‘So strong right now’ – Ferguson makes big claim about Rangers & Celtic
Former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson believes that an Old Firm combined XI would be made up entirely of players from the Ibrox club.
Rangers have made the better start to the season and are currently unbeaten, with a nine-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
In the Europa League Celtic fell to a 4-1 defeat to Czech side Sparta Prague on Thursday, while Rangers drew 3-3 away to Benfica and Ferguson feels that Steven Gerrard’s side are better all over the field.
“I remember when pundits were comparing Rangers and Celtic last season and coming to the conclusion not a single player at Ibrox would get in a combined Old Firm XI,” he wrote in the Daily Record.
“Now there’s an argument that the entire team would. The back five straight away. Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson and either Filip Helander or Leon Balogun. In midfield Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield – he’s been one of Rangers’ best players this season. Steven Gerrard’s squad is so strong right now it’s hard to even pick their best starting XI.
“It’s maybe a bit more difficult in the forward areas. Odsonne Edouard is a class act for Celtic of course but he’s not hitting the heights just now. I honestly think there’s an argument the whole Rangers team could go into that combined team.”
Team over individuals
Ferguson is right in highlighting the strength of Rangers this season, and Gerrard’s team have certainly looked better in comparison to their Old Firm Rivals.
However, when it comes to individual talent, Celtic still have plenty of weapons at their disposal. They just are not playing very well so far this season.
Last season, Odsonne Edouard scored 21 goals in 27 appearances last season and despite speculation about his future, he has four goals from seven appearances this term. Likewise, Albian Ajeti has five goals from eight appearances and just four starts (via WhoScored).
No Rangers striker has this many goals in the league so far this season, with Morelos’s tally of five in all competition the best of any attacker in the squad (via WhoScored).
The point though is not about talent in this case but rather the way that the team fits together. Rangers attack through their full-backs effectively and have seen plenty of midfielders chip in with goals (via WhoScored).
Similarly, their defensive structure is based around organisation and communication. This is something that was not present in the final stages against Benfica, as Gerrard’s side pushed forward too aggressively and they were punished.
Celtic meanwhile have Shane Duffy, who spent a number of years in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion, and the highly-rated Kristoffer Ajer. However, it is clear that they do not have the same quality structure as Rangers and that is the key difference between their defensive records.
In other Rangers news, View: How Rangers used to movement to cut through Benfica