Opinion: The Robbie Keane Tactical Concern That Has Been Ignored

Much of the debate around Robbie Keane and Celtic has focused on his background, his managerial record and whether he would be accepted by sections of the support.

One football point has received less attention.

At Ferencvaros, Keane moved towards a 3-5-2 system after previously using a 4-3-3 at Maccabi Tel Aviv. That matters because Celtic supporters have already watched one back-three experiment go badly wrong this season.

Wilfried Nancy arrived with clear ideas, but Celtic never looked comfortable in his shape. The back three often looked awkward, the spacing was off, and players who had been used to a back four for years suddenly looked unsure of their roles.

That is the issue Celtic must consider if Keane is being seriously looked at.

This squad has not been built for a 3-5-2. Since Ange Postecoglou arrived in 2021, Celtic have largely recruited and developed around a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. The wingers matter. The full-backs matter. The midfield balance matters.

Look at the current squad and it is easy to see the problem.

Celtic have Jota, Daizen Maeda, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti, Yang Hyun-jun and James Forrest as natural wide options. Benjamin Nygren has also been at his best when given freedom in attacking areas.

A 3-5-2 does not naturally suit that group.

It could help Kieran Tierney and Alistair Johnston as wing-backs, but it also risks squeezing out several players who were signed to attack from wide areas. Celtic cannot afford another manager arriving with a system that needs half the squad to be reimagined before a ball is kicked.

There is another concern.

Keane’s Ferencvaros side were at times too slow and passive in possession, particularly against mid-table sides they were expected to beat. That will sound familiar to Celtic supporters.

In Scotland, Celtic face deep blocks most weeks. Teams sit in, narrow the pitch, slow the game down and wait for mistakes. If the ball moves too slowly, Celtic become easy to defend against.

That was one of the frustrations during parts of last season. Possession without punch. Passes without penetration. Long spells where Celtic had the ball but never really stretched the opposition.

If Keane had similar issues in Hungary, Celtic need to ask whether that was down to the players he had, the system he used, or the way he wants his teams to play.

None of this means Keane could not adapt. He has already shown he can move between systems, having used a 4-3-3 in Israel before changing shape in Hungary.

But that is exactly the point.

If Celtic appoint him, they need to know which version they are getting. The 4-3-3 coach from Maccabi Tel Aviv may fit this squad far better than the 3-5-2 coach from Ferencvaros.

After the Nancy spell, supporters will not have much patience for another tactical reset that makes Celtic look less like themselves. The next manager needs to win, but he also needs a shape that suits the players already in the building.