Some Celtic fans have now lost hope in defender Kristoffer Ajer and want the club to sell the centre-back after his performance in their recent loss.
Ajer had started the Old Firm derby and played at centre-back, alongside partner Christopher Jullien. The game saw Odsonne Edouard score a goal, but goals from Ryan Kent and Nikola Katic at each end of the pitch saw the Gers win the clash.
The Hoops are only two points ahead of the Gers, who have a game in hand. If Steven Gerrard’s men win their game in hand, they will be at the top of the table.
Celtic fans: SHould Ajer be dropped?
He's not good enough!
Lets not overreact
But the game has seen Ajer attract a lot of criticism from Hoops fans. They want him gone from the club soon.
He is mince most overrated player we have
— darren joyce (@dj27legend) December 29, 2019
Ajer against Aberdeen and Ajer again today. The boy thinks that position is his own, time to give someone else a try.
— CelticBhoy1888 (@Bhoy1888Celtic1) December 29, 2019
So would Ajer imo. If we could sign a big centre half to replace him at the back
— a Celtic fan (@Celticguy90) December 30, 2019
Said it for months, never a centre half. Can’t head the ball and too slow to react.
— Vinny Donohoe (@VincentDonohoe) December 29, 2019
Sportscene nailed Ajer.
He’s not Celtic class. I’d ship him in this window.— Gerry (@Gerry31D) December 29, 2019
Unpopular opinion- Ajer is the biggest myth at Celtic , gets praised as the best defender at Celtic by some , he went missing today and his decision making to go to ground 90% of the time is abysmal
— Div McALpine (@DIVBHOY) December 29, 2019
The 21-year-old defender joined the club from Norwegian side IK Start in the winter of 2016 under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers. He had joined up with the side in the summer of 2016 and played first-team football since then. He spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Kilmarnock.
This season, the Norwegian has played 36 times in all competitions for the Hoops. 19 of those appearances have come in the Premiership. He has scored twice in all competitions, racking up just as many assists.
He had missed the previous Old Firm derby game due to a knee injury and that is the only game he has missed so far. Out of all the games that he has played, he has played every single minute and hasn’t been substituted even once in the Premiership.
Last season, the defender had made 45 appearances in all competitions. He racked up one goal and an assist.
What do we think?
Some average games don’t change the fact that Ajer is still a good player. The fact that he’s been a regular for a while now means that he isn’t the sort of player Celtic can sell. He is still 21 and that is easy to overlook.