Adam Idah F. Celtic b.2001

[Olé Olé]

Rodgers has made 4 changes I think to the side that lost to St Johnstone.

Idah and Scales beneficiaries of the shake up.

[Eirambler]

A 5-1 win, but no contributions from Idah during his hour on the field. Scales got an assist. Idah out on loan next year possibly? Doesn't seem to suit the league setup Celtic face with everyone sitting deep against them.

[rebelmusic]

Agreed. The games he's done well have been when they're playing equal or better teams. Celtic is a tough team to be a prolific CF in general.

I don't know if a loan is needed or if Idah has to have an honest look at his game and adapt to the league he's playing in. He does have 17 goals or so, so it's hardly a disaster. A solid pre-season could make a huge difference since he didn't really get one last year.

[rebelmusic]

Just saw they would have had a sixth except for Idah being offside. Not a good day for him again

[pineapple stu]

It was actually a really nice lay-off in fairness, and the offside was really really marginal. Toe of the boot sort of stuff.

But yeah, he didn't contribute much other than that - and one other half-chance right before he was taken off but he didn't come close to taking down a ball ten yards out.

Interesting game - Celtic were 4-0 up after 25 minutes, had 89% of possession and there was a stat that they led in terms of "Passes completed in the opposition third" by 161-1. But ultimately if you can't make an impression as a forward in that sort of game, then there's a problem somewhere. I don't think the pre-season can really still be kept as an excuse.

And equally, much and all as Celtic were a joy to watch at times, the gap in qualify was massive. Celtic isn't a club to linger long with I think, even if you get a couple of competitive Champions League games a year.

[Eirambler]

Gets on the score sheet in a first half rout of St Johnstone, an open goal tap in from a yard with the keeper already beaten, but a goal is a goal at this stage given how his domestic season has gone as a whole.

Sam Curtis with something of a horror moment for one of the other goals, making a hash of an interception and teeing up Maeda in the process. 4-0 at half time. Celtic will have a cup final against Aberdeen in a month for another domestic treble.

[rebelmusic]

Great article on Idah and very prophetic. I wish I had put that fiver down :)

https://readceltic.com/2025/04/20/the-striker-is-in-danger-of-becoming-the-most-overpriced-player-in-celtics-history-keevins-sticks-the-boot-into-adam-idah-but-the-irishman-will-have-the-last-laugh/

[Eirambler]

I mean, Keevins is a bit of a tool and always has been. He's a Dunphy style wind up merchant. But I'll give him credit for still being able to wind up silly Celtic fanzine pages at close to 80 years of age.

Most of what that article is giving Idah credit for was achieved before they spent the 9.5 million on him. He's not the worst Celtic signing ever or anywhere close, but he also so far hasn't been good value for the price paid for him either, since they bought him. A tap in handed to him on a plate in a rout of the worst team in the division doesn't really change that.

[rebelmusic]

For me this is one of the failures of modern soccer. His return for his first season isn't bad and there's all the chance in the world he'll continue to improve.

Makes me think of when Utd bought Andy Cole and there was doom and gloom for two years until he suddenly became one of their most prolific strikers. Idah's champions League form alone should give fans confidence. I've dumped on him before here but he's managed to come back time and again this season and if it wasn't for the price tag hanging over him I doubt there'd be so much criticism.

[John83]

I haven't looked up his stats in a while. He's joint 15th top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with 8 goals in 30 games. That makes him joint 6th top scorer at Celtic.

His goals per 90 minutes - he has in fairness hardly played all of those games - is 0.51, which is not bad. Celtic's top scorer is Maeda, who scored 16 goals but 0.65 per 90 minutes, so 100% more goals but only 30% more if you equalise time played. That stat for other Celtic players: Kühn 0.54, Kyogo Furuhashi 0.68 (who was sold on to Rennes for £10M), and significantly lower than Idah for the midfielders.

One stat of concern is his goal conversion, at just 13%, lower than Maeda 31%, Kühn 20%, Kyogo Furuhashi 16%.

I think it's okay to be mildly disappointed with that, but it's also quite fair to hope he can improve on that next year.

Obviously, the above doesn't include cup or European games.

[pineapple stu]

I haven't looked up his stats in a while. He's joint 15th top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with 8 goals in 30 games. That makes him joint 6th top scorer at Celtic.

His goals per 90 minutes - he has in fairness hardly played all of those games - is 0.51, which is not bad.
Suppose you could also compare to last season - 8 goals in 607 minutes, compared to 8 goals in 1416 minutes this season.

The summer will be interesting - will Maeda move on? Will Celtic look to strength in attack? Will a proper pre-season help? (I think there's only so long you can stretch that argument out, but still) And is his current form really what Celtic expect from a near-record signing?

(You could add Jota to the goals per minute stat btw - brought in to replace Kyogo, and scored 0.67 per 90 minutes)

[Jolly Red Giant]

Idah is not the type of striker who is going to score 20/25 goals a season - even for Celtic.

He is more like a Shane Long / Kevin Doyle type player - someone who will bring other things to the table. He is not as good as either of those - but is still developing - and if he gets close to that level he will have a role for Ireland.

[John83]

I'd don't really agree. If you bring his conversion rate up to Kühn's 20% and give him Maeda's gametime, he's the top scorer in Scotland. The margins between being one of Celtic's strikers and Celtic's star striker is not that big, and his coaches have to be trying to bring that out of him. I think writing him off as a supporting player is doing him a disservice.

[Eirambler]

I'd don't really agree. If you bring his conversion rate up to Kühn's 20% and give him Maeda's gametime, he's the top scorer in Scotland.

Is that not just a different way of saying "if he was better than he is he'd be the top scorer"? His conversation rate is lower because he's not taking enough of his chances and his game time is presumably lower because the manager prefers others to him.

[John83]

No, though of course I'm simplifying. I mean that there's a relatively small component of his game (small compared with the whole skillset of a footballer) that's below the standards around him, an element that is coachable and also somewhat variable due to luck and confidence, and that if he improves it then he will get the game time to score more. I'm saying there's smaller margins than it seems between a season like he's had an a season like Maeda has had. I'm saying don't write him off as not the type to score more than he has.

[Razors left peg]

Im a big Idah fan but tbh Im disappointed in how things have gone for him to this point. My expectation for him would have been to have established himself as the number 1 striker in the league at this point after his move, especially after Kyogo moved on. For him to still be a bit part player is massively disappointing from my point of view. I dont think you can blame Maedas form for him being out of the team either. Maeda was still brilliant when Kyogo was starting every week and if Idah had take his opportunity to grab the striker spot in the weeks after Kyogo was sold then Maeda and him would both be in the team.

I still think hes a really good striker, and at times like in the Villa game he looks like he could be a top class striker... I just cant figure him out in why he just cant be consistently good

[Eirambler]

He's very good against a high line, he's quick and can time runs in behind and do damage that way. The problem - and the reason why I don't think it will work out for him at Celtic unless he improves a lot - is that he struggles badly against a low block.

He doesn't seem technically proficient or intelligent enough (in a footballing sense) to find little pockets of space against deep lying defences and to play the silky one touch stuff that unlocks those kinds of defensive setups. And almost everyone Celtic play against in Scotland sets up that way against them.

He's also not really a header from a corner kind of striker so he doesn't add to his goal tally that way. And he doesn't seem to be on penalties any more, whereas he took them in his loan spell.

So he ends up looking better against Aston Villa than he does against the likes of Ross County. And I'm not convinced that's going to change while he's at Celtic. As things stand, and even including his better stats from last season, his goalscoring rate for Celtic is worse even than failed Ireland international and general deadbeat Anthony Stokes. It feels as though, to be a serious contender to be a starter for Ireland, he needs to be doing significantly better than him.

[Razors left peg]

He's very good against a high line, he's quick and can time runs in behind and do damage that way. The problem - and the reason why I don't think it will work out for him at Celtic unless he improves a lot - is that he struggles badly against a low block.

He doesn't seem technically proficient or intelligent enough (in a footballing sense) to find little pockets of space against deep lying defences and to play the silky one touch stuff that unlocks those kinds of defensive setups. And almost everyone Celtic play against in Scotland sets up that way against them.

He's also not really a header from a corner kind of striker so he doesn't add to his goal tally that way. And he doesn't seem to be on penalties any more, whereas he took them in his loan spell.

So he ends up looking better against Aston Villa than he does against the likes of Ross County. And I'm not convinced that's going to change while he's at Celtic. As things stand, and even including his better stats from last season, his goalscoring rate for Celtic is worse even than failed Ireland international and general deadbeat Anthony Stokes. It feels as though, to be a serious contender to be a starter for Ireland, he needs to be doing significantly better than him.

Id push back on that though and say that he has shown an ability to score against teams in Scotland. On a good day he has the physical attributes to be able to compete against anyone.... but on other days he looks like hes incapable of controlling a football.

[SkStu]

Id push back on that though and say that he has shown an ability to score against teams in Scotland. On a good day he has the physical attributes to be able to compete against anyone.... but on other days he looks like hes incapable of controlling a football.

Notwithstanding your comments about how inconsistent he can look on the ball, which i agree with, I think Eiramblers point is valid. He does score goals but it, i think, is no coincidence that he rarely scores the first goal when he plays. It is almost a meme at this stage that it is typically the 3rd, 4th etc goal where teams are usually having to push a bit higher and take risks which then plays to his assets.

[Razors left peg]

Fair point about him not getting 1st goals alright

[Olé Olé]

A few comments about his hold up and control. I'm not sure if any striker is good at this. It is crap having a ball lashed into you with a paid defender up your backside. He seems to find himself in that situation more than most strikers.

[seanfhear]

A few comments about his hold up and control. I'm not sure if any striker is good at this. It is crap having a ball lashed into you with a paid defender up your backside. He seems to find himself in that situation more than most strikers.I'd rather an un-paid one alright ! His heart might not be in it to the same degree !

[Eirambler]

Notwithstanding your comments about how inconsistent he can look on the ball, which i agree with, I think Eiramblers point is valid. He does score goals but it, i think, is no coincidence that he rarely scores the first goal when he plays. It is almost a meme at this stage that it is typically the 3rd, 4th etc goal where teams are usually having to push a bit higher and take risks which then plays to his assets.

Idah with the fourth goal today as Celtic wrap up another league title, lending further weight to the above theory that he's a better bet for a goal later in a game when the opposition is already behind and has to push out the field a bit.

[pineapple stu]

And the fifth. Didn't start the game - came on as a sub when already 3-0 up.

102 league goals for Celtic now - I think 114 is their record in a season, from 2022/23. They already can't match the 99 points from that campaign.

[Eirambler]

The fifth was what I'd call a classic Idah goal, running fast off the shoulder of the defender and a really nice finish at the near post. That's what he does really well.

[Stuttgart88]

Fair point about him not getting 1st goals alrightIs it though, when he's often brought off the bench? Celtic tend to score early too, so that reduces the chances of him being first scorer especially as he does a lot of work in deep areas.

I'm not saying I think he's had a great season but I think we're finding ways to put him down here. I felt even Eirambler's recent "tap in" comment (cup semi final goal) was a bit barbed. There was a time I and others were critical of him not being in the right place for tap ins so it's good that he's getting more of them. Againsty StJ he attacked the space well, got beyond his defender, kept his eye on the ball well with the keeper coming out and got a good connection. That's a good striker's goal.

[SkStu]

Is it though, when he's often brought off the bench? Celtic tend to score early too, so that reduces the chances of him being first scorer especially as he does a lot of work in deep areas.

I'm not saying I think he's had a great season but I think we're finding ways to put him down here. I felt even Eirambler's recent "tap in" comment (cup semi final goal) was a bit barbed. There was a time I and others were critical of him not being in the right place for tap ins so it's good that he's getting more of them. Againsty StJ he attacked the space well, got beyond his defender, kept his eye on the ball well with the keeper coming out and got a good connection. That's a good striker's goal.

For what its worth, not looking to find a way to put him down, I was just commenting on what type of game narrative suits his strengths. He finds it hard to make an impression against a low block but seems to have more success against teams that play - or are required to play - less conservatively.

[tetsujin1979]

Is it though, when he's often brought off the bench? Celtic tend to score early too, so that reduces the chances of him being first scorer especially as he does a lot of work in deep areas.

I'm not saying I think he's had a great season but I think we're finding ways to put him down here. I felt even Eirambler's recent "tap in" comment (cup semi final goal) was a bit barbed. There was a time I and others were critical of him not being in the right place for tap ins so it's good that he's getting more of them. Againsty StJ he attacked the space well, got beyond his defender, kept his eye on the ball well with the keeper coming out and got a good connection. That's a good striker's goal.
Gary Neville had a good breakdown of a tap in a few years ago. His main point was that the finish was the easiest part of the move. What's difficult is dragging defenders out of position, timing your run so that it's not too early for the defence to react to it, but not too late to miss the ball, and having the discipline to make the same run you've probably made a few times in that game alone (never mind the season, or your career) without any result.

[Razors left peg]

Is it though, when he's often brought off the bench? Celtic tend to score early too, so that reduces the chances of him being first scorer especially as he does a lot of work in deep areas.

I'm not saying I think he's had a great season but I think we're finding ways to put him down here. I felt even Eirambler's recent "tap in" comment (cup semi final goal) was a bit barbed. There was a time I and others were critical of him not being in the right place for tap ins so it's good that he's getting more of them. Againsty StJ he attacked the space well, got beyond his defender, kept his eye on the ball well with the keeper coming out and got a good connection. That's a good striker's goal.

That goes back to my original point about being disappointed in him not being the number 1 striker there. I believe he has the ability to be but didnt take his chance after Kyogo was sold in particular. Hes a very good striker, some days he looks very high level, but there arent enough of those days for whatever reason

[elatedscum]

Jota out for the long term:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4gr74y02d8o

terrible for Jota, maybe good for Idah

[seanfhear]

Jota out for the long term:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4gr74y02d8o

terrible for Jota, maybe good for Idah
The life of a soccer player. Everything was going well for Jota back at Celtic ( after a move that had not worked out for him ) then he gets badly injured in just an awkward, stumble/ fall. I suppose we don't very often feel to sorry for players but this was a bit of a tough turn for Jota !

[pineapple stu]

Jota out for the long term:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4gr74y02d8o

terrible for Jota, maybe good for Idah

Maybe not though...


with manager Brendan Rodgers saying it "shone a light" on his club's need to strengthen their forward line in the summer transfer market.

[rebelmusic]

Started and scored. Definitely adding weight to the argument that he does better against tougher opposition. Only one who looks like getting a second as well

[Stuttgart88]

BBC discussion on Idah https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c05n439vzmdo

[Stuttgart88]

He had quite a good game yesterday but did nothing to move the debate any further forward. Missed a golden opportunity to put Celtic 1 up and 36 seconds later Rangers scored. Scales was outmuscled by Dessiers.

Then a lovely soft touch to set up his goal, which took a deflection but I think was going in just inside the post anyway. It his Souttar’s(?) elbow which knocked the ball downwards but didn’t change its line towards goal.


He won the ball well in the centre circle before under hitting a through ball to Forrest where a little extra weight would have made a goal more likely than not, and replays showed he had a gap to play in Maeda too.

He had another chance to score in the first half but took two touches when he only had time for one. And in the second half he shot over when he had an easy lay off to an arguably better placed Forrest. But I think forward have to be selfish.

Peter Grant in Sportscene likes him. He says he suffered from a lack of preseason but likes what he brings. He’s only played 2 full 90 mins and his output is good for the amount of time he plays.

Personally I was both impressed and frustrated with him yesterday. Frustrated because he had a chance to make a big statement yesterday and he only partially took it. But better than making no statement at all. It was a performance that continues the discussion into next season.

[Olé Olé]

BBC discussion on Idah https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c05n439vzmdo

At least Packie Bonner is willing to offer his views on Idah and the need to get another striker in. Maybe he was the shushee?

[pineapple stu]

He had quite a good game yesterday but did nothing to move the debate any further forward. Missed a golden opportunity to put Celtic 1 up

He had another chance to score in the first half but took two touches when he only had time for one. And in the second half he shot over when he had an easy lay off to an arguably better placed Forrest. But I think forward have to be selfish.

Personally I was both impressed and frustrated with him yesterday. Frustrated because he had a chance to make a big statement yesterday and he only partially took it.


Only one who looks like getting a second as well
I'm minded of Jack Charlton taking Houghton off in Windsor in 1993.

"What are you taking me off for? I'm the only one getting any chances!"

"You're the only one missing any chances!"

[geysir]

He has to score a vital goal in order to justify starting. I thought he did well enough with his one on one chance, the goalie had managed to get into a very good position and Idah's chip just clipped his shoulder.

Overall he took way too long in the season to get match sharp. His heading ability is almost zero though he did score from one last season, he's just a non-existent threat in the air in the box for set pieces. Yet he's talented enough to surmise he might develop next season into something like a better version of Jan Vennegoor (of Hesselink) but only in his dreams could he be the next Chris Sutton.

[seanfhear]

I'm minded of Jack Charlton taking Houghton off in Windsor in 1993.

"What are you taking me off for? I'm the only one getting any chances!"

"You're the only one missing any chances!"In his own way ~ Big Jack had a way with words !

[elatedscum]

Scored again at the weekend, if you include international and club, it's his first 20 goal season. 19 for Celtic, 1 for Ireland with a few games left. Hopefully his form as of late is enough to get him enough minutes - because he's scored those goals while being second choice for half the season

Last season he had 18. 7 for Norwich, 9 for Celtic, 2 for Ireland. 5 in the season before (3 for Norwich, 2 for Ireland)

[Stuttgart88]

Good goal too - not unlike his goal against Bratislava - though Maeda would have been furious if he missed as he was unmarked square of him. Idah's presence forced the mistake for the equaliser too.

He missed a 1:1 earlier but on his weaker left side (arguably a better first touch avoids this). He seems to be breaking defences with good regularity now.

3-4 in Champions League too. Not bad for a bad season :)

[Eirambler]

I agree. If this is his "bad" season, and he improves next year, then this year has not been awful as a base line. However, at the same time, if this is his ceiling and next year is just more of the same then it's not good enough for what we need unfortunately.

[elatedscum]

I agree. If this is his "bad" season, and he improves next year, then this year has not been awful as a base line. However, at the same time, if this is his ceiling and next year is just more of the same then it's not good enough for what we need unfortunately.

Is worth noting across all comps for Celtic these are his stats:

23 starts
27 sub appearances
1 unused sub
1 injured
2 missed due to signing late

I think if he starts an extra 10-15 games, he probably ends up with close to 30 goals for the season

[weldoninhio]

Is worth noting across all comps for Celtic these are his stats:

23 starts
27 sub appearances
1 unused sub
1 injured
2 missed due to signing late

I think if he starts an extra 10-15 games, he probably ends up with close to 30 goals for the season

I think Celtic will sign another forward in the summer. He could find his starts even more limited. Will all depend on if Maeda stays.

[osarusan]

It all depends what Celtic want. Rangers are in utter disarray and a load of signings away from putting up any kind of challenge, and obviously there's no other horse in the race.

Celtic will walk the league next year even with the same squad, unless (and probably even if) Rangers make wholesale changes and get a new manager.

They may want more firepower for a European campaign.

[osarusan]

Idah was pretty quiet in the cup final today, and was taken off just after the hour.

To add insult to injury, he was the last person in the line for runner-up medals (apart from Brendan Rogers who gets a different medal), and they ran out of medals so he didn't get one (right at that moment, I'm sure he will).

[Eirambler]

It would probably be going straight in the bin anyway, Celtic won't place any currency on a cup runners up medal. It's a shame, because he significantly improved his stats in the last few weeks, but the way things ended today with Kenny and the especially awful Yang up front, and Idah himself having a poor game on the big occasion, they will definitely be shopping for strikers this summer.

[rebelmusic]

In fairness to Idah, today was just another perfect example of a game that he's not suited to. Aberdeen parked the bus for 110 minutes and Idah just doesn't seem to have anything in his locker for that type of game. I think Kenny is in a similar spot.

Celtic seem to be crying out for an old-school giant striker like Quinn who can win all the aerial battles and do knock downs in the box.

They have the players for games that are competitive. They're sorely lacking players for games they will dominate.

Who knows..maybe they'll sign Maguire and he'll reinvent himself up there xD

[Eirambler]

I agree. They need a flat track bully up front for playing the likes of Aberdeen who park the bus game after game.

[Stuttgart88]

Celtic seem to be crying out for an old-school giant striker like Quinn who can win all the aerial battles and do knock downs in the box.

They have the players for games that are competitive. I actually think Celtic are missing an advanced paymaker, someone like Rogic who they never quite replaced. I haven't followed Rodgers' career like some here have but I don't think he favours this type of player. Dare I say it, I think Parrott is the type of player who they need. McGregor is great at joining things up but he's deeper lying. Hatate's energy was missed.