I stand by what I said in the build up to the match- Barry Ferguson refuses to budge as Ange dominates van Bronckhorst all over again

Barry Ferguson is standing by his claim that Giovanni van Bronckhorst has got Ange Postecoglou sussed, but is keeping quiet about plans B, C and D.

Friday’s column in the Daily Record raised as many laughs as eyebrows with Ferguson supremely confident that he wouldn’t be suffering through another 3-0 hiding just like in February when Celtic went to the top of the league.

Postecoglou knows not to take newspapers too seriously, when he was asked about Ferguson’s Plan A theory the Celtic boss agreed and said that Plan A is to win.

Celtic played as their fans expected. Van Bronckhorst was either caught completely by surprise or his players can’t cope with Celtic.

After the match it was clear that the Ibrox boss had warned his players about the pace that Celtic play at, not to switch off at set-pieces or throw-ins. The first goal, scored after eight minutes demonstrated that but captain James Tavernier failed to address it with his team-mates caught cold throughout the match.

Afterwards the manager was the only one to face up to the media, Ferguson returned to the Daily Record to explain Friday’s preview

There’s no point trying to sugarcoat it. Celtic fans have been giving me a roasting ever since Saturday lunchtime all because I wrote last week Giovanni van Bronckhorst has got Ange Postecoglou sussed. They seem to think I would have been hurting when the Aussie wiped the floor with my old team with a 4-0 win. And they’d be absolutely spot on. Hurting? You better believe it.

It was so bad I had to watch it twice and, yes, and I don’t mind admitting I’m still feeling the pain right now. But if I’m feeling sorry for myself then I can only imagine how Gio has dealt with the past 24 hours or so. He looked totally shell shocked by what he witnessed and I can’t say I blame him. Look, I stand by what I said in the build up to the match. Gio knew exactly how Celtic were going to go about their business on Saturday. And he knew how to set up his team to play against it.

Ferguson went further than saying how Celtic would play, 59,000 fans inside Celtic Park also knew how Ange Postecoglou’s side would approach the match. Ferguson not only told Record readers that van Bronckhorst had Ange sussed but he also claimed that the Dutchman had plans A, B, C and D to ensure that there would be no repeat of the 3-0 defeat in February. He was right on that front, this time it was 4-0 and every bit as emphatic.

But what is the manager supposed to do when his players take it in turns to switch off at key moments? Once was bad enough. But three times in the space of the first 45 minutes?

That’s completely unacceptable and it’s why Rangers ended up on the wrong end of a really sore defeat. Look, credit where it is due. Celtic are on a different level right now in terms of their energy levels and attacking play. They came at Rangers from all angles and they thoroughly deserved the victory because they were by far the better side on the day.

In fact, I’d go as far to say that they are now clear, red hot favourites to win the title this season because no-one else can live with them at this moment in time. And that’s also painful for me to admit.

But the thing I can’t get my head around is how they somehow seemed to catch Rangers completely by surprise on Saturday – as if they didn’t know what to expect.

Gio said afterwards that they were well aware Celtic would look to keep the tempo high by taking quick throw-ins and free kicks. They’ve been doing it – and using the multiball system – ever since Ange came in the door.

So that’s the first thing Rangers should have been aware of. If the ball goes out then be switched on. Face the play. Don’t turn your back on it.

It’s basic schoolboy stuff but it happened over and over again and there is no excuse at all for that. When Celtic’s players were flying at them at full tilt, too many guys in blue shirts were jogging back into position. I found it absolutely astonishing.

The only conclusion is that van Bronckhorst’s players, even fully briefed, aren’t capable of halting or competing with Celtic when Angeball is in full flow.

Since the first game of the season, even with just a 2-0 win at home to Aberdeen, it was clear that Postecoglou’s ideas have been embraced by his squad who are young and looking to learn and improve. Only Joe Hart and Callum McGregor are over 28, chief tormentors Jota, Liel Abada and Matt O’Riley are under 23.

It is understandable that Barry Ferguson’s heart rules his head, the Daily Record has picked up plenty of attention but even in these digital times it can’t all be about the clicks.