Celtic: £18k-a-week flop and James McCarthy don’t fit in at Parkhead | OneFootball

Celtic striker Albian Ajeti and midfielder James McCarthy are the ‘only two players’ who don’t fit into Ange Postecoglou’s system, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

The Greek-Australian tactician has overseen an extensive overhaul since his arrival at Parkhead back in June 2021, transforming the club’s fortunes in the process.

What is the latest news involving Celtic?

In the season prior to Postecoglou’s arrival, Celtic finished a whopping 25 points behind bitter rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table, ending their run of nine consecutive titles in dramatic fashion.

It seemed as though the Glasgow giants would need to go through a transitional period under the tutelage of their new boss, but he managed to guide them to instant success in spectacular fashion.

The League Cup was secured in December before a 32-game unbeaten run in the league saw Celtic reclaim their crown, pipping the Gers to the title by four points.

In his three transfer windows at the helm, Postcoglou has brought in over 20 players either on a temporary or permanent basis with a similar number moving in the opposite direction.

However, there are still a handful of misfits who remain with Celtic’s setup, and Ajeti and McCarthy are two players who don’t appear to have a long-term future at the club under the current regime.

What has Joseph said about Celtic?

Joseph believes Ajeti could salvage his Celtic career if he can get off to a fast start this season but reckons that he and McCarthy aren’t suited to Postecoglou’s demands.

He told GiveMeSport: “We’ve already seen that he can score goals when he does play, so he had a few chances in pre-season.

“If he can burst onto the scene at the start of the season, show that he can adapt to Ange’s style of football, because I think perhaps him and McCarthy are the only two players in the first-team squad that don’t seem like they fit into the system.”

What went wrong for Ajeti and McCarthy?

Ajeti, who has two years remaining on his £18,000-per-week contract, got off to a flying start in Celtic colours, bagging five goals in his opening six league games for the Hoops.

However, things quickly went downhill for the former West Ham ace, and his tally now stands at just nine strikes in his 48 appearances across all competitions.

McCarthy meanwhile only starting six league and cup games throughout 2021/22 following his arrival on a free transfer from Crystal Palace as he struggled to adapt to Postecoglou’s demands.

It seems both Ajeti and McCarthy’s days at Celtic are numbered then, and their departures could be the best outcome for everyone involved.