Adam Idah changed Celtic history. He arrived at the club on loan during Brendan Rodgers’ first season back in January 2024. Philippe Clement had not only stabilised the wreck Michael Beale left Newco in, he hunted Celtic down, went top of the league and made his side favourites for the title.
A week in the door Adam scored with two penalties against Hibs, to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 1-2 win in the 92nd minute. At Motherwell two weeks later and he again scored twice, his second to give Celtic the lead on 94 minutes.
He will be better remembered for his Scottish Cup Final winning goal against Newco in May 2024, and our third goal in a 3-3 draw at Ibrox the month earlier, but the goals at Hibs and Motherwell were just as crucial in picking a Celtic team off the canvas and making us champions again. We would have won neither without him.
The club spent £9m to take Adam permanently from the Norwich City bench to Glasgow. It was a decision based on a small sample size (the fee was due to Brendan Rodgers publicly naming Adam as his No. 1 target early in the window). A statistical error was made; always check the sample size.
I doubt anyone is motivated to explain why Nicolas Kuhn was allowed to leave without backfill secured. Signings are notoriously difficult for all clubs and all know not to make assumptions, which is why Kuhn’s sale is so unusual. A bit of bloody mindedness was involved. Contrast with Adam’s departure. Adam could have gone earlier in the window but was kept until backfill was secured.
Two weeks late, but Royal Antwerp eventually got their backfill for Michel-Ange Balikwisha (24), who joined Celtic last night. The right-footed (predominantly) left-winger has been at Antwerp for four years and I expect will see some action on Sunday. Celtic have scouted for a long time, so he will surely fit what we need.
Michel-Ange played the same role in Belgium as Jota played at Celtic, and Daizen Maeda has played in Jota’s absence. Brendan likes to swap out both wingers during games, so I can see scope for at least five in the squad.
Welcome to Celtic, Michel-Ange.
Our Europa League draw:
Roma (home), 5th in Italy last season
Feyenoord (away), 3rd in Netherlands last season
Braga (home), 4th in Portugal last season
Red Star (away), Serbia champions last season
Sturm Graz (home), Austria champions last season
Midtjylland (away), Denmark runners up last season
Utrecht (home), 4th in Netherlands last season
Bologna (away), 9th in Italy last season
There are easier games in the Champions League than any of them, but there’s lots we can achieve with that draw.
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Glendalystonsils,
favourite Celtic player quotes
1. “I’m the Chief Executive of Bob Baldie”
2. “There’s a buzz about the place” – Paul McStay
3. “Aye, but can they play ?” – Bertie Auld
4. That was a great goal you scored in the EC final
“ Which one ? “ – Tommy Gemmell
5. When did you know your leg was broken
“ As soon as I saw John Grieg coming “ – Bobby
Lennox
tontine tim
Problem wi that theory is that no sooner does Celtic FC appoint wee Shaun then somebody on here (probably Bournesouprecipe or suchlike) will come on here and accuse the Board of downsizing….
No?
While awaiting news on whether Dolberg arrives or not, anyone remember Goldbergs (I’m bored).
Remember going to the one in Ayr regulalry as a child whenever something new was needed in the house. Seemed way of its time back then.
Celtic Mac
😂
Maybe go for Bobo Balde? Certainly wouldn’t be downsizing then.
Way ahead.
I’ve had too many 0.0 beers today, fingers aren`t working.
in
out, shake it all about.
garygillespieshamstring
No!
Celtic Mac
Brendan Rodgers is 1.7M
Shaun Maloney is 1.75M 👍
Awright wee man?
Celtic Mac on 29th August 2025 5:56 pm
You are aware that Hibs sacked him…..no?
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 29TH AUGUST 2025 1:23 PM
Thanks for everything Adam. Any loss on the transfer fee is massively outweighed by the ECL income you earned us.
A lot of people have who have been on Adam ‘s case have short memories and would never make it on mastermind. In addition to what you’ve said, Idah has had a 21 goal season including crucial Champion scores, yes I’m crediting with a fourth the rebound off the defender in the final minutes against Young Boys which got us into the knockout stage and three strikes against Rangers..
However I’ll admit things have not gone well for the lad in the opening few games of the season but surely he has well earned his chance to be here for a second season at least. Kyogo was a once off brilliant goalador but the Pukis and Ajethis are not too distant memories.
Bournesouptecipe – maybe in his mum’s high heels. They are both listed as 1.7m though Shaun might have been on his tiptoes when they measured him.
Deniabhoy… why are all the stages of the vuelta in the North of Spain… Is it to do with the complaints about the heat over the last couple of years?
bournesouprecipe
Is that wi his platform boots on?
prestonpansbhoy
Hibs sacked Neil Lennon an aw….
Didnae stop us fae offering him the job…
Celtic Mac on 29th August 2025 6:24 pm
I know that ay what point did I say that was a good idea, must have missed it…
Several posts about the difficulty of getting decent players in to Scotland… Celtic are a stepping stone to richer leagues and we have to accept that.
We all know this, so we should have someone whose job is to consistently have a list of 2 or 3 possible replacements for all first team players.
And when a player on the list goes over our budget or moves to a bigger team they are replaced on the list.
Even to the extent of having possible loans to cover serious injuries.
yorkbhoy
First three stages were in Italy, then moved on to France, then one stage in (my) Girona, Catalonia…. and the last two days have been up in ol’ Andorra in the Pyrenees….
YorkBhoy – no official explanation given. I imagine next year will be more typical but it hasn’t gone down well in most regions.
prestonpansbhoy
Not the only thing you’ve missed…
To be fair
Looks like idah might be in the team after all …..Anderlecht knocked back our offer
Deniabhoy they always has a stage close to you, never managed to time it to get over a see a couple of stages there.
Celtic Mac… nothing in the south.. just seemed strange..
Celtic Mac on 29th August 2025 6:36 pm
Ok I’ll bite, no nothing about you and not aware of any communication between us. So where does that sarcastic comment come from ?
Been on here from the beginning and don’t abuse posters, best practice…
Beyond belief, you cannot make this stuff up.!!!
We have two players who are not Celtic standard, both of whom are wanted by english clubs for reasonable money, yet Brendan says we cannot sell these two duds because we don’t have repala
cements, appalling.
I’d be inclined to play with 9 men on Sunday !!!!
Could not be worse
kingLUBO
rants
Meant to say, just watched the game back and although we were shit, the pitch did not help by being so dry and bumpy, causing many balls to feet to bounce off.
We were still shite though
kingLUBO
Welcome Marcello
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1961493835470815657?t=Z5ry1ReipNodntoBeYky5w&s=19
HH
kc vic on 29th August 2025 5:38 pm
Tontine tim, Could I double down and suggest wee Shaun is the advance party for Roberto Martinez?
*just back in but was thinking that myself
KINGLUBO
Could be that Brendan is playing the board at their own game, telling them they won’t get the millions from player sales unless they spend millions on identified replacements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxArRUnpjRw
Hamburg vs St Pauli live on Bundesliga YouTube for those interested.
Should be a good yin.
published elswhere worth a read if you have time on your hands
We have applied to the Legislature, in vain, for a remedy against the annual inundation of pauper Irish with which we are afflicted. They are landed by thousands, we may say, since the Irish famine by tens of thousands . . . We have thus to bear the expense of supporting the lives of perhaps the most improvident, intemperate and unreasonable beings that exist on the face of the earth, who infest us in shoals and beg our charity because the land of their birth either cannot or will not support them. Our hospitals are filled with them, our police are overwrought by them, our people are robbed and murdered by them. Glasgow Herald, 1st April 1850
https://the-shamrock.net/thousands-are-sailing/
St Pauli one up👍
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 28th August 2025 9:55 pm
£7m?
Better than I thought, a 20% ish loss in a year (let’s keep it simple andvnot adjust for inflation and wages).
I wonder whose decision it was to cut our loses🤔
Hint – people with big egos are rarely able to admit they’re wrong and accept a loss.
If true, it would explain a lot.
===========≈=======
Hi Blogger GM.
Re the £7m idah fee.-i think the 7m represents a small loss.
His initial fee was 9m,for a 5 year deal.
I was just wondering would his value/contract not be written down(depreciate)over that 5 years
So after 1 year his value drops to 7½m so the 7m represents a small loss.
HH
Deniabhoy
I ran the Lisbon half marathon once.
Next day we went to Estadio Nacional. Thoigh5 it would be a bit of nostalgic pish.
I co7ldnt have been more wrong.
Connection, community. Belonging, history.
Come on tae f…. celtic
We are waiting .
TonetineTim
Fantastic post
TT
Ref cam is ridiculous…
Isn’t it? They had it for a game in England last week and it was dizzying watching it.
What benefit to this bring to the game?
It’s a mad affectation for TV and it’s not even good there.