Until the directors of Scotland’s Also Ran clubs – that’s all clubs apart from Celtic and Rangers – get their acts together, it’s left to management and players to do their best to derail the Old Firm in any way they can.
Hearts get the first crack at it on Saturday, when a weakened Celtic squad visit Tynecastle.
A few seasons ago, Brendan Rodgers faced his first league match at Tynecastle whilst in charge at Celtic. Hearts outplayed Celtic but a breakaway goal gave BR a 1:2 win.
He was dancing in joy – and relief – on the touchline!
Ange P doesn’t look like a man likely to do much dancing – and it is unlikely Hearts will give him any relief.
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has recorded 11 successive shut-outs, so it looks like the best Celtic can hope for is a nil-nil draw.
However, flying Hearts winger Josh Ginnelly tortured the Celtic defence in the 2019 Scottish Cup Final. He is likely to run them ragged again, as a rampant Hearts go after Crumbling Celtic from the first minute until the last.
Celtic will NOT win on Saturday – and the result will be the beginning of the end for a manager picked by a Board that didn’t really know Howe…
It is unlikely that Rangers will be so easy to destabilise, at least until their manager jumps his Govan-built ship.
However, Gerrard WILL leave within the next 12 months or so and after that the Big House will also look vulnerable.
As noted previously, the leaders of the Also Rans MUST challenge the illegal duopoly the Old Firm have operated for much of the last 36 years. Ultimately, the major battles will be fought off the pitch, with the Glasgow Twins ejected from the SPFL if necessary.
However, until the Also Ran directors find courage, it’s down to the likes of Robbie Neilson and his team to disrupt the duopoly as best they can.
Robbie Neilson is a fighter – and a winner. Most important he has BELIEF, in himself and his players.
Ange P? We shall start to see what he is made of on Saturday – Sushi or Steel? If the former, he will find the Celtic support don’t care for a fish out of water, caught cold.
In any event, forcing Celtic to send their new manager packing would be a good first step in disrupting the duopoly.
Time for Change.
Scottish Football Matters 