30 Jul 2025 09:15:53
Are We Still Feeling the Impact of a Poor January 2024 Window?
It's fair to ask whether Celtic are still suffering the consequences of a mismanaged January 2024 transfer window. That period exposed serious flaws in our recruitment strategy, most notably the failure to address key problem positions, especially up front.
Had Brendan Rodgers not received a late phone call about Adam Idah's availability, we may have exited the window without signing a single striker. That last minute scramble led to a rushed loan deal, one made without an option to buy, a decision that, in hindsight, proved costly
Idah played a crucial role in the run in, proving pivotal to our title and cup success. His performances naturally sparked Rodgers' interest in making the move permanent. But that brief loan stint raised his profile and, with it, Norwich's asking price. Negotiations over the summer dragged on, and with the window nearing closing and Kyogo sidelined through injury, Celtic were left in a desperate situation. Norwich knew it and we paid the price.
When a Scottish club spends a significant fee, expectations are understandably high. That's not Idah's fault, but the burden of the fee hangs heavy when returns don't meet the hype. Disappointment follows, not just among fans, but likely within the boardroom. Those who sanctioned the deal, including Michael Nicholson and Dominic McKay, are now undoubtedly invested in Idah's success not just for footballing reasons, but to justify a transfer that may already be depreciating in value.
And so we return to the central question: is the board now more hesitant to spend big because of what happened in January 2024? Has the fear of an expensive misstep limited our transfer ambitions this window? Only those inside the club truly know but the pattern since then certainly gives us reason to ask the question.
30 Jul 2025 13:13:56
We are still suffering from Lawell Jnr project. Thankfully Brendan seen him off. 100 million turn over and we let a executives son have a shot at the transfers.