THE IBROX JURY
Our top writers give their verdicts on the burning issues following Saturday’s clash
1
STEVEN GERRARD insists it isn’t over but is there any way back for Celtic in the Premiership title race after defeat at Ibrox left them 19 points behind their rivals?
IT’S a long way back now but Gerrard was correct to play the humble card again. There are some warning signs where his team’s form is concerned and they can’t afford to take anything for granted just yet. If they are to finish off the job then they must remain relentless.
THE Celtic board said they would review Neil Lennon’s situation in a statement backing their boss last month. Having won the Scottish Cup but lost ground in the title race since then, where does the manager stand?
TO some extent Celtic may have boxed themselves in. The team has improved but the gamble of sticking with Lennon was always based upon hoping for a win at Ibrox. It backfired and it’s difficult to see anywhere else for them to go now. It looks like it’s his job for the rest of this season at least.
McGREGOR is starting to shade this argument. If he helps to deliver the title this year then he’ll be regarded by many as the club’s greatest-ever goalie.
NO. Gerrard said the right things as he has to keep his players on their mettle but Rangers are out of sight and there’s no way back for Celtic.
IT’S a tricky one because Celtic played the best they have in over a year in an Old Firm game and should have won, so that needs taken into account as well as the result.
McGREGOR is a Rangers stalwart and that display at the weekend was outstanding. Goram though was just in a different league. He was still better.
YOU can never say never but it’s going to take one of the all-time miraculous turnarounds. Celtic’s performances have improved but it’s more about relying on Rangers suffering a catastrophic collapse and there’s very little sign of that.
GIVEN the run of results and the performance at Ibrox up until the sending off then I’d say in a better position than a month back. But only the Parkhead board can decide.
THIS is a Scottish goalie version of Messi or Ronaldo and just as difficult. Goram in his pomp was as good as anybody in the world. But McGregor, for still producing as he approaches 39, might just pip The Goalie.
GERRARD wouldn’t gain anything from saying it’s over but it’s as good as done. Rangers haven’t lost any of their 22 league games and would need to lose four of their last 16 with Celtic winning all of their remaining 19 games. It’s unlikely.
IT depends on the board’s long-term thinking. If they don’t believe he is the man to take the club forward and the title has gone then there is an argument to make a change now if they have a successor in mind. If not then they back him and plan for the future.
ALLAN McGREGOR produced a man-of-the-match display and in a week where he made his 400th appearance for the club has been compared to legendary keeper Andy Goram. Which of the two is Rangers’ best keeper?
LET’S not forget Chris Woods and Stefan Klos, two other outstanding Gers keepers. But it probably does come down to Goram v McGregor and as good as the current No.1 has been over his two spells, Goram was arguably one of the best shot-stoppers in the world at his peak.
CELTIC head off to sunnier climes with their regular winter trip to a Dubai training complex. What can they expect to get out of it and is it wise given the current situation?