As the Scottish Premiership edges towards a dramatic conclusion, veteran pundit Hugh Keevins has pointed the finger at Celtic’s recruitment strategy as the potential downfall in their quest for the title. With just five games remaining and a slender three-point lead over arch-rivals Rangers, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Hoops.
According to Keevins, a long-time contributor to the Super Scoreboard (SSB), the series of high-cost, underperforming acquisitions has left Celtic vulnerable at a critical juncture of the season. Defensive issues have been a glaring problem, with the team managing to secure just two clean sheets in their last ten matches, undermining their otherwise dominant campaign.
Key signings such as Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki, who arrived amid much fanfare and substantial financial investment, have failed to secure regular spots in the starting lineup, raising questions about the effectiveness of Celtic’s scouting and transfer strategy. Similarly, along with Nat Phillips, a last-minute loan addition following an injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers, have not married well with the team’s dynamics.
Phillips, in particular, has been a point of contention. Brought in to shore up the backline, his tenure lasted only five months, further highlighting the missteps in Celtic’s defensive arrangements. These blunders, Keevins argues, reflect a deeper malaise within the club’s approach to recruitment, suggesting a lack of coherent long-term planning.
Keevins wrote in his RecordSport column: “They don’t look like one with an implicit belief in their qualifications for deserving to take the ultimate prize. Brendan Rodgers is the victim of a potentially ruinous recruitment policy that brought in a series of multi-million pound signings like Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki and Yuki Kobayashi, along with a spectacularly ill-fitting loanee in Nat Phillips.
“The latter has gone back to Liverpool. The Japanese has vanished without trace. And the two who cost over £7million can’t be trusted, under any circumstances, to start matches.”
As Celtic prepares to face Dundee on Sunday, the outcome of this match could be pivotal. Victory in all their remaining games would guarantee the championship title, yet Keevins remains skeptical, hinting at a tumultuous end to what could have been a smooth sail to victory.
This situation places Celtic’s recruitment under scrutiny as they ponder over where to go next. The question remains: Can Celtic recalibrate and strengthen their squad effectively, or will the recent past’s flawed decisions continue to haunt them going forward?
