ALLY McCoist can remember a time when Rangers weren’t even the second-best side in the country. He was on the playing books at the time. The first half of the 1980s are not recalled with any great fondness by supporters of the Ibrox club, a period when they toiled to keep up with the New Firm force of Aberdeen and Dundee United, as well as old rivals Celtic. McCoist signed for his boyhood heroes in 1983 but would have to wait four years before finally getting his hands on the league trophy.
He can see similarities now. Celtic are this time the dominant side in the country, with Rangers battling it out with Aberdeen and Hearts for second and third. Given the financial gulf at the top, as well as Rangers’ struggles to adjust to life back in the top division, it is a situation that could go on for several years to come. McCoist acknowledges the similarities between now and then, but felt the side he played in was far superior to the one that will face Celtic in what is expected to be a one-sided derby this afternoon.
“It is similar to the pre-Souness days,” he said. “But that was a better team. That team had Ian Durrant, Derek Ferguson, Dave McPherson and boys like that. Good players and internationals. And we were up against a Dundee United team that reached the Uefa Cup final and an Aberdeen side that had won the Cup-Winners' Cup. So although Rangers were finishing third and fourth you’re talking about a different league. Aberdeen probably had their best ever team, and United had one of their best teams ever. And Rangers didn’t have that. But it was still as good as the Rangers team that’s playing just now.
“This is a team where you wonder what’s changed in three years. Hearts beat Rangers 4-1 this season. In our last year, they beat us 2-0 when Stevie Smith got sent off. It happens. I don’t see anything that’s really changed. Have Rangers got a better chance of winning the league? No, absolutely not.
“A better chance of winning the cup? Maybe. With the greatest respect, anybody can win a cup in a one-off. But Rangers fans won’t be happy with winning the odd cup every four or five years. We all know that. So until there’s investment and a better quality of player on the park, Rangers will stay where they are.”
Celtic will always be held up as the benchmark that Rangers must try to aspire to. That might be unfair but McCoist knows there is no point moaning about it.
“That won’t happen,” he added. “Anybody with any sense will tell you it should happen, but it won’t. You’re always judged against Celtic and vice-versa.
“Rangers effectively are Aberdeen and Hearts at the moment, that’s where they are I think. It’s difficult and wrong of me to say they should be clear second best. With the greatest of respect, there’s Aberdeen players couldn’t play with Rangers and Hearts players couldn’t play with Rangers because it’s a different level of pressure.
“There’s no doubt there’s less pressure at other teams. The real pressure is at Rangers and Celtic. So I wouldn’t say Rangers should be clear in second place but I hope that’s where they can finish.”
Celtic have won all three of the derbies this season – including a 5-1 rout the last time it was played at Parkhead – but McCoist is confident it won’t be a humiliating experience for Rangers this time around.
"I am confident that will not be happening. We can all get carried away here. It's an Old Firm game. Celtic have deservedly won, particularly the home game, the previous ones but if Rangers go and get organised they can make a game of it. Celtic on current form are capable of beating every team in the country, so nothing changes there. But Rangers players should by now know what it's about and have a personal pride in playing for the club and their performance.”
The sides are set to face each other six times this season and McCoist conceded a Celtic whitewash couldn’t be counted out.
“It wouldn’t be good. It’s a transitional period [for Rangers] but it still wouldn’t be good. I hope it won’t happen but looking at things the way they are now, it’s feasible. I sincerely hope not.
“I thought Rangers played well for 55 minutes in the game at Ibrox. They did really well and then I thought Celtic’s better players took control of the game. There are things that can happen. You can get a bit of luck and win and Old Firm game, but unless there’s a change in the playing staff at Rangers, which there won’t be, Celtic have the better players.
“It’s not rocket science. Better players don’t always win games but they have got better players than Rangers at the moment. Until that changes, Rangers’ best chance of beating Celtic will be in a one-off game. Over the course of the season they are miles behind Celtic.”
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