Barry Ferguson has talked up Derek McInnes as the man to restore Rangers, but from a Celtic perspective, the appointment still feels more solid than scary.
McInnes is experienced. Nobody can seriously argue otherwise. He knows Scottish football, knows the grounds, knows the pressure around Ibrox, and will likely make Rangers more difficult to play against than they were during last season’s collapse.
But that is not the same as being elite. It is not the same as being innovative. And it is certainly not the same as being a manager Celtic should suddenly fear.
Writing in the Daily Record, Ferguson said: “Del played for the club and knows exactly what will be expected of him and his team.
“But more than that, he’s shown with his wealth of experience that he is a top manager and a top person.
“You don’t survive in the management game as long as the former St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen Kilmarnock and Hearts gaffer has if you’ve not got top credentials and I’m now looking forward to him putting all his nous to good use in the coming weeks and months as he strives to place Rangers back where they should be – at the top of Scottish football.”
That is a big sell. The problem is that McInnes’ record does not quite match the noise.
His teams are usually organised. They are normally hard-working. They can be awkward, physical and hard to break down. He knows how to set up a side to frustrate and nick games. That has served him well at clubs where finishing behind Celtic could still be dressed up as a successful season.
At Rangers, that will not be enough.
Second place to Celtic at Aberdeen was understandable. Second place to Celtic at Hearts was praised. Second place to Celtic at Rangers will be failure.
That is the reality Ferguson’s praise cannot get around.
He also wrote: “And I really do hope this is the end of the revolving door of bosses coming and going at Ibrox.
“McInnes is the eighth full-time appointee in the last nine years and frankly that’s just too many.”
Rangers have moved from manager to manager while Celtic have kept finding a way to win. Even last season, when Celtic had their own problems, Martin O’Neill came back in and delivered when it mattered.
That is where the comparison becomes awkward for McInnes.
O’Neill is not coming into this season with anything to prove against him. He has already beaten him in a title race. McInnes had Hearts in a strong position, pushed Celtic deep into the campaign, and still ended up watching O’Neill lift the trophy.
That is the difference between nearly doing it and actually doing it.
Ferguson also said: “By taking both the captain and the manager from one of your main rivals, Andrew Cavenagh and Jim Gillespie will hope that they have dealt the Jambos a huge blow before a ball is kicked this season.
“It’s the kind of thing the best Rangers sides have always done down the years – strengthen yourself by weakening your opponent.”
That may weaken Hearts. It does not weaken Celtic.
That is the key point. Rangers have taken from the side that finished above them, not the champions. They may have improved their own team, but Celtic remain the standard they have to reach.
McInnes will bring structure. He will bring experience. He will make Rangers more predictable in the best and worst sense. But Celtic have seen his football for years. It is not mysterious, it is not bold, and it is not something O’Neill will lose sleep over.
The pressure now moves to Ibrox. McInnes can no longer be praised for pushing Celtic close. He has to finish above.
That is a very different job, and I believe he will fall short.
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One Response
You’re right the huns aren’t weakening Celtic, we do that for them.