Kyogo shaped hole in the squad

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The script was written for Jota to come off the bench on his return after 18 months and score in a Celtic win.  His last kick of the ball for Celtic before departing was to put us 3-1 ahead of Inverness Caley Thistle in the Scottish Cup Final.

Adam Idah seems to have flicked a switch, returning to form from last term, while Daizen Maeda sparkled throughout, including when he played through the middle.

None of that moves the dial, however. If Celtic do not sign a striker today they are undeniably taking a risk with the second half of the season. There remains a Kyogo shaped hole in the squad. Over to you, Brendan, Michael.

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340 Comments

  1. Big Jimmy

     

     

    We can add 3 players to the euro squad for Bayern Munich game replacing 3 players who were initially registered

  2. garygillespieshamstring on

    BigJimmy

     

     

    I think we are allowed a limited number of changes to the squad (possibly 3?), so yes but limited,

     

     

    Although it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been wrong in these things. :)

     

     

    Also need to keep within the rules for the number of academy and nationality rules.

     

     

    So Jota for Palma would be ok, Johnny Kenny (or another striker) for kyogo and possibly a left back to replace Valle.

  3. Wouldn’t mind loaning out / selling Yang and bringing in someone for the rest of the season (loan?).

     

     

    Need back up for the wings if Maeda plays CF and JF injured. Kuhn, Jota, Maeda and project (not Yang).

     

     

    Also solve the Nawrocki conundrum.

  4. “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

     

    Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.

     

    Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

     

    Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.”

     

     

     

    Think those guys knew about transfer deadline day?

  5. GGHS 1.23pm

     

     

    100% …

     

     

    I doubted myself after I posted that :-)

     

     

    It’s certainly not “great minds think alike”

  6. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Thought we were superb yesterday. Hatate was brilliant, as was McCowan with his lovely passes through packed defences. Daizen was magnificent as was Engels after he came on. Idah also excellent and Taylor too. Jota – what can you say?

     

     

    Would rather we brought no-one in rather than fillers. Lennon Miller would be good business.

  7. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    Realistically we have only the Scottish Cup to play for.

     

     

    If the right player is not available we should go with just Idah and Maeda for a few months rather than blow millions on someone to fill a jersey.

  8. I’m surprised shops don’t sell ‘Happy Deadline Day’ cards.

     

     

    With ‘Hope your team buys somebody good’ on the inside.

  9. Paul focusing on the need to replace Kyogo but the most pressing bit of business is surely a LB? Letting Valle leave without having an agreement in place with Arsenal for KT to return in January was a mistake. At this moment, it is the only position in the team where we have no replacement available. Ralston and Scales have been used there out of desperation but it shouldn’t come to that, at least I hope not.

  10. The returnof weeron on

    PeterLatchfordsBelly on 3rd February 2025 1:33 pm

     

     

    I’m not far behind you. No sense in wasting money for the sake of it.

     

     

    Mind you, the Brendan haters would have a field day. A treble and much improved European run won’t be enough to calm them down.

     

     

    Best team in years, best manager in years, but they continue to dig, dig, dig.

     

     

    Cheers,

     

    Weeron

  11. Deniabhoy

     

     

    Agree that LB would be my priority.

     

     

    That said we are still not sure how quickly Jota will be fit enough for a proper challenge. Brendan said as much yesterday.

     

     

    The last 20 mins v a tiring Mwell is a far cry from a full game in Munich. For me relying on Yang as a sub if Maeda is now back up CF is a bit of a stretch. ESP a concern if James F is not back anytime soon.

  12. DeniaBhoy on 3rd February 2025 1:51 pm

     

    “Paul focusing on the need to replace Kyogo but the most pressing bit of business is surely a LB? Letting Valle leave without having an agreement in place with Arsenal for KT to return in January was a mistake.”

     

     

    I said I though LB was also more important but cannot agree that we’ve made a mistake.

     

     

    We may have had no option to “let” Valle leave – most loan agreements have this clause. Even if they do not, if the loaning club requests and you refuse then you can likely kiss goodbye to any future loans / good grace from that club.

     

     

    I think Scales is not used in desperation either – he is used to manage GTs minutes, to add height to defensive in tight games and to keep him fresh if needed. He is no GT in the inverted midfield part of the role in particular but he is more than adequate cover at domestic level for me.

  13. Burnley,

     

    Did Jota look yesterday,that it would take him long to get up to the mark?.Some players need longer.Jota does not strike me as one.A half on Wednesday,70 mins against Raith,start against Bayern if he thinks he is good to go.No point in ,if onlys.KT would be in the team.

     

    On the subject of KT.Arsenal did have 4 LBs in their squad on Sunday.4 !!!!!.What’s that all about?.Zinchenko still there.Why the need,all of a sudden to keep KT.

  14. lets all do the huddle on

    some monday hilarity from the evening times who have a headline about a ‘Rangers legend’ being spotted in a city centre boozer at the weekend.

     

     

    so who was this ‘legend’ they speak of?

     

     

    Brian Laudrup?

     

     

    Derek Johnston?

     

     

    Peter McCloy?

     

     

    nope, it was Marvin Andrews 😄

     

     

    how i laughed…

  15. boondock saint on

    Good morning everyone from a warm Alabama, where the only ICE you will find in our state is the kind that is rounding up people and deporting them, politics in Merica. Thought we played very well yesterday. Thought John Beaton had a phenomenal game on VAR. His crayons for the Own goal was magnificent. The way he could see with his naked Masonic eye that Idah was offside by a fingernail is amazing. The push on CCV was as blatant as the trip on Arne when he grabbed the ball. That ref yesterday is one for the future. Maeda’s header was magnificent. He hung up in the hair like tripitaka the monk from my favorite show “Monkey” as a kid, floating on a cloud back in mystical times. The movement for the second goal was outstanding. The timing and weight of the pass from Cool Hand Luke was perfection. It was just written in the stars for Jota to come on and do what he did. Loved his emotions. GIRFUY Boyd and McGeady. I guess men are supposed to lock all thems feelings up.

     

    If we don’t get anyone else in then I trust our coaches and managers and players to continue this amazing season.

     

    Hail Hail my friends.

     

    Sean

  16. Left back has to be the priority if we want any chance against Bayern. I can’t believe Celtic money scrambling around at this very late hour. Stinks!

  17. Guys,

     

     

    We have a league to win. No complacency

     

     

    We have a Scottish Cup to win. If we cannot start fringe players with a powerful bench, then when? ( If Arsenal can play 17 and 18 year olds for a crucial must win game against a great manager and mega bucks team , then why not us ? )

     

     

    We also have two mouth watering high profile CL league games to compete in. Games that can really raise our profile, our reputation and domestic league credentials.

     

     

    All to play for.

     

     

    HH.

  18. There’s not a football manager on the planet responsible for scouting, negotiating and signing off on transfer fees and wages.

     

     

    We know for a fact that our previous gaffer publicly called out the Club for failure to act swiftly in the transfer market.

     

     

    Little seems to have changed, sadly.

  19. The Bhoys were good yesterday.

     

     

    Building a team that can compete in Europe is incredibly tough for any club playing outside Europe’s top leagues. Everyone knows why. Brendan is making progress piecing the team together as the improvement in this years CL performances show. His teams have always played with width and I’m excited about having AJ and Kuhn down the right, and KT and Jota down the left. Idah will get amazing service into the box. I think we do need another poacher type striker to give us options depending on the opposition. Kyogo was that type of player, but it was good business to let him go. He has not been as productive in recent months and seemed to have lost some of his spark.

     

     

    It will be interesting to see what he does with Maeda – you can’t fault the wee mans commitment but I think he’ll end up as back up to our front 2 wingers. Still think we need more strength in midfield. I hope Engels is able to step up but he needs to improve. It could be that we need to wait until his second season to see what he really brings to the team. That just leaves a partner for CCV. Trusty and Scales are both very capable players but too often get exposed at European level.

     

     

    These holes take time to fill. In the meantime we are experiencing the best of times being Celtic supporters. What’s not to like

  20. I don’t think Brendan will accept numbers in today. He wants players he can use. He’ll go without rather than get players he thinks won’t contribute.

  21. That Kyogo shaped hole was known about months ago. And here we are – 3 pm on transfer deadline day…

  22. !!Bada Bing!! on 3rd February 2025 12:49 pm

     

    Maybe it’s just me,if Idah is walking about in a huff,as we are looking at bringing in another striker, he can GTF,can’t even smile when he scores or the team scores

     

     

    —————-

     

     

    HE GAVE A GREAT INTERVIEW, IN WHICH HE SAID HE NEEDS TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON IMPROVEMENT IN FRONT OF GOAL AND PLAYING UP FRONT MORE,##

     

     

    THATS IT, BHOY IS HAPPY.

  23. Brendan is going on and on about improving the squad, so we can carry on improving in Europe. To do that we require players who cost a bit more than our £10 million level I think. After all, you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

     

    Just so long as we beat the Ibrox scum, that’s ok..Hmmmm !

     

     

    Bada from earlier, spot on my friend

     

    Celtic. AMBITION please

     

     

    KINGLuBO

     

    Danny Ings ffs

  24. No one saying Jota should play in Munich.We have one shot at this,Celtic Park.No result there forget it.If we do 4-5-1 in Munich.And pray.

  25. SS- Ta, he just looked like he wasn’t enjoying the big moments, he showed some good touches yesterday

  26. Time is ticking on , not too bothered about a striker at present. Idah if keeps fit will score goals , the way our midfield is setting chances up I would score and I’m 74 . My only concern there though is we don’t have a hardy player in midfield ,against the rangers2 we could certainly do with a ball winner . We do have more than our share of timid ghuys .

     

     

     

    Wee question . Can you put on a bet for a penalty against celtic , just seen Harry Kane playes with Byern .

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