Charlie Nicholas in talking sense shocker

[Waltersgotstyle 297]

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To say Celtic are miles ahead is rubbish' Charlie Nicholas insists Rangers are closing gap on rivals

 

 

Former Hoops striker reckons Steven Gerrard's team are improving and believes Ibrox side will be in ascendancy when next derby comes around.

Charlie Nicholas reckons Celtic aren't as good as advertised and rivals Rangers are closing in the gap between the pair.

Steven Gerrard suffered a 1-0 defeat in his derby debut on Sunday and Celtic dominated the match as they made it 12 games without defeat against their Ibrox foes.

Nicholas, who played for Celtic during two spells in the 80s and 90s, believes Rangers will be in the ascendancy when the next league match comes around on December 29.

Speaking in his Express column, the Sky Sports pundit doesn't believe the Ibrox side are frozen by fear when they take on Brendan Rodgers' team, despite the long wait for a victory.

(Image: REUTERS)

He said: "To say Celtic are still miles ahead is rubbish. They should have put the game to bed but Rangers were never out of it, no matter how average they played.

"Were Rangers scared? I don't think so. They are trying to become winners again and that takes time and a bit of tinkering.

"Rangers will improve by the next game at Ibrox and I believe they will have the momentum by that point.

"It might be their worst domestic start in 29 years but they are progressing under Steven Gerrard.

"Yes, they didn't have enough of a go, but they didn't crumble either."

Olivier Ntcham of Celtic celebrates (Image: Getty)

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Celtic v Rangers - Best images from Celtic Park clash

Nicholas was also less than impressed with his former side's celebrations following the 1-0 win on Sunday and says they were not befitting of a team who aren't even leading in the Premiership.

He added: "Celtic did a lap of honour Sunday. What was that all about?

"You are second in the league and milking it when you are meant to be the best team in the country and you are the champions.

"This Celtic squad is closer to the pack than they actually realise.

"It was three points and a deserved win against Rangers but they are still looking up at Hearts. That is the reality where they are."

 

 

Edited September 4, 2018 by Waltersgotstyle

[Ser Barristan Selmy 222]

We were absolutely awful on Sunday. 

[Gaffer 1,665]

21 minutes ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

We were absolutely awful on Sunday. 

True,  but what's that got to do with this thread?  What CN said is still correct.

[Waltersgotstyle 297]

36 minutes ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

We were absolutely awful on Sunday. 

For the first 45 minutes we were woeful - but I would argue that in the second half we had enough opportunities to have achieved a draw in what is a very difficult fixture.

[Walterbear 557]

Celtic could have won by 3 but they didn’t. The ball could have gone in instead of hitting the woodwork. You don’t get points or goals for hitting the woodwork or we would have KOd Niederkorn. 

 

We had teenage loans, new signings who have never seen anything like that atmosphere and hatred at football and our team has been together for 13 games versus their 150.  If we had played out our skins and got beat 1-0 we would still have been 4 points behind. 

 

Objective 1 of getting to the EL is what we all wanted and what we all thought was beyond us in May before Gerrard arrived. There is no question Gerrard would have wanted to risk the feel good factor which is why I think we were negative - possibly excessively so but UFA was a big drain but don’t expect the manager to admit that as it sets the wrong tone for all.  EL should provide finances and credibility to further strengthen the squad. Beating Celtic and getting KOd from EL would not. Guys like Ejaria and Kent and the defence were immense in Russia and that must have taken its toll. Celtic are the ones who had the chance to really demoralise us and imo they didn’t take it and as Nicholas said they will find us harder next time.

 

We need one win against them and probably a bit more quality in the middle to reverse their dominance and give us a real step change because they undoubtedly have a massive psychological advantage at the moment and believe in their superiority which has built up over the ‘banter years’. December will be a far more important assessment of where we are against them. I still expect them to win the league this year but they might find it a strain and then next year again 

 

We were very unfortunate to lose points in Aberdeen and against Motherwell we were asked questions the manager must find an answer to but short of signing a few players from Hull KR I’d rather the manager and the team worked out how to play round and through teams like them - much as Celtic do. Again I’d be looking at the next round of matches to assess progress in games like that. There is no doubt we have to face teams like Motherwell  physically but we have to also put them on the back foot and that achievable with the squad we have. 

 

Winning the next few games and learning from EL quality matches will close the gap on the scum. Beat them in December and they may wobble. 

 

The international break has also come at a very good time for us in terms of the players and management taking stock because in Abetdeen, Motherwell and Celtic (and St M sitting in) we have more or less seen the spectrum of styles we are likely to encounter in this league. 

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,473]

I hope Charlie knows a good glazier. He might need one soon...