So, Martin O'Neill has basically waved the white flag, resigning himself to selling Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda this summer. And get this, he's even got talks planned with captain Callum McGregor about his future. This is all going down while the Scottish champions have only brought in one new player, Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag. Seriously? We almost lost the league to Heart of Midlothian last season, and this is the "reshaping" of the squad O'Neill talked about?
Engels' Goals and What They Actually Mean
Let's talk about Arne Engels. This kid, 22 years old and capped four times for Belgium, came in during the 2024 summer window from Augsburg. He was supposed to fill the shoes of Matt O'Riley, who scored 19 goals in 49 appearances before heading to Brighton. Engels hasn't hit those insane numbers yet, but O'Riley didn't either right away. What Engels *has* done is step up when it counted. He bagged ten goals in 2024-25 and seven last term. We're talking regular scoring from midfield, folks! And his two most recent goals? Both in trophy-clinching wins! One in the final-day Scottish Premiership showdown against Heart of Midlothian, and the other in the Scottish Cup final victory over Dunfermline Athletic. You can't just replace that clutch factor. Plus, he dished out eight assists last season alone. That's serious contribution to our recent success, and O'Neill thinks we can just let that walk? Unbelievable.Maeda's Explosive Form and Captain's Heart
Then there's Daizen Maeda. What a beast! Season 2024-25 was just incredible for him, exploding for 33 goals in 51 appearances. But it's not just one big season, he's hit double figures in his three other full campaigns, including 17 goals last season, and even netted eight in the back half of 2021-22. He's got 38 assists to his name too, helping us grab 10 pieces of silverware, including five league titles. This guy's got World Cup experience with Japan, he's only 28, and probably still has his best days ahead. How do you even think about letting that kind of talent go? And our captain, Callum McGregor? C'mon. We're talking about one of our most decorated players, 26 honors, 11 league wins. The former Scotland midfielder has piled up 77 goals in 576 appearances and 84 assists since 2014. He's 33, yeah, maybe in the "twilight," but his experience and leadership? That's intangible stuff you cannot replace. He just signed up with a new agency, and now O'Neill is "planning talks" about his future. This isn't just about stats anymore, it's about the heart and soul of the team potentially walking out the door. We've got to sort this out, and fast. So here we are, facing down a new season with the architect basically saying goodbye to our key playmakers. The squad needed reshaping after last season's close call, but letting go of our most valuable contributors without adequate replacements? This isn't reshaping, it's dismantling! Celtic fans deserve answers, and we deserve a team that fights for every title. This season is going to be a huge test, and honestly, right now, it feels like we're starting a few steps behind. We need to see what happens with these "talks" and if O'Neill actually has a plan for who's going to step up, because as it stands, this transfer window is a massive red flag for the title fight.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.