Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic non-executive Chairman Peter Lawwell in the stands before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Three days before the start of the SPFL Premiership the state of the Celtic squad has been laid bare in one graphic.
Celtic finished last season with a forward line of Yang Hyun-jun, Johnny Kenny and an utterly exhausted Daizen Maeda ahead of losing to Aberdeen on penalties in the Scottish Cup Final.
A week ago, following sluggish transfer business and after losing 5-1 to Ajax Brendan Rodgers questioned the ambitions of the club.
Bringing in a teenager on loan from Manchester City with 95 minutes of EPL football across two appearances is a fairly clear answer from Michael Nicholson that he wants to build the Balance Sheet rather than the first team squad.
The problem is you don’t WANT to spend your whole summer moaning about Celtic but when this is how the squad kicks off the season. It’s very difficult to mould that into a positive.
It would be insincere and quite patronising to act like this is absolutely fine. pic.twitter.com/vVA6HMqAzB
— 20 Minute Tims (@20MinuteTims) July 30, 2025
A physical, defensive midfielder would be a welcome boost but that area of the park does have six first team ready options.
In goals there seems to be strong option but the same can’t be said in attack, starting the season Daizen Maeda is the only option on the left wing- with a strong argument that his best position is through the centre.
Right-wing isn’t much better with James Forrest a useful and reliable impact sub that is favourite to start the season.
Transfer deals for Marco Tilio and Yang are on hold, unfortunately Michael Nicholson isn’t as prolific at signing players as he is at selling them.
Are you happy with Celtic's transfer activity
Absolutely- fantastic business
I will judge on September 1
Horrific- feels like 2023 again
This Celtic board has no vision beyond the SPL title
Same old story year after year .
Fans deserve better .
A penny pinching bunch .
I would be inclined to say no vision and leave it at that, the only vision they have is fixed on the bank balance.
I think back over 20 years ago Martin was the manager, he spent 6 million on Sutton nearly 6 on Neil Lennon nearly 5 million on big Joos and 6 on Hartson. What would that be in today’s money, Brendan keeps saying that we need quality you don’t get quality at 1-2 million. It’s a fact that the Celtic board just want to qualify for the Champions League every year for the money, but the fans want the team to compete like they did under Martin Oneill over 20 years ago come on Celtic board open that biscuit tin
We can simply never compete in that absurdly rigged tournament and nowadays that’s the case more than ever…
The prize money is handy though to stay ahead of Sevco !
Don’t lecture me about
“Spitting The Dummy”,
Joe, when it is you who deleted my comments!
The foul language used by other contributors on your site makes it hard to stomach. I don’t see the need to express yourself in that crude way.
When I am verbally abused by others I tend to defend myself. You’ll find that is quite in order! I replied in kind, to TicToc, etc.
But you seem to be anti Board in essence.
They all seem to complain, complain about this season – and it hasn’t even stated yet.
So, I have had enough!
It’s not for me!
In case there’s any doubt…I detest our Board and can’t wait for them to be replaced…
However I have to ask two questions regarding our squad…and transfers…and would be grateful to be put right on both.
First up…Doesn’t our CL squad require ” home-grown ” players to be included ?…Or we have to sacrifice “first team ” players if we don’t use them ?
And doesn’t the “wage bill ” have a relevance to turn-over ?…Which would mean having to shift players out …before getting new ones in ?
Genuinely be interested to know if these have any bearing on squad situation.
Think we can rattle on about the board all we want.
Everyone of us knows full well who pulls the strings at Celtic.
He stepped in to bring BR the first time and stepped in to bring him back.
His word is God it seems.
So, to think DD isn’t fully aware of what’s going on regarding financing of players is simply ridiculous.
Why go to all that trouble to bring in the best…twice!, to sit back and watch your accountant hamstring him on the pitch, where it all counts, the very place where the bank balance is increased.
By his silence he condones the situation, its as simple as that.
He is as responsible as anyone on the board.
Editor: Beyond ensuring that the club is solvent I think DD is more interested in the green conditions at this afternoon’s golf course than the manager having no replacement for Kyogo and Kuhn on the eve of the new season.
I class DD as ” one of the Board “…He’s defo as culpable as the rest…if not more so….No argument there.
DD is the organ grinder, Liewell and Silent Mike his compliant monkeys