Empty seats won’t faze the Old Firm matchwinners

OPTIMISM is to be welcomed and admired, wherever it should spring forth. But there’s something desperate about this idea that both Celtic and Rangers will be easier to turn over on home turf come the big kick-off. The theory runs that, without capacity crowds to inspire the hosts and intimidate the opposition, visiting sides will have less to worry about. Hmm. It’s a little bit like a debate between father and son in the movie Catch Me If You Can.

In this tale of a con artist rampaging across 1960s America, Dad insists the Yankees always win because opposing teams are too busy looking at the stripes; it’s the baseball equivalent of footballers being blinded by Brazil’s famous yellow jerseys. His boy points to a more obvious reason for the damned New Yorkers’ success. They have Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest players of all time. Without making any such claims about the footballing ability of anyone employed by either of Scotland’s big two, the point stands. You can take away the crowds, remove the atmosphere, play all fixtures at training grounds, for as long as full lockdown lasts. Ultimately, basic sporting ability — along with a good dollop of tactical nous and motivational savvy by the coaching team

— will decide the contests. Sure, Celtic still have the hoops and Rangers remain in light blue. Both boast properly impressive home stadia. But Odsonne Edouard and Ianis Hagi, to name but two, are going to do more damage than the Green Brigade or Union Bears ever could. Be optimistic, by all means. Catch them if you can. Just don’t pretend that empty seats are going to be some sort of game changer.