Charlie Nicholas reckons that last remaining faint hopes from even the most optimistic of theRangers supporters will be ended on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park when Ange Postecoglou’s side – clearly and by some way the finest team in Scotland puts Mick Beale’s Ibrox outfit in their place and left desperately hoping for some Hampden semi-final joy to deny Celtic a treble chance against either Falkirk or Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden in June.
Writing in his Daily Express column this morning Nicholas simply cannot see any grounds for optimism for the Ibrox followers ahead of the their trip to the East End of Glasgow.
“I expect Celtic to finally snuff out any hope of Rangers’ lingering title hopes this weekend. In all honesty, I feel the league has been over for some time and I don’t see that changing after this Celtic Park clash,” Nicholas stated. “I can see Rangers putting in a performance somewhere, but I think it is more likely in the Scottish Cup semi-final rather than the league game this weekend. That is their best chance of silverware, by retaining the cup.
“So I fully expect Celtic to get the win and to increase the gap at the top to 12 points. But if Rangers want to make a real statement of intent against Celtic then they have to attack and take the game to their hosts.
“For me, that is to get down the flanks. Michael Beale needs to find a way to change things. Alfredo Morelos doesn’t look any fitter but Beale is playing him again. Will Beale be prepared to go all out attack against Celtic? Or is he scared that Celtic could go pick them off and win 3-0 or 4-0?
“If I were Beale, there are two areas that are vulnerable in this Celtic team just now. Greg Taylor looks like he took a sore one and the left-back is one that Rangers can maybe capitalise on, if he is out. It is likely that Alexandro Bernabei would then start and I am not convinced he is as strong defensively as Taylor, who has been one of the top performers in Scotland this season. I also think Alastair Johnston, at right-back, can be attacked. He is very good going forward and on the ball, but you could have a go at him defensively.
“If Rangers were to go with a 4-2-4, when they have the ball then that would show a real intent. When Rangers lose the ball then the two wide men would come in and make it a more defensive 4-4-2.
“I would go with Morelos and Antonio Colak. If you could get the last ounce of something out of Morelos then it could work. They would also need Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman playing wide and on top of their game. Rangers need to ask more questions of Celtic than they ask of Rangers. Beale knows how they are going to play and set-up. Beale hasn’t found the answer yet and he has to find it. He has to stop worrying about their weaknesses and play to their strengths,” Nicholas stated.
Hinting that Reo Hatate’s injury could keep him out this weekend and beyond that too, Nicholas also makes a rather bizarre point about Tomoki Iwata who impressed everyone with his first start for Celtic up at Dingwall on Sunday – including his manager Ange Postecoglou – but not it seems Charlie Nicholas.
“Big Ange will not change for anyone, we have seen that in his time in Scotland. We know it will be a 4-3-3 formation and the only thing that might change is the personnel, but the general way Celtic play won’t. If Celtic are at full-strength then they would go with a midfield of Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and Callum McGregor. His assessment that Matt O’Riley is still looking ‘a bit rusty’ seems more accurate though and it’s worth mentioning that David Turnbull looked more like the player we know he can be on Sunday after a dip in his form in recent months.
“I am hearing that Hatate could be out longer than has been suggested but nobody knows for sure. If that is the case then Hatate would be a big miss. Tomoki Iwata struggled at Ross County. McGregor is just superior and Matt O’Riley is a bit rusty. But for me personally, I am enjoying Celtic grinding out results.
“It is not all about playing good football all the time, as we have seen with Scotland. It is about winning games and I expect Celtic to continue that this weekend.”
