Old Firm rivalry is redundant and will be for a while
SAYS ANDY WALKER
CELTIC fans insist there is no such thing as the Old Firm. As a gulf develops between the champions elect and their bitter rivals on and off the pitch, former Parkhead striker Andy Walker believes they are right.
‘Right now, the Celtic versus Rangers rivalry is a wee bit redundant,’ says Walker. ‘I think it will be for a while.
‘I don’t think Celtic are interested in comparing themselves to Rangers, being better than Rangers — that is gone. It’s up to Rangers to get their act in order.
‘I think the important thing for Celtic is to keep being the way that they are. They’ve been spending a bit of money, they’ve got a really good manager and he’s spent a little and had a lot of success with (Moussa) Dembele. He’s spent a lot on (Scott) Sinclair and he’s had a lot of success.
‘Even if Brendan Rodgers was to go in the next year or two, I think Celtic’s model should be to get someone in who is as good as he is and continue to try and get not just Champions League football, but just to make their mark.’
Walker has witnessed a chasm between the finances of the two clubs before. His second spell at Parkhead as a player was blighted by rampant mismanagement in the 1990s.
The Sky Sports analyst believes the gap may now be even wider due to an Ibrox squad he describes as ‘weak’ and ‘timid’.
‘I played in an era where Rangers were really dominant and I felt we had some good players. We certainly had a bit of heart,’ adds Walker.
‘We lost a number of Old Firm games. We got a draw when Paul Byrne scored and I remember winning 2-0 at Ibrox, with John Collins and Paul McStay scoring.
‘We weren’t as good as Rangers — but we had a bit of heart, a bit of something.
‘I look at this Rangers team and would question their heart and their determination. We’ve had a 5-1, 1-0 and a 2-1 for Celtic so far this season. I was at all three games and Celtic were totally dominant in every one.
‘I would expect the same on Sunday. The atmosphere used to help both sets of players but I just wonder if the Rangers players are a bit wary of it now.
‘When I look at Rangers now, I think they are a bit weak, a bit timid. There’s not a great deal of leadership on the park, never mind in the whole structure off it.
‘That’s why I think Celtic will win comfortably, but I’ll let Frank McAvennie give you the score prediction.’
Ex-Parkhead star McAvennie had boldly predicted an 8-0 victory for his old team earlier this week. His former strike partner is less sure.
‘I’m playing golf with him next week, so we’ll have a chuckle about that,’ says Walker.
‘I think Celtic will win. I think Celtic will win comfortably as
they have done in the previous games. I’ve been impressed with the way they’ve played but I don’t think anyone will take anything for granted.
‘I think the atmosphere will help. I think the fact the players will be thinking of going through the season undefeated will also help. The thing I like about Celtic is that, even when they’re two or three up, they’re still hungry for more goals.
‘They have scored four, five, six this season but I would imagine Rangers will come up with something to make it a closer encounter.
‘I remember being part of a Celtic team which went to Ibrox in 1995 and everyone was saying we would get thrashed by five or six. We had an okay team.
‘It wasn’t the best Celtic team I played in but we went there and got a 1-1 draw. Paul Byrne scored a pretty sensational goal. We’d decent players: Paul McStay, John Collins, Tom Boyd and I think Phil O’Donnell played, too.
‘I remember playing up front on my own, which wasn’t a role I was suited to, but we went there with a game plan and gave our supporters something to cheer about. We might even have sneaked it in the end.’