Kyogo Furuhashi or Giorgos Giakoumakis? Or both?
It’s a huge decision for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Rangers.
If it was my decision, I’d go with Giakoumakis.
I almost can’t believe I am saying that because Kyogo has been an absolute star since joining the club.
The Japanese striker was in electric form in the first half of the season and marked his return to the starting line-up for the first time since Boxing Day with a smart goal against Ross County which took his team a big step towards the title.
However, as I think back to the previous meetings of the sides since the turn of the year and the way they have gone for Celtic, it edges me towards a preference for Giakoumakis in the central attacking role.
The Greek proved a real handful for the Rangers defence when he started the Premiership games at both Parkhead and Ibrox – and Celtic won both of them.
Giakoumakis didn’t score in either, although he would have done in the home game but for some superb goalkeeping from Allan McGregor.
But his value to the team was clear. He was a presence, someone to hit and he occupied defenders.
As he kept the likes of Connor Goldson concentrated in the middle and dropped off, Celtic’s wide men Daizen Maeda and Jota were able to get in behind at Ibrox. At Parkhead, he was a focal point for the rest to play off.
Having lost his first two matches against Celtic, Giovanni van Bronckhorst set his team out to get after Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Rangers pressed. They did everything to stop Joe Hart and his defenders from making their normal passes into midfield and there was no available option for them to mix it up and go long to Giakoumakis to get them up the pitch as Maeda was unable to get a hold of it.
In turn, Jota and Liel Abada were starved of quality possession or the opportunity to take the ball in the right attacking areas. Tom Rogic wasn’t able to pick up little pockets of space to cause mayhem as he had done at Ibrox. Nothing much changed when Kyogo went on.
Celtic didn’t create much from open play at Hampden and that was in direct contrast to making an absolute heap of them in the two previous meetings.
Maybe it was a coincidence but I don’t believe so. I believe Giakoumakis had a big part to play in that process.
Is he a better player than Kyogo? No, I wouldn’t say that he is. He’s certainly not as technically gifted.
But sometimes it is about finding the pieces to fit a jigsaw.
Of course, the option is there for Postecoglou to play Giakoumakis and have Kyogo on one of the sides, yet I can’t see that happening.
Postecoglou admits he got it wrong playing Kyogo wide in the first meeting of the season at Ibrox, he likes Maeda and Jota was back towards his best against County last weekend after a quiet spell.
Rangers had to put in some hard yards in Leipzig on Thursday, so having Giakoumakis and Maeda working the Rangers backline for an hour with an eager Kyogo to come on to run at tiring legs in the final stages of the game is an option.
Hand on heart, I actually think Postecoglou will start with Kyogo.
Given the impact he’s had at Celtic and with more minutes in his legs since Hampden, the Japanese could turn it on and torture Rangers.
Let’s get this clear, I’m a massive fan of Kyogo and, against most opposition, I’d probably pick him ahead of the Greek.
But I’m just taking the evidence of the last three Old Firm matches into my thinking.
It’s a huge opportunity for Celtic. A clean sheet will ensure a draw and leave them needing just one win from the last three games to clinch the title.
Cameron Carter-Vickers will be key in that situation and quite how he did not make the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year Award is beyond me. He has been immense for Postecoglou.
Celtic’s full-backs will have a big responsibility against Rangers’ wide men and it will be up to Callum McGregor to get a grip of the midfield.
Home advantage probably just gives my old club a slight edge but these teams are even and it will come down to performance on the day.
Rangers have to win if they want to stay in the title race and, despite being without Alfredo Morelos and probably Kemar Roofe, they still have players who can hurt the Hoops.
But Celtic also have the attacking weapons to cause mayhem at the other end and I’ll be intrigued to see just who Postecoglou picks.
