Sutton rips out Lawwell’s explanations, leaving Celtic open to criticism

Peter Lawwell’s recent statement alongside Celtic’s Interim Report has left Chris Sutton, along with many Celtic supporters, feeling puzzled and frustrated.

The board’s acknowledgment of concerns regarding the lack of activity during the January transfer window is noted, but no concrete solutions have been presented. This concern stems from the disappointing summer transfer activities, which saw 10 players arrive while key figures such as Jota, Aaron Mooy, and Carl Starfelt departed.

The arrivals during the summer failed to significantly improve the starting XI, with Luis Palma being the only exception, albeit with a recent decline in goals and assists. Looking ahead, there are looming challenges such as the need for a replacement for Joe Hart and potential offers for Matt O’Riley, which Celtic may find hard to resist.

This situation sets the stage for a perfect storm, as highlighted by Sutton after reviewing the Interim Report. Lawwell’s admission that there were limited options leaves many questions unanswered. The lack of satisfactory explanations regarding why mistakes were made and who is to blame is particularly concerning.

Sutton questions the claim that identified targets were unavailable, suggesting that more alternatives could have been explored. Additionally, he challenges the notion that reduced transfer activity in England should affect Celtic’s approach, especially given Ange Postecoglou’s proactive signings in the previous window.

While some signings like Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate played crucial roles in Celtic’s success, doubts linger regarding the potential impact of recent signings like Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah.

Overall, Lawwell’s statement has failed to provide reassurance or clarity, leaving Celtic vulnerable to criticism and speculation.