This is a question that divides not only our own fan base, but some pundits across the Scottish media. If we were to believe what has been said by the majority, we are light years behind our city rivals.
However I believe that with the right recruitment we are more than capable of being very competitive. Where is my belief in this happening (no it’s belief and not drugs!!) – the last two to four games against them.
While we were beaten, it was nowhere near the encounters at Parkhead in February & August from this year where the team were just not at the races in competing with Celtic.
The past two games have given the fan base a glimmer of hope, but something needs to be done right away – cut out the school-boy errors.
We might get away with these types of errors against lesser opposition, however while it’s hard to admit it, our neighbours across the city have players who will punish us when there is a defensive lapse.
Next season we hope to have a goalkeeper who will be a commanding presence, one who takes no prisoners in going for the ball, sadly McGregor is not the answer & neither is McLaughlin. But we need to instil to all players, play to the bloody whistle!!
The game on Sunday was one where Rangers created the far better chances, however we lacked any cutting edge, which was only highlighted with our right back being our biggest goal threat. That’s not a go at Tav, it’s a major failing on the rest of the players & also staff in identifying this. I know it’s all ‘ifs and buts’, but looking back at the game they had to hold on to their win; we gave them a goal and shot ourselves in the foot by not having a major attacking presence on the park.
My point is that we made/make Celtic look good, I can’t recall McGregor having to make any big saves during the game on Sunday or Celtic having good clear cut chances.
The past four games in 2023 against them were all opportunities where we should have won some of those games – the deciding factors in these games were the three points above – Not having a commanding goalkeeper, defensive errors being punished and lack of a cutting edge.
These three parts need to be rectified ahead of next season, if not I can only see more Old Firm misery for our loyal fan base.
That’s why it’s important to identify the right players ahead of next season.
This will be a HUGE summer of change at Ibrox as highlighted in today’s previous piece – as two trophies out of a possible nine in the past three seasons is nowhere near the standard that this Club expects & demands. 2 in 11 years is utterly impalpable.