Squad depth is a concept that has grown arms and legs in recent years concerning association football.
Long gone are the days of ‘Best XIs’ and the need to name the same team every week in order to cope – the gruelling modern footballing schedule has put an end to that. Now, teams must rotate accordingly in order to cope with the demand of competitive action, especially when competing in European competitions such as the Champions League.
Celtic are no different. Thanks to the expansion of UEFA’s premier club football tournament, Brendan Rodgers has had to manage his group of players effectively through the winter months as the club balanced domestic duties with continental clashes against Europe’s elite.
Last month’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup signalled the fourth competition that Celtic have participated in this season – a workload like this needs a squad capable of managing the wear and tear that this kind of schedule undoubtedly brings. With the League Cup already back in the Celtic Park trophy cabinet, the club has its eyes on another treble, though achieving this accolade again will be easier said than done – despite Rangers’ early exit at the hands of Queen’s Park.
Circling back to the present, Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dundee United was as comfortable as you can get, despite Jim Goodwin’s side taking points off of Celtic earlier on in the season. Goals from Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah ensured that Rodgers and his team were entering the return leg of their clash with Bayern Munich in the best possible shape.
Even though the likes of the captain and the returning “Superstar from Portugal” stole the headlines last weekend, it was those who were drafted in that impressed many of the Celtic support, as their reliability was once again on show in the face of necessary rotation due to the club’s European escapades.
With that in mind, let's have a look at four fringe players who performed well against Dundee United on Saturday...
The ‘Schlota’ Partnership
Using StatsBomb metrics, it is clear to see that those players trusted with a start against The Terrors took their opportunity, which was handed to them at Celtic Park. First of all, let’s observe the team’s passing network, which takes into account OBV (on-ball value) concerning their performance in possession. In this particular data metric, Jota was Celtic’s most influential performer, though he was not alone in excelling while the ball was in his vicinity.
The Portugal winger managed to clock up a score of 0.41 OBV for his 31 passes, as his full debut for the club went according to plan for the 60 or so minutes in which he featured. Those watching or in attendance will have noticed the immediate understanding that he and fellow left-sided player Jeffrey Schlupp had developed in their short time together, as the Ghanaian full-back also stood out for his new club in this match.
The former Leicester City man – who is out of contract in the summer at Crystal Palace – displayed his versatility, often coming into midfield to allow Jota the space to wreak havoc out wide. Unlucky not to score himself, the 32-year-old notched up an OBV score of 0.18 – not bad going for his first league start as a Celtic player.
Contributing five combined tackles and interceptions, the veteran operator showed his experience, know-how and class at the back, too, as he helped Celtic on their way to another clean sheet domestically. This is a player who seems to be hungry to succeed at his temporary employers – perhaps with a view to staying this summer.
Yang joins the gang
It is fair to say that Yang Hyun-jun’s Celtic career has been stop-start to say the very least. A 2023 summer signing from Gangwon FC in his native South Korea, the versatile wide man has found game time hard to come by for the majority of his time in Scotland, though injuries in the wide areas in recent months have given him cause for optimism.
Despite not being as electric as he was when coming off the bench against Bayern Munich last Wednesday, the 22-year-old still managed to contribute an assist for his side when he started against Dundee United. This, coupled with the aforementioned Bayern cameo and his stellar showing versus Raith Rovers, has indicated an improvement in the winger’s level, as he is contributing when called upon.
For his 27 passes on Saturday, Yang was the second-highest OBV contributor with 0.19 – perhaps an indication that his teammates now trust him to deliver and perform, hence his effectiveness on the ball.
A closer Luke at McCowan
Though Jota won Player of the Match – it’s understandable, given his goal and flair on the day – many felt that Celtic’s top performer was in the midfield. While McGregor’s goal may have overshadowed his teammate’s showing, many believed that fellow Scotland middle-man Luke McCowan was the standout individual against Dundee United on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has been a reliable option for Celtic to rely on domestically, as Rodgers seems to see him as his trusted midfield lieutenant during congested fixture periods. This trust was repaid by the former Dundee captain last weekend, as he stamped his authority all over proceedings to Celtic’s benefit.
Above is a table of Celtic’s top key passers – look who is right at the top. Though joint-top with the mercurial Jota, McCowan contributed four key passes in this contest, as he grabbed his latest starting chance with both hands against his former rivals.
He also showed his defensive capabilities when out of possession, too, as he completed 26 pressures – the most for both teams. Adding four counterpressures to the mix, McCowan wasted no time in making yet another good impression in his boyhood colours – his reliability is arguably his biggest strength to Celtic at this point.
Trusting Tony Ralston
Playing backup to someone like Alistair Johnston must be tough, especially when your loyalty to your club has been unwavering. Tony Ralston has faced this predicament since 2023, though his professionalism has ensured that his role at Celtic remains important.
That being said, he has been handed two starts in as many domestic games – both in the Scottish Cup and the Premiership – with the Scotland international performing well against Raith Rovers and Dundee United respectively.
With six combined tackles and interceptions - as well as two clearances and three aerial wins – the right-back was a standout, as Johnston was afforded a rare rest in place of his trusted teammate. Adding 13 pressures to his performance total, Celtic’s number 56 performed his duties on both ends of the pitch admirably – for the manager who has been instrumental in the make-up of his senior career.
Final thoughts
Though Rodgers and Celtic may have players who will be selected over others when push comes to shove in important contests, the importance of the team is paramount to the club’s success as a whole.
Indeed, Greg Taylor, Nicolas Kuhn, Arne Engels and Johnston would likely start in those so-called ‘big’ games, though those players waiting in the wings as backup have shown that they are up to the task of providing sufficient depth in these areas.
Celtic now have a squad of dependable players to call upon – a luxury that Rodgers has not always had in his second stint as manager.
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