Selecting Tillman over Jota is no more than a token gesture

Tillman over our Superstar from Portugal? It’s just a token gesture…

Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring only goal of the game during the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023.. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The SPFL Team of the Year was announced yesterday, and unsurprisingly it was dominated by Celtic players. Seven to be precise.

There can be no arguments by the selection, this Celtic side have been streets ahead of anyone else in the league. They could have picked the entire Celtic line up and no one would have had much cause for complaint.

Of course there had to be other players from clubs outwith the Champions, and players such as penalty king James Tavernier, Kevin Van Veen and Duk have had fine seasons for their respective clubs. And Celtic selling one World Cup star and replacing him with another probably opened the door for Tavernier who was second best to Josip Juranovic in the first half of the season and also to Alistair Johnston in the second half.

Photo by Luke Nickerson/Rangers FC/Shutterstock – Jota of Celtic scores his sides third goal Celtic v theRangers, Cinch Scottish Premiership,Celtic Park, – 08 Apr 2023

Jota of Celtic celebrates with teammate Callum McGregor after scoring the team’s third goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on April 08, 2023.. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

But the reason to omit Jota from the selection is a head scratcher. Even more so at the expense of Malik Tillman, the Bayern loanee at theRangers, it’s baffling to say the least. I’m sure the young American has a decent career ahead of him in the game, but he’s hardly set the heather on fire in our game this season.

theRangers supporters much like the media of course are slightly prone in exaggerating the talents of their players. Tillman was recently sent back to Germany injured having scored 10 goals and providing four assists in the league this campaign with the runners up, contributing next to nothing in the big games, unlike Jota as the photographs in this article of him scoring his goals against theRangers illustrate.

Jota of Celtic scores their team’s second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jota of Celtic celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jota of course has had an impressive season, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists and excelling in the big games as the Champions cantered to the title.

Our superstar from Portugal has clearly had the better season and has been more of an influence. Tillman despite being perhaps half as good has been selected before Jota. It’s nothing more than a token gesture to keep the hordes happy. That’s the simple truth.