Kris Commons has superbly put Rangers in their place as he laughed off the idea that they compare to Brendan Rodgers’ 2016/17 Celtic invincibles.
Rangers again came crashing back down to earth last night. Despite going unbeaten in the league this season, they’ve now exited two cup competitions.
The first of which came when St Mirren bundled them out of the Betfred Cup back in December. That was then followed up last night by St Johnstone winning on penalties at Ibrox after securing a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.
Compare that to Celtic, who won an Invincible treble under Rodgers in 2016, and it just doesn’t compare. And Commons, who has so often frustrated Celtic supporters with his controversial views, has finally decided to back his old club this week.
Speaking in his Scottish Daily Mail column [print edition, 26/04, page 73], Commons said: “They were dumped out of the Betfred Cup against St Mirren and have now been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by St Johnstone. For me, these results should shatter any possibility of this Rangers team being referred to as ‘Invincibles’ in years to come.
“Even if they do go on to finish the league season unbeaten, I don’t see how you can mention them in the same breath as Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team of 2016-17. They were true Invincibles who won every single domestic trophy available to them without losing a game.
“By definition, something which is invincible is too powerful to be overcome… It simply cannot be defeated. You could say that about Rodgers’ Celtic team; you can’t say it about Gerrard’s Rangers. The trophy was theirs for the taking, or so it seemed. But they have now fluffed their lines once again – and it raises fresh questions over the mentality of this team.”
Kris Commons spot on; Celtic will be ruing not putting pressure on this Rangers side
Commons isn’t wrong with anything he’s said here. Rangers had their chance to become invincibles this season and they simply haven’t taken it. When you’re up against the same sides in the cup competitions as you are in the league, you can hardly then claim you’ve gone unbeaten.
But looking at the bigger picture, it shows how much of an opportunity we’ve wasted this season. What a chance we had to put this Rangers team under pressure as it bottled again under the weight of expectation.
Had Celtic been nipping at their heels all season, Rangers likely would’ve imploded. That’s what they’ve always done under Steven Gerrard when they’ve had someone breathing down their necks. When they’ve had a bit of expectation put on their shoulders. Their failure to win a domestic cup is a prime example of those struggles.
The idea of comparing this team to Rodgers’ is utterly absurd. Rodgers’ team didn’t just settle for knocking Rangers out of both cup competitions. We went on to do the business in convincing fashion afterward. That was a team of pure winners, and it showed in countless cup finals and league championship runs.
Regardless, we have a big chance to end any talk of it next weekend. Rangers will be going into next weekend’s match deflated at having failed to see off St Johnstone. That gives us a monumental opportunity to land a heavy blow on them and end their unbeaten league campaign also.
But in a season of pain for Celtic supporters, I’m sure we can be allowed to enjoy last night.
In other news, an SPFL star has provided a class insight into Eddie Howe.
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