As I said in my piece earlier, there were some outstanding performances last night and whilst I do not like to big up any one player at the expense of the rest of the team, I thought Adam Idah was absolutely tremendous. It wasn’t just in his goal, but in his overall play. He showed us what a fine striker he can be, and what a great squad player he is.
The signing of Adam Idah won us the league. There you have it. Whilst Nicholas Kuhn has taken a while to truly settle, Idah has hit the ground running. O’Riley is our top league scorer. Kyogo is second. It is Idah who is in third place. Eight goals in 14 league starts. He has done sufficiently well to merit a permanent move if we can do the deal.
His overall performance last night was brilliant, not just his eye for goal. He turned players, bullied players, laid chances on, held the ball up … it was a quality display in every respect. He obviously enhances our squad. He can play as a starting striker and produce. He can come off the bench and produce. He scores goals when it matters; his winner against Motherwell, his big goal at Ibrox … this is a guy we can rely on when the pressure is on.
The cost. This is all going to be about the cost.
But I think Idah himself wants to stay at Celtic, and he will not want to miss out on the Champions League. It may be that if Norwich don’t want him that this is the club he wants to be at. It may be that if Norwich do want him that this is where he’ll want to be anyway.
That might be what makes the difference. Norwich’s manager cannot guarantee him games, and we all know it. Sydney Van Hooijdonk has flopped there as well – we definitely did get the better player of the two there – and they are back to the drawing board in their hunt for a finisher, but it’s not clear that they believe Adam Idah will be it.
But we know he can do it here, and that he would do it here. We can get 20 goals out of this guy if he’s a regular next season, and that wouldn’t even be the half of it. He provides us with such a different dimension, and a different style up front from that which we get from Kyogo. The Japanese is the better player; it’s about what Idah adds us that Kyogo doesn’t. He has that physical edge. He is strong. It’s great that he can also put the ball in the net.
If there’s a deal to be done we should be doing it. Idah has made this team better, and stronger, and if not for his goals and what he has added to the team I do not think we’d have won this title. He is not only better than our current stand-in but he he’s so obviously better that it would be mad to keep Oh and let this guy get away.
So come on Celtic, get it done. It’s definitely good business.
Firstly, massive congratulations to Brendan and our bhoys.
What a title to win and it was won with the style, panache and swagger that we have come to expect from our Celtic teams.
The relief, has been replaced by huge satisfaction, and that we overcame so much negativity, this past season.
Our team were absolutely magnificent last night, and it was another managerial masterstroke to put big Idah in, ahead of Kyogo.
The big fellow was outstanding, and his performance dispelled any notions that he should be returned to Norwich!
Sign him and Miovski, and if BR’s tactical brilliance allows, play two out of the three strikers, EVERY week in the SPL.
We can all look forward to this Saturday’s party, and hopefully our squad are reasonably sober by then !
Then it is onto Hampden and the final duel of the season with Sevco. Again, quiet confidence, but if we turn up, there will only be one winner, and it WON’T be the inhabitants of Ibrokes!
I loved BR’s subtle statement, regarding our players honesty and the way they go about their business quietly, rather than making ‘silly comments!’
It is not for me to remind our Sevconian friends how to go about their business. However, maybe big Phil of Clement should remind himself, and 1 or 2 of his players, that trophies are won ON, not OFF the park.
Fantastic title success Celtic, and we all salute your efforts! Brendan, take control of the kitty, get your players and let us move forward with complete confidence for next season, both domestically and in Europe! HH
Agree we should look to sign Idah. I am guilty of being disappointed in January with our business and this loan was a “you serious?” for me. But what do I know – maybe on this one we give the Football Department some credit…
Norwich losing tonight means championship football and not Champions League football is the choice on offer. I will leave it to BR (and I hope others do) to set the price limit.
Unfortunately James , usually I agree with almost everything you write about, but to say Idah won us the league albeit contributed would be underestimating the performances of the rest of team and of the players that raised their game when it mattered , ie stokes who has played his way into a first pick after his impressive ibrokes appearance when we went there with a thread bare team and still turned sevco over , also the brilliance of Brendan Rodgers to mastermind winning this league title with 1 hand behind his back due to the meddling from above .
Personally I’d prefer to say idah when he came in gave us that other option that we haven’t seen since john hartson played, barraging and bulling defenses, totally agree Idah should be signed as he’s certainly impressed and notched up the goals since his arrival.
No single player won us this title , it was a joint performance from all the team including your own namesake, James Forrest who came in from out of the cold and aided us with the extra experience of a serial winning mentality to get us over the finishing line and get us 3 in a row and embarrass every 2 bob washed up hack and pig ignorant radio pundits who are now gorging on humble pie.
Stokes ?? Do you mean Scales ? Would hope Idah signs as he is still young and could improve exponentially (which would help both Celtic and of course Ireland). Would like Oh to go out on loan likewise young Joey Dawson … both should go to other premiership clubs so that we can see if with regular game time they can show that they can do anything. Maybe let Oh join his mate Kwon at St Mirren, Kwon supposedly was impressing there before his injury.
Was hoping no one noticed, HA, HA , blaming it on auto correction, nothing 2 do with beer , “Honest”.
He’s managing tae get goals and last night was imo Idah’s best game in a Celtic jersey. If he can continue that, then we’ll have a good addition tae the squad. Tho ah think, as you mentioned, with regards tae any individual players goals winnin us the title, ah think James Forrest definitely deserves a big mention there.
The big man has deservedly earned the chance to stay at Celtic Park and I just hope that Norwich do not price him out of the move. He is most certainly an asset and he has proved with his patience, his dedication and unselfish attitude that he is a vital part of our squad. I hope we get the deal done.
He was awesome last night…
Same again in The Scottish Cup Final last night !
Actually – Same again like last night in The Scottish Cup Final please Adam !!!
I’m not as convinced as you, James, when it comes to Idah and the performance v Killie. Yes we played excellently, did exactly what we needed to do with style and Idah played a blinder. But please let’s put it into perspective. Killie weren’t umder any pressure to take anything from the game. They had secured 4th spot (and a Europa 2nd round qualification spot) the week prior. Their season was done.
Now that we have won the Leauge, I don’t want it to he forgotten that the performances have been underwhelming too often this season. Brendan has acknowledged this and has assured us that plans are underway to rectify this.
Your article from a few weeks back where you highlighted, what you felt to be, the reason for Celtic’s overly ponderous attacking style of play in a lot of the games this season is the best TCB article I’ve read. Luckily for us, we know that Brendan doesn’t need to read it (no disrespect, it was an excellent piece). Let’s just pray Brendan gets the freedom to have his path cleared to see his vision out. I mean that from a Celtic board and fanbase level. Surely the fans who still doubted him up until recently have finally forgiven him. He’s earned his stripes, again.
To cut a very long story, short(er). If Brendan is happy with Idah, I’ll be happy. Also, let’s see what happens next Saturday when we’re up against a team who will throw the kitchen sink at us in order to win.
The problem Norwich have, is that it does not seem likely that Idah will be successful there. Some players, no matter how much effort they put in, cannot do the business for certain clubs. In the case of Celtic, Mikey Johnston is the perfect example of this phenomenon. He’s had two successful loan spells with other clubs, but cannot cut it, at Celtic. I do not think that Norwich would be that difficult to deal with, if BR wished to make the signing permanent.
Hail Hail.
Norwich have just sacked their manager David Wagner so I don’t know if that will have a bearing on any transfer one way or the other if the new manager will want to see him in training or not pre season…
Idah certainly played a massive role in getting this title win over the line. I’m not sure about Kilmarnock not giving it their all, McInnes was spitting blood on the touchline, Donnelly’s assault on Hatate, was Lundstram-esque, with their players trying to face off with CCV afterwards. Their anger at the ref for the first goal also, I’m not sure we’d have seen all of that if they weren’t that bothered. They also play with three centre backs, one an international and another hoping to make an impression on Steve Clarke for a Euros place. Idah was in complete commend of all three of them physically, mentally and technically. The CL could be Idah’s big stage as Ireland are not at the Euros, so that could also swing it. Looks worth a shout to me.
I think Idah wants to play for Celtic and that’s an important factor.