Adam Idah F. Celtic b.2001

[Stuttgart88]

Celtic have enough with one injury prone winger in Jota I would think.

Is he injury prone or has he just had one bad injury?

[pineapple stu]

Idah is a doubt for Saturday against Livingston (https://www.the42.ie/alistair-johnston-6797012-Aug2025/) after coming off with an injury on Tuesday apparently.

Could be a bit of a face-saver, but either way, Livi at home again is a game you'd be very hopeful of grabbing a goal or two in. Not a great one to miss

[Demesne Lad]

Not in the squad for the game v Livingston and a doubt that his knee injury will clear up before the long haul to Kazakhstan.

[pineapple stu]

A sub in Kazakhstan tonight - off the bench on 70 minutes, but misses the first penalty in the shootout

Celtic lost 3-2 - missing three penalties - but wouldn't be surprised to see Idah take more than his share of stick, much and all as his penalty record is decent I think

[seanfhear]

Celtic out, disaster for Celtic and not good for Idah at the moment anyway !

[Eirambler]

I'm not actually sure he should be in the Ireland squad at the moment to be honest. With Ferguson, Parrott and Szmodics available he's not really needed and his spot could have gone to someone potentially useful like Ebosele.

[Razors left peg]

I'm not actually sure he should be in the Ireland squad at the moment to be honest. With Ferguson, Parrott and Szmodics available he's not really needed and his spot could have gone to someone potentially useful like Ebosele.

Ebosele cant make the starting line up for an average Turkish team at the moment. Maybe if Cannon was playing better there would be an argument to leave out Idah.

[Eirambler]

Yeah, but he gives you something specific off the bench that's different to others, running at tired defenders etc. it doesn't feel like Idah offers anything at all on current form.

[Razors left peg]

Idah is not in great form but I dont think he should be just discarded either. If there was someone else banging down the door then fair enough, but leaving him out for someone who is just fast and also not in great form doesnt make sense to me.

[SkStu]

He played very well in his first start a week or so ago and scored a goal off the bench in his last game. He’s making an adjustment to a brand new country, a weird enough one football wise.

I don’t see him as direct competition to Idah anyway but one of the two is on some form, at least.

[geysir]

Whilst Johnny scores a premier goal every 30 mins of football for Celtic, this evening in the CL play-off Adam manages to get a touch on the ball every 30 minutes, albeit he did all right with one of those touches. He hit an atrocious penalty in the shoot-out, but so did another two players. I think it was probably his most spineless display for Celtic that I have seen.

[tetsujin1979]

Idah was brought on ahead of Kenny, who was left on the bench even with penalties looming

[pineapple stu]

I think increasingly Idah/Kenny is a two bald men fighting over a comb level of debate.

We've a couple of very good players at the moment (take your pick from Kelleher, Collins, Parrott and Ferguson, who all have potentially key seasons ahead), but apart from that the level drops off a bit and there's a couple of players in the squad that really wouldn't have gotten a look in ten years ago

[Stuttgart88]

I think Kenny has a dynamism and speed of movement that Idah lacks so there's still scope for him to make an impression. He brings something different to the team. Idah seems to have been promoted beyond his ability, but the only (scrapes barrel) justification is that Celtic have been slow and ponderous all season so far. Even Maeda has been rubbish. But I think the fans have lost patience with him and it'd take a remarkable change in form and fortune to turn things around from here. I think questions are rightly been asked of Rodgers now too but that's a different discussion.

[Eirambler]

Idah linked with a move to Swansea.

[Eminence Grise]

Does that move involve a fee or being bound, gagged and tossed out of a speeding van in Swansea by disgruntled Celtic fans?

I don't think Idah or Celtic are a good fit for each other. Another player I'd prefer to see playing on the continent than the SPL or the Championship.

[Eirambler]

I'd imagine Celtic would have to accept a substantial loss on the player if they decided to sell right now, while his reputation is probably as low as it's ever been. Not sure Swansea could offer any more than half what Celtic paid for him, if even that.

[Razors left peg]

Does that move involve a fee or being bound, gagged and tossed out of a speeding van in Swansea by disgruntled Celtic fans?

I don't think Idah or Celtic are a good fit for each other. Another player I'd prefer to see playing on the continent than the SPL or the Championship.

Idah more than a lot of our players has the physical tools for the Scottish and English leagues, but Im not sure he has the application to be a top player anywhere. I've been a big fan of him, and defended him here a lot, but hes disappointed me in how he has not grabbed his chance at Celtic after Kyogo was sold

[Eirambler]

Reports of Swansea paying £7m for Idah. For that kind of money surely Celtic will take a modest loss to move him on.

[SkStu]

I think so. They got enough value from his 1.5 seasons to cut ties now.

[Eirambler]

Yes, for all the stick he gets they wouldn't have won the title the season before last without him. Since he signed permanently it's been a lot poorer. I think teams in Scotland figured out fairly quickly how to deal with him - just play a low block and he can't function at all. Swansea a lot less likely to come up against that kind of approach in the Championship. Presumably Alan Sheehan thinks he can bring on his game.

[geysir]

Idah made a valuable contribution to Celtic's season when he joined on loan but in no way was he key to that 2023/24 league title win, as in they wouldn't have won it without him, that's patent nonsense.
However he did win the cup that year for them (single-handedly) against Rangers. Idah contributed to 2 league title wins but just did not kick on from his early promise, considering he has the height, failed miserably as threat with his head and could not tack down the nr. 1 strikers role when given a host of chances to do so. He is being transferred onward at a financial loss for Celtic of some millions, that's not a success story, that means he's being given another chance to make the grade elsewhere that he has shown promise for in spurts.

[elatedscum]

Yes, for all the stick he gets they wouldn't have won the title the season before last without him. Since he signed permanently it's been a lot poorer. I think teams in Scotland figured out fairly quickly how to deal with him - just play a low block and he can't function at all. Swansea a lot less likely to come up against that kind of approach in the Championship. Presumably Alan Sheehan thinks he can bring on his game.

I'm not that sure that it's him not functioning but as much the team not functioning or not functioning to maximise his qualities. I remember seeing a game last season that Celtic won probably 2 or 3-0, it was relatively comfortable. But the whole game he made great run after great run, was creating space for the midfielders to exploit by dragging both CBs with him - and it seemed like any opportunity he got to receive it, his teammates instead tried a more intricate pass to Engels instead.

In general, it's something I've seen a good bit with Idah, in games with a low block or 11 men behind the ball, he's very useful, he just doesn't end up with the goals to show from it...

[Eirambler]

Idah made a valuable contribution to Celtic's season when he joined on loan but in no way was he key to that 2023/24 league title win, as in they wouldn't have won it without him, that's patent nonsense.
However he did win the cup that year for them (single-handedly) against Rangers. Idah contributed to 2 league title wins but just did not kick on from his early promise, considering he has the height, failed miserably as threat with his head and could not tack down the nr. 1 strikers role when given a host of chances to do so. He is being transferred onward at a financial loss for Celtic of some millions, that's not a success story, that means he's being given another chance to make the grade elsewhere that he has shown promise for in spurts.

It's not patent nonsense - it was widely acknowledged at the time that his goals in the second half of the season were the difference between winning the league and not winning it. Probably long since forgotten about by Celtic fans though, as they can't stand him now.

That's not saying his transfer was a success though - his best form was during the loan move. Since the permanent transfer he has been disappointing, with one or two notable exceptions such as the Villa game where he had more space to operate because Villa weren't sitting back like most teams Celtic play against.

[pineapple stu]

Sky Sports saying he's undergoing a medical at Swansea today, so this seems to be going ahead.

£7m seems a lot for a player who's been going backwards the last year or so and who Celtic seem keen to offload to bring in a replacement.

[ifk101]

Not sure where you are getting the going backwards. He scored 20 goals for Celtic last season, finishing the season strongly with 5 goals in the last 5 games. Has started this season poorly as have many of his teammates. As for the fee, all is relative. Kasey McAteer went to Ipswich for £12 million. That's a lot imo. £7 million for Idah seems a good deal relative to that fee.

[pineapple stu]

Ah anyone will tell you last season wasn't as good as his loan spell, and this season has been worse again. That's going backwards in anyone's language.

In the loan spell he was at least knocking in key goals from the off (against Hibs and Motherwell in his first three games, plus against Rangers in the league and the Cup final). He didn't have close to that impact once he signed permanently - instead he drew regular criticism for his ineffectiveness and too many of his goals were when the game was already won (I think he scored the opening goal in one, maybe two games). His scoring rate dropped off too.

This season has been a disaster so far, and he's not the only one in that camp of course.

[Eirambler]

As for the fee, all is relative. Kasey McAteer went to Ipswich for £12 million. That's a lot imo. £7 million for Idah seems a good deal relative to that fee.

There will generally be some demand for strikers with a bit of height and a bit of pace - I lost count of how many teams (including Celtic) took a punt on Oliver Burke, often for sizeable transfer fees, without success. He's big, he's quick, but he lacks a footballing brain.

Idah seems to be similar, between his inability to make the best use of his attributes on the field, throwing up in a taxi and shushing supporters after scoring a goal, he doesn't seem like the brightest tool in the shed. Hopefully Swansea can get a tune out of him and he can turn things around.

[ifk101]

Ah anyone will tell you last season wasn't as good as his loan spell, and this season has been worse again. That's going backwards in anyone's language.

In the loan spell he was at least knocking in key goals from the off (against Hibs and Motherwell in his first three games, plus against Rangers in the league and the Cup final). He didn't have close to that impact once he signed permanently - instead he drew regular criticism for his ineffectiveness and too many of his goals were when the game was already won (I think he scored the opening goal in one, maybe two games). His scoring rate dropped off too.

This season has been a disaster so far, and he's not the only one in that camp of course.


He was drawing criticism before even signed for Celtic so take it with a pinch of salt, the criticism has rarely been balanced or fair.

Fact is he scored 20 goals last season. That’s a good return. He has never scored that many goals in one season before. And he “only” scored three less league goals than Maeda – who was on fire last season (and played 800 league minutes more than Idah!). And goals is just one aspect. With their current squad, Celtic function better with Idah in the team as a pivot/ focus for the attack imo. And as poor as he has been this season, Celtic played better when he came onto the pitch against Kairat. That game was a difficult watch for a neutral as myself, but it was 50:50 up until Idah came on. Celtic were on top for the remainder of the game with a couple of good goal chances, and I do recall Celtic missing an excellent goal chance from Idah’s good play.

I’m not sure there will be a goal scoring improvement with the move to Swansea. Probably would be better to get away from Britland and start afresh from the noise.

[pineapple stu]

He was drawing criticism before going to Celtic, sure. I think it was generally deserved because, let's be honest, he flattered to deceive at Norwich, and for Ireland at the same time.

He dropped a level to move to Celtic, started well and was the Cup Final hero, then last year wasn't as good and by now Celtic fans seem actively to want him out of the club. That's going backwards.

Maeda was only on fire for the second half of last season, and still scored 13 more than Idah in all competitions (league only seems unnecessarily selective). Idah's 20 is an ok haul, but Celtic scored 159 last season so there were clearly goals to be had, especially when someone else has done the donkey work to break down initial resistance and open the scoring. Fact is, though, he scored 9 in 801 minutes in his loan spell, compared to 20 in 2372 last season - so from a goal every 89 minutes to one every 119 minutes. Going backwards.

Then last year there was attitude issues surfacing last season too as Eirambler notes (skipping pre-season training at Norwich to force through his move could be added)

Celtic improved when Idah went off against Kairat at home btw, so there's swings and roundabouts to that argument. The highlights (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8xw6QkQzZo) of the away game don't show the chance you mention - which isn't to say it didn't happen - but they do show him failing to follow in on up McCowan's shot until the keeper has parried it, which means the defender gets past him to clear. (I think he was offside anyway, which is another habit of his)

[ifk101]

Maeda was only on fire for the second half of last season, and still scored 13 more than Idah in all competitions (league only seems unnecessarily selective). Idah's 20 is an ok haul, but Celtic scored 159 last season so there were clearly goals to be had, especially when someone else has done the donkey work to break down initial resistance and open the scoring. Fact is, though, he scored 9 in 801 minutes in his loan spell, compared to 20 in 2372 last season - so from a goal every 89 minutes to one every 119 minutes. Going backwards.

He scored five goals in the last five league games last season – i.e. he finished the season strongly with a forward, positive momentum. These goals were in the top six split so against strong(er) opposition and equated to a goal every 58.6 minutes played. If you also include the cup semi-final and final games, he scored 6 goals in 422 minutes played. This equates to a goal every 70 minutes in the last 7 games to finish off the season. In total, he scored a total of 20 goals last season, which is the highest number of goals he has scored in a single season. The most he scored in a single season for Norwich was 7, his last full season with them. This was the player Celtic signed. Fact is, last season was his highest goal tally to date - which should have exceeded Celtic's expectations given his previous goal scoring record, and he finished the season strongly with a goal scoring purple patch. That’s not going backwards.


Then last year there was attitude issues surfacing last season too as Eirambler notes (skipping pre-season training at Norwich to force through his move could be added)

Seriously lad


The highlights[/URL] of the away game don't show the chance you mention - which isn't to say it didn't happen

Hatate had a great chance to score in the first half of extra time, which came from Idah getting to the byline and picking him out with a ball across the box. That did happen. :-)

[pineapple stu]

Again, that's very selective use of stats. A purple patch over a few weeks when the league was already won? Or comparing stats season on season? I know which I'm happier to judge a player and his direction on.

[Eirambler]

He was playing opposition of a far lower level last season than he had previously in any season in his career. 20 goals for Celtic is nothing special, Anto Stokes managed more than that in three separate seasons in Scotland - two with Celtic and one with Hibs, as well as scoring 16 in 18 another season - and yet when it came to international football and the top two divisions in England he was miles off it.

[ifk101]

Again, that's very selective use of stats.

You are setting the tone here ... 800 minutes of loan time.

[pineapple stu]

Not really.

I'm comparing the 23/24 v 24/25 v 25/26 seasons. Simples.

[ifk101]

Not really.

I'm comparing the 23/24 v 24/25 v 25/26 seasons. Simples.

No. He played half a season at Norwich in 23/24. He scored a goal every 138 minutes in 23/ 24 and a goal every 118 minutes in 24/ 25. You have selectively chosen a purple patch in the 23/ 24 season to state he has gone backwards in 24/25 when his goals per minute played on a per season basis has actually gone down. Simples.

[pineapple stu]

Well of course he scored less frequently once you add in his time in a stronger league.

I'm not sure what point you think you're making there - you're comparing apples and oranges now.

[SkStu]

I think its a little offside to argue against a statistic that is as simple as 20 goals in a season. That's a significant achievement, SPL Old Firm team or not. His loan spell was also a success, statistically and in terms of what his goals contributed to their honours that year. All that said, looking beyond the stats there is something that doesn't feel right. Whether it is him (reports of his extracurricular activities are worrying), the manager (not setting up around his strengths) or the fans (who are weird, lets be honest) or a combination of all three, it seems that time is right to move on for all parties. I just dont think its an argument where his stats (including only 6 games into 25/26) can be used as a good reason to support it.

The fans also hate Scales...for no good reason. They tend to adopt the non-negotiable hero/villain mindset.

[pineapple stu]

I think its a little offside to argue against a statistic that is as simple as 20 goals in a season. That's a significant achievement, SPL Old Firm team or not.
Just for clarity, I agree - and it's not what I'm arguing. I'm saying his loan down was decent, last season wasn't as good with various cracks starting to show, and this season has been worse so far. Hence going backwards - that's all

Though equally it's valid to point out Stokes scored 20+ multiple times in Scotland and was never a serious international player

[Razors left peg]

Just for clarity, I agree - and it's not what I'm arguing. I'm saying his loan down was decent, last season wasn't as good with various cracks starting to show, and this season has been worse so far. Hence going backwards - that's all

Though equally it's valid to point out Stokes scored 20+ multiple times in Scotland and was never a serious international player

Was Stokes more talented than Idah? He was never a serious international player because he was an idiot, but he was a brilliant player when he was in the mood

[Jd2793]

stokes definitely more talented! he was a headbanger though. idah isnt good enough for celtic if they want to do anything in europe. thats the sad reality of it.

[Eirambler]

Stokes was a brilliant player at a certain level. Any time he tried to step up though, the failed miserably, even when he was actually trying.

[seanfhear]

Stokes lacked that yard of pace to play successfully, at the higher levels he tried and failed at. If I recall correctly, Liam Brady said there was a high quality player in Stokes, if he did have that pace that he lacked !

[Razors left peg]

Stokes was a brilliant player at a certain level. Any time he tried to step up though, the failed miserably, even when he was actually trying.

Could it really be said he was ever trying given how unprofessional he was off the pitch. If he had the work ethic he would have been a super player

[Eirambler]

He was maybe never as good as he could have been, but I saw both the trying version of Stokes and the non-trying version while he was at Hibs and it was night and day. At that level he was capable of overpowering defenses, including the Glasgow teams', but only when he could be arsed.

He was apparently an absolute nightmare to deal with off the field and in the dressing room.

[Razors left peg]

Hes just a scrote in general

[pineapple stu]

Not in the squad for the Old Firm derby today.

Not entirely surprising given the transfer situation, but not ideal prep for the international window either.

Rangers have just taken the lead, which will surely heap even more pressure on the striker situation. Rangers without a win in the league this season of course and Russell Martin is under huge pressure with that and the Club Brugge hammering.

Edit - goal ruled out actually.

[Fizzer]

That’s handy as, short of a paper-cut, he won’t get injured. We’re light on striking options now that Parrott’s out. Ferguson will need to be relieved at some stage of both games. Doesn’t sound like Ogbene is fully fit either which calls into question the wisdom of leaving Festy out (if he’s over his tantrum I’d have him back in pronto). I’m still a bit apprehensive of McAteer.

[Eirambler]

Szmodics is an option as well. Would rather him than Idah if we're chasing the game against a team sitting deep holding a lead.

[liamoo11]

Szmodics is an option as well. Would rather him than Idah if we're chasing the game against a team sitting deep holding a lead.

Szmodics Bern woeful for us and Ipswich. Got his big move rightly so after his goal rush but has dtoped off a cliff since