We have not even started the Scottish Premiership season and already Kris Boyd is in a panic about the state of Rangers’ challenge on Celtic.
After sweeping to a resounding league and cup double last season, Celtic have once again proven they are the team to beat in Scotland. The team by which all others in the country are measured.
That includes Rangers, who are in the midst of a ramshackle ‘rebuild’ this summer that includes dismantling part of their stadium to the extent they can no longer play there.
With Philippe Clement also admitting there is little money to do any transfer business without selling players, despite his understanding when he joined last October, harmony appears hard to find across the city.
It’s all rather concerning for Boyd who amusingly believes it’s all adding up to a hasty Clement exit from the Ibrox – or should I say Hampden – side.
Kris Boyd says Clement has ‘hands tied’ in fight with Celtic
The outspoken Rangers pundit said [Scottish Sun]: “Philippe Clement looks to me like a man on the brink. Like someone who could easily walk away from Rangers anytime soon. I hate saying that. And I hope I’m wrong. But that’s what I took from his comments about the job he’s being asked to do right now.
“The lack of funds to rebuild the squad with money only available if he sells someone first. This wasn’t what he signed up for, was it? What was it that he said last week? ‘I had other expectations when I came in in October, I have to say.’
“Clement strikes me as a shrewd guy, he’s certainly not someone who suffers fools gladly. With that in mind, I genuinely fear he’s close to deciding the situation leaves him with only one option. And that’s to quit.
“Rangers fans won’t enjoy hearing that but deep down they’ll all be fearing the same thing. Because what he said in his press conference in the Netherlands earlier this week set alarm bells ringing. I wouldn’t blame him, either, if he decided he’d had enough. It’s like he’s been asked to go into a fight with Celtic with two hands tied behind his back.”
Celtic must hammer home advantage on Rangers
Will Philippe Clement walk away quickly? To be honest, I think that’s unlikely. Principled resignations are increasingly rare in football so it’s a bit of a long shot, despite Boyd being candid with his concerns.
For Celtic it’s all about building on their strengths and ensuring a productive summer of transfer business is completed. There’s a lot of work to do on this successful squad before we can get too excited about the challenges ahead.
The signings of Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo were a good start but Brendan Rodgers needs more quality available to him. With deficiencies in defence, midfield and attack, fans are expecting a ramp-up in transfer activity.
If the club deliver that, it will only make things much harder for Clement, Rangers and the rest of Scottish football this coming season.
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