Yesterday, someone drew my attention to some online rumours suggesting that Kyogo might have picked up an injury in training.
Given that he’s currently our only fit striker, it’s no surprise that this rumour sent waves of panic through the Celtic support. The mere thought of Mickey Johnston leading the line in Kyogo’s absence is enough to make any fan shudder.
It’s astonishing that we’ve allowed ourselves to get into this position.
Whether or not the rumours about Kyogo’s injury are true, the sheer fact that they sparked such widespread fear is a damning indictment of where we are as a club right now.
The concerns are legitimate because every single one of us knows how precarious our situation is. Yet, it feels like the people running the show at Celtic don’t share those concerns—at least, not enough to do something about it.
I’m not pointing fingers at Brendan Rodgers or his coaching staff; they’re well aware of how crucial it is to have at least one fit striker ready to go. No, the blame lies squarely with those in charge of strengthening the squad—the very people who have allowed this situation to unfold. How did we end up here, facing the start of a new season with such glaring weaknesses in the team?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how it seems the board is unwilling to spend any more money until Matt O’Riley is sold. The longer this window drags on the more obvious it is that they are protecting the cash pile and don’t want to spend any of it.
So whilst we sit with a huge cash reserve, we are in the perverse, the indefensible, position where we are forcing the manager to sell before we can buy … exactly the same place the club across the city finds itself, by virtue of being skint.
One club is rich. The other club is poor. What is the point of our financial advantage, what is the logic in it, if we pursue transfer policies identical to theirs?
O’Riley has been one of our standout players over the past few seasons, and considering we’ve already lost Jota and Abada since Rodgers came in, it makes you wonder how many goals we can take out of this team before it has a major impact.
At any other club, it would be hard to fathom why offloading O’Riley this summer is even on the table. But this is Celtic, where losing another crucial attacking player is seen as inevitable instead of unthinkable, because money is all the club’s hierarchy cares about.
Here we are, on 8 August, and we’re still weaker than we were when last season ended. Here we are sweating over potential injuries to key players like Kyogo, knowing full well that we don’t have adequate backups. It’s one thing to worry about injuries when you have a full squad to choose from, but quite another when your squad is as thin as ours currently is.
The nightmare scenario is becoming all too real.
Yet, despite the glaring issues, there are still those who insist on pushing dangerous fictions.
One of these is that the bulk of our transfer business always happens in the final week of August. This is a convenient fiction which folk are forever using to explain the board’s inaction. The truth is, we’ve made significant signings in previous years well before August rolled around. I can point to deals from past seasons – such as the signings of Kyogo and Abada in mid-July – that were done early enough to integrate new players into the squad before the crucial early-season fixtures. The idea that we usually wait until the last days of the window before we conduct our business is an easily disproved barefaced lie, plain and simple.
The same people who push this are the same people who continue to maintain that January is a dead window for us. Postecoglou proved that meaningful business can be done in January, bringing in three players who immediately became regulars. So, the idea that we’re just waiting for the right moment to strike is nonsense. We’re not late movers in the market here as a result of some grand design; this is because we’re either incompetent or worse.
And what does worse look like? Worse is a deadlock inside the club about what our transfer priorities should be. More and more this looks like dysfunctionality at the top of our house, and that’s even scarier than a board which just doesn’t want to spend money.
With only three weeks left, the chances of pulling off a series of game-changing signings are somewhere between slim and none. We’ve done so little work in the early part of the window that it’s almost impossible to rectify that. Anyone clinging to the hope of a last-minute miracle is setting themselves up for disappointment.
At this point in the season, it’s hard to understand why so many people are reluctant to see the reality of our situation. One of the most common excuses we hear is that “good players don’t want to come to Scotland.” Yet, this argument falls apart when you consider the quality players we’ve brought in over just the last couple of years: Kasper Schmeichel, Joe Hart, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Daizen Maeda, Matt O’Riley, Jota, Abada, and Kyogo. If good players won’t come to Scotland, how did we manage to sign all of these guys?
The issue isn’t that quality players won’t come, it’s that our transfer policy is too narrowly focussed. We’re fishing in a shallow pool, targeting young players with resale value. This might work in theory, but in practice, it’s leaving us exposed. Every club in Europe is looking for young talent to develop and sell on, and we’re competing with all of them. But instead of investing properly, we’re focused on getting players as cheaply as possible.
European football has moved on, and it’s not even that Celtic has not which should concern us; it’s gone one way and we’ve got the other, and anyone who doesn’t think that’s detrimental is running away from reality.
Transfer fees and wages are higher than ever, yet we’re not willing to spend what we did 20 years ago. This isn’t about being frugal; it’s about being stuck in the past. It’s about unpardonable folly, a decision taken to move against the tide. We’re here by choice, not by necessity, and if it’s a choice, then we can choose to do things differently.
By limiting our target age range to players under 24 or 25, we’re missing out on a huge pool of talent. If we expanded that range to include players up to 27, our options would increase significantly, as would our chances of success.
But the board sees things differently, and they refuse to change.
Rodgers has already pointed out the flaw in the operational concept. What he’s so far been unable to do, on the surface of it, is convince people to alter it, and we’re not talking here about some dramatic junking of everything we currently do … this doesn’t need a demolition ball to fix it, we’re talking here about some simple tweaks, a bit of compromise.
He knows that every successful team needs a balance between youth and experience, and he’s been vocal about it. It’s not too much to ask, yet it seems that those who run Celtic are unwilling to support that shift and that refusal to adapt our transfer policy is why we’re in this mess—why we’re still waiting for signs of life in the transfer market, why we have only one fit striker, and why every single Kyogo rumour sends shockwaves through the support.
Let me repeat; this isn’t about ditching our policy of signing and developing young talent. There’s a place for that in any good transfer strategy. But when you overload the squad with unproven, inexperienced players, you set the manager up for failure. Expecting Rodgers to integrate six or seven project signings into the first team, as some evidently believed he’d have to last summer, was never going to work. As this blog has pointed out, they can throw every project signing they want at this guy but he’s under no obligation to play them and he won’t.
And because he made that clear last summer it is blatantly obvious that one of the reasons we haven’t made more signings yet is because Rodgers has vetoed this approach and he refuses to allow the signing of more projects when he’s made his feelings clear.
Between that and the obvious unwillingness to spend real money until we’ve moved O’Riley out the door, we are, jumping at every rumour that Kyogo has taken a training ground knock. We are in a bad place here folks, and the only consolation I take from it is that if this windows ends with us in this abject state that no-one will be able to argue anymore that the current system is working.
Just been reading a number of your previous articles there, as quite a lot to catch up on.
Firstly, it’s quite shocking that you had to withdraw one of your blogs, under threat of legal action. It demonstrates that what you opined on, was as close to the truth as you’ll get and it certainly hit a nerve or two. I can empathise with why you complied, as it’s very murky waters, and the last thing you want to be dragged into, is huge legal costs etc, for something that could drag on for(ever) quite a long time!
Anyway, back to the radio silence that we are now becoming used to on a daily basis, re our transfer incomings or severe lack of.
It’s fair to say, that we all love our club, and can articulate our views on that, in many ways.
By nature, I’m an eternal optimist, and I try to carry that outlook into most portions of my life, including our beloved club.
However, as we sit on another day now, the 8 August, the silence continues to be deafening.
I genuinely believed that our manager had won a few background battles and this would have smoothed our transfer dealings this summer, and fans’ fears would have been eased. We would bring in the required striker, left back, centre half and wide player that our manager has continually spoken about.
Unfortunately, the apparent ( and at this stage clear message,) from those that control the coffers, is that they are parsimonious, penurious, and penny pinching.
I am not one for hysteria or joining the mass ranks of those in our fanbase, that complain about the slightest setbacks.
Nevertheless, even the most optimistic amongst us, realise that at this juncture of the window, it is NOT good enough.
You rightly say that Idah is Norwich’s player…rightly or wrongly, they can ask for whatever fee they so desire. Same with us and O’Riley…albeit on a much larger fee scale!
If Matt is happy here, which he seems to be, then there should be no sale.
Idah wants to come to Celtic…so pay up or move on !
Ridiculous intransigence being displayed by our club.
I repeat again…I want to see our club match the ambitions of BR, to make some headway in Europe, instead of being the perennial whipping bhoys, that we’ve all come to expect. That in itself, is a complete and utter disgrace for a club of our standing and history !!!!
As you have said, sleeping continually at the wheel will cause us major problems in the years to come for Europe …and it will equally throw some scraps of optimism towards the Sevconites on a domestic level.
Last year, for too long, was much closer than a lot of us would care to admit ! That can’t continue into this season ! The accelerator pedal should be getting pressed to the floor, to leave them firmly in the distance !
Again, what is the real reasoning for amassing millions and not progressing our club in every area ?
Our board, in this window, has again demonstrated extreme tardiness in the transfer market, and some forms of disdain towards a committed fanbase.
Will it be answers on a postcard as to why we appear to be so against progression…or will we see the necessary signings before the deadline date that will positively strengthen our club, both at home and in Europe?
We await the answers, with bated breath and maybe, just maybe, there could even be a few smiles !!!
Hahaha excellent post my friend and my fingers are crossed with yours, even if I’m no longer as hopeful as I once was.
Thanks James! I think everything is crossed now lol…
A pretty awesome post indeed Gerry !
Slainte Math Fae – Clachnacuddin and the Hoops !!!
Thanks Clach…frustration is hugely evident amongst us all!
@Gerry. Very good comment. One thing ah would say tho and that’s you mentioned this could affect us in Europe and domestically in years tae come. If this board fail in this window, ah think we could be talkin about a lot sooner than that. Weeks or months.
That’s a very fair point Kevan …it’s ridiculous that we have to consider that scenario yet again !
James,
I think it’s only a matter of time before fingers will be pointed at Brendan Rodgers
The board apologists better not even attempt that.
Rest assured they will over at CQN !
You can bet your bottom dollar that Sevco fans in other teams will know fine well about Kyogo being our only striker and bloody well place a target on his back (or probably moreover his shoulder) to injure him…
But hey not to worry, Pistol ‘Poker’ faced Pete will think that Brendan will still prevail while the policy keeps Sevco relevant at the same time – But how did 2008/09 work out Poker (face) man… ?
Ach well he can proudly lift The Champions Balance Sheet League leaving all the continent in his wake…
You certainly won’t miss his big rugged torso indulging in that glory for sure –
One bonus is that nobody will see Lord Lucan-Nicholson’s scouling stone face at the presentation…
Why – Because LORD LUCAN-Nicholson is bloody invisible !
TBH I would blame Brendan if he could not get deals done in the positions that need filling. It’s his job to manage the team and hire and fire.
If he is being constrained in performing his job to the best of his ability he should walk and let the reasons be known. He has loyalty because I suppose of how he departed last time.
Ange managed to recruit fairly well what is stopping Brendan?
Regards O’Riley, he scored or made close to 40 goals last term we will not get anyone in the door this term to do the same. we will not lose money on O’Riley if we keep him another season. Close the door on any transfer now and add the positions we have gaps in.
We flog O’Riley and Hatate and Kyogo get injured we are hosed.
An injury to Kyogo, even a knock for a week or so, is a CERTAINTY over the course of a season. 10 year olds playing Fifa career mode understand not to hit tranfer deadline with 1 recognised striker in the senior squad.
What I’m curious about is the decision to sell Oh. I understand he probably wasn’t too happy about being bumped down the pecking order, and it could be argued he might not have been “a Rodgers player” – but the lad gave 100% every appearance and proved he had a winning goal in him on a few occasions. A few million quid in the bank seems completely redundant versus the risk of watching your 2nd striker walk with no replacement in sight.
Complete farce.
The bottom line is MOR is a young professional and if he is offered a deal by some club he can’t refuse, by definition he has to take it. The question here is, can we offer him a deal he can’t refuse?
He has that thing great players have, in that they never looked hurried when on the ball and that thing he does when he passes the ball into the goal is another sign of exceptional talent.
Hatate is capable of that unique pass that opens up defences but he still gives the ball away to much for my liking. If the coaches can’t sort it out, and I doubt it, I would take the money and run.
James, if the post-August landscape turns out to be as apocalyptic as most fear
the naysayers will still accept the excuses that the Board will feel, with reluctance, ‘duty bound’
to communicate to us plebs.
The same apologists will proclaim, as regular as the changing of the calendar, that the Board will rectify omissions in the squad
come January’s Transfer Window. A Transfer Window, that the self same Board, on an annual basis, states as
“Virtually impossible to do business, Clubs don’t want our money and it’s better to do business in the Summer”.
Meanwhile, we are assured that the Club’s Officers are feverishly beavering away in the background trying to bring in the Players the Manager wants.
Aye right, bit keep the faith folks. The Board have everything in hand.
Dejà vu anyone.
Not ony injuries to Kyogo will b a prob we are woefully weak throughout the squad, the words sabotage n gross negligence comes to mind
I was speaking to a friend last night who has spoken to one of our scouting staff the former full back who punched the king of kings once and he was told no incomings till O Riley was sold thats where we are as a club hamstrung by cronyism,nepotism and the old pals there is no fresh thinking they lucked out with Ange and were lucky Brendan was available to take over we have a formula 1 mechanic working on a ford focus and our board expects him to beat the formula 1 car liewell out DD out its the only way problem is we have supporters who are happy to beat a 12 year old club the lack of a clear vision is disgraceful.
Celtic 1st Celtic forever
HH
And when the window closes with no more signings will the fans boycott the Champions League ? Not a chance! There’ll be 60,000 at each game! Ever felt cheated?
I have already made the decision not to buy the champions league package or a penny on any club products time to start hitting this board the only way they understand in the pocket they have our ST£££ not a penny more
Celtic 1st Celtic forever
HH
Another well written article James and excellent appraisal from Gerry above.
We all share this frustration and as each day passes with no signings then the anger increases.
Losing O’Reilly will be a serious loss ,as one more year for him to progress under Brendan and gain further CL experience, would actually increase his sales value.
As a 65 year old fan and shareholder with absolutely no interest in selling my shares, I have lived through many periods in our Clubs history but right now, with everything in our favour, there is no excuse for our Board not to deliver on Brendan’s demands.
However, as an optimist let’s wait until the end of August to see what transpires.
If nothing else then a petition with thousands of fan signatures, and vocal stadium dissent,should be easy to present to the Board.
Well said Alan. There should be no requirement for this amount of frustration…if we had a board that favoured progression on the European stage, rather than complete inertia, or slipping into reverse gear, we would not be having these discussions!!!
Unless we see some activity in these final three weeks, what garbage will be trotted out, in the aftermath of standing still !!! A modicum of honesty would , at least, be a start !!!
If reports are to be believed it looks like Riley is on his way to Brighton – 25+ million for Lawwell & Co. to salivate over. Increase the already bulging bank balance that’s what Peter wants.
Still no strikers signed no cover at left back and if Riley does go,which seems inevitable,we will have a huge hole to fill in our midfield. As well as his creative ability and number of assists he also scored 19 times last season.
Stephen Welsh is our only cover at centre half as Nawrocki & Lagerbielke are not part of the picture it seems. Sunday & Hibs away is looming large we really are just a couple of injuries away from being in big trouble.
A threadbare squad weaker than finished last season. The Champions League is on the horizon although we all know the board have no interest in building a squad for that., but more alarmingly they don’t seem to want to build a squad capable of defending our domestic titles. Shambolic administration of a great club which is blessed with wonderful supporters worldwide that are being treated like cash cows. Absolute disgrace.
Seems Miovski is off to Spain, imo another one lost who could have thrived under a good coach. For me a better option than Idah.
Brendan should be kicking down doors to get the tools to do his job, he has to protect his professional reputation also.
The little obscure messages in press conferences needs to get to the next level. He should be able to say to the fans things not happening because the money men are not willing to pay the asking prices.
Prices we were paying 25 years ago….
I am sorry to say but the way things are going I cannot see Celtic buying any quality players in this transfer window now. Even if we do sell Matt they will only get in project players in for a low fee. BR keeps saying we need quality players in, the board know this but they don’t seem to be bothered about it as long as they have our season ticket money and merchandise money they don’t care about the supporters. We cannot complain as they don’t listen to the supporters we are just a cash cow to them. I hate to think if we don’t won the league this season what will happen. It’s time the board got on the same page as the supporters instead of saving up all the money and spend it instead of paying taxes on it because the amount of tax they will pay could be equivalent to a new player
James why doesn’t Rodgers start laying down the law , surely as manager he should have the final say over Lawell or Desmond because neither of these two know football or tactics or player needs so why is Rodgers so quiet about all of this ,he’s not asking the board to let him buy Messi or neymar or Bellingham all he should be asking is money for players that are just a grade up from SPFL and more able to play in European football,not necessarily going far in CL but not getting humped every time we meet a decent European team.