Adam Idah F. Celtic b.2001

[Jolly Red Giant]

St. Mirren average about 6,800 per home game - and they had a higher attendance for Heats, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd than Celtic this season.

The big difference is that St. Mirren got £2.27m from the SPFL last season.

[Stuttgart88]

Super goal yesterday, quick feet to avoid the tackle and make space followed by a perfect finish. Hit the post/bar early in second half with a header and drew a couple of good saves too. Some good layoffs too. Really solid game from him albeit against a poor side totally dominated by Celtic.

[geysir]

I think Idah has only just recently started to look confident and fluent with his game, it's taken a long time for him to get warmed up this season.

[Eirambler]

Decided to watch Celtic v Hibs this afternoon for my sins. Watched Idah pass up three great scoring opportunities, two fresh air swipes and a free shot from six yards out hit straight at the keeper. Did at least "assist" a goal - he flicked on a corner that a Hibs player then turned into his own goal. Scales missed a great chance as well.

[Stuttgart88]

One of the Idah chances was a sitter alright, the attempted backheel flick in front of an open goal. The one that came over his shoulder was difficult to execute I think.

For his chance I think Scales showed as good a degree of technical competence as you could expect from a defender in that situation - a good first touch and a good connection, but it was a good block by the keeper whose proximity made him favourite in that position imho.

Overall Scales and Trusty played a very aggressive high line that got burst a few times only to be bailed out by Schmeichel. Not sure if you’d be critical of either in particular but collectively the back four / deep CM unit got caught out badly a few times. They’d get killed doing that in Europe.

[Stuttgart88]

Interesting 20 mins or so from Idah last night. He got involved early, a few nice touches and layoffs. Then he played a routine pass to Forrest straight into touch. Then he had a back post header that I think he should have scored from but I think it was blocked by the keeper (or defender?) at Zagreb' near post. Then a dreadful failure to hold the ball up led straight to a Zagreb counter attack from which they missed their best chance of the match, a header saved by Schmeichel. Then on around 87 mins(?) Forrest beat his man and drilled in a low cross that Idah seemed certain to tap in only for a brilliant intervention by a Zagreb defender. Replays showed the pass was maybe a couple of feet too far behind the 6 yard line but it looked for all the world that Idah would score only for the defender to cut it out.

[Eirambler]

Will be interesting to see if he gets the start in the cup final on Sunday. One of his big things last season was that he did a lot of damage in the Glasgow Derby games, so whether or not he starts this one will maybe give us an idea of how Rogers sees him at present.

[Snapshot]

Will be interesting to see if he gets the start in the cup final on Sunday. One of his big things last season was that he did a lot of damage in the Glasgow Derby games, so whether or not he starts this one will maybe give us an idea of how Rogers sees him at present.
He sees him on the bench. All £9 million of him.

[irishfan86]

Still very much a work in progress it feels. Starting to fill out even more, his stature a bit more apparent out there now. But have to say, he needs to work on his overall game. For his size his hold up play doesn’t seem good enough. But even with his technical limitations, you can see he’s a threat with his combination of (relative) speed and strength — in a couple of years he could be a very good player but he must develop further.

[Eirambler]

He sees him on the bench. All £9 million of him.

Yep, doesn't get the start today either.

[Eirambler]

Scored his pen in the shootout, but he was otherwise pretty useless today. Always looks like he has great natural attributes and so much potential to build on, but it hasn't happened yet. Celtic spent £9m on him in the summer and let Vata go for nothing, will be interesting to see how those decisions look in a few years time.

[Olé Olé]

Scored his pen in the shootout, but he was otherwise pretty useless today. Always looks like he has great natural attributes and so much potential to build on, but it hasn't happened yet. Celtic spent £9m on him in the summer and let Vata go for nothing, will be interesting to see how those decisions look in a few years time.
I don't think Celtic let Vata go for nothing, did they? He just wouldn't renew and it appeared as though he was concerned about path to the first team. Maybe they should have paved a path given how he is going but there could have been impatience on the player's side?

[Eirambler]

Yeah he wouldn't renew so they lost him for 0. But if they backed him with decent first team game time instead of leaving him in the Lowland League he'd most likely have stayed. It became a bit of chicken and egg in the end with Celtic leaving him out of the first team squad until he signed a long term contract with them, when the best way to keep him would have been to do the exact opposite. Awful way to do business with a developing young player.

[liamoo11]

Yeah he wouldn't renew so they lost him for 0. But if they backed him with decent first team game time instead of leaving him in the Lowland League he'd most likely have stayed. It became a bit of chicken and egg in the end with Celtic leaving him out of the first team squad until he signed a long term contract with them, when the best way to keep him would have been to do the exact opposite. Awful way to do business with a developing young player.

Dock lost to Liverpool as well , 2 decent young wide players

[Eirambler]

No goals in six games for him now this month. Not good considering the level he's playing at. One last chance to break his duck on Sunday if he gets a run out.

[rebelmusic]

Anyone know how he did today with his 20 minute cameo?

[Eirambler]

Another blank for him today at home to bottom side St Johnstone to round off a dry December in front of goal. Seven games, no goals. Really needs to be doing a lot better against that standard of opposition to keep himself in contention for further Ireland caps.

[pineapple stu]

Five touches in that time per whoscored. Maeda came off the bench at the same time, had 19 touches and scored.

Five touches in 25 minutes suggests he was very peripherally involved. Or it may have been the way Rodgers had things set up; I don't know. But he does seem to struggle to really impact a match and get involved.

But ultimately, he's played as many league games as in his loan spell (15), and actually started more (6 v 5) though with slightly fewer minutes (582 v 607) - and has 5 goals compared to 8 last season.

Nothing a good run of form won't fix...but that good run of form doesn't look like happening at the moment.

[Eirambler]

I feel like he's a player that we've tried to play into becoming an international player, 29 caps is a lot relative to what he has achieved at club level. I'm not writing him off by any means, because he has a lot of good attributes - height, pace etc., but my own view is that it's up to him to earn his way into the team from now on rather than being handed caps the way he has been up to now. There's a good few others ahead of him at the moment based on his 29 caps so far, and they're playing in stronger leagues than he is too.

[Stuttgart88]

Idah about to come on. 63 mins. Celtic really poor. Rangers are really on it tbf.

[seanfhear]

Opportunity for Adam Idah to be a hero here !

[Eirambler]

He ranged between anonymous and useless during his 30+ minutes on the park today unfortunately. That's eight consecutive games without a goal for him now.

[seanfhear]

A reality check for Celtic ~ That whole Scottish premier league is a basket case anyway with only one team in it !

[Snapshot]

A reality check for Celtic ~ That whole Scottish premier league is a basket case anyway with only one team in it !
The whinging of Celtic fans and the fixation on Scales is pathetic. Celtic conceded three goals against Rangers. In their other 18 league games this season they have conceded just 4! They play fifth-placed St Mirren tomorrow who have conceded 34 goals this season (21 games).

Could be a nail-biter, but hey, Celtic have SPFL Manager of the Month Brendan Rodgers in the dugout. What could possibly go wrong?

[rebelmusic]

Starting today. Really could do with finding the net to silence the critical and his own anxiety

[Eirambler]

Unfortunately not, even in a comfortable home win he didn't manage to get on the score sheet. He did find the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. Played close to 90 minutes as well.

That's no goals in nine games for him now playing for a dominant team in a poor league. Celtic are free to pick and not pick whoever they want, that's their business. But from and Ireland point of view Idah's goalscoring record relative to the level he's playing at simply isn't good enough.

[rebelmusic]

Read like he had a gift of a chance in the first couple of minutes as well?

Part of my concern is that the ££ they spent on him is starting to look like a bad investment and you'd expect he'll just be kicked to the bench and forgotten about rather than getting sold on anytime soon.

I'd wonder about how he's being trained as well. Could do with another level of bulking up considering his height advantage.

Anyway, we live and hope :/

[Eirambler]

Given the amount they (over)paid he was always going to get a chance in a way that someone like Connell wasn't when he was there. With the lead they have in the league and the strength across the pitch they have relative to almost all of their domestic competition they can probably afford to stick with him and try to play him into form. Even with him misfiring today they won easily anyway.

But Anthony Stokes scored for fun at that level and wasn't remotely good enough at international level. We have tougher opposition to face and more options in his position than Celtic do, so my own view is that I would leave him out of the Ireland team for a while now, until he does something over a sustained period of time to justify selection.

[pineapple stu]

Unfortunately not, even in a comfortable home win he didn't manage to get on the score sheet. He did find the net but the goal was ruled out for offside. Played close to 90 minutes as well.

That's no goals in nine games for him now playing for a dominant team in a poor league.
Don't think he has any assists all season either. Hard to see what he contributes at the moment. And staying onside was never his strength, so even that hasn't improved.

Celtic forum mostly of the view that his first touch in particular is just bad, though some reckon he's not getting the service and could do with a run in the team in light of Kyogo's poor form.

[Eirambler]

Wouldn't be shocked if they went striker shopping again this month, maybe even a loan or something to see if they can find better (Evan??!!). Neither Idah or Kyogo are doing the business at the moment, though Kyogo at least has more credit in the bank.

[Stuttgart88]

Don't think he has any assists all season either. Hard to see what he contributes at the moment. And staying onside was never his strength, so even that hasn't improved.

Celtic forum mostly of the view that his first touch in particular is just bad, though some reckon he's not getting the service and could do with a run in the team in light of Kyogo's poor form.I thought he laid one off for a Kuhn goal recently? At Kilmarnock?

Set up Kyogo for a sitter at Tannadice a couple of weeks ago but he fluffed it.

He seems to struggle to impose himself. Rodgers clearly tried to give him a confidence boost by keeping him on for most of the game today. BBC Radio Scotland said the crowd gave him an appreciative reception on being subbed. From what I can deduce from Rodgers’ press conference today the crowd was a bit tetchy throughout and Taylor has been targeted, also on the forums.

[elatedscum]

I haven’t seen a lot of Celtic in the last few months but the last game I saw, he came off the bench in a comfortable win and was making great runs and taking two defenders with him and creating space for (I think) Engels and Kuhn who were making runs in behind.

Frequently though, he made a run where he could have received the pass but didn’t. Celtic were playing well so you couldn’t be too critical but it was a thankless task. Played 20 mins and had about 2 touches despite working his ******** off and doing everything off the ball correctly

[Snapshot]

Celtic didn’t pay big money for a substitute or run-maker. Scoring is the imperative. Idah needs to deliver or he’ll be moved on.

[elatedscum]

I was as much saying it felt genuinely like players were playing around him, like if Kyogo or Maeda made the same runs, they’d receive the ball, whether that was just a once off game or spoke to a lack of trust in Idah

[seanfhear]

If Celtic stay so far ahead in the league then, surely that gives Celtic a great opportunity to develop Adam Idah ~ ~ Adam Idah has a great opportunity to develop at Celtic if he is good enough ~ ~ Opportunity knocks if he is good enough !

[Olé Olé]

I was as much saying it felt genuinely like players were playing around him, like if Kyogo or Maeda made the same runs, they’d receive the ball, whether that was just a once off game or spoke to a lack of trust in Idah
I thought so. It was like he was creating space for others. Kuhn was running into Idah's centre forward channels a lot and Idah pulling to the side. Maybe that is an instruction for him. It makes him look less effective though.

Hopefully Rodgers gives him the games as es says. It's a fine balance though. I thought his body language looked bad yesterday. The body language we have seen from him before. When his goal was ruled offside his shoulders slumped and head dropped. There wasn't even a response of anger or frustration. Just complete disappointment.

However, it is a fine balance. The Celtic fans will get impatient if they aren't stuffing everyone and Idah isn't scoring two goals every three games. That will put more pressure on Rodgers and Idah too.

Overall, he just shouldn't be so fragile. This occurred time and time again at Norwich and he was a low ebb leaving on loan for Celtic. He seemed to leave during the summer with comments seeming like Celtic was the panacea to his confidence issues and he would forever prosper up there. That idea has dissipated by now.

Not that he is suffering a crisis - it is a dry spell but my point is that he tends to get these and get them a lot and he seems to struggle to play himself out of them and they often get worse before they get better.

[pineapple stu]

I thought he laid one off for a Kuhn goal recently? At Kilmarnock?
Whoscored (https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic) gives him none anyway, and I think a thread on the Celtic forum listing their scorers also gave him none (but could have been looking to the same source)

I suppose if there is one assist or one good chance created, then it doesn't change the point significantly though.

[Snapshot]

I thought so. It was like he was creating space for others. Kuhn was running into Idah's centre forward channels a lot and Idah pulling to the side. Maybe that is an instruction for him. It makes him look less effective though.

Hopefully Rodgers gives him the games as es says. It's a fine balance though. I thought his body language looked bad yesterday. The body language we have seen from him before. When his goal was ruled offside his shoulders slumped and head dropped. There wasn't even a response of anger or frustration. Just complete disappointment.

However, it is a fine balance. The Celtic fans will get impatient if they aren't stuffing everyone and Idah isn't scoring two goals every three games. That will put more pressure on Rodgers and Idah too.

Overall, he just shouldn't be so fragile. This occurred time and time again at Norwich and he was a low ebb leaving on loan for Celtic. He seemed to leave during the summer with comments seeming like Celtic was the panacea to his confidence issues and he would forever prosper up there. That idea has dissipated by now.

Not that he is suffering a crisis - it is a dry spell but my point is that he tends to get these and get them a lot and he seems to struggle to play himself out of them and they often get worse before they get better.
Thoughtful and sympathetic, you're simply too nice.

Idah is 24 soon, has 29 caps, 162 appearances at Norwich+Celtic, CL experience and cost £9.5m. He has physical attributes to spare and is playing at his chosen club. He showed on loan that SPFL was well within his capabilities but now, even that is a struggle.

Adam Idah's fragile days should be long gone and he won't be allowed worse before better. Fine balance in Scottish football? It's more a wonky wagon with two wheels.

[rebelmusic]

Started again tonight.

I've read through a couple of Celtic forums and the fans still seem to be very patient with him so who knows !

[Eirambler]

Their city rivals are currently laughing at them for spending 9.5 million on him so they'll give him as long as possible before they admit defeat.

[pineapple stu]

Came off after an hour with again seemingly little impact. Whoscored gives him 19 touches - next lowest outfield player was over 50. 13 shots in total, of which he had one.

I know you can prove anything with stats these days Kent, but unless you're Erling Haaland (who seems to be a poacher supreme and little else), I just don't think you can get away with being so little involved as a striker for Celtic.

[Eirambler]

10 blanks in a row is a terrible record, he seems to be miles off it at Celtic this season.

[Exgrad]

He never looks like the most confident of footballers, going on loan to Celtic probably suited, going as a 9m (!) transfer probably didn't. He has plenty of potential but doesnt look like he has the mentality to push on unfortunatley.

[Predator]

Idah has never really been a prolific striker and he is still relatively young, but you'd be expecting more from him at this point in his career. I tend to take a dim view of Celtic as a destination for Irish talent generally, but the stage was nicely set for him to kick it up a gear and he... hasn't (yet).

[passinginterest]

Given he hasn't really had a full season without injury I think it's nearly as important that he just stays fit for the full season at this stage. He still has great attributes and I still think it's going to click for him at a high level in the long run. While he's had two starts in a row now his minutes had been pretty limited coming into that. Overall his goals per minute ratio is still not awful. We can all see he's a confidence player, he needs one to go in off his backside while he's still getting minutes and hopefully then he can go on another good streak.

[MylesNotMiley]

Came off after an hour with again seemingly little impact. Whoscored gives him 19 touches - next lowest outfield player was over 50. 13 shots in total, of which he had one.

I know you can prove anything with stats these days Kent, but unless you're Erling Haaland (who seems to be a poacher supreme and little else), I just don't think you can get away with being so little involved as a striker for Celtic.

He's been pretty poor all season, but last night was his worst performance so far.
He looked disinterested last night, hardly any movement or energy. He looks devoid of any confidence.

I'm starting to think Norwich robbed Celtic blind.

[pineapple stu]

Given he hasn't really had a full season without injury
He played 53 games in all competitions last season. 29 so far this season - so close on two years injury-free when you take the end of 22/23 in as well.

I think that excuse is starting to bolt in fairness. He's just not very good.

[Demesne Lad]

Interesting to look back at the beginning of this thread (27 August 2019). An air of optimism because Idah, Connolly, Molumby, Obafemi and Barrett were all starting for their respective clubs, Coventry, Collins and Knight were on the benches, and it was hoped that Kilkenny and Shodipo would be starters the following night.

[Stuttgart88]

I actually paid the £5.99 to watch the game live on PPV as there was sod all else to do on a cold early January midweek night. Although it was a nervy second half Celtic were utterly dominant in the first and were really quick out of the traps. Idah made a few nice layoffs and one terrible one straight to a blue shirt. I’d like to see him be a bit more selfish and try to set himself up for a change, or hold onto it and use his strength to draw defender out of position rather than always lay it off first time. I think it betrays a lack of confidence.

I used to criticise him for lacking the instincts that Ferguson displays in the box. He never seemed to be where the ball landed or where a square ball was played. Then last year he confounded my expectations and scored some good and important goals from getting on the end of square balls for a tap in having made clever runs. On Wednesday Celtic must have drilled 5 hard low balls across the 6 yard box in the first 25 minutes and he didn’t get on any of them. His marker was always one step ahead. Idah never got across his marker to get there first, like he did decisively at Motherwell last year. He could have had a first half hat trick given the number of low square balls that went abegging.

Interestingly though, Kyogo replaced him on around 70 mins and I don’t think he even touched the ball.

[Stuttgart88]

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh, 24, this week joined Belgian club Mechelen on loan for the rest of the season and Rodgers indicated midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, 21, and "maybe one or two others" would also go out on loan.

And, in terms of incomings, Rodgers is confident of making signings and is keen to increase scoring options.

"We're very hopeful that we can get players in that we would like, but availability and the affordability of players is always something that is a challenge in this month," said Rodgers.

"But I'm fairly confident that we will be able to bring in the necessary changes to the squad that can help us."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cy48ydjeq0lo