Former Aberdeen midfielder Willie Miller was on commentary duty as Celtic ran out 2-0 winners over the Dons at Pittodrie.
While Brendan Rodgers’ side looked comfortable in the North East, one aspect of the starting XI caught Miller’s attention.
With Kieran Tierney and Daizen Maeda both starting on the left flank, the pair were seen on several occasions drifting into the same spaces. Tierney’s delivery was notably sharper, with his precise cross setting up Benjamin Nygren’s opener.
Maeda’s impact was limited in the wide role, particularly with Adam Idah again struggling to impose himself through the middle. The Irish striker has now failed to impress in his first two league outings of the campaign, leaving questions over his place in the side.
Miller suggested that a simple positional change could make Celtic far more dangerous, arguing that Maeda should be restored to the central role where he hit his best form last season.
He said: (BBC Sportsound), “I guarantee Maeda would cause much more trouble through the middle than Idah is causing at this moment in time.
“It would definitely be more difficult for the two young centre-backs to deal with the Maeda threat than it is with Idah.
“He’s an easy target. He’s not doing enough — not making space, not getting on the ball, not causing problems through the heart of that Aberdeen defence.
“So, that would be the option if I was Brendan Rodgers — which I’m not. He’s a top-class manager, and I’m not going to tell him what to do, but I can give him an opinion, and that would be my opinion.”
The observation highlights a growing debate over Celtic’s attacking shape in the early stages of the season. Maeda’s work rate and direct running have long been considered major assets, but his role has often been adapted to accommodate others in the front line.
With Tierney now providing a reliable attacking outlet from left-back, the need for Maeda’s defensive cover in that area may be reduced, giving Rodgers the freedom to push him further forward.
Idah’s form will also be under scrutiny in the coming weeks. The forward’s physical presence offers something different, but without end product, his place will be harder to justify.
For now, Celtic’s winning start keeps the pressure off, but Rodgers may yet have a decision to make on whether to reshuffle his front line to get the most out of Maeda.
