Partnerships are all about chemistry, and being able to bring the best out of one another.
When I managed Blackburn Rovers, Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton were great at that. They were terrific together.
When I was back at Celtic with John Barnes, there was an excellent partnership in the making between Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka.
But then Henrik broke his leg just a couple of months into the season.
So it’s good to see something a wee but different, and Celtic may find having a front two as a real turning point in their season.
Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Grifftihs will most likely lead the attack today and they will be hungry for more goals and three points.
I said on this page last month that Leigh had the ability, but just had to find a way to catch the manager’s eye again and get himself a run in the team.
Well, he has managed to do so and chipped in with a few goals. His finish at Perth in midweek was of a very high standard.
Now he just needs to maintain a level of consistency, and he will have a key role to play in the pursuit of silverware between now and May.
I’m sure there will be times when Neil will feel his team will be better suited to having a lone striker, and that would mean the nod being given to Edouard, you would imagine.
It could well be that Neil felt he had to find something a wee bit different in the make-up of his side and try out some different things from a tactical point of view.
Doing that can help to freshen up your squad and give them a fresh impetus. Just as important, it can also baffle and confuse your opponents.
But it really depends on the players to have at your disposal.
A manager won’t do it for the sake of it because if he felt playing a 4-23-1 or a 4-5-1 was his best chance of winning, then he would do it. So Neil must be comfortable with a 3-5-2, and he trusts his players to deliver.
It’s up to the other teams to find a way to stop them, and beat them.
Rangers managed that the last time the teams met at Celtic Park.
Now there may be something different for Steven Gerrard and his coaching staff to think about and come up with a new plan.
Again, all of it just adds to the intrigue and excitement that awaits Scottish football in the coming months.
Whatever the circumstances, we all know the bottom line is that the best formation is the one that guides you to the three points.
Striking partnerships are a good thing, and the right ones and proper blends can lead to lots of success.
We are into February and the business end isn’t too far off.
It will be a time for brave hearts and cool heads.
Striking partnerships are a good thing, and the right ones and proper blends can lead to lots of success