Before a ball was kicked on Sunday we were told about a gap. The question was, how wide is that gap exactly. After the dust had settled and Rangers had emerged victorious, that question was answered. There is a gap and it's bigger than we thought.
Rangers did not just win on Sunday, they outplayed Celtic and looked stronger in every department. Rangers look like a Club that is moving forward, with good players and a great manager. Celtic, by comparison, look like a Club that has completely lost their way, a rudderless ship, with players who are not good enough, players who are passed their sell by date and with a manager who has no ideas.
Celtic may decide to part company with their current manager, and it looks like they will. However, where does that leave them? Celtic would still have a top heavy squad that is full of players that are not good enough or past their sell by date and on large long term contracts. Any potential new manager would have to clear the decks of those players and would have a huge rebuilding job to do. With a hectic pre season scedual and Champions League qualifying stages only a few weeks after the season ends, will a new manager have Celtic ready in time?
Rangers' preparation for next season started almost a year ago. Foundations have been put in place throughout the course of this season, that have given Rangers momentum going in to next season. When Mark Warburton walked in to Murray Park he found a blank canvas. This allowed Mr Warburton to put his own stamp on things from day one, he brought his own players and his own brand of football. Playing in the Championship has allowed his ideas take shape and given his new squad time to gell, without being put under too much pressure.
Going in to next season, Rangers will strengthen again. Mark Warburton has already stated that he would like to add up to 7 new players. That sounds like a big job, however, work began on this front "weeks ago". Warburton, Weir and McParland have already set about identifying the players they want to introduce to sqaud. There is no doubt Rangers will be stronger next season and the fans have every right to be excited as what we have witnessed this season has been nothing short of miraculous.
The football Rangers have played has been great to watch and the Rangers fans have been lapping it up every weekend. they have filled Ibrox, or any other stadium played at.
Celtic, on the other hand, have been playing to empty stadiums week in week out as they've been treated to absolute dross. It seems like that has put their fans to sleep as they have completely missed what has been going on over at the other side of town. As they begin to wake up, they will realise that their club have fallen behind Rangers and the Celtic board have their work cut out to stop Rangers' March towards their 55th title.
