Rangers take early advantage after win at Celtic Park
I know almost a week has passed since the last round of SPL fixtures but I have been away and I couldn’t let the first Old Firm match of the season pass by without commenting on it. So apologies to those currently preparing for an international week of football for bringing up old news.
The first thing that struck me in the lead up last week’s encounter at Celtic Park was both managers’ team selections. After giving new signing Glenn Loovens his debut a week earlier against Falkirk, Strachan decided to resort back to a Caldwell/McManus combination in the centre of defence. This proved to be one of Celtic’s downfalls – along with the naturally right sided Mark Wilson at left back – as Daniel Cousin got the better of the two, when he wasn’t fouling them, for most of the afternoon.
Cousin was by far the most surprising inclusion in either line-up as he made his first start of the season. Whether Walter Smith believed he was the right man for the job or whether this high profile match, probably the only one with a wide audience outside of Scotland, was the last opportunity to put him in the shop window. Whatever the reason Cousin now finds himself in the English Premiership with Hull City, despite showing both the best and worst sides to his game during the match by both scoring and receiving a red card.
The biggest surprise of the day was the exclusion of Barry Robson. He began the match on the bench as Strachan decided to go with Paul Hartley sitting and the ever disappointing Scott Brown bursting forward from midfield. The only thing he burst, however, was the last piece of faith the Celtic supporters have remaining in him. He was forgiven last season when it emerged that he had family problems that affected his performances but if he doesn’t start picking up his game soon he will surely be out the door at the next opportunity.
It is easy with hindsight to say that Robson should have started instead but surely others must have thought the same upon seeing the line-ups due to his contribution in wrestling the title away from Rangers last season after signing in January. In fact, going by recent form, I would start Robson ahead of McGeady or Nakamura. He has shown he can not only play in all three positions but also that he is currently the best Celtic have in midfield.
The team selection and defeat will surely have Celtic fans again calling – stupidly in my opinion - for Strachan’s head. After all, he has only won three titles in three attempts and taken the team the furthest it has ever been in the Champions League.
On the day, Walter Smith’s tactics were spot on. He provided extra cover for his full back by playing Davis and Adam on either side of midfield, knowing that this is where Celtic could hurt them most, especially with the error prone Kirk Broadfoot at right back. Also Cousin provided the necessary muscle up front to allow Kenny Miller to run riot. It was inevitable that Kenny Miller was going to get his first goal since his return to Rangers against Celtic. He did the same in a Celtic jersey two years ago.
I wonder if anyone in the Rangers support booed Miller when he scored the third and fifth goals of the match.
I heard one Celtic fan claim his first goal was lucky. I do not know what goal that guy was watching because from what I seen he done brilliantly to catch the ball on the volley, keep it down and send it goal wards. I just hope he takes this form with him to Macedonia and Iceland over the next week.
Overall it was the Pedro Mendes show. He picked up his third bottle of Champaign in as many matches after running the show in midfield and capping in off with the best goal of the match. This has been an incredible signing by Walter Smith and Barry Ferguson will surely have a tough time finding his way back into the side once he recovers from injury.
While there was nothing he could do about his goal, Artur Boruc was at fault for Cousin’s opener and Miller’s second of the match. Questions must surely be asked about Artur Boruc but not necessarily about his ability. Despite being at error for the two goals he has proven time and time again that he is a top quality goalkeeper. I thought that Celtic would have cashed in on him after his immense display at Euro 2008 and the club may be beginning to regret that they didn’t. Yet another gesture to opposition supporters has shown that even after several warnings he cannot behave himself.
I find it sad that supporters can be as verbally abusive as they wish towards players but as soon as a player farts in their direction it is considered potentially causing a riot but this is the reality, especially in a match a heated as the Old Firm.
This is the third or fourth time Boruc has done this, added to recently being banned from his national side for breaking a curfew, and it seems no matter how many warnings, punishments or words in his ear he will continue to be a liability.
We know that from previous seasons too much should not be read into this result, with regards to who will win the league. Both sides have already dropped points, Rangers the previous week away to Aberdeen and Celtic away to Dundee United the week before that, and both will do so at certain points during the campaign. The Old Firm matches are crucial but not so much this early in the season.
Rangers have strengthened their squad significantly, even after selling their most valuable asset and of course they have the added ‘bonus’ of not having any midweek trips to the four corners of Europe.
Although Celtic may currently look weaker and face a tough time in the Champions League which could damage morale, they have a built in never-say-die attitude that not only comes out in certain matches but seems to stretch across entire season also, as was shown last time around.
It promises to be another intriguing season.
