I continually need to remind myself the Japanese player development does not happen at the same pace as Europe. They all seem to go to university, then kick-on in the professional game.
Shin Yamada (25) is a case in point. The Kawasaki Frontale striker has played only 69 games and recently earned an international call up. We know how selective Japan are at giving caps to strikers, so that is some endorsement for a player with few games and significantly fewer goals to his name.
69 games is within the sweet spot Celtic have gravitated towards for over a decade now. Fewer than this, and there is not enough data to base a recommendation on. More, and if he has real potential, he will have an option in a bigger league.
As we keep reminding ourselves, we like to hear Celtic going to Japan, as it implies we are building on a recruitment strategy which has been successfully built in recent years. It does not mean Shin Yamada or Hayato Inamura will make the grade, there will be work to do, but without a coherent strategy (remember last summer), we will fail to provide for the future.
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Oldtim csc
Saint Stivs on 10th July 2025 11:52 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in25WpJJnI0
cork highlights
Glasgow bound tomorrow! Tickets landed for Newcastle game.
Big smiles in Kentucky today.
Paul67
What Larks Paul – what larks
Only met OLDTIM67 the once in McChuils. Lovely man. RIP 🙏
AIPPLE – enjoy your time back home 👌
Scouting reports suggest a quick, strong penalty box striker, good in the air despite his size. Good enough defensively without being up to the standard of Kyogo or Maeda. He sounds like a similar sort of striker to Idah, hopefully he can provide genuine competition and push him while doing the business for us himself
We’re good at helping Japanese players settle, we’ve been taking advantage of their work ethic and their professional attitude for long enough to be able to imagine he’ll make the most of his talents while he’s with us while having genuine ambition to improve.
Glen Michael RIP
Has Hugh Grant been wakened up yet?
Fifa rankings put Japan at 15th in the world..Scotland, for context is closer to 50.
Well I’ve got to say an interesting and insightful lead ruined by an unnecessary and inaccurate pop at our Manager.
“It does not mean Shin Yamada or Hayato Inamura will make the grade, there will be work to do, but without a coherent strategy (remember last summer), we will fail to provide for the future.
A few points…
Hayato Inamura looked great in Cork, debuts are notoriously bad ways to judge a players long term future with the Club but it can give a strong indication.
Kwon at Celtic Park looked like a supporter who had won a raffle prize – we suspected he can’t be that bad, of course he wasn’t, yet he is no superstar either.
The confidence, technical ability and physical attributes that are key were on show with Inamura, he looks the real deal – obviously physicality needs to improve immensely but unlike personality and technical ability that can only be tweaked, physicality can be totally changed, there was no lack of agression so all bodes well there.
So, if any have high hopes of Shin Yamada cutting as a Celtic forward that is well founded.
We stuck strictly to a recruitment “model” in 2023, which means that recruitment windoe goes into Celtic infamy with the Willo Flood and John McGinn window combined.
The “model” did not follow Celtic’s stated strategy no matter what fholk tell you.
That particular cataclysm meant 2024 recruitment was totally disrupted and had to deal with an over-bloated first team squad, lack of strength and depth in the first team group, and lack of quality and experience in the first team starters.
There are consequences for frivolous actions – cause and effect – that was what 2024 was all about.
We are seeing squad management, short term strengthening of the first team starters, medium term improvement in the first team group and long term benefits to the first team squad.
A lot to handle in one window but the great prep and planning we did in 2024*, allows us to do it now.
A totally professional and top class operation is in action.
*And it got us an out of jail card, we were good enough to win the league and compete in Europe.
Hail Hail
Millions in the bank is bound to captivate “the spoiled brats.” “self entitled” or “bed wetters”©️Paul67, it’s only natural as it’s never happened before in any given Celtic lifetime. Buy low, sell high is the development strategy metric, it’s seen off Rangers for good and Sevco umpteen times,despite every conceivable trick, and a little help from their friends.
‘The let’s not spend any money brigade’ are super happy again with Nicolas Kuhn taking the imaginary biscuit tin balance towards fantasy figures? employing a tier one manager and breaking the club transfer record last summer, leaves some ‘custodians’ with gritted teeth? You can’t win them all for every Maeda there could be a Kobayashi , and so on and so forth.
Was Hayato Inamura (or Shin Yamada) “ deep dive research “ who gets these guys, it can’t have been Ange of Japan and doesn’t seem like it was Brendan Rodgers, he was busy signing Benny Nygren for sure, but said he was “ surprised “ by how good Inamura was in training and in Cork, a remark that has to be taken in context of course, but is there another Celtic Doctor Football?
2025–26 Season (Summer 2025)
* Kieran Tierney – from Arsenal (free)
* Isaac English – from Greenock Morton (undisclosed)
* Ross Doohan – from Aberdeen (free)
* Benjamin Nygren – from Nordsjælland (undisclosed)
* Callum Osmand – from Fulham (compensation)
* Hayato Inamura – from Albirex Niigata (undisclosed)
Cheap list, out of date in a day or two, but you’d be daft to think the net spend won’t centre on the ‘sell high’ bit of the proverb, with the potential exits of Maeda, Hatate , CCV, or one or two, more. That’s the way it works at Celtic and you’ve been reading it since Arne Engels was an amoeba, could Brendan Rodgers once again be boxing with the custodians, I don’t think he is, but he will pay the going rate others have refused.
Permanent Transfers Out
* Scott Bain → Falkirk (Free transfer)
* Joey Dawson → Scunthorpe United (Free transfer)
* Matthew Anderson → KV Kortrijk (Undisclosed fee)
* Greg Taylor → PAOK (Free transfer)
* Daniel Cummings → West Ham United (Compensation)
* Gus Lagerbielke → Braga (Undisclosed fee)
* Jeff Schlupp → ( End of loan )
Loan Moves
* Maik Nawrocki → Hannover 96 (Season‑long loan)
* Jude Bonnar → Ayr Utd ( loan )
Plenty more out via the revolving door, one year bumps into another at Celtic, winning a double means nowt, whilst we wait on the next talisman they come in all shapes and sizes and can cost. Celtic have signed 6 new players, but the first team still has vacancies the colour of the money doesn’t matter, Celtic is now a football industry willing to risk CL progress
In Doctor Football we trust
Remember last summer?
Yes, the club showed some ambition for the first time in 20 years and we competed in the Champions league for the first time in 12/13 years.
We need a strategy Paul and it can’t be overpaying for players I agree, but spare us the spin on the Japanese players. Kyogo was 24 when he signed and his numbers dwarfed this ‘striker’.
We are about to go into the season with Idah, Osmand and Yamada as our strikers. We are in danger of not having the best strikeforce in the league for the first time in many a year. That’s a bizarre strategy.
This from a supposed Celtic site on Newsnow:
“Celtic fans won’t be encouraged by Shin Yamada’s worrying interview”
What he actually said (allowing for translation) was that he was disappointed he hadn’t met the high standards he sets for himself .
Seems to me that is more encouraging than discouraging . Some of these so called Celtic sites really do spout the most anti -celtic pish .
It’s tiresome rubbish this, isn’t it? Digs at the manager over and over again whilst defending that disaster of a window in 2023 as some kind of model to aspire to. Last summer, by the way, was dreadful as well but not for the reasons our host seems to think. Deals done too late in the day, one massive case of overpaying for a player because we dragged our feet and then Kyogo got injured … he never does point the finger where it belongs. We could have had Idah for £6 million had we negotiated in good faith with Norwich when the window opened but we waited until Kyogo took a hit and the manager was positively fuming, at which point they stuck a couple of million on the asking price. A calamity, and completely the fault of the geniuses who get so much praise on here.
glendalystonsils:
With you all the way on that. I thought that headline was atrocious.
A geographic location is not a strategy in itself; signing smart, well-disciplined and dedicated athletes with room to grow, develop and sell-on is.
Our new Japanese striking target is – apparently – two inches taller than Kyogo, at a lofty 5′ 9″.
FullFrontaleAttack CSC
JAMES Forrest
Another one for the ‘hide publication’ button .
I certainly remember 2 summers ago , I’m still trying to get over it as are Celtic
Chairbhoy on 10th July 2025 12:28 pm
Well I’ve got to say an interesting and insightful lead ruined by an unnecessary and inaccurate pop at our Manager.
“It does not mean Shin Yamada or Hayato Inamura will make the grade, there will be work to do, but without a coherent strategy (remember last summer), we will fail to provide for the future.
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This can be a fantastic site if we avoid the trolls etc. Why then does Paul67 leave a bad taste with his constant jibes at the manager. Initially, I didn’t want Brendan back, but I think he has more than done his penance. It is hard to contribute and support Paul67 when it feels like you are then helping to undermine the manager. These are the best of times for Celtic, and people should be careful what they wish for. Rant over.
Brendan must have been very rude to P67 and B78.
I continually need to remind myself the Japanese player development does not happen at the same pace as Europe. They all seem to go to university, then kick-on in the professional game.
—————————-
they go to the univesity football programme by design from the JFA.
all part of the 100 year plan.
I read this when catching up and thought it appropriate to repost it. Thanks, Celtic Mac, and condolences to the family.
—————–
Celtic Mac on 9th July 2025 10:20 pm
Sad day for CQN today with the passing of Old Tim 67. And indeed for his wider family of which I am a part.
Davie was my dad’s younger brother. His family also included brothers, Angus, Peter, Ian, Jim, Billy and Ray and younger sister Morag. Ian, Ray and Morag survive him, in Scotland, Canada and Australia respectively. All brought into this world by a wonderful woman Mary MacAteer,who though Scottish born and bred, had, like many Scots of Irish descent origins in Donegal. Collectively a family made up of Macdonalds, Campbells, Morrisons, Andersons, MacAteers and many many more, linking Scotland to Ireland and beyond and all, despite no real Glasgow connection, to Celtic Football Club going back through generations.
For Davie, who had sailed around the oceans while in the merchant navy as a younger man, CQN was in many respects his last port of call, a platform created by Paul Brennan, which enabled him to meet many new friends and many more shared experiences in the latter part of his life, friends such as Blantyre Tim, Lennybhoy, and An Tearmann and so many more, all cherished and loved. A man impossible to dislike and comfortable in any company has sadly left us, with a funeral mass and burial alongside his beloved mother Mary to follow.
Here’s to Davie Morrison…..Here’s to Old Tim!
“without a coherent strategy (remember last summer)”
——————
Well you obviously don’t:
“I was worried that Brendan would veer off plan and concentrate players in their mid-20s – a short-term gain with long-term pain. When Sinisalo arrived, we knew the plan was still in place.”
(31 August 2024)
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/tier-one-window-from-celtic/
jAPANS WAY
long read, but well worth it to understand the mentality for developing Japanese players.
https://www.jfa.jp/japansway/japan'sway_en_221219.pdf
Some won’t be happy until Lawwell is in the Big Chair again (although that doesn’t seem to matter), and a compliant puppet like Lennon is in the dugout
Not only are Japanese players late developers, some play to a ripe old age too.
One of my fitba heroes – King Kazu – is still playing on a pro-contract at 58 !!
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/06/16/soccer/kazuyoshi-miura-season-40/
Legend!
Scullybhoy @ 12:47 pm,
Totally agree…
Unlike you, I welcomed Brendan back, others find it difficult to forgive him.
Most, like yourself find the middle way – holding him to account but acceptance when he has proven himself.
Although I can accept those who don’t forgive and would be quite content with a different manager – my issue is with those with an obvious vendetta.
This of course tends to come with a cult of personality, there is no meritocracy, just people who need talked up consistently and those who need criticised constantly.
The ethos of Glasgow Celtic like Belfast Celtic is far too important and necessary to be highjacked by corporate politics.
You’d think some would know better.
Hail Hail
JAMES FORREST
When Celtic took Adam Idah on loan in January 2024 they requested a buy option at the end of the loan period. Norwich point blank refused and said their was not for sale.
At the start of the 2024 summer window, Celtic approached Norwich with a view to a permanent transfer. Once again the not for sale signs went up.
It became clear that Norwich were playing the long game and hoping for an auction towards the end of the window.
During this time I recall the usual suspects in Celtic cyberspace, ably led by your good self, slaughtering the club for (a) Not securing a loan-to-buy option for Idah, as if it’s entirely Celtic’s decision and bugger all to do with Norwich and (b) Not signing Idah on a permant deal at the beginning of the window and throughout, again imagining that Norwich had no say in the matter.
Now today you criticise the club for allegedly paying over the odds for Idah because they left it to the last minute.
Yes, transfers are so much more exciting for all 3 parties when you leave it to the eleventh hour, aren’t they James.
We lost a cup final some weeks back because in part, our squad lacked depth. Our subs brought us down to Aberdeen’s level.
If Yang, Kenny, McCowan are joined on the bench by Inamura and Yamada then I’m not sure we’d have progressed far this summer – particularly with the loss of Kuhn.
It’s still early days so the serious money may yet be spent.
Bada
Don’t forget Stracchi as DOF…..
The Celtic Underground – Huddlebreakdown Collab (Pt1)
Paying over the odds for Adam and Arne, is now Desmonds fault according to the Huddleboard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpnk87LSNUY
Chairbhoy on 10th July 2025 1:06 pm
Scullybhoy @ 12:47 pm,
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HH
https://share.google/Q5c4AAEuMMRUnZwWH
Apologies for the Daily Mail link…
Whatever happened to The Strachan Report?
Celtic verse Belfast Celtic
Partick Thistle are the latest SPFL club to be granted an alcohol license for their upcoming Premier Sports Cup matches
Three designated areas within Firhill will offer beer, lager and wine for purchase before kick-off
FAIRHILL BHOY
Cheers good sir. Friendly or not I am excited for the Newcastle game. Taking my yank boss and my dad will be with me. Can’t remember the last time I was at a game with my dad. Maybe 2003.
According to some. No concern regarding our readiness for the crucial CL qualifiers .
Loads of time and plenty of games ; how dare you voice any concern.