Celtic Finally Make a Move – And Maybe It’s Time We Admit They’ve Got This One Right

Well… Celtic have finally done it.

After weeks of frustration, criticism, finger-pointing and growing concern, Celtic have finally made their first meaningful addition of the summer with the signing of Camilo Duran from Qarabag.

And predictably, the reaction from sections of the support has been divided.

Now, let me be absolutely clear before anyone accuses me of changing my tune.

I’ve been one of the loudest voices questioning Celtic’s approach to recruitment.

Criticised the lack of urgency, the lack of ambition and the complete absence of purpose that seems to plague our transfer windows year after year.

I’ve criticised the absentee landlord as well as executives who appear reluctant to pick up the phone until pressure reaches boiling point and then go onto make a rip roaring arse of it.

I have been dismayed at the antagonistic relationship that has developed between the club and sections of its own support.

NONE of that changes because one player walks through the door.

But equally…

I’m not going to let my opinion of those running Celtic stop me from acknowledging when they appear to have done something right.

Too often in football, opinions become tribal.

People decide they either have to defend absolutely everything the club does or criticise absolutely everything the club does.

I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking.

If Celtic deserve criticism, they’ll get it.

If Celtic deserve praise, they’ll get that too.

And in this particular instance, I think they deserve a measure of credit.

No, I don’t suddenly believe there’s been some dramatic U-turn in the boardroom.

Of course, I don’t think one signing fixes every issue surrounding recruitment.

I certainly don’t expect years of frustration to have magically disappeared overnight.

Far from it.

But when Celtic recruit a 24-year-old striker who scored 15 goals and contributed 10 assists in his debut season for Qarabag, you’ve got my attention.

More importantly, when five of those goals came in just ten Champions League appearances, against opposition including Ajax, Benfica, Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle United, that becomes impossible to ignore.

Those aren’t meaningless goals scored against part-time opposition.

Nor were they scored as incidental consolation goals within those matches either.

Those are goals against clubs operating at a significantly higher level at crucial spells during said games.

High pressure environments, against high quality opposition – Duran’s record shines.

That tells me something.

It tells me this player isn’t intimidated by European football.

It tells me he’s capable of producing on the biggest stage available to him.

That’s exactly the type of profile Celtic should be targeting.

Not every signing needs to come from one of Europe’s elite leagues.

In fact, I’d argue some of the best value in the market lies just beneath that level.

Look at clubs like Qarabag.

Look at Bodo/Glimt as another example.

Look at teams who have consistently punched above their weight in European competition over recent years.

They don’t have 60,000 supporters packing out a stadium every other week.

They don’t offer the opportunity to win league titles almost every season.

They don’t offer the platform Celtic can provide.

That’s where Celtic should be shopping.

Players at these clubs are attainable.

Their wage structures remain realistic.

The transfer fees required for their key assets generally fall within Celtic’s financial capabilities – whether the Board like it or not!

Most importantly, they’re already proving themselves in the very competition Celtic desperately wants to compete in.

Why wouldn’t that be our market?

Why stop at Duran?

Why not build an entire recruitment strategy around identifying players from clubs operating in similar circumstances?

For years supporters have spoken about wanting Celtic to become smarter in the transfer market.

This feels like exactly that.

A player whose stock has risen dramatically after an outstanding European campaign but who remains obtainable before one of Europe’s wealthiest leagues inevitably comes calling.

That’s intelligent recruitment.

Or at least it appears to be.

Of course, today has also highlighted something rather sad.

Despite what looks like an encouraging signing, sections of the support still can’t bring themselves to acknowledge it positively.

Now, before anyone misunderstands me, I totally understand where that scepticism comes from.

The Celtic board created this atmosphere.

Years of slow transfer windows, underwhelming ambition and frustrating negotiations will do that to the fans.

Rightfully so!

Years of allowing supporters to feel like they’re constantly asking for the bare minimum. If they mean change this time then let’s hope they can actually stick to it.

Throw into that the unnecessary confrontations with supporters, including the Green Brigade being banned for months last season, and it’s hardly surprising trust is at an all time low, let’s be honest.

This division didn’t appear overnight.

The club built it.

So, trust me, I do understand why supporters approach every announcement with caution.

But there comes a point where cynicism risks becoming an obstacle in itself.

I’ve seen people complaining that negotiations took too long.

Really?

For me, Celtic only take too long when they either fail to land the player altogether or end up paying over the odds after weeks of unnecessary delay.

If they have secured one of Europe’s emerging forwards for what appears to be sensible money, then that’s simply how negotiations work.

Sometimes patience pays off.

Not every transfer has to be viewed through the lens of previous failures. I won’t lie I am having to make a conscious effort to not let our recent past cloud my judgement.

If we demand the club gets recruitment right, then surely we also have to acknowledge it when it looks as though they’ve done exactly that.

Otherwise, what message are we sending?

That nothing Celtic ever do will be enough?

That every signing has to be viewed negatively regardless of merit?

That’s not where I want to be as a supporter.

I want to judge each decision on its own merits.

My vibe on the Camilo Duran deal is that it should be treated with some cautious optimism.

But optimism nonetheless!

Football is unpredictable.

Goals scored in Azerbaijan don’t automatically become goals scored in Glasgow.

Champions League form elsewhere doesn’t guarantee Champions League success in green and white.

Camilo Duran still has everything to prove but let’s give him every chance to flourish.

In the end, like every new signing, he’ll ultimately be judged by what he produces wearing the Celtic shirt, not the Qarabag one.

Do Celtic still need more?

Absolutely.

One striker doesn’t complete this squad.

I still have huge concerns about whether enough business will be completed before another crucial Champions League campaign begins.

The Manager sounded upbeat after the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne regarding recruitment though and alluded to quality coming in.

Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a different kind of transfer window rather than a brief moment of competence before familiar frustrations return.

Because if Celtic continue identifying players of this profile, from clubs like Qarabag who regularly test themselves in Europe, then supporters might finally begin to feel that recruitment is being driven by strategy rather than a random heads up phone call to the CEO’s office touting his client.

For now, the message is simple.

Well done, Celtic.

Now don’t stop.

Give us more of the same.

Keep Your Eyes on The Board.