Celtic’s summer transfer business is still having a knock-on effect now.
Celtic supporter groups are in dialogue with the board, after several in-stadium protests which have been well-publicised.
Brendan Rodgers made his demands clear in the media, and they weren’t met, with reported targets such as Jakob Breum, Louis Munteanu and Kasper Dolberg not brought to the club.
The squad was under-prepared for Champions League qualifying, leading to a disastrous defeat against Kairat Almaty.
But for one Celtic hero, the last few months have potentially let the Hoops boss off the hook.
Jackie McNamara on Celtic and Brendan Rodgers
The unrest has largely seen the Hoops support take their frustrations out at the club’s hierarchy – Rodgers is still broadly supported, with his contract expiring at the end of the year.
READ MORE: Andy Walker wonders if Brendan Rodgers will last the season at Celtic despite three-year promise
The Kairat ties weren’t an easy watch, and the side’s style of play has taken criticism – but it’s impossible to ignore the squad circumstances after the transfer window.
But for Hoops hero Jackie McNamara, blame for the side’s issues – particularly the defeat against Kairat – can’t solely be levelled at those upstairs.
Speaking on Mixed Bag, McNamara said: “It’s a difficult one just now. A lot has been made of the transfer policy in the last window, which wasn’t great in terms of the striker department.
“We lost Kyogo and never really replaced him. Obviously Idah was sold. But you should still have more than enough to beat a team from Kazakhstan to get in the Champions League.
“So I think it kind of made it a bit easier for Brendan with the fans on top of the board.
“I still think, yes, the transfer policy in the summer could’ve been a lot better, but we should still be beating that team.”
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic signings
The Hoops’ search for a striker dragged on for so long that Kelechi Iheanacho was the only option after his release from Sevilla, with the window closed.
Iheanacho has however made a positive start to life in Glasgow – so too has Sebastian Tounekti, who has established himself as the side’s new first-choice left-winger.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha took slightly longer to get up to speed, but his assist against Motherwell was a positive sign of his potential impact.
But for some of the arrivals- labelled ‘club signings’ by Rodgers’ – there remains a lot of mystery surrounding the club’s recruitment process.
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