BIG TWO ON THE BIG GAME
Bhoys could have used it as motivation
BARRY
Gers have taken Celtic’s title... now go and take what’s left
SUTTY
Bhoys need to show fight... but it hasn’t been seen all season
RANGERS have been the better team this season but Celtic should have been the bigger club – by giving their old rivals a guard of honour at Parkhead.
Steven Gerrard’s side are coming as champions and they deserve to be shown respect. The Celtic squad don’t have to like it but by choosing not to do one is poor form in a poor season. There should have been the guard of honour – and it should have stuck in their throats for the whole 15 seconds it would have taken. That kind of hurt would have been the motivation needed for the game, for the rest of this season and for getting back in to the fight next term. It would also be the right thing to do. But it’s another bad decision in a season full of them. Let’s be honest, the whole thing is a trivial sideshow but just because Rangers were so petty and pathetic not to do it that last time when Celtic faced them as champions, it doesn’t mean my old club had to be the same. Rise above it, have a bit of class and then park it to one side and focus on salvaging some kind of pride from a wretched season. But it’s a chance gone. It’s tit for tat and it’s all a bit sad really. I would have done it as a player. I wouldn’t have enjoyed it against Rangers but even though you didn’t like them, you still had respect. If they won the league you took your medicine, held your nose, and offered congratulations. You just made sure you were not in the same horrible situation next time around. It’s probably more of a talking point now they’re not doing it than it would have been if they did. Which is daft because the real story is on the park this weekend. And it doesn’t matter if Celtic do manage to get a victory because it won’t make up for a dreadful campaign. A couple of derby wins won’t mean a jot but it would at least be some kind of statement for next season. Even then it’s hard to say what that statement would be as there is just so much uncertainty around Celtic right now. There is going to be a huge overhaul in the summer, with players and staff coming and going. I would just like to see them get on with it. We’re a month down the line and there’s still no sign of a manager or director of football.
What happens if John Kennedy wins tomorrow, follows it up with a victory at Ibrox and he manages to claim the Scottish Cup?
Let’s face it, there’s not much evidence to suggest that is going to happen but what if it does?
Would the board then think Kennedy is the man for the job in the long term?
I don’t think that’s the way to go but the longer things go on the less clear they look about the long-term plan.
There’s no way they can appoint a manager now who’s been out of a job for a while. If Eddie Howe walked in next week, the question would be why wasn’t he in the door getting to work a month ago?
The fact he’s not suggests it isn’t going to happen but there needs to be some leadership and groundwork laid for the coming campaign.
In case Celtic haven’t noticed, thanks to Rangers producing the goods in Europe, Scotland will have an automatic place in the Champions League the season beyond next.
That makes the coming season absolutely huge. Celtic have already surrendered their huge advantage over Rangers this season but the way they are going they might have to give up next year as well, which would leave them even further behind.
The majority of the starting line-up could need replacing in the summer. If that prospect isn’t giving the Celtic board a jolt I don’t know what will.
In the meantime the current side need to get through this weekend without being humiliated by the prospect of a whitewash.
I’ve got no doubt Rangers will say the right things and talk about being up for it tomorrow but I know from experience it’s just not the same once the title has been wrapped up.
They’ve been playing with such an intensity all season, when you take away the need to win, or avoid defeat, then it’s only natural there is a slight drop off.
Celtic need to show they have some fight left in them. It hasn’t been seen all season and they have woefully stepped aside to allow Rangers pretty much a free run at the title.
But even the players who might be thinking about leaving need to make an impression. Odsonne Edouard needs to turn up, Ryan Christie, Kris Ajer – these guys have to show they are either worthy of a move or want to remain and play a part at Parkhead.
It’s a big game for David Turnbull and what it will mean for his future as a key player at the club. Scott Brown could be coming to an end and won’t want to bow out in sad style by being turned over by Rangers having lorded it over them for so long.
Rangers will want their rivals’ noses in it but Celtic should have done the guard of honour and then earn respect for themselves on the pitch.
I’d have done it as a player. Even though you didn’t like them you still had respect