Pre-season friendlies are not always the best indicators of a team's readiness for the competitive season, yet they can reveal important insights into their current form.
Celtic's convincing 4-0 victory over Newcastle United last weekend seemed promising, but their subsequent 5-1 defeat to Ajax on Thursday has sparked concern among fans.
"We lack serious depth," commented a fan to BBC Scotland.
"No ambition spells failure," remarked another.
Brendan Rodgers' team is set to defend their Scottish Premiership title against St Mirren in just nine days. The Northern Irish manager has been vocal about his desire to strengthen the squad.
Why are fans anxious, and is there cause for concern?
'It's clear where our gaps are'
Celtic have re-signed left-back Kieran Tierney following the expiration of his Arsenal contract. They have also secured the signings of Scotland goalkeeper Ross Doohan and forward Callum Osmand on free transfers.
Additionally, Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada have joined from the J-League, with Benjamin Nygren making it six new additions in total.
Despite these reinforcements, even before the heavy loss to Ajax, Rodgers emphasized the need for further acquisitions, particularly in attack.
"I think we still have some work to do," he stated. "The players we currently have have performed very well in pre-season, but we still have work to do in the market."
"It's very clear where our gaps are—in our frontline, where we need support, and I'm very confident we'll address that before the transfer window closes."
Kyogo Furuhashi's departure to Rennes in January left a scoring void that hasn't been filled, and with Nicolas Kuhn leaving for Serie A side Como, the attack has been further depleted.
Kyogo scored 85 goals in 165 appearances for Celtic, while Kuhn added 21 goals and 15 assists last season alone.
Portuguese winger Jota is sidelined with a long-term injury, and doubts persist over Adam Idah's capability to lead the line in crucial matches.
Rodgers has consistently expressed over the past 18 months his preference for players who elevate the team's quality rather than simply filling the squad.
The Celtic manager remains "very confident" about bringing quality players in, but it remains to be seen who those additions will be.
Similarities to Rodgers' first stint?
During his initial tenure, Rodgers grew increasingly frustrated with certain aspects of the club's transfer dealings.
When winger Maryan Shved arrived in January 2019, Rodgers admitted he did not "know a great deal" about him, expressing frustration over the influx of wingers.
"We've got about a million wingers; we don't need another," he commented, before Shved was loaned back to Karpaty Lviv.
The Ukrainian international would make only one league appearance for Celtic.
This summer, Rodgers has not voiced similar grievances but did mention that Inamura was not in his immediate first-team plans when the Japanese defender first arrived.
"No, he won't be," Rodgers said when asked if Inamura would be ready to join the Celtic starting XI.
"He's part of the club's investment."
Inamura has impressed during friendlies, providing competition for Tierney on the left side of defense.
Nevertheless, if Rodgers does not secure the quality he seeks in attack for the domestic and European challenges ahead, his contentment remains a factor to watch.
Your views
Liam : The same fans who were overly excited about beating Newcastle are now upset about this defeat. These are friendly matches focused on fitness, and they reveal little we don't already know. Adam Idah is a disappointment, and unless we address it, we'll struggle in several matches this season. We are aware of the issues in defense.
Anthony : Too much emphasis is often placed on pre-season results. The first team is playing well and showing good football, but we lack serious depth. Questions remain about the attack and center-back positions. The next two weeks, with the league start and transfer market, will be crucial in shaping our season.
Lewis : The sooner Celtic returns to domestic football, the better, as cheap signings have proven inadequate. Let's not be fooled; this is Scottish football, and it's bleak.
Kevin : No concerns on the domestic front, but Europe is a different story. We need a reliable striker, and we simply don't have one anymore. The board's tight-fisted approach will, as usual, come back to bite them. No ambition spells failure!
Joe : The squad is fragile, and I'm really concerned about the lack of quality signings where we need strengthening. 'Project' signings are not what we need now, whether for the domestic challenge or Champions League qualification. Remember, we're not there yet.
What are your thoughts on the current state of Celtic's squad? Which areas do you think need strengthening? Send us your thoughts.
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