Originally published at: Pat Bonner calls out Albian Ajeti for Celtic blank at Livingston
Pat Bonner has called out Celtic striker Albian Ajeti for a poor display at Livingston this afternoon. Once again, Ange Postecoglou had to feature the Swiss forward due to the fact there were no alternatives available. After three goals in two games, it looked as though he was primed to add to his tally this…
I agree with Packie. Last week’s two goals don’t disguise how inept Ajeti is. But he wasn’t the only one. I am a huge Turnbull fan but there are games where he becomes utterly ineffectual. I used to think that Soro was the worst passer at the club. Step forward and take that crown McCarty. Abada and Jota clearly aren’t up for games like today’s when you will get kicked just for looking at the ball. And don’t get me started on Bolingoli getting a reprieve. Get him out of the club. Postecoglou doesn’t seem to have a Plan B. Kennedy and Strachan are clearly no assistance to him and should be punted now.
Not sure why Packie singled out Ajeti when the whole team played poorly against a Livi side who wanted it more… My biggest disappointment was our two wingers who seemed incapable of going past their full backs. Regarding a Plan B judging by the bench today we don`t have the squad for that…
Shades of last season in that display. One common denominator is Kennedy - he’s less than useless & obviously of no help to Ange whatdoever. This was Ange’s first experience of Livingston, their physical style & pitch but Kennedy & the rest of us knew exactly what to expect. Yet, we looked ill-prepared & tactically inept.
It certainly looks like there are a number of players who are just not good enough to be at Celtic & I agree that Ajeti is one of them - along with Johnson, McCarthy Soro & Starfelt. As for Turnbull, he is undoubtedly a talent but nowhere near fit or sharp enough so what on earth is going on in training/coaching? I suspected when Ange came in that if he didn’t bring his own coaching team with him & was lumbered with Kennedy & the inexperienced Strachan, he could be doomed to failure. I hoped not but things aren’t looking great on a showing like today …
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Another Bad Day at Black Rock! The next person to walk through the doors at Celtic Park should be an expert sports psychologist. Something wrong with the mentality of great players like Turnbull who just don’t turn up at big games. In reply to ‘Milliemissy’s’ comment about Bolingoli, I don’t think he was any worse than most of the others. Kyogi seems to be the only striker at the club who really knows where to be in the box for crosses. Hurry back KF.
I don’t think you can point the finger solely at Ajeti, he wasn’t the worst and didn’t get a lot of service, once again poor defending cost us and thankfully Joe Hart kept the score down. Things can only get better!!!
Ajeti is a poacher and as such needs a strike partner in order to get the best out of him.
If you use Hooper as an example he had Stokes to rely on to do the graft around the box and make the runs to drag defenders and make the space which Hooper more than capitalised on however when Lenny decided to ask Hooper to start dropping off and play a bit deeper his goal returns soon diminished as a result.
The same happened when Hooper moved on to Norwich as Houghton asked him to drop deeper in Support of Van Wolfswinkle who Houghton decided was a better option leading the line 
End result was neither maintained the level of scoring both had seen prior to arrival at Norwich under him.
You have to play these guys in their natural role as a striker in order to get the most from them and on one occasion yesterday we did as Rogic turned provider to Ajeti in the box and he layer it off for Turnbull to sclaff it wide.
Deploy Ajeti as a poacher in front of Kyogo or Giakoumakis and you will get far more from him than asking him to lead the line as a lone striker.
Especially on that abortion of pitch.
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We’re not playing Ross County on Thursday!