You have to love the Ibrox fans and their media apologists, always quick to retreat into fantasy whenever things aren’t going well.
The delusions they’ve clung to over the past few weeks have been laughable, from big-money investors to outlandish rumours of managerial saviours. When reality bites, their escape is into some parallel universe where hope springs eternal, despite the clear and obvious signs that their club is in disarray.
On their fan forums, they still cling to the bizarre hope that Celtic is teetering on the edge of disaster. Many of them obsessively talk about that court case involving our club, believing that it will somehow bring about our downfall.
It’s their comfort blanket, their last hope for a miraculous Celtic collapse. They conveniently ignore the fact that Celtic’s financials are strong, that our club is well-managed, and that we’re miles ahead of them on and off the pitch.
Then, there’s the talk of a managerial resurrection—a miracle worker who will save them from the abyss. And who have they decided will be their saviour? None other than Steven Gerrard. Yes, that same Gerrard who flopped spectacularly at Aston Villa and is now managing in the Saudi League, a place where those with washed-up careers go to live out their twilight years.
If wishes were horses, they’d have brought Gerrard back already. And, believe me, there would be a fair few Celtic fans who would love to see it happen. In fact, there’s little that would bring more satisfaction than to see the Gerrard myth finally and irrevocably exploded. It’s a mystery why so many of them still believe in this fairytale, but they do. To them, Gerrard was a tactical genius who could somehow transform their fortunes.
The reality, of course, is quite different. His record is abysmal.
Even in the season when they won the league during the COVID lockdown, it was Callum Davidson of St Johnstone who deserved all the accolades. Winning two domestic cup competitions in the same season with a club like St Johnstone is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. By comparison, Gerrard’s title win was the product of an exceptional set of circumstances—a perfect storm of Celtic mismanagement and a lack of competition across the board.
The only thing that props up Gerrard’s reputation is his record against us. That’s it. That’s their comfort blanket. A manager who gets the odd result against Celtic.
But even that doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
Yes, he managed a few wins against us, but his overall record against Celtic wasn’t as impressive as they like to make out. And if we were the only club in the league, maybe that would matter more. His real problem was his performances against everyone else, and that’s what got him sacked at Aston Villa. If he were to return, it would be more of the same mediocrity.
Gerrard was never a good manager, and he never will be.
His stint in English football is over, and he’s unlikely to get another shot at a top job. Aston Villa fans couldn’t stand what they saw on the pitch under his management. They view his appointment as a terrible mistake, especially when you consider how well the club has done since he was sacked. His decision to go to Saudi Arabia had less to do with the money—he’s already got enough to last a lifetime—and more to do with the fact that no club in Europe wanted him.
His time at Ibrox, the Villa sacking and now his stint in Saudi Arabia have completely annihilated any prospect he had of being taken seriously as a top-level coach. The notion that he could one day manage Liverpool was always pure fantasy, and it’s remarkable how many people—north and south of the border—seemed convinced that it was going to happen. It was never going to happen, just like the idea of Henrik Larsson managing Celtic was always a pipe dream.
The idea of Gerrard coming back to Ibrox has been doing the rounds on their forums for months, especially as the pressure has grown on Philippe Clement.
But now it’s starting to surface in the media, thanks to Paul Robinson, the former England international and longtime Gerrard pal, who is promoting it as a realistic possibility. He claims a reunion is inevitable, that Gerrard has “unfinished business” at the club.
But even Robinson can’t help but add a warning.
This is not the same club Gerrard left. The rebuild required now would be far more extensive, and there’s a lot less money in the coffers to do it. What he doesn’t say, but which is equally obvious, is that Celtic has money, Celtic has an elite manager, and Gerrard would never have lasted as long as he did if we’d had an elite manager in place throughout his time at Ibrox.
Gerrard was already a busted flush before COVID shut down the league, and anyone who understands football can see that. And yet, there are still Ibrox fans who think he’s the answer to their problems. It’s utterly baffling.
If this fantasy does come to pass, though, I have to admit I’ll enjoy it.
Watching him fail again, watching that bubble burst, would be quite something. The icing on the cake, of course, is that this latest nonsense is coming out on the same day that Dave King is reportedly sniffing around Ibrox again.
That’s a subject for later, but let’s just say that’s the one thing Celtic fans would enjoy more than the return of Slippy.
And if we could have them both … Hell, yes …
The two jokers in King’s pack of cards.
The Klan were close to torches and pitchforks for Gerrard. I thought his tactic’s man was Beale and we saw right through that myth.
Is his coming back linked with a potential Dave King jetting in… Hope so but alas I don’t think either want a piece of the poison chalice right now unless Dave has a dastardly plan that usually means duping some to ensure he gets his wedge and more. You never know with Glibby… Dave might be the man to handle the administration.
One thing is for sure they are a rudderless entity right now and there won’t be many want to join and take the stick that will come this season. There is no easy out, no easy solution not even the Sheik route to salvation.
Personally I hope the ship goes under and those confetti share are seen for what they are (rabbit bedding) and the assets sold up to and investments firm that are just interested in their shareholders and the klub are eternally tethered to spivs who just want to make money at all costs. The Klan aren’t tough to get money from, it just needs some sleight of hand and a few key phrases and they will be selling 5 jerseys a season to the Gullibillies….
As long as they can keep the big hoos open for their fortnightly gang meeting with the occasional point against the Celtic.
The future is bright the future is no Orange.
Gerrard and the ibrox support should both be thankin our board and lennon for his ‘success’. Personally, ah think the Celtic support should club in and pay for him tae return. Ah would definitely contribute tae that. Would love nothin better, than tae have us burst the delusional myth and see the arrogant fraud gettin his long overdue, deserved, reality check. ‘Unfinished buisness’ !! With who ? If its us his pal’s also referrin tae, suits us, bring him back and let him get on with it.
Slippy G and the Lying King. What a combination – It couldn’t get any better for us Tims. I see Andy Newport in the Daily Ranger, under the auspices of sympathising with Bennett, is doing a revisionist re-write of King’s tenure on the ibrox board. Funnily enough, he omits mention of court cases, merchandise deals, sacking managers via Sky, share confetti et al. As I read it, it was obvious he was preparing the ground for the return of the king. Someone should tell him that Scottish football is not Disney.
Anything in The Rancid Record is liable to be Pathological Lies !
On a side note. It’s no the only means their media get their gratification. Any X Celtic manager or player is fair game as well. Like the DR’s ibrox fan boy young (gleefully imo), highlightin Ange’s problems and in particular Arteta, who strangely enough and as we all know, is an X ibrox favourite. Ye can see the real motivation behind these transparent, desperate bstrds.
Putting the band back together hardly ever works. There were times last season when it looked like it wasn’t going to work for Celtic and BRodge either, but it appears he may have won the power struggle inside the building now, by playing a long game. I admit when I saw the ‘King offers to return’ stories this morning my first reaction was laughter. A guy run out of town because he was so untrustworthy he was declared an unperson by the financial regulatory bodies. Not only is he not the solution to their deep-seated problems, he is in fact the cause of many or even most of them. He has only one strategy – gamble money you don’t have for a big prize – and only really one aim by doing this – to get back the money he has sunk in to the financial black hole. His return alone would be something to celebrate, but for him to bring back the hapless yet egotistical Gerrard would be sweet icing on top indeed and would allow for the myth to be exposed once and for all. One question does remain unanswered though…..
….would Gerrard bring back ‘the brains behind Gerrard’ to do the bibs and cones at Murray Park?
“It’s utterly baffling” – Indeed it is James… Yhere again it’s not really given the significant number of mentalistic Gullibillies that make up so much of their support…
Aye they seem to love their ‘peepil’ going back – ‘The man with no surname’ (Walter) – Jock Wallace, And now allegedly Gerrard only Gerrard isn’t really ‘peepil’ we’ll not after he got ‘caught’ brandishing a Celtic scarf at Parkhead in The ‘You’ll never walk alone’ style above his head…
And what about that fella Paul Robinson – Touting him for a ‘return’ due to having ‘unfinished’ business at Liebrox while Phillipe Clement is still the manager there – It’s just like The Beale whoring himself while Van Bronckhorst was manager there all over again but that’s what they do I guess as an utterly classless club devoid of any morals whatsoever in life…
I wonder what Fillipe Fillop thinks about that chat emerging – Though it’s probably an underhanded tactic to sicken him into resigning so as they won’t have to pay up his contract of course…
As for ‘Celtic’s my Scottish team’ (Or was) Gerrard –
One piece of silverware in ten attempts…
BRING IT FUCKIN WELL ON THE DAY BEFORE TOMORROW PLEEEEZZZZE !!!
In March 2020 the The Rangers’ fans were baying for Gerrard’s head. If Covid hadn’t cut that season short he’d have been sacked.
Apart from the reasons that you mentioned prohibiting Gerrard returning to Greyskull there is also the small matter of a massive tax bill, should he take up employment on UK soil.
Unless of course Sevco have unearthed another genius Tax dodge.
If they did go for him, I would not be surprised though, it would only go to show they have learned nothing in the last few years.
Gerrard is not a good manager!
Gerard to bring back the glory years… Lmao…. They had a 7 man coaching team when Gerard was there and must have cost an absolute fortune.
They never learn…. Rinse repeat…. Trying to be the best of the rest.
Bring back the wheelie bins and ice.
Aye I remember a game when Hamilton beat them at Liebrox where it was absolutely toxic…
Beautiful for us though…
I think he’d have been sacked after that for sure –
And Celtic would have probably achieved 10-in-a-row…
Still we’ve done nine-in-a-row first, done nine-in-a-row twice and both were won honestly unlike a certain football club that became deceased in June 2012 !
How can you chant our 2nd 9 in a row was an achievement ,if you claim the ranjurs are deed ,titles,trebles mean nothing now they are no longer with us ,as you know the day they died .