Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has questioned the impact that not signing a new striker in the recent transfer window has had on the attitude in the Celtic squad.
Three league defeats since the transfer window have followed and, it’s become clear that while Daizen Maeda has stepped up in Kyogo’s absence, Celtic are a striker short. With Brendan Rodgers desperate for another forward, it’s contributed to the team not being as strong domestically in recent weeks.
Celtic face Kilmarnock at Celtic Park tomorrow, potentially just two wins away from the league title – or one win and a Rangers defeat on Sunday against Aberdeen. But despite being so close to the title, they’ve in some ways stumbled over the line since the turn of the year.
Sutton said: (RecordSport), “I said it at the time and it’s even more clear now. The decision to sell Kyogo in January and failure to recruit a replacement just smacked of complacency.
“The message was that they wanted another striker but, ah well, it wasn’t to be. They assumed the Premiership was done and dusted and they could get by with what they had.
“They might be proved right in the end but it’s no wonder that attitude has seeped in to the dressing room.
“It’s certainly not a message that comes from the manager though and Brendan Rodgers didn’t mince his words at the weekend after the woeful defeat to St Johnstone.
“He admitted he wanted a striker in January – and he definitely doesn’t want anyone in his squad to be coasting. That goes for the board too.
But that is how it looks right now. There’s no other way to square up three defeats in six league games and four since the turn of the year.”
Celtic didn’t strengthen the squad in January – a window that’s often tricky for bringing in quality – but if you’re going to sell a player of Kyogo’s quality, you at the very least have to bring in another striker to try and fill his boots.
Making do with what you have rarely works, as Sunday’s defeat to St Johnstone showed. Daizen Maeda can’t be expected to win every game for Celtic, and like any footballer, he’ll have the occasional off day.
Adam Idah doesn’t look like the same player we saw last season, when he consistently popped up with big goals to win games. This time around, he looks short on confidence, snatching at opportunities and feeling the pressure of a £9 million price tag.
Rodgers will likely look to sign a new striker in the summer, but in some ways, it’s too late — and that’s not the Irishman’s fault. He doesn’t control the transfer market or the Celtic hierarchy.
