It’s all the rage right now, for certain journalists, to attack Adam Idah. But the piece that appeared in the Sunday Mail this morning is so idiotic, so bitter, and so personally vindictive that I was just going to ignore it. Then I read one assertion so staggeringly dumb—and dangerous in its own way—that it has to be challenged.
If you’ve read anything online this morning, you’ll probably know who wrote the article and what it says. But I’ll give you a brief overview, just in case you’ve had the good fortune to miss it.
The article suggests that Rodgers shouldn’t have defended Idah in midweek after he became the target of a social media shaming—for having the audacity to get a little bit drunk on a night out. That’s ridiculous from the off. The idea that a manager shouldn’t defend a player from an intrusive act like that is absurd. What’s worse is the attempt to justify this by referencing something Tommy Burns once said about “half the city hating you and the other half thinking it owns you.”
Let me be clear—the clue is in the comment itself. “The other half thinks it owns you.” Thinks. Not “does own you.” Not even close. So rather than an endorsement of this pitiful, pathetic point, Burns was actually making the exact opposite one.
Now, I usually make no secret of my disdain for the individual who wrote this, as he’s responsible for some of the worst journalism this country has ever produced. But really, someone in the business of language ought to understand what simple phrases mean. The fact that he doesn’t is telling.
He also referenced the Scott Brown incident in 2015 as if that somehow justified his attack on Idah. He claims Brown “got away with it” only because he was already on the path to legendary status at Celtic Park. But that misses the point by a country mile. For a start, Brown no more deserved that kind of treatment than Idah deserved this. It was intrusive and reprehensible.
Ronny Deila—who introduced all those high standards of professionalism and fitness, who expected Scottish-based players to adhere to rules and expectations they’d never been held to before—forgave Brown for that because he recognised that Brown had completely bought into what he was trying to do.
By the same token, Brendan Rodgers knows that Adam Idah has fully bought into his philosophy. And as Rodgers pointed out, this wasn’t a lad out on a school night. It was his night off. He had the following day off as well.
Rodgers also talked about Idah’s dedication—how he has a personal nutritionist, how he works to maintain his fitness even when he’s not playing. You can see it’s true. Idah arrived at Celtic on loan last January having barely played for weeks and had hardly featured regularly in months. He still hit the ground running. That’s not the mark of someone who doesn’t look after himself.
Adam Idah is an easy target right now, and he’s an easy target precisely because he’s already in the crosshairs. The hacks are taking shots at him. That’s not new. It’s the continuation of the same rubbish he’s had to put up with for weeks, if not months.
The writer of this embarrassing piece seems to blame Idah for his own transfer fee, which he had no part in negotiating.
That is completely irrelevant to any discussion about his attitude, personality, or level of commitment. For the record, I didn’t think we should have paid that much either—but it wasn’t my decision. Brendan Rodgers wanted him. The board fumbled the ball and he cost more than he probably should have. So what?
For all that, I consider Idah a very valuable member of the squad. He’s one of those players you can rely on. One of those guys who rises to the occasion and delivers on the big stage. His alertness got us through the Young Boys game. His two goals against Villa gave us a fighting chance. His goals last season helped secure the title. His goal in the cup final brought us the double. I could go on, but what’s the point?
It’s like Ange said the other day, sitting in front of the English media, who are writing his obituary because they never thought he should have been managing a club the size of Spurs in the first place: “If you don’t rate me today, you’re not gonna rate me tomorrow no matter what I do or don’t do.”
And that’s exactly it with some of our hacks. They made their minds up about our big striker the moment we signed him, and they’re not going to change them. No matter what he produces on the pitch, they’ll look for anything that confirms their bias, their knee-jerk, gut-level judgement. It’s pointless trying to change their minds.
All of that is basic stupidity. These people wouldn’t know a good footballer if they tripped over one in the street. (Extra points if you spotted what I did there!) But what really troubles me is that this idiot seems to be making a sweeping justification for how Idah has been treated—and for how players at our club and the one across the city are treated in general. As commodities. As public property.
As though they’re not entitled to any privacy.
That’s just flat-out nonsense. It’s also dangerous. These players are not public property. They may be in the public eye, but that is not the same thing. Putting out this kind of content doesn’t serve any public function. It doesn’t educate. It doesn’t inform. It doesn’t give fans any meaningful insight into the professionalism of our players. It’s voyeuristic, gutter-level garbage. It’s for curtain-twitching yahoos. It’s part of a parasitic, vampiric trend that nobody should be encouraging.
Rodgers is right—it’s a sad day when we have to defend players from this kind of behaviour.
To suggest that Rodgers was wrong to do so, to claim his comments don’t add up, tells you all you need to know about who and what we’re dealing with here. To paraphrase one of my favourite fictional characters—“these are not serious people.” That is not a serious newspaper. He is not a real journalist.
And every one of us should be pushing back against this idea that we have some ownership claim on the players at Celtic. That we’re entitled to follow them around and document their every move, even when they’re off the pitch. We’re not. These are human beings with private lives to which they are entitled.
To suggest otherwise doesn’t just elevate stupidity to a new level—it actively fuels something far worse.
But the individual who wrote this piece isn’t susceptible to reason or rational debate—let alone the idea that he should show a shred of professional responsibility. And we all know what would happen if someone did cross the line—if someone really believed that players were there to be harassed or abused, and things got out of hand. He’d change his tune faster than Ally McCoist flicking through a rule book.
Because these people have no shame.
And that’s exactly why I despise them.
Haven’t read the article but, as ever, when the club across the city have crashed again it’s the perfect deflection tactic to avoid talking about / criticising them.
The only person who can shut them up is Adam Idah himself. That is what Scott Brown did, back then, he reacted to the witch hunt by knuckling down and becoming an even better player, hence making himself immune from their wanton criticism. Adam can hopefully do the same by scoring on a regular basis and rendering their hateful little snipes impotent.
More deflection masking how bad the current failing and flailing midden club are in. No new owners, no takeover, no majority shares buyout and no trophies to play for.
Big Adam desperately needs a regular run out to be match ready but how oh how is he to blame for not getting game time when his manager doesn’t pick him from the start. Daizen’s form is what’s keeping him out at the moment. That and Brendan’s formation rigidity.
Once we this league wrapped up it would allow Brendan to perhaps work on that particularly given he accepted that he needed to look inwards and to his own performance as a manager.
Just shows how utterly pathetic and desperate the media are here. How the fk would this embarrassment of a journo, know how every player acts, or has ever acted, on a night out. As if even the late great Tommy Burns, never overdone the haufs at any time on a wee night out. Ah dont know, tho ahm sure he probably had. Same as most pro footballers. ( and the rest of us ). Big issue made out of nothin. Fkn vultures sittin waitin.
You’re in the starting line up today Adam, so let’s see you producing the goods and shutting Keevin’s trap shut.
He is indeed leading the line but already the presenters are debating his “ incident”. WTF is Alan Hutton doing on a pundit panel for a Celtic game. He is labelled a neutral ffs. Ab no affiliation to either team but hey it gets a hun on tv
Ah – So it was that guy Keevins then…
He canny bitch slap Celtic on the pitch so he’s gonna do it off it then –
His dreams are in tatters now that his beloved Sevco are outta Europe and their season is over…
One question – Why do some posters on Wallow Wallow think this guy is actually a fuckin Celtic supporter !!!
Well done James for sticking up for Brendan in the way he dealt with this and particularly sticking up for Adam Idah as well – My only compliant is that you didn’t name and shame the imbecile that wrote the article…
Where does one start on this ?
Well for a start ANYBODY can be sick with either through drunkiness or soberity and given that I’ve been with the former on hundreds of occasions over my lifetime (especially when younger) I certainly don’t get to lecture ANY Sevco player if this happened to them or or to any other football player of any other football club the length and breadth of Scotland either nor anyone from any industry out with football either…
So this crayon level Scummy has actually NEVER been sick in his entire life – Aye right, I’ll be the pathological liar this time then – Of course he has and therefore he simply doesn’t get to lecture Adam or any player of football fan like me or any other either or he then tops The Hypocricital League (another trophy for a Sevco fan then)…
Travel sickness is an official illness, travel anywhere in any type of transport (especially ferries) and you will eventually come across an incident near you through drink or not drink – My ex girlfriend from Clydebank was a bad traveller and on a long bus journey I had to hold her blonde hair a few times as she spewed into a poly bag, it wasn’t nice for her, certainly not for me to witness (even with ma eyes shut) ! or for those in the seats across or in front either but she simply couldn’t help it and we were lucky to have the CD’s bag to use or it was all over her denims and the gangway area…
Adam Idah spewed in a taxi – actually it looks as if he spewed outta the door and on the street – Well Big Wow, it probably happened 500 times in Scotland last night from Aberdeen to Airdrie, from Golspie to Glasgow, from Elgin to Edinburgh, some taxis have a notice that if you spew inside the vehicle there is a Pena of £50 – Fair enough they’re off the road for hours to fix that situation out – But guess what, If any fucker can afford to pay it Big Adam certainly can !
I’ll finish off by a memory from years ago on a (rough) ferrry trip – In the bar area a lassie of about 16 was violently sick everywhere, her pal covered all the spew up with guess what – The Scummy Daily Record…
All I can deduce from that is – THE POOR FUCKIN VOMIT !
At least Adam was only sick from his stomach – These Bastards from The Scummy Scottish Football Media are sick – and very fuckin sick at that – from their top hair to their heel skin and I don’t mean physically sick of course but mentally fuckin sick from head to toe !
Really hope Adam shows up today, scores a hat-trick and when the first one goes in that he runs in the direction of The Scummy’s Press Box and cups his hands as if he’s gonna spew in them…
‘SICKen The Scummy Bastards’ !!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha… It’s CAL-MAC !!!
Take that Keevins – Ya mortuary dodging old Bastard of Hell…
CAL-MAC made Hugh Spew – Ferry Fuckin Good then !
Mortuary dodging old bastard of hell.
Love it clach , I fucking love that description of that decrepit old pish stained arsehole of an excuse fir a man.
Heard his wife chucks him oot the hoose at 9 am and puts the heating on full blast then switches it off an hour before he us due in
Adddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddaaammmmmmmmmmmm IDAH !!!
Take that Keevins ya old fuckin imbecile –
Taxi from The Scummy Scottish Football Media Press Box at Hampden…
To the nearest mental health centre…
Ya know the rules in the taxi so – Don’t Fuckin Spew Hugh !!!
Some of the comments about Keevin’s are yo say the least a bit juvenile.
James why do you comment about this guy ? He is an old fart who is irrelevant.
If he’s gonna be juvenile about ma club and ma club’s players (in this case Adam Idah – Dont worry it’ll be someone else in the Hoops team next week that James will be reporting to us about) – In that case then I’ll be ‘juvenile’ about him…
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and all that…
And in ma book Two wrongs DO make a right – Always…
And Terry – In this rancid football country you ABSOLUTELY need to know your enemies so please keep reporting his evil to readers like me anyway – Please don’t ever stop that side of things withThe Scummy’s !