FootyChatter.com

Celtic's business in this transfer window "reeks of incompetence". It's an "absolute embarrassment". Fans are "no longer surprised, just disappointed". The Scottish Premiership champions' board are "actively managing a decline", and the failure to significantly enhance the squad "feels like self sabotage". The Glasgow outfit have "proven again they are not a serious football club" and manager Brendan Rodgers "would be justified in leaving this time". To say that Celtic fans are unhappy with how the summer has gone doesn't even come close to capturing the anger swirling around the east end of the city right now. The fans are revolting against the board for not investing. The manager has aimed a barb or two towards his bosses for the same thing. And with Rodgers' deal up and the end of the season, those fissures look like leading to only one outcome. On the pitch, an expensive and mortifying Champions League exit and meek Old Firm performance ramped up the rage even more. Another underwhelming deadline day was the final insult for many fans. But how have Celtic reached this stage? And what might happen next? The flurry of signings Rodgers and the Celtic fans craved on deadline day failed to materialise. Just one player - Tunisia winger Sebastian Tounekti - arrived, while Adam Idah was allowed to join Swansea despite Rodgers' insistence a few days prior that the striker was going nowhere unless a replacement had been secured. With Kyogo Furuhashi not adequately replaced following his exit in January, Celtic already needed one striker. Now they are two short. The mooted arrival of former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who is now a free agent after his Sevilla contract was cancelled, will do little to quell fan anger. Celtic had hoped to complete a deal for Anderlecht's £8m striker Kasper Dolberg, only to miss out on the Dane, who is seemingly bound for a return to Ajax. That left the Scottish champions frantically scrambling in the final hours of the window. Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana reportedly snubbed them in favour of English League One Charlton, only for that move to ultimately fall through. Strasbourg's Sekou Mara was another forward linked, but no dice there either. So when the dust settled on Celtic's summer business and the window closed, it was quite the anti-climax for a disaffected support. 'Dogged Rangers and powder-puff Celtic serve up derby to forget' Tounekti will make 'big difference' for Celtic Latest Celtic news, analysis and fan views This video can not be played 'Rodgers needs a wide player & striker - no doubt' Celtic have brought in 11 signings this window, but only four look like they could be starters in Rodgers' strongest XI. Kieran Tierney will play when fit, while Tounekti, Benjamin Nygren and Michel-Ange Balikwisha all seem to have been recruited with a view to becoming fixtures. The rest are young loanees, project players, or bench fillers. Given 11 first-team squad members - and further 12 youngesters - have left this summer, it could be argued that it balances out. But can Tounekti, Nygren or Balikwisha replace Nicolas Kuhn and the long-term injured Jota? Are Tierney and loanee Marcelo Saracchi an upgrade on Greg Taylor and Jeffrey Schlupp at left-back? And who replaces Idah and Kyogo? In attack, Rodgers is left with raw summer arrival Shin Yamada, Callum Osmand - who has been playing for the B team - and 22-year-old fringe player Johnny Kenny as his other striker options behind Daizen Maeda, who will have to be moved from the left wing to fill the vacant slot. And even Tounekti's acquisition prompts questions. Rodgers is quoted as saying the winger can "operate on both sides" yet the 23-year-old clearly favours the left, having played 70 games on that flank compared to just eight on the right. With recent signing Balikwisha - who looked reluctant to take players on during his debut in Sunday's derby draw at Ibrox - and Maeda also left-sided, is there now an imbalance with Celtic overstocked on that side and light on the right? Take all that into account and there is a strong case to be made that Celtic leave the window weaker than when it opened. Having repeatedly called for reinforcements for several months, Rodgers' side were bundled out of the Champions League in ignominious fashion by Kairat Almaty. Rigorous Europa League and domestic demands now lie ahead for the manager under contract until next summer. His first spell ended in the middle of a third campaign, with the Northern Irishman leaving under a cloud for Leicester City. Rodgers has insisted he will see out his second contract with Celtic. Time will tell how his current squad fares, both domestically and in European terms, for the rest of the season. John: Simply not good enough and time will tell if we pay the price. I won't accept any excuses this time; they've had ample time to sign and replace, but they waited until the last minute as per for the cheap options and failed. I fear a season of discontent and change is ahead, all because they won't spend a reasonable amount on strengthening the team, We're not asking to bust the bank, but at least open the wallet and take a look! Matt: The reason for the dissatisfaction at Celtic runs much deeper than football. For years now a gap has been forming between those that run the club and the support. There has been no attempt to bridge that gap. This is compounded by glib put-downs at the AGM aimed at the other side of the Old Firm. The intelligent Celtic supporters see what this is - just a way to distract by stoking the divide. It assumes we are stupid. We are not. Joe: Usual stalling and indecisiveness by the board - same every year. Business should have been done several weeks ago. It's cost them £40m-plus. No longer surprised, just disappointed again. Cam: Celtic's approach in the transfer window is "hit and hope" at times. The approach to bolster the squad lacks ambition throughout the window, when in reality it should be taking effect before the window even opens. The scope goes beyond the team and manager, it's a club-wide issue. Ed: The real shock for me here is the fans are surprised. This is history repeating itself. Yes, it's a slightly worse case, but we all know this has happened before on a couple of occasions. Shameful at board level. George: Brendan will definitely go, whether it's now or at end of season. And nobody can blame him. The tight money-punchers of a board are letting the club down. They take all but give little, is the way it looks at moment. We pay big money for season tickets and have to sit and bare it. Send us your views on Celtic Gary: Embarrassing when a club the size of Celtic can't keep hold of their best players. And, even worse, they can't seem to replace them when they get sold on for profit. Lack of ambition at the top level and Brendan would be justified to leave his position this time. James: Celtic have proven once again they are not a serious football club. I used to think it was because the board lacked ambition. More worryingly, it has become clear that they are also lacking the capability. Unfortunately, there will be no consequences. Nothing will change. Charlie: Underwhelmed, disappointed, but not surprised. This is not progress, it's not even consolidation. James: I think supporters should be told why the club is in the position it is at the moment. Does Rodgers have full control of signings? And if so, he must be held to account and explain why his big signings have not produced. There has to be more transparency between the board, manager, players and supporters. Gordy: There is only one word - appalling. We have had the whole summer to look for replacements for the players we knew were leaving. It leaves the club in a ridiculous situation, where we have a fantastic support base, a fantastic stadium, and bang average manager (for not pushing the board for what he knew he needed). The board and recruitment team are shameful for leaving us in this predicament. Stephen: The recruitment team, and board, have massively let down everyone associated with the club. The decision to let Idah leave, after starting the day knowing we needed to add options up front, beggars belief and feels like self sabotage. Embarrassed and disappointed to be a Celtic fan. Benny: Where do you start? Ineptitude? Unlucky? No, it's mismanagement and arrogance from a board who have previous for this shambolic amateurism. The manager would be more than justified for walking away. Shameful and embarrassing are the only words to describe this window and others. I dread the Europa League upcoming ties with this squad. Paul: We're in the same position every year; craving reinforcements that are ready for the starting XI. Instead, we get loans, past-it pros, and project players. The board are an embarrassment. They continually favour a great bank balance at the expense of a decent squad. England given brutal reality check by South Africa 'Liverpool's record-breaking summer has surely made title a formality' US Open: Pegula loses a break but still leads Krejcikova in quarter-final Can science reveal the secrets of UFOs? Comedian Bob Mortimer chooses his desert island tracks From Premier League glory to financial devastation A notorious female gangster, the 'Black Widow', opens up 'Aberdeen savour the most perfect game ever played' How Mc Tominay became a Napoli icon after Man Utd exit Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland? From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Premier League £3bn summer spending surpasses record All of the deals on transfer deadline day in one place Q&A: Norris' title hopes - and Antonelli 'like an artichoke' In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week 'A sour taste' - inside a summer like no other in Newcastle's history 'Donald banking on experience for Ryder Cup bear pit' From 'not possible' to record spenders - Liverpool's transfer window Stunning Szoboszlai free-kick helps Liverpool beat Arsenal. Video Stunning Szoboszlai free-kick helps Liverpool beat Arsenal Ex-Premier League players lost millions in investments - watch on i Player The player power fallout: 'Despicable' stars or 'hypocritical' clubs? Who won the Scottish Premiership transfer window? Norris to 'go for it' after Zandvoort title blow Invincibles three-peat - how they did it and why era could be ending Who is at risk as Welsh rugby consultation starts? Gene tests begin in women's athletics - new rule explained Arteta's cloak of caution ends in more Anfield misery for Arsenal 'I can't remember a worse VAR decision' - Murphy on King's disallowed goal Video'I can't remember a worse VAR decision' - Murphy on King's disallowed goal 'Ultimate dream' of 24 F1 races on £20K and 28 days' leave Fernandes scores stoppage-time winner as Man Utd edge out Burnley. Video Fernandes scores stoppage-time winner as Man Utd edge out Burnley Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.