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Kristoffer Ajer; Signs new 4 year contract.
Topic Started: 15 Feb 2016, 05:48 PM (243,433 Views)
Carrickstone Celt
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Zurawski 7
16 Jul 2017, 10:47 PM
Quote:
 
KRISTOFFER AJER reckons taking a step back into defence will see him make giant strides forward at Celtic.

When the Hoops snapped up one of Norwegian football’s hottest prospects, Ajer had made his name as a midfielder.

The talented teenager had already captained his club IK Start as a 16-year-old – the youngest ever to do so in the Tippeligaen – when he agreed a four-year deal with Ronny Deila at Celtic in February 2016.

Now though, under the guidance of Deila’s Celtic successor Brendan Rodgers, 6ft 5in Ajer is flourishing in the heart of defence and impressed in the first-half of the Hoops’ friendly defeat to Lyon at Parkhead on Saturday.

Ajer admits learning from Kolo Toure and Erik Sviatchenko followed by a loan spell at Kilmarnock in the second half of last season brought his game on leaps and bounds and the 19-year-old is comfortable in his new role.

Ajer said: “I had a really good chat with the gaffer when I came here about my position.

“I am now a centre-half. I always knew that would happen one day, but in Norway I was a midfielder as that was the best place for me to develop at that stage of my career.

“But now it’s better for me to focus on that defensive role and work on developing there.

“I have learned a lot in the last year.

“For the first six months, it was great working with the gaffer and learning from the top players here, then I had six months at Kilmarnock and that went well so I feel like I have improved as a player.

“I have worked on my positioning and how the gaffer wanted to play out from the back and my timing in the tackle is better.

“I feel much more in control of where I need to be when we don’t have the ball and are defending. I feel a lot more comfortable as a central defender.

“I learned a lot over six months at Celtic and the other centre halves were really good with me – Kolo Toure was a massive help as was Erik Sviatchenko.”

Ajer played in the heart of a makeshift Celtic defence that managed to keep Lyon at bay before the break – new £4.5 million signing Olivier Ntcham also made an impressive start.

Rodgers had rested the entire starting 11 that beat Linfield 2-0 at Windsor Park on Friday and in the second half Lyon ruthlessly exposed a young Hoops side with Maxwel Cornet, Myziane Maolida, Nabil Fekir and Amine Gouiri completing a 4-0 win.

Celtic will be back at full-strength when Linfield come calling on Wednesday night and Celtic should progress to the Champions League third qualifying round to face either Rosenborg or Dundalk – who drew 1-1 in midweek.

Ajer knows if favourites Rosenborg prevail then the Hoops will have a tough test against his countrymen.

He said: “First, we have an important game against Linfield on Wednesday, we did well over there and now must make sure we go through. Rosenborg also have to get through but they are a good team who have done well in Norway.

“They will be a good opponent. They have strong attacking players who are good on the ball.

“The league is quite strong but it’s not that physical compared to here.

“I learned a lot on that side when I came here from guys like Broony, in terms of how to go into duels and win them.

“Celtic are a huge club with brilliant fans and a great history, while Rosenborg are in the biggest club in my country so it would really get a lot of attention.”
http://www.express.co.uk/Kristoffer-Ajer
Was very impressed with him yesterday. Excellent option to have
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williebhoy
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I thought his positioning / reading of the game was dubious at times, saw him having to slide in too often for last ditch blocks. A true quality player will read / intercept the pass & stay on their feet. Obviously still young and learning the game / new position but still a lot of work to be done on his game yet before he's ready for the first team on a regular basis.
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mick82
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williebhoy
17 Jul 2017, 08:39 AM
I thought his positioning / reading of the game was dubious at times, saw him having to slide in too often for last ditch blocks. A true quality player will read / intercept the pass & stay on their feet. Obviously still young and learning the game / new position but still a lot of work to be done on his game yet before he's ready for the first team on a regular basis.
I agree. Think another year on loan would be better for him than playing back up here
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FergusMcGrain
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I didn't see anything to get excited about in the game against Lyon, over all I thought he looked very shaky. But saying that, I suppose it is not the game to make any real judgement on him, playing in a makeshift team beside a pretend Centre half and a thrown together defence.

Still got a long way to go I think.


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MON's Left Eyebrow
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Hard to judge him on a friendly while playing alongside Bitton.
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Hagi Bhoy
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The Bhoy is still very young but by all accounts he had a very good loan spell at Kilmarnock so we should be positive that he's got what it takes. Already at this stage he's stood out in the SPL for another club.

If he keep developing he'll be a great player.
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Bundy1967
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williebhoy
17 Jul 2017, 08:39 AM
I thought his positioning / reading of the game was dubious at times, saw him having to slide in too often for last ditch blocks. A true quality player will read / intercept the pass & stay on their feet. Obviously still young and learning the game / new position but still a lot of work to be done on his game yet before he's ready for the first team on a regular basis.
You forgetting this was his first appearance of pre-season? He would have been off the pace, maybe this is why he was being caught out, not quick/ sharp enough yet? Let's give him some game time to prove himself and then a better judgement can be made....
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jackbhoy77
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You think BR might do with Ajer as he is doing with Benyu? 6 months or so with us and how the team plays to see if he can fit in/is ready. Benyu was about to go on loan but BR changed his mind to the 6 months.

Edit - cos I said Brendan and not BR and it just didn't sound right.
Edited by jackbhoy77, 18 Jul 2017, 01:09 PM.
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Haitch
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Thought he done well last night. Wasn't perfect but showed enough to convince me he could be a player for us. Seems more assured than Erik does at the moment. Play him more in the SPFL.
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lesdon67
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Haitch
27 Jul 2017, 08:22 AM
Thought he done well last night. Wasn't perfect but showed enough to convince me he could be a player for us. Seems more assured than Erik does at the moment. Play him more in the SPFL.
:thumbsup: He was one of only a few who got pass marks last night.
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Flinchy
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lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM
Haitch
27 Jul 2017, 08:22 AM
Thought he done well last night. Wasn't perfect but showed enough to convince me he could be a player for us. Seems more assured than Erik does at the moment. Play him more in the SPFL.
:thumbsup: He was one of only a few who got pass marks last night.
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
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CelticMad123
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Flinchy
27 Jul 2017, 08:38 AM
lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM
Haitch
27 Jul 2017, 08:22 AM
Thought he done well last night. Wasn't perfect but showed enough to convince me he could be a player for us. Seems more assured than Erik does at the moment. Play him more in the SPFL.
:thumbsup: He was one of only a few who got pass marks last night.
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
Actually it was Brown who kept getting in every carrots way, first ajer then sumo.
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fortysixtwo
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Thought he done well last night. Looked a bit nervous at times but got a pass last night.
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MILLIGANS ISLAND
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Thought he did fine actually. I'd be tempted to keep him and actually use him this season.
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Flinchy
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CelticMad123
27 Jul 2017, 08:40 AM
Flinchy
27 Jul 2017, 08:38 AM
lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
Actually it was Brown who kept getting in every carrots way, first ajer then sumo.
A couple of times Ajer went for a ball where a Celtic player was already in that space to claim it - not just with Broony. You think the Captain of Celtic, an experienced midfielder and all-round gobby git, is the one not communicating with his two young, (relatively) inexperienced CHs?
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Flawless
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Flinchy
27 Jul 2017, 08:38 AM
lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM
Haitch
27 Jul 2017, 08:22 AM
Thought he done well last night. Wasn't perfect but showed enough to convince me he could be a player for us. Seems more assured than Erik does at the moment. Play him more in the SPFL.
:thumbsup: He was one of only a few who got pass marks last night.
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
That was Brown.

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GetFunky
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Flawless
27 Jul 2017, 09:29 AM
Flinchy
27 Jul 2017, 08:38 AM
lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
That was Brown.

Brown did that about 6 or 7 times. I get he was trying to lead by example but he was getting in the way of the defenders and stretching for the ball when the centre back had easy headers.

Ajer talks alot on the park which is good. He is a completely different breed to any player produced in Scotland in a long time. If we keep him for 3/4 years he counts as a home grown player too :rocker:
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bl00tered
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Did Fine overall, but went for a few balls that Brown and Jozo already had covered, which caused a bit of panic. Would not start him if Eric S is available next week.
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Luca
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He's a more than capable CB in the SPFL. I think playing him in Europe is probably a little bit beyond him just now. If he can get around 10 starts across this season, as well as a handful of sub appearances, I think he'll come on leaps and bounds and we can then start thinking about him as a potential starting 11 player.
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southern bhoy
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Flawless
27 Jul 2017, 09:29 AM
Flinchy
27 Jul 2017, 08:38 AM
lesdon67
27 Jul 2017, 08:24 AM

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep
My only sticking point is he didn't seem to be communicating with players well - few times he went for the same ball as another player. Don't know if that's due to nerves or inexperience.

Would still like us to get another CB though.
That was Brown.

I thought that with Ajer behind Brown, he should have made the call for the ball. Overall thought Ajer did fine though. Better game than Brown had.
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