Kasper Schmeichel Has Set off Major Celtic Recruitment Alarm Bells – Opinion

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.