Not Kenny: It’s a sackable offence that Nancy picks “Kilmarnock-level” Celtic flop
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is already having to deal with speculation over his future at the club, just four matches into his time in the dugout.
The French head coach is the first manager in the club’s history to lose his first four games in charge, but he retains the full backing of the board, per Sky Sports.
It remains to be seen if they will maintain that position if results do not improve quickly, though, which is why Nancy needs to make some key tweaks to the team.
The key changes Nancy has to make at Celtic
After the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United, dropping Johnny Kenny should be one of the priorities for the head coach after the striker missed two ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, including the dismal miss in the clip below.
The Irishman should be taken out of the side to provide another player, possibly Benjamin Nygren as a number nine, with an opportunity to see if they can be more effective in front of goal.
Nancy should also look to change the system because the 3-4-2-1 has looked incredibly ineffective against teams when they sit in a low block, as Celtic have found themselves passing side to side across their three centre-backs with little movement or options to break the opposition down.
Celtic, by nature of the way most of their domestic games go, need as many forward options as possible to break down low blocks, which is why having three centre-backs, leading to Liam Scales overlapping and putting crosses in on Wednesday night, seems counter-productive.
As part of playing those three defenders across the back, Nancy has been starting experienced full-back Anthony Ralston in a right-sided centre-back role, which may be a sackable offence on its own.
Why Wilfried Nancy must drop Anthony Ralston
After Alistair Johnston’s injury, Brendan Rodgers relied on academy graduate Colby Donovan to step up and play at right-back ahead of Ralston, who has been too much of a liability.
Martin O’Neill tried to lean on the right-back’s experience against Midtjylland in the Europa League, only for him to be torn to shreds twice by Mikel Gogorza for the first two goals, including the one in the clip above.
Ralston was given the nod to start as the right-sided centre-back in the League Cup final against St Mirren last weekend. He was given a 5/10 player rating by Glasgow World, who noted that he looked ‘increasingly shaky’ defensively.
Despite that performance, which included a bizarre hoof up in the air under no pressure on the halfway line, Nancy gave him another start in that position against Dundee United, with the same result.
ESPN content creator Andrew Miller described him as a “Kilmarnock-level player” last month, which is essentially saying that he is a bottom-half level player.
Vs Dundee United
Anthony Ralston
Minutes
90
Tackles won
1/4
Clearances
9
Touches
101
Pass accuracy
81%
Possession lost
17x
Key passes
0
Stats via Sofascore
Ralston’s performance against Dundee United last time out did little to change that narrative, as he failed in 75% of his attempted tackles and failed to create a single chance from 101 touches of the ball.
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Whilst his failure to create any chances can be put down to the three centre-back system that he was playing in, Ralston looked uncomfortable on the ball and lost possession inside his own half several times, due to dawdling on the ball.
Whilst Ralston may be an experienced player, now 27, his performances do not reflect that experience, as he was not picked by Rodgers, struggled under O’Neill, and has struggled under Nancy.
That is why continuing to play him, particularly in this system that does not seem to be working, is a sackable offence for the French head coach, because his displays are hurting the team’s performances, defensively and offensively.
Celtic now making enquiries for new manager in the hours since Lawwell exit
Nancy’s disastrous start became even worse in midweek.
1 ByTom Cunningham
The former MLS Cup champion should go to a traditional back four, in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, and bring Donovan in as a right-back, with Ralston dropped out of the starting XI completely, because of his poor performances.