The Luis Palma Experiment Looks All But Over

Luis Palma arrived at Celtic with plenty of hype, showing early promise and giving fans hope he could be a key player. However, as time has passed, it’s become clear that Palma hasn’t lived up to expectations, and his future at Celtic looks uncertain.

In this weekend’s Game against Falkirk, Palma delivered a poor performance and was subbed off after 60 minutes with Celtic trailing 2-1. His display drew heavy criticism, with fans on social media voicing their frustration.

Many feel he isn’t at the level Celtic need, and his lack of impact is glaring. Celtic won the Game in the end and to compound the Honduran’s performance, he watched fellow winger Nicolas Kuhn come off the bench and bag two goals and two assists in 30 minutes.

Palma’s fall has come as Celtic have slowly upped their Game, from February onwards it was clear he was no longer a first pick. Where he was once seen as an exciting option, he’s now struggling to make the squad. Players like Yang and James Forrest are ahead of him, while Daizen Maeda continues to set the standard alongside Kuhn. Unlike Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn, who bring pace, pressing, and directness, Palma has been passive. He’s often reluctant to take on defenders, choosing safer, backward passes instead of pushing forward. His ability to keep the ball under pressure is also very poor.

While there’s always a small chance there could be a redemption, it feels like a million miles away from happening. He’s not going to get a lot chances with some of the more important Games coming up. Palma’s experiment at Celtic seems to be nearing its end, and a fresh option could better suit the team’s ambitions going forward.

You don’t want to have a go at any Celtic player, but the reality is we have to be ruthless. Palma sitting on the bench, taking up a space, and being considered for high-profile Games could become a serious problem. Celtic need better, and if Palma can’t offer that, it’s time to find someone who can.