What a difference a week can make. Four points between us and the team at the top of the league. I like to watch wild life documentaries and at the moment, Rangers look like a wounded wild beast and Celtic look like a pack of lions (Lisbon lions if you will – sorry a terrible ‘joke’ but I couldn’t resist it), closing in for the kill.
Of course, this has been a season of unpredictable football from Celtic so next week, things may well be pretty different but I don’t think very many expected us to pull back so many points so quickly.
A lot of fans were pretty confident that we would take three points from the game in hand against Dunfermline so it was nice to be able to get the points on the board from that match. For me, the first half was a great performance and the second not near as bad as the tension around the stadium towards full time suggested.
Before some games, I like to put on a silly bet at the bookies. I put money on Daniel Majstorivic to score last and us to win 6-0. Ok, 2-1 was nowhere near that so the bookies won but with a bit of luck and some better finishing, we could have taken six off of them.
I think, when they scored, I was one of the only people in the stadium who didn’t think that we would lose a second goal. They were hardly near our goal and hardly touched the ball. After reading the stats of match, which of course I didn’t know at the time, we had 75% possession and they only hit the target twice.
I think the reaction of the majority was maybe a bit over the top and how can that sort of reaction possibly help the players? We needed the win and got the win and closed the gap to just seven points when it was sitting at 12 only a few days beforehand.
So, moving on to the St Mirren game, they created more than Dunfermline managed but we were much more clinical in front of goal. A special mention has to go the young Dylan McGeough. I’ve not yet watched a replay of the goal but can only imagine the reaction had Messi or Ronaldo scored a similar goal for their own clubs. Hats off to the young lad, hopefully, that’s the start of a long and prosperous first team career at Parkhead.
After that game, I was saying it will be nice to see if Rangers could handle the heat now that we were closing in. It may just be an off day for them or it may be that they are now hitting their own patch of poor form.
In all honesty, I couldn’t care less what has caused it. The fact is that we are now doing what we need to do and should ignore everything about Rangers until the next derby match comes along.
We have to remember that, league wise, they are in a more desirable position than us and we cannot afford any mistakes. If we can keep the points gap at four going into the next derby match, then I will be happy with that.
They have a few new players and hopefully, some wont be able to handle the atmosphere. Lets face it, bigger and better players from bigger and better teams have froze at Parkhead so who’s to say that some of their players coming to us for the first time, wont do the same.
With the Green Brigade, as usual, in rumbustious form, the rest of the stadium seem to respond and we all know that can affect the players.
Really, it’s amazing how much things can change in such a short period of time. If nothing else, so much change so soon, can only remind us of the fact that there must be many more twists and turns still to come between now and whatever point the fat lady decides to sing.
One last point is the fact that Rangers are quite likely to have to sell one or two players in January due to their financial situation. From the outside looking in, I’d have to suggest that their most valuable players would be Allan McGregor, Nikita Jelavic and Steven Davies so if they lose any of those three, it can only help their opposition.
Just to rub salt into their wounds, should Celtic wait to see if they do indeed go into administration and throw in a £4million bid for their keeper? I’d take him in our team.
A lot of folk don’t want to see our team ‘stained’ with ex Rangers players but I wouldn’t mind if it was someone who could do a job for us. Granted, a bookie would probably laugh more at the thought of that happening than they would for my Majstorovic prediction but it’s just a thought as I’m still not convinced that Fraser Forster is the answer yet.
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Forster is slowly beginning to convince me. He hasn’t done much wrong this season – he does need to be more vocal IMO but that will come with experience.
As for mcgreegor, I wouldn’t touch him with the proverbial barge pole
Let’s not get carried away. Two good performances does not mean we have turned the corner yet. I think Sunday is a real test and should we come through this well I will be delighted.
I have to admit I am surprised that Rangers have dropped 5 of the last 6 points. Surprised, delighted and ready to fully admit I was wrong. Didn’t see it coming I thought their first defeat would come at Celtic Park and would essentially be meaningless.
Hopefully, Mr Lawwell et al will listen to Lenny and provide him with the support to push on. Another powerful striker is necessary. And funds should be made available for any squad players the manager deems necessary (within reason of course). This is a test of their support for the club and the manager. No more Willo Flood moments please.