The match against Ross County was difficult to draw conclusions from given the early sending off. Also, with the score already being 3-0, the very one-sided nature of the contest allied to the fact Celtic were happy to see out the game and the Staggies content not to get totally hammered.
However, the front three caught the eye. It was only the second time Jota, Maeda and Giakoumakis had played together.
Their output from the match was impressive:
CAT Score is an aggregated Attacking Threat score made up on shots, chances created, touches in the box, goals, assists.
xSC is Expected Assists + Expected Goals.
This is a relatively rare event for all three forwards to achieve > 10 CAT score in the same match.
Indeed, the two most notable examples that would beat that were achieved with forward lines that we won’t be seeing again.
In August in the 6-0 victory against Dundee, Abada (16), Furuhashi (14) and Christie (16) ran riot.
A week later, in an equally thrilling performance, but a deceptively narrow score line, Heart of Midlothian were put out the League Cup 3-2 where Forrest (18), Furuhashi (17) and Edouard (20) excelled.
In the recent 3-2 win versus Dundee, Jota (10), Giakoumakis (10) and Maeda (6) were the front line as Celtic struggled to see past the bottom side having lost 2 goals to set plays.
Given Furuhashi is only just back in training from a long-term injury, and Abada has not started since the 2nd March, Johnston since 13th February, it looks like this trio will be favourites to start the next game.
And would we be concerned about that?
Jota was no less ball hungry and volume producing on the right wing. Against Ross County he created 4 chances and 2 secondary assists and was finally successful from 1 of his 14 crosses to set up Giakoumakis for the first.
Maeda is growing into his Celtic career, and his goal supported 3 chances created.
Giakoumakis’s form can be assessed here.
This seems a well-balanced front three with plenty of goal threat and Jota’s massive volume creativity – more = more!
Around a week and half to the Derby and a lot can change, but at the moment, this looks like the front three for this crucial match.
Or Postecoglou may pack the midfield.
Nah, me neither.