Ange Postecoglou was at pains to point out a result one way or the other in the first Glasgow Derby, landing as it does in the month of August, would be far too early in the season to warrant any discernible impact on the destination of a league title.
He is right of course. Win lose or draw it is likely from a numerical standpoint to have little impact at this juncture. From a psychological aspect however, this as ever could be the shot in the arm one side or the other could use to inject confidence and momentum ahead of the rest of the season. That impact rather than who takes home the points could have a far bigger influence on the destination of the title.
Both sides are far removed from where they were at the end of last season. theRangers claimed a league title and remained unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership’s Covid season as they did so. Yet it was a season like no other played out in empty stadiums with no pressure from the stands, something they’ve struggled with in the past and have already felt keenly as they exited the Champions League qualifiers with a home defeat to the 10 men of Swedish side Malmo having been a goal to the good at half-time.
They also appeared to be somewhat fortunate that as Covid19 swept the country, indeed the World, the impact of infections and close contact extended periods of self-isolation for players and staff was avoided like the sparing of the firstborn of the Israelites, when the Lord “smote the land of Egypt” on the eve of the Exodus.
Similar ‘luck’ also appeared to visit them when it came to red cards, penalties, compliance officer interventions and investigations into the odd house party during periods of lockdown. Fortunate? Perhaps they were, however the records show theRangers as an undefeated league winner and you would have thought that alone would have brought a momentum that would have carried into this season and taken some stopping.
Instead, it appears having reached the summit of Ben Nevis theRangers players stopped to enjoy the view and indulged in some celebratory merriment from carried hipflasks rather than engage in the descent sharpish and prepare for the next race to the top. So, have they been caught on their heels, have they lost momentum and can they regain it? Today will tell us a lot.
And what of Celtic? Last year was an unmitigated disaster on the field of play, off it there was civil unrest between the Boardroom and the support. There was at best hesitation and at worst wilful bloody mindedness when it came to replacing a manager who had lost a dressing room one it appeared full of cliques and loss of appetite.
The only thing consistent was inconsistency and from the moment a certain full back jumped on a flight the attention from the governing bodies and the impact of Covid19 hit Celtic from all angles, including a self-inflicted January detour to Dubai, Celtic were reeling. With little dugout direction and what appeared little responsibility taken on the park, the season disintegrated entirely, it was a bad news season.
Neil Lennon eventually left his post in March with the season already long over, yet the hope was the time offered to find an alternative and examine the structure of the club could be used to good effect, an extended close season if you will to right some wrongs.
Instead that too went south. Eggs were placed in an Eddie Howe basket, a fabled January review has seen little or no actual structural change to a football operations model so far, and when a new manager was appointed on 10 June, before quarantining, Ange Postecoglou arrived all by himself in Glasgow on 23 June.
The timing of the appointment and the loss of preparation time on the training field and in the transfer market could only have been handled by a Celtic boardroom. Yet in two months Celtic have improved beyond the realms of anything any Celtic fan could have hoped for.
Postecoglou had little time to impact in a timely enough manner on Champions League qualification as Celtic fell at the first hurdle and an opening day league defeat at Tynecastle followed, but even then, there were signs of an awakening.
In August alone Celtic have scored 25 goals and now head into the Derby encounter with a playing philosophy both taking shape and exciting the support. They have also negotiated a two-legged Europa League play off against a well-established AZ Alkmaar team and arguably head into this afternoon’s tie as the ascendant team. Once again if that is actually the case will be tested at Ibrox today.
It appears at least as if one team is ascending and another descending but it may be far too early to tell if theRangers have lost momentum or if they are still finding their feet early in the season. On the other hand, Celtic appear to be on the up, but again is it a purple patch and will it be sustained?
Ex-Celt Scott McDonald recently called this the 50/50 Derby and it certainly seems to appear just that, though in the event of a draw you’d suggest 3-3 is more likely than a goalless encounter such is the defensive frailty exhibited by both sides so far this season.
In terms of preparation both sides also appear to have been impacted. theRangers had a tiring journey midweek to Armenia, whilst Celtic expended every ounce of their energy defending the siege of Alkmaar on Thursday night.
theRangers have reportedly been suddenly hit by Covid19, as it turned out the singing the songs of Neil Diamond did not after all guarantee immunity. But in truth those who have been vaccinated and then return a negative test should be available to play, as such when the team lines are released, I wouldn’t expect a particularly weakened Ibrox first XI. If they are missing two or three, then Celtic appear to have some injury concerns over Forrest, McCarthy and Greg Taylor and as such the impact on the chosen teams could well be fairly level.
There also appear little between the sides tactically, adding further weight to McDonald’s belief this tie is as close to call as it has been for some time. Celtic like to get the ball down, play through the thirds at speed, feed the wide players and look to hit from there. theRangers like to allow teams space out wide, cram the middle of the park and close off passing lanes and options.
If Celtic cough up possession in advanced areas theRangers can break through the middle passing quickly. They can play directly to Morelos, now playing slightly deeper than previous seasons, or diagonal passes to Kent, whose errant tactical discipline has now been incorporated well into their system, or Hagi.
If Celtic win possession theRangers are vulnerable on the counter, their full backs push up to support their attack leaving space Celtic’s wide players can exploit. Meanwhile through the middle Kyogo’s movement will be a living nightmare for Goldson who is often drawn to his man leaving enough space to exploit if a striker is sharp in spinning his man. Something Kyogo has evidenced he is a master of.
This promises to be as close an encounter as any Glasgow Derby has been for some time but it is not quite a case of irresistible force meets immovable object. The advantage Celtic have today is they are on the way up; confidence is high and there is a belief in Ange Postecoglou’s methods.
On the other side the momentum appears to have dissipated. Celtic know what they are facing, and bar minor tweaks little has change at theRangers in personnel or style of play. Steven Gerrard on the other hand has a limited sample size to work with in assessing an opponent altogether different from what he has faced up to previously and one where the new recruits in the main have strengthened Celtic.
The press has been quick to point out Celtic haven’t won in six consecutive derbies but theRangers haven’t played this Celtic, and if you were going to choose a winner it may be wise to consider the one on the up rather than the one that has plateaued as the one with the edge.
Niall J
