GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 02: Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson during a William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on January 02, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Does it feel like this blog has become very negative of late?
It’s a common criticism that I get. A common allegation that gets thrown at me. But I always answer it the same way: If not now, when?
Put simply, this is the time to complain. While there’s still time. While there’s still an opportunity to make this board do right by the manager, the club, and the fans. When do you want people to complain—after the window is closed? When it’s too late to make a difference? It’s now or never.
We sang the same song all through last summer. And the board finally delivered—on the final day. A strategy so fraught with danger and so obviously stupid it should never have been allowed to happen.
We warned, week after week, that we were one Kyogo injury away from a crisis. And when it happened—when he did get injured—suddenly the board could negotiate with Norwich. But by then, Norwich knew we were desperate, and the fee for Idah went up by £3 million. All the complaints about his price tag; whose fault was that?
It was a calamity. And it was an avoidable one.
All the way through, we were told to be patient. All the way through, we reminded people this is what they do. I hear variations of this same tune every single year: The window is still open, give them a chance. And every single year, with a few notable exceptions, they fail—on one level or another.
We kicked off last season with gaping holes in several key positions. We were lucky that campaign was relatively injury-free. But we can’t rely on that every year. That’s gambling. With charcoal dice. On a lighter-fuel-soaked table. It’s madness.
There are debates going on right now over whether the manager was right yesterday to say we need to strengthen the strike force, or whether he should have said what is obvious to everyone: that we need to strengthen the defence. But Brendan is prioritising. That’s what Brendan has to do.
What gets lost in the fog, though, is that we need to strengthen everywhere.
As I pointed out the other day, we’re one Maeda injury away from having one first-choice striker and no reliable left-sided attacker. He’s covering two positions right now. And we have Idah as our only cover in the forward area. On the left-hand side, there’s only Yang—who, if rumours are true, might be allowed to leave.
We’re a Tierney injury—something not exactly unheard of—away from having no cover at left-back. We’re a Cameron Carter-Vickers injury away from playing Liam Scales, Dane Murray, or the new boy from Japan in central defence, potentially in a Champions League qualifier.
If Callum McGregor gets injured, then God help us—because we still don’t have another player who can do what he does. And it’s been years since we did.
On the right-hand side of midfield, we have a 34-year-old James Forrest. Yes, Nygren can play there. Yes, Nygren looks like a good footballer. But if he doesn’t settle quickly, we’ve already got problems there as well.
So, let’s not pretend there isn’t a dire need across the squad. Let’s not pretend this is just about the forward line. Let’s not pretend we don’t have a mountain of work to do, and if you acknowledge that then acknowledge that the window has been open for weeks and Celtic has been more interested in moving players out than bringing them in.
And to be fair—because I try to be fair—some of this isn’t the club’s fault.
Kuhn’s departure has left us with a problem on the right. Jota’s injury has left a gaping hole on the left. Greg Taylor’s decision to turn down a new deal means we’re now looking for a new left-back. We may have had a solution in Jeffrey Schloop, but he didn’t convince. That’s partly why we’re here. Some of this is just bad luck. Some of it is players making decisions not to commit. But it doesn’t matter how we got here—we deal with the reality, not with what we wish the reality was.
And the reality is this: a lot of time has already been wasted on signing projects and punts.
There are people who will try to tell us the forward line problem has been solved when Shin Yamada finally signs. But I’m not the one who has to be convinced. You’re not the one who has to be convinced. The person who has to be convinced that the problem is solved is Brendan Rodgers.
The time for fans to make their voices heard—to back the manager and push these people into finally doing their jobs—is right now.
That’s where we are. Because silence, at this point, is acquiescence. Silence tells these people: “Yeah, we’re fine with the kind of lunacy that gave us the Wilo Flood window, the John McGinn window, the Thiago Holm window.”
We’re fine with another Kyogo window.
If we allow it, it’ll end in another summer where the bank balance grows and the manager’s options shrink.
So, this is a big week. And in my view, we have to turn the volume up on the criticism, not down. We have to make sure that everyone at Celtic knows there are no excuses this time. There will be no alibis for failure.
January was the moment some of the believers stopped believing. January was the sign of how bad these people really are. To know months in advance that Kyogo would be sold and to not have a replacement lined up is unforgivable. It’s unconscionable.
And to pretend, six months later, that he doesn’t need to be replaced with someone of similar quality? That’s gaslighting. Of the supporters, and of the manager.
And the time to say that is not when the window is shut, but now. While it’s still open. While there’s still a chance to do it right.
They have to start putting the pieces in place this week. We cannot go through another seven days with no signs of life.
Fans are being asked to turn up for a game against Newcastle next weekend. They’re being asked to pay for tickets we’d ordinarily have gotten for free. To watch a weakened version of last season’s team. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a piss-take.
I think it’s an insult—not just to us, but to the manager and to the players, who are being asked to do more with less.
So, if things on this blog seem negative right now, there’s a very easy way for the people running Celtic to change the mood music.
Get something done. It’s that simple.
The money is there. The club knows what the manager needs. The club probably knows who his targets are.
Stop pissing about and go do some business. That’s all we want. That’s all the manager wants.
And if certain people at Celtic Park aren’t up to the job?
Then they’re in the wrong job.
If nothing is done on the transfer front, then Brendan will go next summer. 100%. And who could blame him?
I believe Brendan is going. The board won’t spend the millions we have.
They could back Brendan this summer, even if it’s his last, because the squad needs it regardless and there’ll be plenty left to back the new guy if needs be next year.
The one area where we are covered is midfield, Hatate Engels, Nygren, Bernardo and McCowan is maybe one too many, maybe Engels will be the guy that covers McGregor when he’s not available? I think we have to play Bernardo more this year or we’ll lose him on the cheap without getting the best out of him, Nygren will be looking for a start too, is McCowan the odd man out? I just don’t want to see the same subs being made every week at the same time. Those are good decisions for the manager to have to make with competition, the rest of the squad lacks that (so far).
James like every year it will be a massive 6 weeks.
Believe don’t panic.
The midfield badly needs to toughen up.
I 100% agree with that comment.
That’s for absolute fuckin sure scousebhoy !!!
So it’s all down to Lawwell and Nicholson is it ? They deal with the finance and identifying players for recruitment. Why do we even have a recruitment team, why do we even have a manager if they so removed from the search and recruitment of quality additions to the squad.
Seems you’re giving them all a free pass.
Does Brendan not have a voice. I mean we all see and hear him at press conferences so if he thinks he should be getting more support or more backing I’d like to hear him verbalise it. After all, apparently he’s leaving next year. So what’s to lose Brendan.
We don’t know what’s going on behind the doors and down the corridors so speak up Brendan. If you’re being fobbed off say so.
There’s no free passes merited here
Every close season we have the same old rigmarole. Any fan can tell you where we need players. Our recruitment /Board is disorganised, we should be concentrating on securing our immediate need major players instead they are hunting down bargains. Quality is not replaced. The whole system is shrouded in secrecy as to who does what and who is responsible. The Board is so risk averse and we are only maintaining the status quo, which will end in failure. These policies will mitigate in seuring another top class manager when BR leaves and it will be a case of any ex Celt looking for a job will be a top contender. We need another revolution to see of this Ancien Regime but in this corporate age fans are practically helpless, plus ca change!
That is where you and I differ greatly James, for you actually seem to believe anything said on here will register with the money men at Celtic park. All i see is weeping and gnashing of teeth and complaint after complaint on here that will not make a blind bit of difference to the overall Celtic strategy. I am not saying our opinions are worthless, but I am saying that all the negativity shown is futile, it gains us nothing, it spreads like a disease with all the anti board brigade and………to be honest, no one actually listens or cares.
Sounds like your alright with that then.
The perfect customer for the board. Don’t rock the boat, it’s pointless. Just turn up and take what you get, don’t dare ask for more.
I’m sure that is what you do too, is there anything you say or do that makes a difference?
That’s why the “gumbumpers” are getting louder.
Our “world class” board rip the piss out of our support and I only wish the gum bumpers get louder.
Mean while I hope the happy clappers enjoy the Newcastle friendly at £25 a nut!
I know it probably sounds ridiculous, but the club seem to be at a bit of a crossroads right now, which may be a temporary, short term process, however there seems to be a slight lack of direction and clarity about what they want to achieve.
The player trading model has worked amazingly well, but should be a secondary bonus to the onfield success of the club. It now appears to have become the primary facet of the board’s thought process, ahead of improvement on the European stage.
For example, the situation with Arne Engels playing every match and taking every free kick, corner kick and penalty kick to keep his value up appears to be of higher importance than what’s best for the team as a whole. The board’s policy has hamstrung them into this situation, which in turn prevents them from signing Lennon Miller, as Arne can’t be rested under any circumstances.
If the board don’t want to invest a large percentage of their profits on improving the first team, then why don’t they invest on a top class youth academy pathway, with top class coaches throughout the system? I was astounded to read that Barcelona’s world renowned academy system costs them £5m a year! I actually thought it would be at least 5 times that amount. Surely the board should consider such an approach for the betterment of the club they love and represent?!
They most certainly won’t care as ya rightly say Johnny…
But I still like to get it offa ma tits with a mega rant from time to time !!!
Just about every gumbumper on here also claims Brendan will walk, where are they getting that from. it’s almost as if they welcome that outcome just to prove themselves right. Jesus wept!
A yearly rolling contract solves everything with Brendan and protects both sides at this stage in his career I’d say !
And not one of them will apologise for the utter gobshite they’ve spewed up over the summer if and when we bring bigger money signings they associate with quality, quality for the UCL and perhaps nab a treble.
I’d love Brendan to sign a rolling contract or an extension if that’s not too much to envisage rather than negatively focusing on him leaving every fecking day.
It’s the poor wags and kids I feel sorry for having to listen to those continuous entitled rants
What manager would be happy that his number 1 striker is sold without being replaced? Over 6 months later still isn’t with a pile of cash sitting in the bank. Rodgers will be off after this season and we are going to struggle to qualify for CL, board don’t have the ambition to be the best we can.
Whether this is Rodgers’ last season or not is immaterial. The fact is we need to strengthen the team or risk not qualifying for CL and risk losing the league. The board hold the purse strings so they are responsible for releasing funds to buy players, whether it’s a dedicated war chest or on a needs basis so it’s on their heads. Simple as. We strengthen or possibly hand the advantage to the enemy.