Martin O’Neill’s favoured 3-5-2 formation ideal for Paisley

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The Celtic Star

·20 November 2025

Martin O’Neill’s favoured 3-5-2 formation ideal for Paisley

Is a 3-5-2 a more viable alternative for Celtic for the time being at least? I’d love to see Martin O’Neill play his own favoured formation at Paisley on Saturday night…

Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates after he scores his team’s fourth goal from the penalty spot during the Premier ship match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on November 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Giving the injuries that currently plague us, especially in the defensive area, could a change of shape and formation benefit us going forward until the new manager arrives with his own ideas.

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Folk will most likely think 3-5-2, the formation that served current interim manager Martin O’Neill so well in his ever so successful spell in charge of the club at the beginning of the century, but would it work for us in the present?

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey of Celtic and Zac Williams of Kilmarnock. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership Celtic Park, 9 November 2025. Photo Mark RunnaclesIMAGO /Shutterstock

We have three centre backs in JSP, Liam Scales, and Austin Trusty who would slot perfectly into a three man central defensive unit.

As for wing backs, on the right, that position is tailor made for Alistair Johnston, but unfortunately the Canadian is still recovering from injury, so it would have to be Tony Ralston who took that position for the time being, or even Arne Engels who is no stranger to playing out on the right.

In the left wing back role would be Kieran Tierney, who like AJ is perfectly suited to a wing back role. Whilst Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate could fill the midfield slots.

Johnny Kenny of Celtic has a chance on goal. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 9 November 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

Up top would be Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny, who are both hardworking and capable of finding the net, if the right service is available to them, and with the likes of KT and Arne Engels, Reo, Benji, and Calmac supplying them I’m sure both would thrive in this system.

It’s only hypothetical though, and I’m using the game on Saturday against St Mirren as an example, as in the coming weeks we will most likely have a new manager, and several players coming back from injury.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores his team’s third goal during the Premiership match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on November 09, 2025.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s a system that would best serve our needs, for the time being at least? I certain think there’ mileage in it and Martin O’Neill more than most knows exactly how to get it working effectively.

So against St Mirren I hope Martin gives it a go, and plays 3-5-2 with this line-up: Schmeichel; JSP, Trusty, Scales; Engels, Nygren, McGregor, Hatate, Tierney; Maeda and Kenny.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1. published by Celtic Star Books, Click on image to order from Celticstarbooks.com

Celtic in the Thirties, Vol 1. published by Celtic Star Books, click on the image to order from Celticstarbooks.com