Championship credentials

[Super_Ally 0]

Pretty much every season since the latter years of Big Eck's tenure our squads bottle has been called into question. Time and again, the manegement and the players have shown it to be lacking.

 

Granted last year, whilst Celtic showed the bottle to win it from behind, we were hampered by our member clubs the SFA and the SPL.

 

Having fallen what looked a massive 7 points behind after defeat in the second Old Firm at Ibrox, our championship credentials were again being questioned. We were written off by Hogmanay.

 

Fairly solid form by ourselves and a woeful run by Celtic saw their lead cut to a mere 2 points heading into the 3rd Old Firm tussle at Parkhead. Smiths negative tactics, perhaps further excacerbated by a lone front man, left many of us frustrated at not attacking a wounded Celtic who had been stumbling from poor result to poor result between the top of the table clashes.

 

Despite our dominance, we only left Parkhead with a point and again many where wondering had we failed to capitalise on a chance to put the pressure on Celtic as we have done so often the last 3 seasons. Virtually gift wrapping titles to the dark side. It was not so much the bottle of the players that was under scrutiny, but that of the management team.

 

Whilst the draw at Parkhead will still be looked upon as opportunity lost Smiths frugal approach, whilst being highly frustrating, ensured we did not fall 5 points behind again leaving us needing a favour from another SPL side.

 

Going into yesterday's home encounter there was a weight of expectation from the fans. Win that game and we were back top for the first time in 3 months and finally putting pressure on Celtic. Asking questions of their bottle.

 

20 minutes into what should be a routine home victory and we were staring back into the abyss. Were the fans to be disappointed again. How could Scotland's greatest team regain it's fear factor and its ruthless winning streak.

 

Questions were asked. And at last the Rangers are answering them. A 6 minute goalscoring spell effected by Miller and Boyd, orchestrated by Mendes, turned a potential upset into a 3-1 half time lead. The players played out the victory and attention turned to Sunday afternoon encounter.

 

At long last a serious title challenge from Rangers when not distracted by the greater glory of European football and an unprecedented fixture backlog. The media, the fans, the players would be looking to Celtic to affirm their title challenge. Ask real questions of their bottle. Are they up to the task.

 

On a treacherous Fir Park surface, Celtic did not produce the goods. A Motherwell equaliser costing Celtic a precious two points and allowing us to retain top spot.

 

We're back on terms, albeit with a superior goal difference. But nothing has been achieved yet. We've merely put ourselves back in the race. Now to put the title out of their reach. Celtic are in terrible form for SPL title pretenders. 8 points from 16 since the Ibrox Old Firm Clash.

 

With Celtic running through a poor run of form a winning run from Rangers would really turn the heat up on the Parkhead side. Those who argued a draw suited us more than Celtic last weekend pointed to an easier run in for us, a greater chance of Celtic dropping points. So this weekend's results could scarcely have worked out better.

 

If we are really to ask questions of Celtic then we need to put together a strong winning sequence. No disrespect to our forthcoming opponents, but with mostly "bottom 6" sides to play, with the hardest games at home, we have a real opportunity to test their mettle.

 

Leading into the split our upcoming fixtures read:

 

Sat 28th Feb Hamilton (A)
Wed 4th Mar ICT (H)
Sat 14th Mar St. Mirren (A) (to be re-arranged Co-op Cup Final)
Sat 21st Mar Hearts (H)
Sun 5th Apr Falkirk (A)
Sat 11th Apr Motherwell (H)
Sat 18th Apr Hibs (A)

 

If we have serious title aspirations only the visit of Hearts and the trip to Easter Road should give us any casue for concern. That is not to dismiss the other sides. It is merely a statement of fact. If we match their endeavour our superior quality should see us emerge victorious against these sides.

 

Over the next 6 fixtures only Hearts and Motherwell occupy top 6 places, and both travel to Ibrox. Taking maximum points before our trip to Edinbrugh in mid-April could put serious heat on our title rivals and see them wilt. Given we play before them on 2 out of the next 3 fixtures to be completed (ignoring St Mirren) we have extra incentive to put pressure on them before they take to the field.

 

Many will point to the old adage of "one game at a time". But if we can put together a run of consecutive victories befitting a league winning squad Celtic will struggle to cope with the onslaught of our title juggernaut.

[gisabeer 409]

We have to start taking the game to the opposition. We have got to make our mark on the league. Dominating teams by the means of superior football and make them fear us.

 

If theres ever a time to turn the scew it is now. Septic wont be this bad forever. Time Walter showed some mettle.

[pete 2,499]

Although it is great to have things back on equal terms we must not let the euphoria give us a false sense of security. We are only that"Back on equal term"

We do have a better goal difference but that can all change if we don't keep scoring. Yes things look rosier than a few weeks ago but lets not get carried away with ourselves. Staying at the top is often harder than getting there. the hard work has still to come.

[calscot 0]

To me it's like we've started again on equal footing and now have to win this new 12 game season. The odds are stacked in our favour if the league table is an indicator as we have the easier games on paper. We also have the OF game at home which could be a large factor.

 

We have already had too many slip ups this season and can't really afford any more and so I'd like to see us gain at least 90 points in total.

 

Fleck and Aaron can hopefully be the difference, like two January signings to freshen the team.

 

Our defence is pretty solid although they do have the odd really bad lapse. Our midfield looks good on paper but needs all of them firing on all cylinders - with Fergie still needing to find some form. Mendes needs to increase his consistency and play more how he can instead of hiding in some games. He's got the chance of another Championship medal and guaranteed CL football so hopefully can motivate himself to put in some top drawer performances.

 

Up front we have strikers coming back into form at the right time and that could be augmented with the return of Novo.

 

So while we may not be the best footballing side at the moment, our squad still looks like its got the capability to go on a long winning streak and seal the league, while I think Celtic are starting to really struggle.

[ian1964 10,411]

I think the Rangers fans will get a huge lift after this weekends result, and hopefully this will generate an improved atmosphere, we can sing them to the title

[Super_Ally 0]

Agree with Pete and Cal. We should look at this as starting from an (almost) equal footing or from scratch. A mini 12 game season. Take 1 more point than them and the title will be ours.

 

Hope I didn't go off the deep end Pete. The euphoria (if you like) was more about being right back in it, not needing favours. As has been said, we've not won anything yet, not dealt their title ambitions a mortal wound. But as we storm to the top of the league with a pretty impressive run of form (since 27th Dec), Celtic have faltered badly. If we keep up the pressure with a winning run, Celtic may find it impossible to halt their slide.

[CammyF 6,779]

Agree with Pete and Cal. We should look at this as starting from an (almost) equal footing or from scratch. A mini 12 game season. Take 1 more point than them and the title will be ours.

 

Hope I didn't go off the deep end Pete. The euphoria (if you like) was more about being right back in it, not needing favours. As has been said, we've not won anything yet, not dealt their title ambitions a mortal wound. But as we storm to the top of the league with a pretty impressive run of form (since 27th Dec), Celtic have faltered badly. If we keep up the pressure with a winning run, Celtic may find it impossible to halt their slide.

 

Alose worth noting that we have a superior goal difference as well. However, in saying all that, I don't think my heart could cope with a rerun of our last two final day SPL triumphs. Let's win it with a few games to spare

 

Cammy F

[Super_Ally 0]

However, in saying all that, I don't think my heart could cope with a rerun of our last two final day SPL triumphs. Let's win it with a few games to spare

 

Whislt it is hard to replicate the unbridled joy of those victories, it does leave open the possibility of losing in such a manner (despite the SPL websites "Helicopter Sunday" they have not shared the euphoria of such an occassion, nor have we felt the pain). As such I too would prefer to already have the trophy with games to spare.

[Super_Ally 0]

Sat 28th Feb Hamilton (A)

Wed 4th Mar ICT (H)

Sat 14th Mar St. Mirren (A) (to be re-arranged Co-op Cup Final)

Sat 21st Mar Hearts (H)

Sun 5th Apr Falkirk (A)

Sat 11th Apr Motherwell (H)

Sat 18th Apr Hibs (A)

 

One down.

 

Arguably one of the harder one's too. Away to the form team in the league.

 

ICT next up midweek.

 

Nothing less than 18 points from 18 in the games leading up Hibs away as the next "real" test. As I say 3 from 18 so far.

 

(Unfortunately the ****s look like racking up a good score. )

[Zappa 0]

One down.

 

Arguably one of the harder one's too. Away to the form team in the league.

 

I think you've been listening to Walter Smith too much SA. Every team's 'the form team' or 'the team to beat' it seems. Hamilton have been on a decent run, but we should have put at least 3 in the back of their net with the quality of team we've got. Just goes to show that having the best squad in the league doesn't mean jack shit if they don't go out and hammer poorer teams at the end of the day. Either that or we're blinded by loyalty and don't have as good a team as we'd like to think.