Former Sunderland, Everton and Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has taken a sly dig at Celtic and Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers in a recent interview.
The Englishman was recently talking to Talksport and was asked about whether former Hoops boss joined Celtic to revive his career. Allardyce dismissed it and believes that anybody can win trophies at Parkhead.
He said: “We can all go to Celtic and win trophies. Well, it will soon be Rangers I think. The way Steven Gerrard is going they will start winning trophies again I think.”
The Hoops are currently at the top of the Scottish Premiership under Neil Lennon so far this season. Rangers are second but are only behind on goal difference.
Could this be Rangers’ year?
Celtic have been enjoying an impressive spell in the Premiership over the last seven to eight seasons in Scotland. Ever since Rangers’ demotion to the lower division due to financial troubles, the Hoops oversaw a period of their dominance in the league.
Since the 2011-12 season in the Premiership, Celtic have won the league on every single occasion. In February last season, Rodgers had departed Parkhead to join Leicester City in the Premier League. Neil Lennon took over he guided his former club to the league title once again.
Lennon himself was responsible for helping the Hoops win the title in the 2011-12, 2012-13 and the 2013-14 campaign. Rodgers joined after Lennon left for Bolton and helped the club win the unprecedented treble in which Celtic were unbeaten throughout the domestic campaign.
As things stand, Rangers are behind Celtic on the goal difference of just three, considering that the Gers won their tie at Hamilton 3-1 while Celtic beat Livingston 4-0 at home.
TIF Tactics
It is tough to choose a winner considering that both teams are tied on goal-difference but from a Celtic perspective, it is the closest any side has come to challenging them in domestic competition. The League Cup final will also involve the two Old Firm rivals next month.
But the striker position is one area where Lennon has to improve in. But now that Leigh Griffiths is back, they might not have to make any winter signings to tide over the problem. They can only hope that the former Hibernian man stays fit and scores some goals.
Lennon’s side has been linked with a move for Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama and there has been a lack of a proper defensive midfielder even though Scott Brown has played 27 times in all competitions. The only defensive midfield options they have apart from Brown are Nir Bitton and Eboue Kouassi, with the latter not being used at all and the former a centre-back originally (per TransferMarkt).
A move for a defensive midfielder like Wanyama could add a lot of steel to that part of the pitch. And it would help them solidify their chances of winning the title once again.