match thread (image) [FT] Celtic 0 - 2 Rangers (Goldson 9, 54)

[26th of foot 6,084]

Yesterday, was an emotional roller coaster.

 

Like most of you, I spent the early afternoon shouting at a TV screen? I thought we played within ourselves, kept it relatively simple in allowing the Yahoos penetration on either flanks, but ensuring they turned back before crossing. Thus, we ensured they played in front of us. They did not get in behind and I think McGregor only had two cross balls to deal with in the match.

 

Kamara was my man of the match, he epitomised the above paragraph. When we moved forward, we did so quickly. Often, it was two or three fast passes, and we were in? A better final ball and the victory would have been more comfortable. I am apprehensive about saying this, so I will mention it quietly. I suspect our players know they have the beating of that shower? Thus, they did enough, knowing another important Europa Cup game occurs midweek.

 

My highlight of the game was Connor Goldson’s second, having the awareness to play a one-two wall pass off Duffy, before slotting home. It’s good, Connor has revealed Duffy’s purpose.

 

My advice Gersnetters, enjoy the next couple of months before we beat them again.

[JohnMc 2,765]

We learned a few things yesterday. Firstly the players Celtic had missing. I think it's true, they certainly weren't able to play their first choice starting 11 and in Christie, Eduarde and Julien that's 3 important players for them who'd almost certainly have started. But here's the thing many pundits seem to be missing; football is a squad game and Celtic's squad is not as deep as Rangers now. I'm not sure how that happened, or when it happened, but somehow what felt like a chasmic gap in squad quality has not only been bridged but been overtaken. Someone at our club deserves enormous praise for that and someone at Celtic's needs laughed at. How they've blown the serious financial advantage they still have over us is bewildering. But yesterday laid bare the reality of our squad. Had Rangers lost our first choice striker and leading creative force and second striker how would we have reacted. Well, we of course were missing our first choice striker in Roofe, so Morelos steps in. Had Morelos been injured Itten or Defoe would have played instead. That's decent depth in anyone's book. The guy Celtic had upfront looked poor yesterday. Apparently he's new and it would be foolish of me to write him off based on one match, he might still come good, but he looked a long way short of the quality Eduarde has. For me Kent is probably more valuable to our team as Christie is to theirs. Let's be blunt, losing  Kent would hurt us. He's been in great form this season, his running with the ball, his speed on the break, his work rate and his quality would be missed. How would we replace him? Jones, Hagi and Barker are the obvious replacements. None are as good as Kent and all have their weaknesses, but all know our system and have played in it, successfully, this season already. As for the centre-half if we lost say Goldson then Balogun would have played. He's looked pretty handy when he's played and while I'm not sure he's as good as Goldson he's not some kid from the reserves getting thrown in. And of course Katic, arguably our second choice centre-half, is already out injured. The other player they've spoken about is Forrest. Again a regular starter when fit. Fair enough, but we went into that match without Aribo a highly creative player and an almost certain starter had he not picked up an injury. So yes, Celtic missing key players undoubtedly gave us an advantage, but their inability to replace those players adequately is the real story here. 

 

I was fortunate enough to read the book 50 Greatest Rangers Games recently (buy it, it's excellent) and one of the things that struck me was how often a Walter Smith side, shorn of the big important players through injury or suspension, was able to get a result in an important match. Had Celtic, reigning Champions with home advantage, been able to get even a draw yesterday it would have been a big psychological victory for them. As it was they were made to look average and they know it. They've shown in previous seasons they can regroup and bounce back from defeats, but for some reason this felt different. We didn't celebrate like we'd won something tangible, in reality it was only 3 points, albeit an important 3, trooped off with big smiles but there was none of the over exuberance of previous victories over Celtic, nothing for Celtic's management team to pin on their noticeboard to motivate their squad. Celtic fans have turned on their manager, this result didn't seem to be a big surprise to them. Apparently their form has been poor this season, their new players haven't gelled and they've struggled anytime they've played someone good. Maybe. Their late goals in a match a few weeks ago felt to me like they still knew how to win when playing badly, something we're still to master, so the next few weeks will be interesting. Whatever happens yesterday felt different, like beating them wasn't the pinnacle of our ambition anymore. 

 

Lastly the lack of a home support. The referee was put under a lot of pressure before the match by Celtic leaning people. Apparently he's a big bluenose, not something anyone who has watched him referee us in the past would have realised. However, less than subtle pressure was applied pre-match and any dubious call by the ref would be getting the Sportscene treatment for sure. In the end the ref had a decent match and I think this is partly down to the absence of 60,000 people screaming every time Morelos challenges for a ball. Whatever anyone says I think the home support do influence, however involuntary, the ref and linesmen. I think the home side get most of the 50/50 calls and clashes between players seem worse when there's a baying mob screaming for justice. But without the baying mob the refereeing seems better I think. There are still mistakes of course, but by and large the players seem to accept the decisions more too. Without the loud backing of myopic hordes calling for everything, Celtic in particular looked a lot less aggressive than usual. This suits us because we're not a physical team, we aim to play football on the ground, and a stop start niggly match doesn't help us. 

 

Anyway, let's enjoy the victory and the manner of it. Had we put 4 past them, and that's certainly what I was screaming for midway through the 2nd half, that might have forced Celtic to do something. As it is a 2-0 win can be excused, explained away by injuries and Covid isolation and so hopefully nothing will change down Parkhead way. It's good to be a bluenose this weekend. 

[compo 7,052]

We seem to play better in empty stadiums so I hope the whole season is played out in empty stadiums ?

[Rousseau 10,642]

I think Katic is fourth choice, maybe even fifth, but I agree with the sentiment, @JohnMc. 

[gisabeer 409]

Frustrating at times when plays like he did today and fails to turn up the following week.   I pray he can maintain a decent level of consistency,    hell be a major player this season if he does.

[ian1964 10,724]

 

[ranger_syntax 4,330]

5 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

 

Didn't the director of football value the squad at ~£110 million?

[ranger_syntax 4,330]

43 minutes ago, compo said:

We seem to play better in empty stadiums so I hope the whole season is played out in empty stadiums ?

This is a load of rubbish.

 

You don't need to think too hard to figure out why.

[ian1964 10,724]

 

[ranger_syntax 4,330]

1 hour ago, 26th of foot said:

I am apprehensive about saying this, so I will mention it quietly. I suspect our players know they have the beating of that shower? Thus, they did enough, knowing another important Europa Cup game occurs midweek.

Nothing surer.

 

I'm happy we focused on controlling the match ahead of Thursday.