The acquisition of Ange Postecoglou has languished in the hierarchy at Parkhead this season, as Celtic’s head coach Brendan Rodgers sought to reinforce his attacking options during the recent January transfer window to gear up for the latter part of the campaign. In an effort to bolster the squad, Rodgers secured the services of Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Wien on a permanent deal and brought in Adam Idah on loan from Norwich City without an option for a permanent transfer.
When Giorgos Giakoumakis departed Parkhead in February the previous year to pursue a career at Atlanta United in the MLS, Celtic were left with only two senior striker choices for almost a year. Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh were the primary number nines for the club during the initial half of the season, prompting the move for Idah to reinforce the attacking department.
Despite Oh’s hefty price tag of £2.5 million when Celtic signed him from Suwon Bluewings in January of the previous year under the guidance of the Australian head coach, his impact on the team has been underwhelming. While Oh demonstrated goal-scoring prowess with 14 goals and two assists in 38 appearances in the K League 1, his performance metrics displayed warning signals, with only a 67% pass completion rate and losing 60% of physical duels during his time in the division.
A comparison between Giakoumakis’ superior performance in the 2021/22 Scottish Premiership campaign and Oh’s stint in the K League 1 in 2022 did not bode well for the South Korean forward being an upgrade for the Scottish club. Regrettably, Oh has struggled to secure a consistent spot in the starting lineup and has failed to deliver goals regularly, despite drawing a more substantial wage compared to several vital first-team contributors at Celtic.
Earning £9,000-per-week at Parkhead according to Salary Sport, Oh’s on-pitch outputs have not justified his salary, especially when assessed against the impactful performances of players like Scales and Palma this season. Oh’s inability to match expectations has painted him as an expensive disappointment for Celtic, casting shadows over the success of the Ange Postecoglou signing.
Hyeon-gyu Oh’s Impact at Celtic: A Tale of Struggles and Setbacks
Hyeon-gyu Oh, the former Suwon Bluewings standout, has had a mixed bag of performances since joining Scottish powerhouse Celtic. With 12 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions within his first year at the club, Oh has shown glimpses of his scoring prowess. However, his goal tally still falls short of the impressive 13 goals in 21 appearances that Giakoumakis achieved in his debut season with Celtic, highlighted in previous comparisons.
During the latter half of the 2022/23 season under Postecoglou’s management, Oh notched six goals in 16 Premiership matches, playing second fiddle to Kyogo. Nonetheless, his performance dropped when it came to domestic cup games, with just one goal in five outings. In the current season under Rodgers, the 22-year-old has struggled to find the back of the net, scoring only five times in 26 matches, two of which were in a noteworthy 6-0 victory over Aberdeen.
Unfortunately, Oh is currently enduring a dry spell, having gone nine matches without a goal or an assist. Relegated to an unused substitute in the past three games, it is evident that his standing in the squad has diminished. The emergence of Idah has pushed Oh further down the pecking order, with the Irish striker showcasing a more potent attacking threat with five goals and an assist in seven league appearances compared to Oh’s five goals and no assists in 20 league outings.
With a significant weekly wage of £9k and a transfer fee of £2.5m, Oh’s lackluster contributions on the pitch have raised concerns about his value for money. In contrast, Liam Scales, who earns £4k less per week, has been a standout performer for Celtic this season. Returning from a loan spell at Aberdeen, Scales has solidified his spot in the team, starting 27 Premiership matches and impressing with his defensive displays.
Comparing Scales’ performances to his fellow defender, Cameron Carter-Vickers, the Irish center-back has excelled both on the ground and in the air, showcasing a dominant presence against opposing attackers. His ability to thwart physical challenges has made him a formidable force in the Celtic backline, underscoring his value to the team.
He has solidified his position as a dependable and consistent starter for Celtic in the league through his impressive performances. This starkly contrasts with Oh, who, despite earning a significantly higher salary, has underwhelmed.
Moreover, the South Korea international earns more than Palma, who has contributed with six goals and nine assists in 23 league matches this season, emphasizing this contrast.
In essence, Oh seems to be draining Celtic’s resources, having been acquired for a substantial fee and earning more than many key players, all while not currently being favored by the manager.
