There are many things that sum up Celtic’s horrific summer transfer window with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s loan move just another example.
With Dane Murray impressing in pre-season friendlies there was absolutely no need to bring in a fifth choice central defender.
Only Michael Nicholson will know the reason why the deal went through. There is a very good chance that Simpson-Pusey will leave Celtic without playing a minute of first team football. Just like Kwon Hyeok-kyu.
Clearly the defender is a club signing, not sanctioned, not needed by Brendan Rodgers.
Nicholson decided not to bother signing a striker or a right winger. His manager decided not to play Simpson-Pusey, one of four summer signings not in Celtic’s Europa League squad.
Other than being an unused substitute away to Kairat Almaty the Manchester City loan defender hasn’t even troubled the Celtic team sheet.
Friday night at New Bayview was unlikely to have been mentioned in the transfer discussions to bring the defender to Celtic.
The SPFL Challenge Cup against Dick Campbell’s part-timers is a long way from facing Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
THE GRAND DESCENT
November 5, 2024, Simpson-Pusey started for Manchester City in the Portuguese capital, three weeks later he came on for the last 20 minutes at home to Feyenoord.
His last top first team appearance for Manchester City was on January 11 at home to Salford in the FA Cup.
On Friday he was up against Michael McKenna on the plastic pitch in Methil.
Other than goalkeeper Aiden Rice it looks like none of the Celtic players earned pass marks.
It might have been a weak midfield or something else but East Fife cut through Celtic with ease.
Faced with those defensive one-to-ones Simpson-Pusey toiled alongside his team-mates. Nine months on from his last meaningful match.
THE GOAL FEAST
It is no exaggeration to say that East Fife could have scored 10 goals. At the start of the second half it looked like a training session for the home side.
Three goals in a purple spell turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. But for Rice it could have been more.
The report going back to the Etihad Academy won’t be encouraging, it would be a shock in Simpson-Pusey isn’t recalled on January 1. Possibly earlier with a different loan set up for January 1.
THE SWISS FORMAT
After beating Clyde and Kelty Hearts it looks like Celtic will progress to the knock-out stage of the Challenge Cup, they finish up with an away match at East Kilbride on November 11.
The 10 Premiership clubs are filling the 11 bottom place in the table with the competition using the Swiss format now favoured by UEFA. With six points from five matches Celtic are the highest placed Premiership team.
From transfer policy to youth development Nicholson sets world class standards at Celtic. It is unlikely that the £1m-a-year CEO spent his Friday night in Methil
