Maeda’s misses highlight Celtic’s negligence on recruitment front | OneFootball

Daizen Maeda’s gilt edge misses highlight Celtic’s negligence on the recruitment front. This might sound like a dig at Daizen but it’s not, it’s actually a pop at our club’s incompetent hierarchy…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic reacts to missing an opportunity Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug just 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock

Daizen is one of our most important players, a clear fans favourite, who was undoubtedly our best player last campaign which was reflected in his numerous player of year awards. However it’s fair to say that the never-say-stop Japanese international has been a shadow of his former self since the beginning of the new campaign.

Don’t get me wrong we can never question his desire and dedication, as he still gives one hundred percent on the pitch, but his instinct in front of goal has certainly let him down, and not just at the start of this campaign, but the last few months.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic arrives at Celtic Park. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, 10 May 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Daizen has more than proved his credentials in front of goal, but there’s been a few times when that killer instinct when it comes to one-on-one opportunities has let him down in vital situations. Maybe just maybe the pressure of being seen as the main man up front has proven to be too much for Daizen?

Last season against theRangers at Ibrox in the final Glasgow Derby clash of the season was one example, although it was a dead rubber so no harm, no foul as they say.

However, Daizen had a golden opportunity to win us the Scottish Cup final, and complete a clean sweep of honours, but ultimately passed up a golden one on one opportunity against Aberdeen in the dying minutes at Hampden which would have undoubtedly won us the game had he been successful in tucking away the gilt edged chance.

Daizen Maeda, Celtic’s POTY. Photo Celtic FC

These things of course happen, but the same thing occurred in the recent two clashes with Kairat, and at important stages of the game, once at Celtic Park, and the other night in Almaty.

Two chances had they been taken that would have put us into the group stages of the Champions League, and it’s not a stain on Daizen, but more of a reflection on the incompetence of the club who failed to bring in a proven goalscorer, not just in this window, but the January window when Kyogo left for Rennes.

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Had we brought a proven centre forward in, then we would have most likely avoided heartbreak at Hampden, and disaster in Almaty. Instead the burden was unfairly placed on the shoulders of Daizen, who’d done brilliantly as a striker stepping into the void Kyogo’s departure left.

It’s about time the Celtic Board got their act together and signed a proven centre-forward.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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