In one of the most embarrassing misjudgements made even by this blogger, the defensive partnership of Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata was tipped as one to watch develop, a ball-playing defensive rock, powerful and calm, and one capable of holding its own against Europe's elite clubs.
That was after our first season under Brendan Rodgers and I suspect that many Celtic fans felt something similar.
But within a few months, Brendan was warning Jozo that he had to cut out the mistakes if he wanted to retain his place in the team.
Jozo didn't and he was promptly dropped with Brendan preferring Dedryck, Kristoffer Ajer, Jack Hendry and even Marvin Compper, who increasingly looks like being a Gary Gillespie for the 21st century.
Through Belgium's World Cup exploits, another Compper injury and nerve-wracking recruitment, Jozo was given another chance against Alashkert - one that he blew in some style.
With Rosenborg looming after an otherwise excellent early-season performance, what defender wouldn't lunge in with his studs showing, above waist height, in the middle of the pitch during the first 15 minutes?
Answer: any one with an IQ in excess of his continental shoe size - that's who!
While many were understandably putting team loyalty and disappointment ahead of the evidence of their eyes, Brendan was in no mood to point the finger at anyone other than the true culprit - the former Celtic defender, Jozo Simunovic.
I say, "former", as Brendan would surely trust Steven Gerrard with a pass-back rather than risk Celtic's fortunes with another outing from a player who is now causing some to fondly recall Oliver Tebilly.
Where he may go is another matter - perhaps some club without access to television might fancy him as a make-weight in a transfer move. Frankly, I don't care as long as he never again plays a competitive match for Celtic.
Trying to make real progress in European football is a difficult enough task without the booby-traps of random Simunovic moments.
It's a serious business with profound implications for our immediate and medium-term future.
It's not a job for Bozos - or Jozo.
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14 comments:
If it's true that he wants to go to Turkey then take as much as we can get for him! I've got no time for "any" player that doesn't want to be hear. If you want to go then let the door skelp you on the arse on the way out! HH
Load a shite was never a red probably writtin by james p forrest suprised hes no got a rangers or sevco mention in their
UK, Part of me thought that the foul was so stupid as to be suspect but, in fairness, we've seen him do equally stupid things before so it would be wrong to suggest that he might have wanted to get sent off.
Still, want-away players letting the side down are hard to love.
And Brendan will not recall Boyata from his holiday. If Boyata was a true Celt he'd not need recalling..... he'd be flying back NOW.
Dump him and Jozo.
Seamus: I'm sure Brendan is thinking of Boyata's welfare but I suspect that the player's long-term future lies elsewhere.
For Rosenborg tie - A back line of 3 could be Tierney Ajer Hendry, with McGregor utilised in Tierney’s more regular beat on the left. Eboue can come into midfield role to replace McGregor’s move to left.
Other option - a back 4 Tierney Ajer Hendry Ralston - I would prefer the back 3 option but whatever Brendan goes with it should be enough to overcome Rosenborg ��
This centre of defence problem should've been addressed 2 seasons ago. Boyata and Simunovic are nowhere near the standard we need. Compper is a disaster and Hendry, to be honest, looks very ordinary. Don't buy into Boyata playing 2 games in a world cup and please forget about Simunovic's tackle on Miller but remember the time Simunovic,again, was sent off in an important game against sevco last season. The man is a walking disaster, if he's not getting sent off, making mistakes, can't play on plastic surfaces then he's wanting away.
Why not put ntcham at right back he is competent enough with ajer and brown
It's not Boyata's fault,Brendan spent money on player who gets injured just by getting out of bed and we should have confidence with Ajer & Hendry at the centre of our defence. Boyata's future will be sorted out on his return.
Couldn't agree more.
Ker McAllister: I can see us having to play three at the back but I'm not sure we have the personnel even for that.
When Martin O'Neill played (more or less) 3-2-3-2, it relied on two "flying full-backs" in the sense of attacking midfielders who were physically strong, offering an attacking threat and help to the defence.
Kieran Tierney plays that role brilliantly but I'm not sure that we have another player on the left or right who can do that and Kieran obviously can't play that role from a position in a back three.
I'm a huge admirer of Callum McGregor but I don't like to see him at left-back as I feel that one weakness is being a bit prone to losing the ball when under pressure defensively. That's no criticism of Callum - it's just not his position.
He can do a shift there, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was asked to again.
I suspect that Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham may both be required to protect the defence and that we'll have to do our defending in midfield.
If we do have Callum and James Forrest playing as flying full-backs, then we will need the strength and running of Odsonne Edouard, especially without Moussa Dembele up front.
Tom Rogic would be the other obvious player, presuming he is fit after the World Cup, especially as I think we will use attack as the best form of defence.
Looking at the squad who faced Alashkert, Ryan Christie might be asked to slot in there and it's also Scott Allan's natural position but would either be thrown in? Christie, maybe, but probably not Allan (though I still like him as a player).
Maybe it's more likely that Callum will provide the main attacking threat in midfield and Scott Sinclair will take the wide left position, though I don't see him as offering much in defence.
That's all speculation - but speculation is okay.
Ntcham is just a damned good football player. I'm sure he could do a job in a number of positions.
Anon: "For today's puzzle, arrange these jumbled words to form an intelligible message. You may use punctuation to help you.”
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