It’s certainly been a week of Rangers pundits telling tales of woe ever since Celtic beat Hearts after the Dundee United draw at Ibrox.
With Celtic now eleven points ahead of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, it looks like the Ibrox club’s hopes of mounting a title challenge have disappeared like the Saturday snow.
Celtic were devastating in the 4-1 win over Hearts as goals from Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and an Adam Idah double secured the Tynecastle victory.
But it wasn’t any of those players who was on Kris Boyd’s mind as the former Rangers striker admits there are four Parkhead heroes his old club ‘wish’ they had in their team.
Kris Boyd admits what Celtic have ‘in abundance’ that Rangers don’t
Speaking after the weekend results, Boyd talked up James Forrest after the Celtic winger signed a new contract at the club last week.
Boyd told Go Ballistic, “For James Forrest when you go back to a long time ago, the Lisbon Lions and everything that they won.
“But I think right now, for where Celtic are, James Forrest epitomises the whole thing. And for me, you speak about Scott Brown in recent times, you speak about Callum McGregor, but James Forrest has been there now for a period of time.
“And we speak about Rangers in terms of not having that identity, that connection with the players to the club. Celtic have got that in abundance.
Rangers ‘wish’ they had James Forrest and three other Celtic players ‘in their dressing room’
So we can see where Boyd is going here. The lack of fight at Rangers is what seems to be bothering Boyd as he highlights four players at Celtic who his old club would want behind the scenes who do just that at Paradise.
“James Forrest is never going to be a regular for Celtic going forward now,” continues Boyd, “I mean, those days are gone.
“But even when he comes in, he makes a difference for those three or four games when he needs to. When he needs to come off the bench, he’ll make a difference.
“You could argue that James Forrest turned the season for Celtic last year when he arrived back because he knows exactly what it takes to be a success for the football club.
“And added to that with Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor, you know, boys that have been over the course of distance that know exactly what it means to play for the football club.
“I bet you Rangers wish that they had a few like that in their dressing room right now, that’s for sure.
Celtic have a core of players right through their spine that have battling qualities that Brendan Rodgers relies upon.
Kasper Schmeichel and Cameron Carter-Vickers solidify the centre of defence. Alistair Johnston’s aggression on the right compliments Nicolas Kuhn’s flair.
Daizen Maeda’s work rate on the left wing alongside Kyogo Furuhashi’s constant pressing of the opposition backline ensures the Celtic attack begins on the defence.
So whilst Boyd is right to highlight Celtic’s four Scots in the team for their battling qualities, in truth Celtic have many more players willing to do the dirty work to ensure that the Scottish Premiership crown stays in the Parkhead trophy cabinet.
