Barry Ferguson has questioned Steven Gerrard on the team changes that he believes led to defeat in the Glasgow derby.
Up until mid morning on Sunday the former Liverpool youth coach could do no wrong following an extensive summer recruitment programme, a 100% start to the SPFL campaign and qualification for the group stage of the Europa League.
In contrast Celtic were on the verge of crisis with serious question marks over the £10m defensive duo of Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli while every call and decision by Neil Lennon was being questioned.
Ahead of yesterday’s match the game was destined to send out a statement, lay down a marker for the season ahead as Gerrard grabbed control, taking a decisive step towards ending Celtic’s domestic domination.
The fall out has been spectacular, Ferguson predicted a 3-1 home win but after tasting defeat the finger of blame is being pointed firmly at Gerrard and the costly changes that he made to players and tactics.
In the Daily Record Fergie questioned the decisions of the Ibrox boss:
I can see why Gerrard’s tinkered with his midfield but I have enjoyed watching Aribo in the middle area as he’s more effective in the centre. His call to sacrifice Sheyi Ojo and have him on the bench to go for another sitter in there was a surprise as he has been asking both these boys to play further forward and Rangers have looked the part with that system.
Then there was the decision to leave Alfredo Morelos on the bench and start with Jermain Defoe. I have every respect for Defoe, he’s a brilliant striker, but I felt Gerrard would stick with Thursday night’s side and use the momentum and confidence gained from the win over the Poles.
Morelos scored the last gasp winner against Legia, yesterday the prize guys were all wearing green and white leaving Gerrard facing flack with every decision and move now being called out.
The honeymoon is most certainly over for Gerrard, if the gap at the top stretches beyond three points he’ll discover pressure like he has never known previously in his career. If he needs a comparison he just needs to look at the fall out Neil Lennon undertook after Celtic’s Champions League defeat from Cluj.
