SIMON DONNELLY has told Brendan Rodgers to get ready for a real fight for the title this season.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, the former Celtic striker can’t quite believe that the huge gap that existed between the his old club and Rangers has been narrowed in just a few months.
“I was at the two O*d F*rm games at the end of last season at Hampden and Celtic Park and the gulf in class in both was unbelievable.
“But for whatever reason things look flat this season.
“At this early stage, it seems to be an open race for the title.
“People are talking about Rangers but I’m also looking at Hibs, who Neil Lennon is improving all the time no matter who comes or goes.
“There’s Derek McInnes and Aberdeen, who are always there challenging up to a point. And now Craig Levein has Hearts right up there too.
“With Gerrard coming to Rangers, that’s obviously what people are talking about.
“But all those other clubs must be licking their lips, thinking there is a real race on here.”
Donnelly reckons that it is now up to Celtic to respond to this new reality and reckons that it will be entirely unfamiliar for them to be in the situation where it’s neck and neck. He can’t quite put his finger on what the problem is at Celtic this season.
“It’s just been quite flat. I was at the Rosenborg game last week and I related it to the year when we got off to the bad start in 1997.
“Then we played Liverpool in the Uefa Cup and that kicked us on. We played well and it gave us the confidence to improve.
“I was looking for that kind of performance against Rosenborg but the spark was missing, even though the lads got the result in the end. I don’t know what it’s down to. I wish I did.
“A couple of players have moved on and there’s been no major signings coming in. I felt sure John McGinn would sign from Hibs but that didn’t happen.
“As a player, I remember the boost I always got when new signings arrived.
“After my first season at the club, I thought I’d established myself — but that summer they brought in Pierre van Hooijdonk and Paolo Di Canio, so I had to be on my toes and do it all over again.
“Celtic haven’t really had that this year.
“Sometimes clubs need to bring in three or four players just to lift the place and make the established players think that their jersey isn’t safe.”
Celtic historian and author David Potter, writing on The Celtic Star last night, outlined his own thoughts on the current situation and it is well worth a read, see HERE.
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