FOR EIGHTEEN DAYS in August last year, Adam Idah was Celtic’s most expensive purchase at £9.5million from Norwich City.
The cash splash on the Republic of Ireland international striker, who had scored nine goals – including the Scottish Cup winner – during his short-term loan period, just eclipsed the £9million paid to Paris Saint-Germain for Odsonne Edouard six years earlier.
However, Idah’s reign at the top of the Hoops’ Rich List was short-lived when Arne Engels arrived from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg in an £11million four-year contract less than three weeks later.
That sort of transfer outlay for two new players would hardly raise an eyebrow in other countries, but it’s an entirely different ballgame in Scotland.
The nonsensical £12million lavished by Murray and Co on Chelsea’s Tore Andre Flo is still the country’s highest fee – and that utterly crazy deal was conducted A QUARTER-OF-A-CENTURY ago!
CORNER BHOYS…over £20million of Celtic talent, Adam Idah and Arne Engels, discuss a set play during the holders’ 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Hibs at Parkhead last month.
That sort of out-of-control spending in the midst of some outrageous and illegal financial jiggery-pokery would always catch up with a club that had lost the plot. And, of course, it did.
But that’s another story for another day.
The spotlight has been on Idah and Engels and some of the comments about the two arrivals have simply bordered on the ludicrous with impatient observers demanding an instant return on the club’s considerable financial outlay.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite work that way in the beautiful game.
Idah is 24 years old and Engels had to wait another nine days after his big-money recruitment before he celebrated his 21st birthday.
Irrational onlookers have already branded the Celtic duo a waste of money. That’s actually too preposterous to even bother discussing.
What I would say, though, is that Celtic are highly unlikely to recoup the £9.5million spent on Idah while I reckon, taking natural progression into play, they will certainly get their money back plus on Engels.
Okay, the Cork-born frontman is not tearing up the record books with his goal return.
EURO STAR…Adam Idah celebrates one of his double in the Champions League encounter against Aston Villa in the Midlands in January.
He netted his first of the campaign in the 5-1 Champions League romp against Slovan Bratislava at Parkhead on September 18. Another 13 strikes have followed in a total of 46 appearances, a goal tally that hasn’t blown away his critics.
Recently, I noted some words from a pundit that Idah would have to leave Celtic in the summer to get regular game-time. That’s as comical as it is absurd.
Former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend has chipped in with his thoughts that go along the lines of the powerhouse attacker “needing an edge” to maximise his potential.
The 70 times-capped one-time midfielder adds that precious commodity has to come from within while also reckoning “there’s more to come from him.”
Townsend probably has something there with his observations. Just look at Idah’s two goals against Aston Villa in January. Two strikes combining vastly different qualities that gave everyone a glimpse of what the player can produce.
The first was a breathtaking acrobatic effort as he displayed contortionist skills to hook a left-wing cross from Greg Taylor past a startled Emiliano Martinez.
Only moments later, he powered his way into the penalty-box to whip in a low drive following a right-wing cross from Reo Hatate.
The second goal levelled the match at 2-2 at the interval, but, alas, the strikes didn’t count for anything after the hosts were allowed to score two more to make it 4-2 at full-time.
But, in two illuminating flashpoints, we saw what Idah can contribute.
THE SIGNS ARE GOOD…Adam Idah celebrates in front of the Celtic fans.
On Sunday, after coming on for Daizen Maeda in the 61st minute with the champions heading for an embarrassing defeat at St Johnstone and in dire need of a lifeline, the hitman took a pass in his stride, swivelled to make space and then lashed his shot waywardly into the side net.
It wasn’t easy to accept this was the same player who had thumped in high-pedigree double against Villa just over two months earlier.
Brendan Rodgers saw enough of Idah to introduce him to Parkhead in January last year and he endorsed his belief in the player when he sanctioned a £9.5million transfer in the summer.
Idah has started only 21 games of his 46 appearances and he can go a long way from removing the enigma label if he finishes the season strongly.
Will the real Adam Idah please stand up?
ALEX GORDON
