Albian Ajeti is probably THEE most frustrating Celtic striker I have seen at Paradise since Giorgios Samaras.
Samaras, on his day, could beat anyone and score from anywhere. I remember big Sammy got a contract extension after his performance at Ibrox in a 2-0 victory but those kind of performances are few and far between.
Now before anyone jumps in and says Ajeti is nowhere near the calibre of Samaras, they are correct.
But just when you think you are seeing the striker that we we paid £5m for after his two goals against Ross County, Ajeti seems to have reverted to type and gone into hiding.
Then you have to ask yourself why that is? Why does an international striker look bang average and work shy when in all reality, with this potential, he should be tearing it up in the Scottish league?
I have no idea, but speaking on BBC Sportsound, former Celtic keeper Pat Bonner seems to have the answer.
Packie was running the rule over the 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Paradise yesterday when he made an interesting observation as to why Ajeti looks so lacklustre in front of goal, “If he’s not scoring goals, what else is he doing? That’s the problem. What else is he doing? How does he lend himself to the team?
“Is he making those little runs away pulling people out of position?
“I think today, I think Turnbull ran forward, I think maybe two, three times in the game from midfield into areas where, where maybe you can play ball over the top and so on.
“They’re so reliant on the wingers now to be almost a creative players.
“Rogic with his dancing feet we know what he does around the edge of the box now, but that movement off the ball at times, just wasn’t happening.
“Ajeti, maybe he’s just given that instruction, ‘You stay in that position and leave the spaces for the wide men to exploit our midfield‘, but they’re not doing it and if they’re not doing it then he looks as if he’s not doing any work, Ajeti.
“And he’s hoping that the balls going to come from the position where he can score a goal, walk off and say well I scored my goal I’m okay, it’s up to the rest of them to do the other piece of the work.”
So is Ajeti being told to play that way by, you would have to assume, the Celtic manager? Or is he just that bad he shouldn’t be anywhere near a Celtic jersey?
I’m hoping, for his sake, it’s the former because if it’s the latter then we are in serious trouble this season.