McNeill intrigued by Celts defensive dilemma

Lisbon Lion Billy McNeill will watch with interest how Celtic manager Gordon Strachan attempts to pick two from six central defenders next season.

Strachan has to decide which two centre halves among Stephen McManus, Steven Pressley, Bobo Balde, Gary Caldwell, John Kennedy and Darren O’Dea will form his central defensive partnership as they seek their third Scottish Premier League title in a row.

Former Parkhead manager McNeill, who was centre half and skipper when Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967, told PA Sport that the current Celtic squad offers many more defensive options than when he played in the all-conquering Lions side.

He said: “The centre of defence is an interesting area of the Celtic team and it will be interesting to see how Gordon deploys his players.

“It is unusual in that you don’t often have too many centre halves at a club, normally there are more midfield players and strikers.

“Stephen McManus has become an established first team player. Steven Pressley has great experience and maturity.

“Bobo Balde offers an enormous presence and the other players are more than useful. I think McManus and Pressley have the makings of a good partnership.

“But when you have so many other defenders then other people can be brought in depending on circumstances.

“John Clark and I were the recognised pairing in the 1960s and that suited us. We had grown up together and we worked hard at the partnership, it just didn’t fall into place. John Cushley was my replacement and Tommy Gemmell could adapt to centre half but I didn’t miss many games.

“Jock Stein used to keep his defence and midfield settled, it was the forwards he would change around. But centre half is a very important position in any team. You don’t see successful clubs who don’t have a good central defence.”

McManus, reportedly in talks about a new contract with the Parkhead club, is tipped to take over the captaincy from Neil Lennon who left Celtic at the end of the season.

McNeill believes that wearing the armband will give the 24-year-old an advantage over his defensive rivals.

He said: “I think Stephen has all the attributes to be Celtic’s skipper and he will mature further as he goes on.

“And if Gordon gives him the captaincy then he should be one of the first names on the team sheet if not the first one.

“A captain needs good players around him but he needs to be on top of his guys. You don’t go on the park to be friendly with your team-mates. If you have to give them a verbal volley then you give them that volley.

“He needs to make sure that they are playing even if he is not playing well himself and I think he can do that.”