This is a strange time of year. In some ways, it feels like it’s been a week since we last played, when it’s only been a matter of days. The games keep coming thick and fast, and we’re still dealing with a few squad issues. For instance, we don’t yet know if Kuhn will be back today; Forrest is definitely out, so our concerns in the wide areas may persist into this afternoon’s match.
Still, we’re entitled to feel pretty pleased with how the season has gone so far, and we can afford to feel confident about what lies ahead. Four of the next five games are at home, giving us a golden opportunity to put points on the board and take a big step closer to securing the title.
Ibrox, of course, is the game dominating the media’s and some fans’ thoughts. But for the manager and the players, the situation is simpler than that: one day at a time, one game at a time, one challenge at a time.
Our squad will be focused solely on the task at hand. I’ve no doubt that’s the message Rodgers will have drummed into the dressing room.
He spoke yesterday about the absence of a winter break this year, lamenting how this is the wave of the future. Our players having an extended time off isn’t on the agenda anymore. Instead, it’s more games and less time to recover between them, which means having a large, well-rounded squad is becoming not just advantageous but essential. Rodgers is absolutely right—it’s a shame. This isn’t something anyone wants but UEFA and FIFA are determined to cram more matches than ever into the schedule.
Yet, the advantages of our setup cannot be overstated. We’ve built a squad for exactly this kind of scenario. Yes, there are gaps to fill and areas where we need better depth. But overall, we’re in good shape.
Nevertheless, the team has shown some signs of fatigue in recent weeks, which is hardly surprising. Even with a full rotation system—which we don’t operate—we’d still face these issues. Let’s not forget, there are half a dozen players you can almost guarantee will start every match. Those are the players most likely to tire.
Fatigue, though, is as much mental as physical. This team has dealt with a lot of focus, pressure, and expectation in recent months. In my view, they’ve handled it superbly, but these are not robots, there is bound to be some slippage, some bad patch to have to navigate through and Sunday’s slip was the only real one so far, and I’m certain they’ll want to put it behind them emphatically this afternoon.
It’s hard to overstate how well this team has performed through the challenging months of November and December. Yes, we gave back two points recently, but that shouldn’t worry us too much. We’ve taken giant steps toward securing European qualification. At this point, it would take something extraordinary to deny us a spot in the qualifying round draw. Plus, we’ve already claimed the first silverware of the season, a feat the media is suddenly pretending isn’t important.
We all know better. Winning the first trophy of the campaign is hugely significant.
It’s a reward for everything we’ve done so far and a psychological boost that leaves their club floundering, grief-stricken, and half-mad. You only need to glance at their rambling, disastrous press statement released on Christmas Eve to see how detached from reality they’ve become.
No matter what the media says, these are not small matters. The cup final defeat doesn’t bode well for their club. In fact, it heaps more pressure on their manager to break his winless streak against Rodgers—a task I suspect he’ll fail at. By season’s end, I fully expect they’ll be searching for a new head coach.
So, ignore all the chatter about a rejuvenated Ibrox threat.
The only threat is to themselves, as they persist in believing their own nonsense. That club has shown itself incapable of learning from mistakes or drawing the correct conclusions about its situation.
The simple fact remains, as we’ve said often here: if we do our job, it doesn’t matter what they do. Today presents an opportunity—an opportunity to get back to doing what we do best: winning in style.
With a big, boisterous festive home crowd behind us, that’s what the club should make today about. Not just three points, but a statement win.
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I take it you wee doing an article on lyndsay’s piece this mornings herald.
AND WE GOT THE HEADLINE…. AND A BONUS ON TOP OF IT !
Boxing Day on Wallow Wallow literally for sure !
Well said James ! I concur fully with your comments !
Line up will be interesting, but as long as we get the win we can enjoy the day ! HH
It’s these winter games, if ye have tae win ugly it’s understandable and even appreciated more imo. It’s the result that’s the main thing, as well as keepin players fit of course. The home games are an advantage. Tho far as the 2nd goes, the hysteria from one side is rapidly buildin and all we’re hearin is how theyre out tae ‘make amends’. We’re also bein reminded daily how ‘off form’ we are.True, in recent games, our form hasn’t been quite what it should be right now, tho that disnae mean it’ll continue. We’ll see.
Four goals, job done. And an extra bonus this evening. For us – as always- ONE GAME AT A TIME. Merry Christmas, HH