Today’s Goldson article in the Record fails to include one very important factor – Celtic’s utter implosion aided the Ibrox side’s title winning illusion

So, to Conor Goldson, Stevie G was an Ibrox genius and he had the Scottish Premiership figured out?

And in May 2021, the Ibrox side were the best side in Scotland by a mile?

Well, if that was the case, then shouldn’t it have been an easy task for them to win the treble that year?

Oh wait, they didn’t, did they?

Most people, including Scott McDermott of the Record, seem content to ignore the fact that St. Johnstone won a cup double that season.

On a shoestring budget in comparison to that which Steven Gerrard had at his disposal at Ibrox.

But Gerrard was named manager of the year in 2021.

The man who secured the cup double for St. Johnstone was ignored.

What Callum Davidson achieved that year was nothing short of miraculous.

The fact that it’s pretty much been ignored since then is a travesty.

That is just something I felt needed to be pointed out before I delved fully into Scott McDermott’s Ibrox puff piece on Conor Goldson from this morning.

In reality, his story in the Record this morning is so full of gaping holes, it would sink quicker than a sieve.

No matter what Conor Goldson has to say now, the Ibrox side were never in a position to put their foot on Celtic’s throat after their Covid title win in 2021.

And no matter how much of a genius Conor Goldson paints Stevie G to be, Gerrard himself knew the writing was on the wall before he ran for Birmingham.

If he had the Scottish Premiership figured out, he certainly hasn’t managed to figure out the Saudi Pro League.

His Al-Ettifaq side currently sit in 12th position in an 18 team league.

Prior to that, let’s just say the EPL had him figured out long before he had any understanding of it.

Goldson clearly idolises Gerrard, that’s why it’s so easy for him to sing his praises.

All while ignoring the reality of where he finds himself now.

Struggling in a football backwater, in a country where people are still stoned to death, amongst other diabolical forms of human rights abuses.

Some of what Goldson has to say in McDermott’s article is bordering on delusional.

It’s clear that nobody at Ibrox was capable of seeing that their success was down to Celtic’s utter implosion after a litany of terrible decisions at board level.

That and the amount of caffeine consumed during that season by the Ibrox side.

And if you doubt that this was a factor in their unstoppable form, then read this:

I could feel it in the pre-season. The running we’d done the year before … suddenly people didn’t want to do that anymore. I felt after that semi-final was the right time to say it and maybe it didn’t come across well. But when I was at the club, I felt I was the person who had to say things like that.

People didn’t want to do it anymore because it wasn’t caffeine infused.

Without it, the running is physically impossible to be the same.

It cannot be done for consecutive seasons, as it’s detrimental to the heart.

Then factor the fact that the klanbase was back hurling abuse from the stands, and you get a clear picture of why it all fell apart in the 2021/22 season.

Whether Steven Gerrard had left or stayed would have made no difference.

In fact, if he was the genius Goldson makes him out to be, then clearly, he’d still be Aston Villa, wouldn’t he?

Goldson himself admits he took a lot of stick that season, which confirms they couldn’t handle the pressure from the klanbase:

I took the stick for it but do I regret it? No, I don’t. We didn’t look as hungry or as fit as we’d been the year we won the league.

And we all know why that is, don’t we?

Goldson thought Celtic’s recovery under Ange Postecoglou was some sort of miracle, while somehow forgetting about our domination before their Covid title win.

I mean, have a look at this:

Celtic lost a lot of key players that summer and – it was fortunate for them – but no-one thought that Ange would do what he did there. The whole football club took its eye off the ball when Celtic lost a lot of players and their manager.

Unfortunately for us, they quickly turned it around. I was frustrated at that time because I could see what was going on. I could see what was happening.

Even during the season, when we’d dropped points and the title race was still close – I felt I had to say something to get a reaction. It didn’t go down well but if you look at how things have panned out, I think that I was right. When Steven left, standards got lower.

That’s exactly the point.

Nobody thought Ange Postecoglou would do what he did.

Everybody at Ibrox thought they’d be on easy street for that season, and that the title was in the bag.

We experienced two of the best transfer windows in our recent history.

And we are still reaping the benefits of those windows.

Our Japanese trio of Kyogo, Hatate and Maeda are showcasing some of the best form we’ve seen in their time at the club.

The same cannot be said about the players that were acquired at Ibrox during that season, can it?

Not one of the players they acquired that season are still at the club.

But did Goldson honestly believe that Celtic wouldn’t turn it around?

Did they all believe at Ibrox that our financial prowess wouldn’t drive our recovery?

The statement, “When Steven left, standards got lower” kind of sums it all up.

We’ve seen where Steven’s standards have taken the clubs he has managed since he departed Ibrox.

Therein lies the delusion.

The final paragraph from Goldson is the icing on the cake:

If I’m honest, I think we’d have had a much closer league title if Steven had stayed. We’d have either won it or it would have been close. But the flip side is, I don’t think we’d have had that European journey under Steven. What Gio did on that run to Seville? As I get older I’m starting to look at coaching so I understand it a bit more. He was amazing.

Steven Gerrard himself knew he would be found out very quickly by a manager like Ange Postecoglou.

That’s why he ran for the hills as soon as Aston Villa came calling.

I genuinely think that if Gerrard had remained, Celtic would actually have beaten the Ibrox side by a larger margin.

There is no way he would have been able to compete with Ange Postecoglou tactically.

Gio Van Bronckhorst did the best he could with what he had.

Where he is now in comparison to where Steven Gerrard is, is testament to the kind of manager he is.

He is managing Beşiktaş, and he has already secured a trophy there, winning the 2024 Turkish Super Cup.

The same cannot be said for Gerrard.

So, when the likes of Conor Goldson waxes lyrical about someone like Steven Gerrard, he’s doing it because he idolises him.

Not because of his managerial prowess.

Gerrard had 9 shots at trophies in Scotland.

He landed 1 out of that 9.

In a season where stadiums were empty, and his players were dosed up to their eyeballs on caffeine.

A season where Celtic imploded and allowed complacency to destroy our 10IAR bid.

It was all an illusion.

An illusion created by a confluence of freak events.

But it certainly wasn’t down to Steven Gerrard’s managerial ability.

Anyone who thinks it was, wasn’t paying attention.

And clearly Conor Goldson isn’t either.

I guess that’s why he’s plying his trade in Cyprus.

That’s what happens when you speak your mind at Ibrox.

The truth hurts.