Sunday’s game gave Rangers hope and gave Celtic a jolt.
Waking up on a Monday morning after a performance and result like that is so hard as a manager. It is tough as a player, but it is horrific as manager.
The thing that really struck me about the game was just how ineffective – and I am being kind what that description – Celtic’s midfield were. They let Rangers play.
It was not just that Rangers won the game on Sunday but the manner of the performance that underpinned it.
If you actually look at the game, ironically Celtic had the better chances and could have won it. Leigh Griffiths almost snatched it right at the death, but to be honest, you would have to say that Rangers – who looked fitter and better organised - were the better team and deserved to win it.
READ MORE: David Moyes and Roy Keane coy on Celtic move as Neil Lennon declares his interest
The only players I would have given passmarks to were Erik Sviatchenko, who should have been on from the start, Charlie Mulgrew and young Tierney. There was no-one else who turned up.
The midfield was simply shocking. They allowed Andy Halliday, Jason Holt and Dominic Ball to play and I actually don’t think the Rangers lads could believe just how easy they found it.
All I had been hearing in the build-up to the game was how suspect the Rangers defence was – and yet Celtic never put them under a sustained period of pressure in the game.
Scott Brown grown his hair, had his hair scalped – and nothing has brought him any kind of form since he came back into the team three months ago. It has been desperately poor.
READ MORE: David Moyes and Roy Keane coy on Celtic move as Neil Lennon declares his interest
Like many, I am still scratching my head at the decision not to play Kris Commons. To me, he should have been playing in the run-up to the game and then have been heavily involved at Hampden.
Deila almost made it difficult for himself by not playing Commons and he is a player that I believe could have influenced things.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel