The Iheanacho – Wanyama spectrum

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I was dismissive at the prospect of signing Kelechi Iheanacho (now 29) when the move was mooted in September.  The player’s contract was terminated by Sevilla, following an unproductive six-month loan at Middlesborough.  Injury has blighted his time since, but when fit, he has shown enough to demonstrate he is clearly the best striker at the club.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (32) was a regular for Besiktas last season, spent until November alone, before training with former club Arsenal.  He has won all major English trophies this decade and has a Champions League winners’ medal from 2019, when he was an unused Liverpool sub opposite Victor Wanyama on the Tottenham bench.

Victor was a year older than Alex when the former signed for Dunfermline in 2025.  That experiment did not end well, as our former idol was a ghost of his former self.

The spectrum of outcomes between Kelechi’s clear ability and Victor’s ineffectiveness are all possible for a player who has been out of the game for a few months.  Martin O’Neill has taken scouting updates from Arsenal and has clearly heard enough to convince him to move.  Let’s hope he is well informed.

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320 Comments

  1. Trying to regain the Scottish Cup, a trophy that brings so many great memories. In a dog fight for the league, managed now by a club legend and two young dedicated coaches with strong ties to the club. Up against the MIBs who are no longer pretending to hide their prejudice, and what are we faced with – all hands to the pump from the fans, getting behind the lads?

     

     

    Er no, a boycott actually. A self-important hissy fit, goaded on by click bait bloggers who only get enough clicks when they can spread hysteria and sensationalism (like the SMSM, whose tune they dance to). But they’re all good Celtic guys of course – kerching….

  2. bournesouprecipe on

    MON told reporters today that he has added Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu into his EL line-up.

     

     

    That means Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur miss out on EL squad

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  4. No more match days behind the couch , we can now get under the bed and when the wife/ husband \partner asks what are you up to ? we can say , I think there Is a player under here …😉

     

     

    Who’ll be first to call him a chanty wrassler ?

     

     

    And yes we do have a lot to p!!h in …😜😁😁

  5. Welcome Alex. You’ll get your first sight of the best fans in the world tomorrow; well some of us at least.

  6. I have read reports regarding the green brigade ban. Can anyone tell me why the fan media ban is in place?

     

    It is just a genuine question.

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  8. For all sorts of reasons we have gone from Fortress Parkhead to Tombstone in a relatively short space of time. Tomo

     

     

    The wall of noise that had the world’s best players raving about the atmosphere has all but gone.

     

    Lenny famously said in 2010 he wanted to bring back the thunder. I wonder when we will again experience that level of passion and bedlam? When the stadium shakes with 60,000 fans on their feet roaring the team on?

     

    With the proposed boycott tomorrow, it is possible the Dundee fans will make more noise than our own.

     

     

    Here’s hoping the thunder returns before too long.

  9. Bhoystown, are you the official good/bad spotter for the creepy crawlie gang?

     

    How are you at spotting Hunterlopers or fifth columnists?

  10. Seemingly the Ox is having a nedical tomorrow morning.

     

    Normally I am against aging players from down South coming up for a last payday .

     

    However:-

     

     

    This is one signing I am genuinely excited about. If he can regain his form and stay fit then we are in for a treat.

     

    What a talent, not to mention the best stair shuffle on you tube

     

     

    HH.

  11. Really hoping we’ve not hired another Gravesen. Would have preferred a more defensive player, but he is strong and won’t take any nonsense. Might also help Engels and Bernardo develop.

  12. Wanyama what a player he was.

     

    As the blessed soul called Neil Lennon said “Victor has that African Steel about him.”

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  14. Because the club has had its wings clipped from that far away stolen land?

     

     

     

     

    celticbob on 6th February 2026 3:36 pm

     

    I have read reports regarding the green brigade ban. Can anyone tell me why the fan media ban is in place?

     

    It is just a genuine question.

  15. Why does the collective get so many media headlines. Every blog and vlog I see Celtic related are against boycotts and anti collective agenda. “They are not reading the room”

     

     

    Their approach is disgusting and disrespectful to MON and the bhoys. Utterly pathetic.

     

     

    Stay away and don’t come back

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  17. Sionnaigh on 6th February 2026 4:36 pm

     

    Happy St. Paul Miki Day! Ave Ave

     

     

     

     

    Petition:

     

     

     

     

    One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.

     

     

     

     

    https://c.org/kC24nkswRn

     

    I nearly signed that there I thought it said Sack our Board and Clarity.

  18. Heard on the grapevine that the CSA branches voted 17-12 against the boycott , with a couple of couldn’t decides.

     

     

    Takingthepulsecfc

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  20. EKBhoy on 6th February 2026 4:55 pm

     

    Heard on the grapevine that the CSA branches voted 17-12 against the boycott , with a couple of couldn’t decides.

     

     

    Takingthepulsecfc

     

     

    —–

     

     

    Good to know but no surprise, You can be a boycotter or a supporter. You can’t be both, sorry.

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  22. With home ticket scheme and decent away fan expected would it be reasonable to assume actual seat sales of around 45,000 for tomorrow. Even if only 30,000 or so turn up ?

     

     

    Or am I mistaken in that expectation ?

     

     

    It those are the likely numbers then surely it is only the Celtic team who lose out ?

  23. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Of our ageing signings from the EPL, I would think that only Robbie Keane and Craig Bellamy would be seen as successes? – and even then, we lost the league in the seasons they played.

     

     

    Players can underestimate the speed and physicality in Scotland. That said, I wish AOC all the best.

  24. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Ray Winston…

     

     

    I initially read that as St Microphallus day…

     

    Patron saint of wee pricks everywhere?

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  26. The fact that he has been training with the best team in the EPL is as good a reference as we are gonna get, so got to welcome the Ox through Parkhead’s gates. Good news too that Julian, Tomas and Joel have been added to our UEFA squad, to which with Kelechi easing back and hopefully Serracci, and with nearly two weeks prep, we could be in pretty good shape when we go against VFB Stuttgart. Certainly stronger even than we were when we beat Feyonoord and drew with Bologna away. Feeling a bit more optimistic about our chances now.