Home > Football > Is this going to be the year Rangers become SPL kings again?
by Chris Goldsmith on 28 August 2007
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So the blue of Rangers has the early advantage over the green-and-white of bitter rivals Celtic. But will it last? I think so.
Let's look at the Ibrox team - a side who have come second best to Celtic over the past few years, a side who want to regain their dominance. Ally McCoist has done a great job as assistant manager to Walter Smith, and looks set to be rewarded with both success in the Scottish Premier League and in Europe.
Players such as Demarcus Beasley, Jean-Claude Darchville, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd are world-class and should be able to compete with any of Europe's top clubs. Daniel Cousin is an excellent summer signing. The striker, originally from Gabon, was a revelation for Lens last season and should score plenty of quality goals for his new team. The 7-2 victory over Falkirk at the weekend just showed the fire-power of the Gers and the battle with Celtic for the title will be fascinating, with goals galore.
Celtic this season are a little less dominant than in recent years. They are still unbeaten and had a fine draw away against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League qualifier. But do they have the players in reserve to be able to push forward in both Europe and Scotland? I don't think so.
The excellent Shunsuke Nakamura in midfield and the strike partnership of Kenny Miller and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink will be difficult to stop but I just don't see Celtic with as much flair at the start of the season. But they have come from behind in matches against Falkirk and Aberdeen to win comfortably, so they are showing good fighting skills and a passion for winning.
Of course, the derby games will be crucial to deciding the title, as will be success in Europe which may distract the Old Firm rivals' title chances.
As for the other Scottish teams, Hibernian have started well enough to mount a challenge for a top-three spot and their Edinburgh counterparts Hearts will always be pushing for a UEFA Cup spot, even after a slow start which has seen them fail to win in three matches.
Spare a though also for the revelation of Scottish football, Gretna. After being promoted three successive times, they are now playing with the big boys - and finding it tough. They have conceded nine goals in three matches and even let a 2-0 advantage against Hibernian disintegrate into a 4-2 loss late in the game.
Comments (37)
by Marzepans on August 22, 2007
Cousin was a revelation at Lens last year? Celtic have less flair than last season? Did you do any research whatsoever for this article or does it just represent your wishfull thinking? Cousin was awfull at Lens last season. Perhaps you are thinking of the season before last when he had at best, a decent season. Kris Boyd World Class? Honestly? Are you clinically insane? And finally the assertion that Celtic have less flair than last season? Neil Lennon moves on and Celtic bring in Scot Brown and Massimo Donati to the midfield and you think we have less flair? That's pretty indicative of the logic in the rest of the article at least. The fixture list has been kind to Rangers for the start of the season while Celtic have played Aberdeen away (who finished 3rd last season) and Kilmarnock (5th last season) while Rangers have yet to play anyone from last season's top six. I would enjoy your start to the season if I were you.
by Paul on August 22, 2007
"Daniel Cousin...was a revelation for Lens last season". Hmmmmm - 4 goals in 30 league games - hardly a revelation. I think the author should be advised that it might be a good idea to do a bit more research than reading the Scottish press. "Demarcus Beasley, Jean-Claude Darchville, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd are world class" - no comment required here. Has this guy watched any of Celtic's games this year? They have only won 3 league games by more than one goal since January 2nd: two of those wins have come in the first 3 games of this season! Celtic are undoubtedly looking stronger this year and while Rangers might be marginally better than they were last season (not too difficult a task) I feel they will not be strong enough to compete with the hoops.
by Judderman on August 22, 2007
"Kris Boyd - World Class" That's the funniest thing I've read in ages! Brilliant!
by chris on August 22, 2007
cousins had a great end to the season in 2006 which got lens into a top 4 spot in the french league. he fell out of favour a little last year and the club slumped into 5th place after being higher the rest of the season. As for celtic, i am allowed my views and feel that the team will struggle against rangers this season. simple as that. as for the scottish press i dont read it so your wrong again. Except for nakamura i see no world class players in the team. Im english so am neutral!
by Mick on August 22, 2007
The statement below says everything for me ' Players such as Demarcus Beasley, Jean-Claude Darchville, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd are world-class' Along with 'Daniel Cousin is an excellent summer signing. The striker, originally from Gabon, was a revelation for Lens The above two statements shows your grasp of Scottish football is somewhat limited. Celtics squad is stronger and has more flair than last year, while Rangers have improved the quality of player they have brought in is not high. Regards.
[quote]cousins had a great end to the season in 2006 which got lens into a top 4 spot in the french league. he fell out of favour a little last year and the club slumped into 5th place after being higher the rest of the season. As for celtic, i am allowed my views and feel that the team will struggle against rangers this season. simple as that. as for the scottish press i dont read it so your wrong again. Except for nakamura i see no world class players in the team. Im english so am neutral! [/quote] Of course you are allowed your views. Aren't we allowed to point out the factual errors on which this opinion piece is based?
sure you can. Kris Boyd World Class? Honestly? Are you clinically insane? - is this factual? i think not. I hold my hands up to Cousind havinmg a better 2005/2006 than 2006/2007, but he was still a regular quality player last season, in europe and the french league
[quote]sure you can. Kris Boyd World Class? Honestly? Are you clinically insane? - is this factual? i think not. I hold my hands up to Cousind havinmg a better 2005/2006 than 2006/2007, but he was still a regular quality player last season, in europe and the french league[/quote] With Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson in the team last season (two supposedly world class players) compared to just one for Celtic (Nakamura), how come Rangers were so abysmal? Care to comment on your conclusion that Celtic have less flair than last season after replacing Lennon with Brown/Donati?
by CK06 on August 22, 2007
Come back and re-write your article on 1st September 2007! I have a feeling Celtic are not the finished article yet. A couple of "world class" signing still to come in might just shade it Celtic's way!!!! I remember the very same optimism this time last year! Enjoy your top status at the moment, it won't last!!!!
hey guys im not a rangers supporter. i support blackburn! this is just my views. you have your views and thanks for sharing, im glad my artilce has caused a stir! good luck to both teams this season. I actually support the celtic more than rangers, but my favourite scotish team is east stirling! what a revelation this season. 2 wins already! and a cup win!
by Chris Dougan on August 22, 2007
How do you base your assumption that Beasley , Darchville , Boyd and Ferguson are WORLD class ?
by Martin on August 22, 2007
Rangers are a better team than last season - there's no doubt about it - and their dressing room is a much happier place led by Smith and cheeky chappie McCoist. Unfortunately for them, Celtic have also improved. New signings mean it's a younger, leaner, hungrier Celtic side now who have the potential not only to dominate Scottish football for years to come but to compete once more at the very highest level in Europe. Celtic is also on top financially and money talks in football. The time is come for Celtic – with all the necessary resources now in place - to reach a third Champions League (European Cup) final before 2010.
by KevinBhoy on August 22, 2007
Complete and utter claptrap. Rangers have hired a few more knuckle draggers to bolster their battering ram of a team and that is all that results in them being 'stronger' this year than last. Proper quality will show in the end. Kris Boyd etc etc 'World Class'? You're either having a laugh or you posted this article for a bet.
by TheDublinBhoy on August 22, 2007
Your opinions are obviously blinkered by the fact you have signed 3 ex-orangers players in recent years, and your still hurting after the "Men against Bhoys" games of 2002-2003 in the UEFA Cup when Celtic beat Blackburn home and away (agg:3-0), it was probaly the last time Ewood was full and had an atmosphere, well at least in the Darwen Stand Just as a matter of interest how many times have you seen either Celtic or rangers play this season?
its good channel for watching scottish soccer 'thedublinbhoy'
by drgreen on August 22, 2007
If Kris "Pinta heavy" Boyd is world class, then I assume Kenny Miller must be a world star, aka Henry, as he is way ahead of him for a Scotland start. Just where do Boyds world class credentials come from? I have a feeling this article is some kind of wind-up
Based on that you have seen rangers play once on setanta on the opening day and win a drab game against ICT and in Celtic's last two live games on setanta we were 1-0 down away to falkirk before winning 4-1 and last sunday again 1-0 down away to Aberdeen before winning that game 3-1 with some cintilating football. Why are you even bothered talking about Scottish football when you don't obviously have a clue what your talking about. Still Hurting Chris
by Sydneybhoy on August 22, 2007
Ha Ha Ha Ha ..........world class boyd...... you on ice
by delegate zero on August 22, 2007
surely world class players should be regulars for their international team? Darcheville,Cousin,Beasely and Boyd? 1st 2 are nowhere,Beasley and Boyd are both bit part players.
I tell the Dublin bhoy he is taking the p1ss! This is simply joke article to wind up us tims, and its working! Never mind, three in a row and they will be pig sick - again!
im glad my artilce had grabbed so much attention didnt think anyone would read it. its had over 300 hits. anyway i have done some more articles on here so have a look and see what you think! after all commenting is what journalism is all about. Like i say im a neutral and just enjoy good football. ps. Spartak v celtic was on Setanta too.
by Gandalf on August 22, 2007
If the players mentioned are world class, how come Rangers paid next to nothing for them and had to fight off other clubs such as, erm... nobody???
by irishedd on August 22, 2007
we at least you ahve stated your opinions. dont even thin the bluenosed hacks ins cotand would say that demarcus beasley is world class .. actually a ma city reject far too light weight.. cousins looksa decent signing. your knowledge of rangers is poor thoas the bst signing has been cuellar( think thats how its spelt) who has shored up a leaking aging defence. lee mcculloch is just rank rotten and a bit of a thug if ferguson was world class he would be snapped up hehashad a great start to te season but hs body always breaksdown and i predct it will do so again after christmas.. darcheville ... limited but effective.. the only 2 world class operators in scotland are naka and boruc.. we thought wehad another in graveso buthe hasnt worked out and will be shipped out along with jarosik if celtic get to the champs league id expect to see another two / three top players come in..if not maybe 1 / 2 once we shore up a young defence and add a bit up front i think we wil have way too much for rangers who will be muc
by RCF#1 on August 22, 2007
I agree with your article...everyone moaning on here is just a worried celtic fan. And you dont have to score goals to be a revelation..