A new signing made by any club during the January transfer window is supposed to stimulate the imagination of supporters.
Not become the cause of fans stifling the urge to laugh. Celtic’s only incomer so far this month Nicolas Kuhn, fell somewhere between those two stools when he touched down in Glasgow on Monday evening to complete his £3million move from Rapid Vienna on a five-and-a-half year contract.
It is to be hoped the German wasn’t listening to the car radio while the vehicle sent to pick him up from Glasgow Airport was
negotiating the tea-time traffic in the city. One of the oldest journalistic practices following the high-profile arrival of a player from abroad is for radio stations, newspapers and TV channels to unearth an expert from the country he has just left to inform the public about what their club’s new acquisition will bring to the party.
Almost invariably, the eyewitness called to the stand will deliver a glowing recommendation … Except the one in Austria who didn’t stick to the script and went rogue on Kuhn. What’s the opposite of a glowing recommendation? An outright condemnation? The expert did a Viennese waltz through unflattering territory. Kuhn was alleged to be prone to injury and surprisingly high in price for someone whose scoring attempts were “rubbish.”
I believe Celtic were, understandably, less than thrilled by that assessment of their latest investment – but you can’t outlaw opinion. No matter how wide of the mark you believe that evaluation to be. If a radio caller swears live on air there are measures that can be taken to immediately end that person’s dubious contribution to the programme. A man voicing a less than positive opinion on a player comes under the heading of free speech.
All of us involved in Scottish football – season ticket holders to media rights holders – want the right to have our say. The notion that Kuhn’s critic was put up to saying what he did – an accusation on social media – is a transparent nonsense from what I’ll describe as the Department of the Permanently Suspicious.
For instance, during my youth, I attended the same school as Billy Connolly. While he went on to achieve global stardom and widespread acclaim, I did not share the same fate. Similarly, Nicolas Kuhn’s resume includes renowned clubs like Ajax and Bayern Munich, yet he never played a single first-team game for either, much like my experience at school where I was not among the star names.
Now, Kuhn finds himself in a position where he must prove his worth at a club where recent first-team recruitments have sparked speculation. This becomes especially crucial during a transfer window where various summer signings are being offloaded, either temporarily or permanently.
Celtic has invested millions in transfer fees for players whose future at the club is uncertain. Kuhn needs to establish himself in a manner that sets him apart from such uncertainties, simultaneously showcasing a more positive light on the club’s transfer dealings.
One might think that Kuhn has a golden opportunity to earn favor quickly, especially against Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup this afternoon. As a part-time team from the Highland League, they are understandably considered underdogs against the reigning trophy holders. This should be a win-win situation for Celtic. Kuhn has the chance to dispel doubts about his finishing abilities, presented as an enticing reason for fans to attend the match.
This selling point becomes particularly valuable on a day when the cup tie is televised, the country is gripped by sub-zero temperatures, and children have school in the morning – always a factor to consider with a 4 pm kickoff
New arrivals at Celtic or Rangers this month are automatically assumed to be players who can tip the balance, one way or another, where the outcome of the league title race is concerned. Kuhn is 24-years-old and therefore all the man he’ll ever be when it comes having the experience necessary to withstand the demands that are placed on the shoulders of every player bought for a not insubstantial sum of money.
The burden of expectation is an occupational hazard at the Old Firm. Besides which, the German has nothing to beat. The defender Marvin Compper was the last player to be signed from that country for Celtic during Brendan Rodgers’ first time as manager of the club.
He was got rid of on the grounds of highly-obvious unsuitability as soon as could be arranged. Kuhn now stands, or falls, by what he does on the park – not what some bloke on the radio had to say about him that was less than complimentary.
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