Jackie McNamara is right. Celtic still have not properly replaced Giorgos Giakoumakis, and the longer it goes on, the more obvious it becomes.
The former Hoops defender made the point while discussing the club’s summer recruitment priorities, and his comments cut straight to a problem that has quietly lingered since Giakoumakis left Parkhead.
While most of the noise around Celtic’s striker issue circles the failure to replace Kyogo Furuhashi, McNamara reckons the big Greek has been just as big a miss for the Parkhead club.
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Celtic lost more than goals when Giakoumakis left
Giakoumakis was a colossus of a striker. Strong like a bull but quick and finished his first season at Celtic as the top goalscorer.
And McNamara reckons his old club needs another forward just like him.
McNamara said: “It’s important they spend wisely for what they need, and that comes down to recruitment.
“I think over the years it’s been a lot easier to attract players if you’re playing Champions League but they need to get in there first.
“Last year it was kind of a gamble to get in and then get the players in place, and not getting there put them off to a really bad start, so it is important they get the players in early that they need.”
“There’s a few positions that are key that they need to strengthen.
“Kasper Schmeichel will be going, so the goalkeeping situation, the centre-backs and I think they need a proper nine.
“Giorgos Giakoumakis was a good player at the time but I don’t think they’ve really replaced that type.”
Giakoumakis was never just about numbers. Celtic lost a genuinely different attacking option when he departed.
His physicality, aggression and penalty-box instincts gave Ange Postecoglou something unique in difficult matches. He could bully defenders, attack crosses and turn scrappy games into wins.
The current Celtic attack has technical quality and movement, but it does not have that same direct focal point. That becomes especially noticeable in Europe or against packed domestic defences.
McNamara’s point matters because this is not simply nostalgia. It is a squad balance issue.
Celtic underestimated how valuable Giakoumakis really was
There was always a sense Giakoumakis was replaceable because he was not an automatic starter every week. In reality, his profile was extremely difficult to replicate.
Celtic have added forwards since his exit, but not one offers the same combination of presence, edge and penalty-box reliability. Martin O’Neill still does not have a proper alternative when matches become physical or predictable.
That is why McNamara’s criticism feels accurate now. Celtic thought they could live without that type of striker, but two years later they are still searching for one.
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