---
title: "Celtic: Fans query selection of Jonny Hayes over Greg Taylor at left-back against Lazio"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-fans-query-selection-of-jonny-hayes-over-greg-taylor-at-left-back-against-lazio/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "SPFL News"
published: "2019-11-08T16:35:01Z"
modified: "2019-11-08T16:35:01Z"
---

# Celtic: Fans query selection of Jonny Hayes over Greg Taylor at left-back against Lazio

**With Boli Bolingoli [missing Celtic’s Europa League trip to Lazio](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-injury-update-boli-bolingoli-20827450) yesterday, Neil Lennon faced a significant call as to who would start at left-back.**

He selected [wide midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jonny-hayes/profil/spieler/52380) Jonny Hayes for the role and switched from his [usual 4-2-3-1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/spielplandatum/verein/371) to start with a [3-5-2 formation that saw Hayes and James Forrest operate as wing-backs](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50253786), with the team announced by [@CelticFC](https://twitter.com/CelticFC/status/1192479400199147520) on Twitter.

> 📋 [#LAZCEL](https://x.com/hashtag/LAZCEL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) team news!
>
> Our line-up for [#UEL](https://x.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) matchday 4⃣… 🇮🇹🍀 [pic.twitter.com/w8Q0MHRDNj](https://t.co/w8Q0MHRDNj)
>
> — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) [November 7, 2019](https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1192479400199147520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The Republic of Ireland international’s appearance in the side meant that there was no place in the starting XI for [natural left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/profil/spieler/362562) Greg Taylor, who has still [played just once for the Hoops](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/greg-taylor/leistungsdaten/spieler/362562) since [joining the club on transfer deadline day](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49558521).

Despite making frequent substitute appearances, Hayes was starting for Celtic for just the second time this season – his other start, against Partick Thistle in the Betfred Cup, was also in a left-back role. \[[via TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jonny-hayes/leistungsdaten/spieler/52380)\]

\[freshpress-poll id=”255931″\]

The 32-year-old ultimately vindicated his selection by [winning three tackles](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1427247/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Europa-League-2019-2020-Lazio-Celtic) and [making five clearances \[via WhoScored\]](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1427247/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Europa-League-2019-2020-Lazio-Celtic), with Joshua Peck of the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1201558/Celtic-player-ratings-Lazio-Europa-League-Neil-Lennon) writing that he “defended well and got on the overlap as often as he could for Neil Lennon’s side”.

Before kick-off, though, these Celtic fans on Twitter were left perplexed by the manager’s decision to start Hayes ahead of Taylor:

> Swap Taylor for Hayes and that’s a team
>
> — Celtic Culture (@CelticCulture) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/CelticCulture/status/1192479601735413760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Why’s Hayes starting over Taylor man
>
> — Adam Gill (@Adamgill1888) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/Adamgill1888/status/1192479486559870977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Hayes gives me the fear imagine we had a natural left back to play there just imagine eh
>
> — keira haughian🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@keirahaughian) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/keirahaughian/status/1192480037372678149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> A love Hayes so much but Greg Taylor’s an actual lb so why not start him🤔
>
> — Stef (@stephmcconnell7) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/stephmcconnell7/status/1192481583531462657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Hayes over Taylor is crazy. At least we have a good selection of forwards on the bench.
>
> — PASTA Mick (@PASTA\_Mick) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/PASTA_Mick/status/1192484719067324417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Hayes was Brutal at the wknd get Taylor on man
>
> — Bryan Morris (@bryan\_morris1) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/bryan_morris1/status/1192484945677213697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> What is that all about Hayes over Taylor. Sick of it now.
>
> — Alisa07🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀 (@alisaheron) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/alisaheron/status/1192486585599758336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Natural left back on bench but Lennon decides to play hayes [pic.twitter.com/ZcIY7nAjtt](https://t.co/ZcIY7nAjtt)
>
> — Scott Thomson (@Sat1977Scott) [November 7, 2019](https://twitter.com/Sat1977Scott/status/1192486398101770240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Hayes justified his selection or should Taylor have started instead of him? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***