A lot has been made lately of Jozo Simunovic – The Big Bosnian had a horror show against Hearts and he seems to be getting the backlash of that game due to his high profile errors.
However, I’ve not seen calls for Boyata to be sold nearly as much, in fact, it seems fans are more split on Jozo than Boyata which to me is hard to gather when you consider Boyata is always good for a mistake or two. I can understand that Simunovic is not the best on the ball, but he is a defender, his job is to defend.
People seem to forget he’s only 23 and it wasn’t too long ago we were overjoyed that his deal to Torino collapsed and it wasn’t too long ago we saw him and Sviatchenko as the future of our defence. Erik in my opinion, although, quite slow like Jozo is a good defender, like Jozo and it seems to me he is being sold due to injury. If that is the case then where is the clamour to see Tom Rogic leave Celtic?
Erik Sviatchenko had that one high profile mistake against Rangers and I don’t remember seeing him too much after that, even when he was fit and you see Jozo Simunovic has been on the bench lately and Boyata has still made mistakes. Let’s not forget Simunovic committed his future to this club while it seems Boyata is stalling on a new deal.
I wouldn’t say we ever adequately replaced Virgil van Dijk and Denayer, no matter how good we were last season, we’ve never been entirely trusting of our central defenders like we were those two. To progress our team to the next level, we need a better quality defender than Boyota and perhaps a defender who isn’t such an injury risk as Simunovic.
It seems to me Rodgers does want to keep players to the highest standard, but he’s letting Boyata away with mistakes nearly every week, in my opinion, if one of our central defenders are going to leave alongside Sviatchenko, then it should be Dedryk.
We should build the future of our defence around Jozo as he’s still young and already a brilliant out and out defender who can develop other sides of his game under Rodgers. We’d be mad to sell him!
I agree Boyata should be sold as he is Efe two Suminuvic is injury prone and as only played 9games this season,Erik should NOT be sold as always plays for the Jersey i would go with Ajer/Compner with Erik as third CB,i also think Sinclair gets away with murder as pulls out of tackles and headers even when 60/40 in his favour yes BR said no sentimentality well when does he start it
Totally agree, boyata at times reminds me of a younger but just as calamitous efe ambrose , I would definately treat jozo as a work in progress, build his muscle and confidence and we have a great defender there
As I see it, Boyata has been a regular mainly because he has been relatively injury free. If all 3 existing defenders were fit I don’t think Boyata would get a look in. None of them are particularly quick but, Boyata gives me those Efe flashbacks every time he tries to take people on coming out of defence. It may be a part of the modern game to have a defender who plays out of defence (we were blessed but spoiled with Virgil) but, a defender should first and foremost be able to defend. Apart from the Hearts game Jozo has done that in bucketsful, and he wasn’t the only one to blame for that debacle. But why sell any of them? It’s always a position we have been caught out with when injuries/poor form drop on us.
You don’t mention that the big fella is not interested in playing for Celtic. the only way that either him or Boyata should be anywhere near Celtic Park is if there are janatorial positions available. & million quid is graet money, about 3.5 million profit.
A slaughter Boyata piece. Sumo ain’t interested, is injury prone as well, SELL. Eric is far too slow, SELL. Boyata has the makings of a top defender, Is quick and attacks the ball, KEEP! Hopefully the big German will be the real deal.
I’m not sure what level or standard of player we can a) attract and b) retain for any period, in the SPL. It’s a difficult task
It’s not one game, Jozo has been horrendous all season and is desperate to leave.
He’ll be gone this month.