Jim White delivers damning reaction as Rangers collapse at Celtic
Jim White had a damning response to the result as Rangers capitulated at Celtic in the Old Firm derby in a worrying echo of last season.
It was even worse than the 3-0 suffered in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first visit to Celtic Park as a manager in January, as his side fell to a miserable 4-0 loss on Saturday (3 September) having been thoroughly outplayed throughout the game.
An early goal from Leil Abada put the Gers under pressure and they never got out from under it as Jota and a second from Abada gave the scoreline a horribly familiar look at the break, before a late fourth from David Turnbull confirmed it was nothing but misery for the visitors.
Writing on his personal Twitter account after the final whistle at Parkhead White said: “Only one half of the Old Firm turned up today.
“Over the 90, Celtic FC outclassed, out-thought and outran Rangers FC. 4-0”.
Appalling
Some came out of the transfer window worried that this squad was lacking but the more optimistic could point to the Champions League qualification and the only points being dropped at the hands of Willie Collum.
Only one side of that debate appears to have credibility after the first Old Firm of the season produced an absolutely dreadful performance.
Celtic were superior with their speed and intent, but the Light Blues played into their hands by lacking concentration and squabbling with each other.
If ever there is a game where the team needs to be on top of their game plan and working as a unit it is this one, just as they have to motivate themselves to play their best against their biggest rivals.
None of that happened, and after battling back to a position of some parity in the late-season Glasgow derbies in the previous campaign this game has set things back a long way.
There is already a five-point gap at the top of the SPFL, and the goal difference is miles apart, but the league table is less concerning than the performance as the Bears were not good enough and compounded that by causing their own problems.
White’s assessment is unfortunately entirely correct and major improvements have to be made.
In other Rangers news, a club failed in a late bid to sign a first-team Gers man before the transfer window closed.