The signing of Kasper Schmeichel to replace the retired Joe Hart is a saga that reeks of recruitment mismanagement and last-minute panic—a far cry from what fans expected from the club when Joe Hart announced his retirement at the start of the year.
Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that on paper, signing Schmeichel seems a shrewd move. His performances in Celtic’s pre-season fixtures, against heavyweights like Manchester City and Chelsea, have been impressive. With his robust record of Premier League experience and a handful of stunning saves already under his belt, Schmeichel’s presence between the sticks is poised to be a boon for the Bhoys.
However, scratching beneath the surface of these performances reveals a narrative fraught with procrastination and poor planning. Joe Hart’s retirement was no bolt from the blue; the announcement came as early as February 22nd. This gave Celtic a whopping five months—ample time by any standard—to line up a suitable successor before pre-season was even on the horizon. Yet, the wheels only started to turn alarmingly late in the game.
The real conundrum arises with the revelation that initial contact with Schmeichel was established a mere three to four days after Denmark’s exit from the Euros, knocked out on June 29th. This startling delay in reaching out to the Danish stopper sends off warning sirens about the efficiency and foresight of Celtic’s recruitment planning. Why the wait?
This eleventh-hour scramble smacks of desperation and perhaps even a lack of ambition. It hints at a scenario where manager Brendan Rodgers, faced with scant viable options as the clock ticked down, had to dip into his own past connections and pull Schmeichel into the fold—a move that, while effective, suggests Rodgers compensating for the shortcomings of the recruitment team.
Whatever the case, this isn’t just about filling a position; it’s about the broader implications for how Celtic approaches its business. Could this partly explain why Celtic are yet to sign an outfield player just days before the flag is unfurled?
This is not a dig at Kasper, I think he’ll do a grand job in the year he is contracted to between the sticks. But his comments, which link back to the recruitment team, send alarm bells through my head.
As Celtic look to move forward, one hopes that the only last-minute saves are the ones happening on the pitch.
No surprise to me, under Lawwell its always been last minute useless loans. Not a Celtic man at all, we are nickle and dime in the transfer market when we can afford much more. Wish he would gtf
Think you could be reading into something that doesn’t exist imo?
Rodgers looks like he is trying to build a squad that goes well beyond next season imo?
The time factor might be frustrating, but rather that with forming a strong all round squad for a CL campaign next season?
Kasper has already shown the quality that still exists within his game.
Will benefit our defenders in front of him also with his presence.
Got a understudy already in place, so the position looks far more secure than it was for the past few years, and nobody was to concerned about it then?
Especially if Hart picked up a long term injury?
Rodgers trusts Kasper hugely and can totally understand why he wanted him as a keeper, and with a understudy only to prepared to learn from him also, fail to see how a decent bit of business can be setting off any alarm bells imo?
If we want new signings Rodgers will have to go get them himself. Utter shambles.
Good piece Johnno. Aaron putting his thoughts into words which imo may lack some consideration. Transfers are very seldom quick fire deals I’m sure the KS deal was well underway in the background during the Euros. Looking around the market was extremely quiet during that period. I’m sure KS will prove to be an inspirational signing motivating the players in front of him he is an exceptional goalkeeper. KTF🙏 other quality signings will follow.
There is no excusing the lack of transfer business in this window, which simply mirrors all other transfer windows in its shallowness. They have £100m in the bank and have had months and months to recruit, yet here we are on the verge of a new season not even as strong in squad as last season. It’s absolutely disgraceful and there is no excusing it. This Celtic Board needs to be cleared out if Celtic is ever to perform at any level above the lowly Scottish game.
I am always vocal about Desmond and his using our club as a cash cow, however on this one it is different.
We seemingly had several goalkeepers we were trying to bring in but a lot of agents weren’t letting their clients do deals until after Euros, in case they increase their value with good performances on the world stage.
Then suddenly Kasper was available and we rightly jumped on it.
Let’s face it, Hart retired because a section of fans and media turned on him when his form temporarily dipped and it was becoming a distraction to the team so he fell on his sword, otherwise we wouldn’t even be looking for a keeper.
I am sure Kasper would put his credentials up against any of the other keepers we looked at. We will soon find out as we actually got one of the other keepers we were chasing and he will be warming the bench waiting for Kasper to slip up.
So let’s focus on the real needs we have wasted time filling, not just in this window but the last 6 or 7 windows, like 2 centre halves, a left back, defensive, creative mid and box to box midfielder.
We are a big fish in a small pool it’s not a great to get players to come to this league yes champions league helps big time but people need to adress the league we are in so Celtic should be praised for bringing such class to this league through the years and know Saudi league are using there wealth to take players to a league that will be pushing for a place in champions league in a few years money counts where eufa and fifa concerned corrupt institutes that’s what Celtic board are up against