Who would have thought that Jota would have moved position to accommodate anyone right?
If anything, I would have thought that the main man from last season would have been an automatic first pick for that wide left role that he dominated last season.
But Sunday showed us something different.
With Maeda preferred to start there, Jota was then pushed out to the right and after the 2-0 win, Ange Postecoglou fired what seemed like a warning to the Portuguese that he really needs to up his game and show more of the quality he displayed last season after some wasteful play in the final third.
So, why did Ange choose Maeda on the left instead of Jota.
Former Celt Peter Grant explains.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, Grant said, “I prefer him [Jota] on the left, because I think he’s got that quality to come in on the right foot.
“But I can understand the managers dilemma really.
“Because Maeda gives you so much.
“When you look at the start of last year, Abada and Jota was your two wide players and they done fantastically well. The two of them were excellent.
“Very exciting going forward. And I thought it was fantastic. I didn’t think anybody would move them.
“Now all of a sudden you’ve got Maeda playing there and I can see why the manager plays him.
“Because he does everything else, and maybe not got that individual quality of a Jota, who’s your match winner in that respect.
“For me he gives you something for the team that I know the manager loves.”
That something is work rate. Maeda is a constant work horse.
Running all day, chases down every ball. He is a good support for Taylor on that left flank.
Now I am not saying that Jota’s place is under threat. That would be stupid.
What I am saying that any notion that the team will be built around him can be dispelled now.
Ange prefers a team, not an individual which is why his post match comments criticising Jota are understandable.
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