Martin O’Neill Still Doesn’t Know His Best Celtic Team — And That Should Worry Us

Martin O’Neill has admitted something Celtic supporters will find increasingly concerning ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Beşiktaş.

He still doesn’t know his best starting eleven.

Speaking ahead of the match at Celtic Park, O’Neill was asked whether he had finally identified his strongest team. His response was telling.

“No, I keep getting asked this question. Until I know exactly what everyone can do at the football club, then I probably won’t know that.”

There is an element of honesty in that answer, but it also raises some serious questions about where Celtic are right now.

We are now well into the season, yet the manager is still trying to work out what his best team looks like. We have seen constant changes, players being moved around and different combinations being tested without any real consistency.

O’Neill explained that injuries, rotation and the need to understand what his new signings can offer have all played a part.

He also suggested that Celtic could have a stronger idea of their best team over the next four or five weeks, as injured players return.

But how much longer can we afford to wait?

Celtic need an identity, not another experiment.

One of the biggest frustrations this season has been the lack of a settled approach. We have struggled to find the right balance in midfield, while our attacking system has often left us without natural width.

The decision to regularly accommodate multiple strikers rather than build around natural wingers has been a talking point for weeks. We have seen the difference when players such as Haissem Hassan have been introduced and given the opportunity to attack defenders directly.

There are also questions over the midfield, where we have struggled to control matches and protect our defence.

O’Neill has plenty of options available, but supporters are still waiting to see the best combinations.

The manager is right that training only tells you so much. Ultimately, players need to prove themselves in competitive matches. However, that makes his team selections even more important.

If players are struggling to perform in their natural positions, surely we need to start building a system that gets the best out of them?

The next five weeks could define our season.

O’Neill has admitted that Celtic are running out of matches in the Europa League, and Thursday’s meeting with Beşiktaş is a huge opportunity to get our European campaign moving.

Three defeats from three have left us with very little room for error.

Domestically, the recent draw against Dundee United and defeat to Falkirk have also increased the pressure. We cannot afford to keep dropping points while waiting for the perfect combination to emerge.

There is no doubt that injuries have disrupted Celtic’s plans. The potential return of players such as Yang Hyun-jun will give O’Neill more options, while getting others fully fit could help him settle on a consistent side.

But we need to see progress now.

O’Neill has been honest about the situation, and supporters can appreciate that he is still learning about some of the players at his disposal.

However, Celtic are not a club where we can spend months trying to discover our best eleven.

We need a team that knows its roles, understands its responsibilities and can deliver performances worthy of the shirt.

Thursday night would be a very good place to start.