ADAM IDAH was over-priced at £9.5million and there is little likelihood of Celtic ever recouping a fair percentage of the fee they shelled out to Norwich City a year ago.
The Republic of Ireland international striker has yet to score a goal this season, was hauled off at the interval after a disappointing 45 minutes against Kairat Almaty at Parkhead last week and squandered the team’s first penalty-kick in the £40million spot-kick shoot-out on Tuesday.
It must be hastily pointed out it was not the sole fault of Idah that Brendan Rodgers’ side will not figure in the Champions League draw this evening and will, instead, be in the Europa League ballot at noon tomorrow.
The 24-year-old frontman had plenty of other rivals to shoulder the blame for one of the most miserable and humiliating experiences in Celtic’s history.
HAPPIER TIMES…Adam Idah celebrates at Ibrox after scoring’s Celtic’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw in May. James Forrest looks a tad puzzled.
Idah struggled during his 50 minutes on the pitch in Kazakhstan and posed little or no menace to the hosts’ rearguard.
In fact, you have to go back to May 14 at Pittodrie for Idah’s last goal when he rammed in a close-range effort in the 5-1 victory over Aberdeen, 10 days before the Dons overcame the Hoops in a dire Scottish Cup Final after another dismal penalty-kick failure.
Idah plodded through 66 minutes at Hampden before getting the hook.
Hardly sounds like a player who is indispensable, does it?
Bizarrely, though, at the moment that’s exactly what Adam Idah is to the team simply because the club have not replaced Kyogo Furuhashi SEVEN months after the prolific Japanese hitman left for Rennes in exchange for £10million.
There is every chance a forward clearly bereft of confidence will lead the attack at Ibrox on Sunday. The only way he won’t feature in the derby is if he is injured or Rodgers pulls in Daizen Maeda from the wing.
The third possibility, of course, would be the Hoops gaffer magicking up a quality frontman between now and midday in Govan.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS…Kyogo Furuhashi launches a left-foot drive past Jack Butland for Celtic’s second goal in the 2-1 win at Parkhead in December 2023.
Idah will certainly get the nod ahead of Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada. Maybe their day will come – but it won’t be this weekend.
The strange situation is made even more absurd with reports stating Swansea City are weighing up a late move for the strapping Irishman before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Possibly, if the second-tier side offered £80mllion they might be successful in their so-called quest.
Otherwise, please spare us this claptrap.
As any discerning Cockney would ask: “Cor blimey, guv, would you Adam and Eve it?”
Frankly, no is the answer.
ALEX GORDON
