‘I’ve got to be honest…’ – Peter Crouch makes big English PL claim about ‘amazing’ Rangers
Peter Crouch has claimed that Rangers and Celtic would finish in the bottom half of the Premier League.
The prospect of the Old Firm joining the English footballing pyramid is one that has been floated on a number of occasions, with Craig Levein recently suggesting that it would be a positive move for the game north of the border.
But Crouch is unconvinced about how the two Glaswegian giants would fair outside of the Scottish Premiership
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “They would be close to the top if it had anything to do with support and history.
“They are amazing clubs and I know from being up in Glasgow last year how enthusiastic the fans are. I was waiting in Glasgow airport with Chris Sutton and it was like sitting with Elvis!
“I’ve got to be honest with you, unfortunately, and say as things stand both Rangers and Celtic would be in the bottom half if they entered the Premier League and that is purely down to the budgets. The squads assembled and the wages the top English teams play are on another level.
“For that reason, I don’t see how Rangers or Celtic could compete. I’m enjoying watching Steven Gerrard’s progress as a manager from afar and I hope, one day, he wins a trophy at Ibrox but we need to be realistic. The top of England and the top of Scotland are two different things.”
How would Rangers fair in England?
Crouch’s comments differ vastly from those of Frank McAvennie, who told Ibrox News recently that he believes the Old Firm could become serious contenders in England, given a period of transition.
In fairness, we agree with the former Celtic striker.
The infrastructure and status of the two Glaswegian clubs would surely make them an attractive prospect to just about any player, and the increased revenue that TV rights money would afford the pair could allow them to make bigger moves in the transfer market.
Still, that is a process that would take time, and were you to drop Rangers and Celtic into the Premier League tomorrow, the chances are that they would struggle to replicate the kind of success that they have enjoyed north of the border in recent years.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Euro journo claims Celtic player was ‘biggest competition’ for Rangers new boy.