NEVER make a decision when you are angry, never make a promise when you are happy. Or at least that’s how the saying goes. And that brings me onto Jozo Simunovic.
‘The big eejit’ is the more polite version of what I thought of when I heard the Swiss FA had passed on details to the SFA of his sending off against St Gallen in our recent friendly encounter.
Jozo now becomes a Celtic quiz night question for years to come. Who was the first Celtic player to be ordered off as a result of a VAR decision?
As soon as the SFA got official confirmation there was only ever going to be one outcome. Not simply in this case because the SFA love any opportunity to put the boot into Celtic (though there was not doubt much glee when the letter arrived) but because we don’t have any grounds to complain given the sending off was for a tackle to the head and that head was actually a good six feet off the ground at the time.
I could I suppose call the Swiss FA a grass but that would be a bit churlish wouldn’t it? The rumours that Lee Wallace hand delivered the letter to the SFA are completely unfounded by the way.
As Celtic are currently operating with three recognised genuine centre backs a two game domestic ban for what really amounted to crass stupidity as much as violent conduct is something it’s safe to say we could really have done without.
As soon as I was getting my head round this I hear rumour of a £5million bid from French side Lille for the mad mental centre half. Initial thoughts were a bit short sighted I must say. ‘Take it Celtic and be done with him’. Which takes me back to “Never make a decision when you are angry, never make a promise when you are happy”.
I’d never have said ‘give that man a 5 year contract’ when he scored his spirit of Cesar goal in the 67th minute against Killie last season, no matter how much money it made this writer!
No I wouldn’t have made a promise just because I was happy in that moment and nor should I or Celtic for that matter decide Jozo should be jettisoned just because he had a mad rush to the head in a meaningless pre-season friendly.
His decision making has though nearly cost us in the past and has certainly put the team in trouble before.
Last season roughly a year ago in fact in the Champions League qualifiers Simunovic saw red for another reckless challenge. The defender was shown red during the 3-0 home win over Alashkert after a high challenge on their Brazilian midfielder Jefferson. In the end it didn’t cost us but it was a daft one, it was needless and it could well have hurt.
In March last year Jozo also saw red at Ibrox with an elbow on Morelos. Though he was sent off for it again we didn’t lose out as French Eddy came off the bench to grab a 3-2 win. Lucky boy. Imagine the wrath had Edouard not bailed him then.
He’s also shown he struggles to consistently play without succumbing to injury, though that seems to have cleared up a little since Roodgers left. Make of that what you will. I’m sure as reported he struggles on plastic pitches but since Lenny arrived he doesn’t seem to have handed in a sick line on many occasions.
But you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth. What do you want from a centre half? A man who protects the box with every last ounce of energy and stretch of sinew and one who causes fear in the opposition box as he attacks corers and free kicks. That’s Jozo.
For every rash moment there are other beautiful memories. It is possible Kenny Miller is still orbiting earth after possibly the fiercest (and fairest) derby challenges at Ibrox sent the ‘Rangers’ striker high into the afternoon sky and a Celtic support into raptures often reserved for the scoring of winning goals.
And of course the big man created the most perfect moment in a tough week for Celtic supporters everywhere when he scored ‘that’ goal in ‘that’ moment against Kilmarnock in the week Billy McNeill passed away.
And you know what I like him. I’ve always liked him. I just do.
He’s a centre half who like I say is prone to the odd brain freeze but I don’t mind that when the counter argument is an aggressive centre half who looks like he just enjoys the art of defending and can pop up with an important goal.
He was a player who seemed to be reborn when Neil Lennon arrived as interim manager, he’s now being trusted again now that Lenny has got the job full time and big Jozo seems to be thriving on it all.
Yes we could possibly take the money, we might even be able to find an alternative quickly enough so as not to hurt the side too much but for me it’s not worth it.
At present he is one of only 3 central defenders that Neil Lennon can hang his hat on. His suspension may give him food for thought though as Christopher Jullien is getting up to speed and he’ll be breathing down the necks of Ajer and Simunovic. Jozo will now know he’s the most vulnerable now he’s signed his own warrant for self-imposed exile.
So be it but I wouldn’t sell, we can’t afford to even at £5million. Really I’d still like to see another Centre half arrive on top of the Jullien purchase.
We’ve lost Boyata and Benkovic from last year’s backline. Christopher Jullien is a welcome addition and as much as Nir Bitton has filled in perfectly adequately until now a natural centre half should come in to add depth to the three we currently have. We are not is a position to risk a quick sale.
For now Simunovic is available for Europe, a domestic bridge is one we can cross when we get to it. We are short in numbers we have two players already playing out of position in our European defence, we can Ill afford to allow a high performing defender to be sold.
As much as his suspension has frustrated me there’s no way I want Jozo Simunovic anywhere else than Celtic at this moment in time.
I’ll bet you Kenny Miller is glad he’s signed for Partick Thistle and dropped a league this year. He’ll be praying there’s no return ticket to the moon in the Cup draws later in the campaign!
Niall J
