Another Old Firm game, another win for Celtic and another league title heads to the east end of Glasgow. In the build up to this match, so much focus was on whether Rangers could, at the last knockings of this league season, wrestle the title from their old rivals.
Rangers played well throughout. They can count themselves unfortunate not to be heading home with a point at the very least. Statistically, there wasn’t a great deal between the sides, but the real difference came in the form of stone cold clinical finishing. Add to that a team operating in a clear and coherent structure (domestically) laid down by a manager who has been afforded a level of dug-out autonomy that’s rare in the modern game.
In Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic have at this level, the complete striker. Work-rate, movement, finishing. In Scotland he has it all. Kyogo has that knack of just finding himself in space time and time again. This is something that can be worked on and analysed but not taught. In the days before data was presented and force fed as the only way to evaluate a team or a player we would’ve called this strikers instinct. What was it Brian Clough used to say? “Football’s a simple game complicated by idiots.”
Keeping with the subject of overthinking certain aspects of a football match, there was some mention in commentary about Joe Hart’s role in Rangers equalizer. His footwork, his starting position so on so on. Sometimes we have to just literally accept that great goals happen. This was a truly great goal. It’s coming over the wall at pace, with the perfect level of dip required, hits the bar and in. One for the ages.
Something we can look into that’s worthy of scrutiny is the goal that puts Celtic ahead for the second time. Before we look at Ben Davies disastrous attempt at twice failing to clear a ball that’s fairly innocuous, it’s hat off to Kyogo for his positional awareness and speed of thought. Davies slices his first attempt, then chases it to the byeline. Kyogo hangs fire, and finds himself isolated between two Rangers jerseys. The rest is history. All the glory and emotion goes to the act of finishing the opportunity that came his way, but that split moment when he decides not to follow in pursuit of Davies is a moment of real football intelligence. It’s the simple strikers instinct I referenced two paragraphs previous.
Ben Davies will need no reminding from anyone he’s had an absolute howler here. For the record, I don’t think Davies is a bad defender at all. I can see his value in this Rangers side regardless of what happened in this game. In squad building I am a big believer in the importance of balance. Louis Van Gaal was always big on balance in the heart of a defence. Not for the sake of symmetric compulsion, but one way it benefits a team is that it aids a team in build up, particularly if that team is looking to operate with width. As a left footed centre-half, Davies gives Rangers that option in the bigger picture.
Now having digressed, lets just take a simplified look at Davies role in this goal. He makes a mistake first time with the attempted clearance. It’s a technical mistake. He mishits it, slicing it wildly. It happens, he’s human. The real problem is the follow up. He careers after it. Even here this still isn’t the main issue, he can still recover this. It’s when at contact point with the ball and Jota that he really messes up. He tries to be too clever here and keep the ball in play. What needs to happen here is for him to meet that ball with full force and put it out for a corner. Jota would be caught in the follow through but the original mistake would be rectified, and even forgivable if Celtic had gone on to score from the resulting corner. This was both a physical and psychological mistake which led straight to the concession of a goal.
The third Celtic goal is again a howler by a Rangers cente-half, this time John Souttar. I think it’s too easy to say Allan McGregor is too slow off his line for this one. He’s been completely sold short by Souttar’s blind pass to him. Looking back earlier to what I said about Celtic operating in a well oiled tactical structure (domestically at least), this goal is a good example. High pressing, pressing in pairs. It doesn’t need to result in a goal, but the constant application of pressure has unnerved Souttar here. Even if McGregor does reach the ball, Kyogo has moved with pace to block the passing lane out to James Tavernier.
On 78 mins, the aforementioned Tavarnier meets a beautiful ball in by Borna Barisic to score his 100th Rangers goal and ensure a hectic end to the game. Regardless of how many were penalties or how many came in the Championship that’s a ridiculous return for a defender.
Of course a derby in Glasgow wouldn’t quite be the same without controversial decisions and there were two glaring ones for me, Firstly the Alfredo Morelos dissalowed goal. It’s incredibly soft but falls directly into the category of you shout for it if it’s for you and you shout about it if it’s against you. Such a highly contentious decision going in favour of Celtic should, but won’t, dispel myths and delusions of bias against them constantly peddled by large sections of the support.
The second issue is the ridiculous decision to not allow away supporters at these fixtures. Rangers were the protagonists in this farce, their original decision to drastically slash Celtic’s away allocation was petty and pathetic. It has taken something away from this fixture and Celtic had a great opportunity to really show Rangers up to the wider world by allowing them to continue with their regular away following of seven or eight thousand at Celtic Park but the moral high ground never lasts long where these two are concerned, if it even exists at all.
Although it would never publicly disclosed, Michael Beale will have been longing for preseason almost since his appointment. He inherited a mess, and he hasn’t really put a foot wrong. His results been positive, with the glaring exception of the seemingly immovable object that he must somehow move next season.
Preseason is the most crucial time for a manger. This is where plans are devised, systems tweaked and most importantly squads are replenished. How Rangers need fresh blood. Beale has said “There’s no restrictions on budget. There is money to spend in the summer and it’s a good amount for a Rangers manager compared to what I’ve seen in recent years.”
Taking Beale at his word Rangers are going for it. Either that or he’s publicly putting pressure on his board to go for it.
Over to Postecoglou and what does he do next Summer? Where do his team go from here?
Once again Celtic are building from a position of strength. The only way I can see the landscape changing drastically in Scotland this Summer is if Postecoglou himself actually goes.
Postecoglou has a very good reputation as a coach which predates his time at Celtic. There’s an authoritarian element to him which is a bit of a throwback but nothing in his tactical outlook belongs to yesteryear. Celtic play on the front foot, They are aggressive, relentless, you name it. But can and should these tactics be adapted for European football?
Nobody is suggesting Ange goes target man and five at the back but surely a bend in the principles is required when Celtic step into a much more challenging arena. The Champions League has changed beyond recognition since Celtic last punched above their weight or possessed much threat in the group phase. Financially, it’s moved so far on they can not realistically compete at that level, and there will quite justifiably be no sympathy from any other Scottish club. But Postecoglou must find a way of ensuring European football beyond Christmas next season.
Celtic should be capable of big knock out nights in the Europa League. Rangers themselves have proved this in recent times. Celtic should be capable taking scalps in the Conference League and going deep into the competition. If Postecoglou’s Celtic are to be remembered as more than flat track bullies he has to find a way, he has to adjust and adapt. That’s his challenge this Summer.
By Calum Maltman – @BlogEFI
