Biggest Game of the Season pt. 3

By: Matt | February 13th, 2009

Yet again, we here the pundits (does that include me?) telling us that the biggest fixture of the SPL season is upcoming this weekend. Celtic sit a mere two points ahead of Rangers, from what was a seven point lead after defeating their cross town rivals in their last match up. The winner of this match up will certainly be carrying some momentum in the final third of the season, but both teams have shown that big wins against their arch rival can easily be pissed away against the “bottom feeders” of the league. So if tomorrow is not the end all be all of the season, what would a win tomorrow mean? Well besides the wiggle room in the league that will allow for more letdowns against the minnows and still be in first, of course there is also bragging rights. Even if both Celtic and Rangers were to lose every match after this weekends, besides the rest of Scotland having a 8 day weekend to celebrate, the winner of this weekend’s fixture might be all right with that so long as the other side has it worse. With Rangers recent financial problems, the question on the Tim-ernet has been what would happen if Rangers were to slip into an Espanyol-ification or if you are of the blue persuasion, what would have happened if Celtic would have done the same in the 90s when the club faced such financial problems. Do we need each other? Personally, I say no. We need them as much as I need the current bout of the flu I have. I am tired of being associated with the sectarian shit they bring and want to show that we are not two sides of the same coin. Some say that the SPL would not be as much fun without relevant Celtic and Rangers squads, but I say nayeeeee! There seems to be enough anti-Celtic sentiments in Scotland for another “rival” to appear and be a meaningful, spirited game. There are already instances of great Celtic memories not involved with Rangers. Many people’s greatest memory of Celtic is winning the league at Love Street in 1986 (I don’t quite remember it as I was still in the womb at the time). Rangers were not involved in this magical moment for Celtic. We do not need Rangers to survive, but I do not think it will ever get to the point where that happens, unfortunately.

On to team news, Celtic captain Stephen McManus has recovered from his knee injury and should be available for Celtic, perhaps to the dismay of some Celtic fans. Mark Wilson will not be available however for up to four weeks after having “pelvic surgery”. Interpret that as you wish…Inspirational speaker Shaun Maloney might also not be available due to a nagging hamstring injury.

So in the series so far, neither side has won at their home pitch. Can Celtic break that streak? Hopefully, but the key in doing so will be in the middle of the park. Whoever Gordon Strachan decides to start between Scott Brown, Barry Robson, and Paul Hartley will need to insert their presence physically, wins 50/50s and balls in the air, and control the middle of the pitch. This was not done in the first match and Pedro Mendes ran wild. Celtic were able to do this, Mendes was not heard from the entire match, and Celtic left Ibrox with three points. If Celtic are able to do this, it will give playmakers like Nakamura and Aiden McGeady a chance to get forward and create instead of having to track back and help out in the middle. It probably won’t be pretty Sunday, but the team that controls the middle and allows their few flair players to play their game will come out victorious. With that being said, this game is screaming “DRAW!!”, but I guess we’ll see.

Oh and if you were wondering the results of I-75 Derby between Dayton and Xavier, the almighty Dayton Flyers won 71-58! EASY EASY EASY! GET IN! We even made Sportscenter, check out play #2…