They told us they did not need
us. They said the SPL was fine without us. They said they were fine without us. Yet social media, websites and chatter
on and offline has been totally abuzz in the past 24 hours suggesting that was
absolute nonsense. As if we did not already know…
Yesterday’s Scottish Communities
League Cup semi-final draw saw what Scotland, Britain, and the world has been
waiting for since mid-2012 – an Old Firm clash. Celtic will play Rangers,
mostly likely at Hampden, for a place in March’s final against one half of the
‘New Firm’, Aberdeen
or Dundee United who were paired in the other semi.
Yet almost no one cares about the
other semi final, because of the sheer gravity of an Old Firm encounter. And this
one has added spice like none in history.
For the past two and a half
years, Rangers have been subjected to a torrent of abuse, nonsense, ridicule
and general hatred from all sections of Scottish football, but none more so
than from East End rivals Celtic. Since the
Club was illegally cast from the SPL into the bottom tier of Scottish football,
Ibrox has been the target of some increasingly unsavoury bile.
This particularly culminated
recently in alleged Dundee United fan Grant Bell mocking the rather sparse
attendance for St Johnstone’s visit in the League Cup quarter by suggesting
Bears had problems with stairs (an irreprehensible reference to stairwell 13).
His mockery of the dozens of good people who lost their lives in both Ibrox
Disasters was a testament to the poison Rangers have had to put up with in
recent years.
What was worse was the Daily
Record painting him as the victim, by reporting that his ‘silly mistake’ had
made him the target of ‘big bad Rangers hooligans’.
This repeated drivel in the
press, in the stands, everywhere in Scottish football has made Rangers fans
stronger as a whole. Yes, we have our political divisions and there is genuine
opposition to each others’ views – but generally Rangers fans have stuck
together – after all, we are still
here.
Consequently, this match up in
January against our oldest, bitter, most acrimonious enemies (responsible for
the lion’s share of the garbage Rangers have had to tolerate) Celtic is easily
the biggest grudge match in decades, not only in Scotland, but quite possibly
globally.
Saturday’s draw saw interest in
the Old Firm spike to unseen levels, as those outwith even these isles took
major attention of the biggest, most historic football rivalry of them all
being rekindled.
I wrote a piece a year or two ago
suggesting that Scotland,
and Glasgow in
particular was not ready for an Old Firm match, and that the poison and hate on
both sides was too great for Strathclyde’s finest to deal with. To an extent I
stand by that view, but the blunt truth is we have to play each other eventually,
and the longer it is left, the greater the tension will be. As a result,
January’s match probably comes at the right time. There is no ‘best’ time, but
this is probably as good and ‘safe’ as we could have hoped for.
Getting back to the match itself,
the very thought brings goosebumps. It is the match we all live for, even if we
did not openly admit it. Some Celtic fans, dare I say it, have been reasonable
to me and admit they miss the Old Firm match, and plenty of Rangers fans
confess the same quietly. That said it remained a taboo to admit you missed Old
Firm matches, but yesterday’s draw broke it. The fact that every fan on both
sides is aching to win this match shows what it means.
Sadly, though, the majority of
Celtic supporters have given this blog, and myself, nothing but nonsense abuse
for far too long and they are a major reason I look forward to meeting, and
beating, their lousy team.
Our chances? My concern is
defence. McCulloch is not up to the task of defending against a team of
Celtic’s quality. He struggles when any good team gets too close, with Dundee
Utd and ICT in 2012 (and Utd again last season) being especially good examples. He has vital
Old Firm experience, yes, but then so do Foster, Smith, Boyd, Miller, and
Wallace, so, frankly, that particular argument does not wash with me.
If he even plays midfield that
would fill me with more comfort, but better yet would be his not being in the
team. He just cannot cut it any more, and endorsement of his selection in the
side is purely sentiment now.
Otherwise though yes, this team
has a chance. Celtic are no great shakes and if last year’s Championship play-off
winners Hamilton can overcome Celtic on their own turf, Rangers can certainly
do it at a neutral venue.
Another small concern is the
midfield. Black is a decent DM but temperamental, and could be a liability in
the pressure cooker of the Old Firm. Law has simply been a diabolical signing.
Only Macleod is doing the side proud in midfield, and he is being wasted on the
wing, while Aird and Templeton are hardly marquee players for the other side.
But these arguments are mildly academic.
Why? Because form, ability and
formation goes out the window on Old Firm day, and it becomes about nothing
more than pure bottle.
Do Rangers have the bottle? We
will see in January.
But it will easily be the
sweetest Old Firm victory of my lifetime (outstripping even ’99) to beat Celtic
after the suffering this Club and its fans have gone through over the past 30
months.
Bring. Them On.