Jozo Simunovic

Aye buy our diddies EPL scum!!!!!!

 

He was ready to leave at the start of this season mate, wasn't he?

I hate how we laugh at teams like Huddersfield but in reality they can offer much more money than us and a chance to play against some of the best players in the world on a regular basis.

We can offer much more in terms of a fan base, history and an all-round much bigger club with guaranteed trophies.

It comes down to what motivates the player in the end.

 

I don't think we'll sell for the quoted price unless the player himself pushes for a move. He's been here two years but has probably only made about 30-40 starts for us.

If he can replicate the form we've seen in patches over a full season - and stay fit - his value will rise significantly, especially if he performs well in Europe.

 

Fighting to get rid of the *.

 

We can thank that * tanned Miller. That tackle added a few millions onto his value.

 

Woops looks like Garner is actually off to Ipswich.. bummer for their support.

 

Scary how close we were to losing this guy before he even had a chance to sign for us, thank * he failed that Medical.

Guy is a legend.

 

I'll be gutted if he was to go. Can only hope he'll be here to send more huns to row Z next season.

 

my only problem is that he failed that medical and im scared just incase he breaks down and we dont get a penny for him but he might be like john hartson here's hoping.

 

Now Lazio reportedly interested in Jozo, think he will be here another season

 

KOLO TOURE has left Celtic and is pondering retirement from football.

Dedryck Boyata is on the treatment table as he faces up to a three-month lay-off.

Brendan Rodgers is searching for a new defensive leader as the Hoops begin their Champions League bid.

But Jozo Simunovic insists he is ready to step up and become Celtic’s defensive linchpin in Europe.

The Croat grew up idolising Italian master Fabio Cannavaro and will seize responsibility just like the World Cup-winning skipper did in his prime.

He said: “I have always believed I have the ability to be the main defender for Celtic.

“From the first day I arrived at this club, that has been my aim. The first season was a little bit unlucky for me but I never stopped believing that I can be the main guy for Celtic.

“I like the responsibility. When you play in my position, that’s what you need to accept. It’s full of it.
“It’s my part in the team.

“When I was a young guy, I always looked up to Cannavaro. I admired his heart.

“He had an amazing big heart and he was a footballer who belonged at the highest level. But that was then. Now? I don’t just focus on one player. I take bits from different players.

“It’s hard to say who is the top central defender right now — you cannot find the same two players.


“There are a lot who I look to and take a lot of things from. All I can think about right now is hearing the sound of the Champions League music at Celtic Park.

“I managed to experience that last season and it was an amazing feeling.

“As a player, I don’t think it gets any better than that.

“I only played two games in the Champions League and it meant so much to me.

“For the guys who played in six games, it must have been unbelievable.

“We have to use that experience from last season to get better. But the first aim is to get to the group stages.”

Simunovic was injured himself last summer when Celtic embarked on their Champions League qualification bid.

The Croat was recovering from a knee fracture and watched from the sidelines as Rodgers’ men got the job done.

It wasn’t always straightforward. There was a nervy night against Astana — and then the fraught 90 minutes against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in Israel.

Celtic were already 5-2 up from the first leg and managed to edge their way into the next round despite losing 2-0.

Simunovic was back in Glasgow watching on TV and claimed he always had the belief that the Hoops would do it.

He said: “It was really hard watching the team trying to qualify last season when I was injured.

“I was sad. I couldn’t play and help my team.

“I watched the final play-off game In Israel on TV and it was very hard.

“I didn’t travel with the team because I was in the process of my recovery and I had sessions with the conditioning coach.

“I didn’t have my hands over my face. I wasn’t scared but I was nervous.

“We had done a good job in the first game, scoring five goals, and it was a fantastic moment to go through. It was hard to watch but in the end everything turned out the way we wanted.

“That was one of the best moments of my career, even though I wasn’t playing.

“But this year, I feel completely different — for me and the team.”

Simunovic also hopes Champions League involvement with Celtic can help him finally break into the Croatia squad.

The defender has been capped at Under-21 level but has yet to receive his first senior call.


Simunovic was disappointed not to get the nod last term but is confident he’s not too far away.

He said: “I hope that playing well with Celtic can help me get into the Croatia squad. Why not?

“Last year was good for me and I believed last season that it could come. It didn’t come and for now, I am only focused on Celtic.

“We have a big two months coming up and the aim is to get to the group stages of the Champions League.

“The experience we got from the Champions League last season will help us a lot.

“We played in the Europa for two seasons before that and then we made the step up.”

Meanwhile, Simunovic has vowed to IGNORE all speculation over his future at Celtic.

He has admirers in the English Premier League but is in no rush to quit Parkhead.

He said: “I am just focused on Celtic. I am happy here. I am playing and that is the most important thing.

“I don’t care about other clubs. At the moment, I go day by day. We will see but I am happy here.”

 

Great interview from the big man, good to hear he's happy with us.

 

Worked hard to get back in the team again.

 

Did he not say he was happy with us before trying to sign for Torino?

 

Aye.

 

The club accepted the bid mate, not him.

£3m would have been an absolute steal for Torino btw.

All of that is behind us now though. He's come back, won his place in the team, and is now our #1 CB.

I reckon he will be here for a few years yet.

 

Hope you're right mate because I love him.

I just know if it was KT, for example, he'd not have went all the way to Italy "just cos there was a bid accepted".

 

Tierney is a die hard Celtic fan living the dream though mate. Jozo's a Croatian lad who we signed and then after him stating he was wanting to stay with us, we accepted a bid for him.

If I were in his Croatian, non Celtic die hard shoes at that point then I'd go to Italy to a team who wanted me as well.

 

I do know what you're saying mate but even if a bid was accepted, he didn't have to go to Italy. We know and he knows it was accepted because of his injury problems. This would not have happened if he had just said "no, I'm staying here". Instead, he went to Italy, the move fell through and then he says he's happy to be with us.

I'm sorry but that still * me off. Had his medical been fine, he'd be in Italy at the moment.

I don't know why it really annoys me, it just does.

He's brilliant, I just know he'll be away at the first opportunity.

 

I remember at the time him saying something along the lines of "I don't want to leave Celtic, but if the club want to get rid of me then so be it, I just want to play football."

I wouldn't hold anything against him over that, the guy just loves to play football and is, from what I can see, happy to be playing Celtic.