Ah, the transfer window. That biannual circus of speculation, hope, and inevitable disappointment. For Celtic fans, this summer’s window was a rollercoaster ride that left many of us clutching our scarves and wondering, “What on Earth just happened?”

Let’s start with the Ange Postecoglou hangover. The man led us to a treble, for heaven’s sake. His philosophy was clear, his vision was grand, and the synergy between him and the scouting team was like Lennon and McCartney in their heyday. Then he left, and we were all nursing a bit of a hangover, weren’t we?

Enter Brendan Rodgers, stage right. The man barely had time to find the coffee machine before players were being ushered through the door. Players who, let’s be honest, seemed to have been scouted with Ange’s playbook in mind. It’s like buying a tuxedo for a beach party—sure, it’s nice, but is it what we need?

And then there was Jota. The Portuguese star was one of the most loved players in the squad by fans, a winger who could actually beat a man. Then, out of nowhere, he’s gone. Sold to the highest bidder with nary a whisper of a replacement until a week before the window closed. It’s like selling your car and realising you forgot to buy a new one. Thankfully, Celtic found their man in Luis Palma, who is now tasked with being one of Celtic’s biggest creative forces.

We were working under two assumptions this summer: Brendan would have a war chest, and he was here to make a mark in Europe. Well, if the transfer window is any indication the mark will be about as impactful as a feather on a trampoline. Money has been spent, but let’s be clear, there’s money in the bank, something that will be highlighted if Celtic finds themselves with any results like the prior two weeks.

We needed a left-back and a goalkeeper to challenge Joe Hart. Don’t get me wrong, Joe has been a stalwart for us, but let’s face it, his best days of making game-winning saves in Europe are as behind him as my dreams of a six-pack.

Greg Taylor hasn’t started the campaign too well, but in fairness, not many players can lay claim to doing so. Bringing in a left-back, especially for Europe would have been incredibly wise.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Tying up Kyogo, Cal Mac, Maeda, and Abada is good business. It provides a semblance of stability and continuity, something which was incredibly important.

Celtic did well to get in defensive reinforcements this summer. That part of the pitch where games are not necessarily won but can be catastrophically lost. Even after Starfelt left the building, it wasn’t too long before Lagerbielke was holding a Celtic shirt aloft. Nawrocki was brought in with fans buzzing for him to begin a partnership with CCV with Lagerbielke as the understudy. Just when you thought things were on the up, the football gods decided to throw us another curveball. Nawrocki and CCV, our centre-back hopes, are down with long-term injuries. A shaky defence in the SPFL is one thing, but in Europe? That’s like bringing a Poundland water pistol to a gunfight.

It’s a trying time for Celtic and for Brendan, who must be wondering what he’s signed up for. Again, Celtic responded by bringing Nat Phillips in this week from Liverpool. The Englishman and Lagerbielke’s partnership will be forged in fire over the coming two months. Can they stand the heat?

So, where does this leave us? In a dogfight for the SPFL and with a Champions League campaign that looks about as promising as a Scottish summer. We can’t judge this window yet; time will tell if we’ve unearthed a few gems or just a bag of costume jewellery.

So, as the dust settles on this summer’s transfer window, can we definitively say it was good or bad? Not really. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded; you know there’s a solution somewhere, but good luck finding it. What we can say is that we’re left with more questions than answers.

Can Brendan adapt Ange’s recruits to his style? Will Joe Hart prove us all wrong? And most importantly, are we geared up for a European campaign, or are we just tilting at windmills?

In essence, this transfer window has left us in a state of limbo, teetering between hope and apprehension. It’s a narrative still in the making, a story yet to be told. But for now, we sit, scarves in hand, with bated breath and crossed fingers.

Next stop, Ibrox…