John Barnes claims the fact that Rangers have started the season poorly should offer Celtic a chance to “push” their rivals for the title this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side haven’t exactly started the campaign in great form themselves, having lost three of their six league games, but Barnes feels that the arrival of a new manager, as well as a suave of new signings, could give them the edge:

“Celtic will push Rangers closer this season because Rangers have dropped their level a bit. After stopping Celtic making [it] 10 In A Row, they’re not playing with the same determination and intensity that they were doing. Celtic have a new manager and new players have the added impetus of trying to get back to where they were.”

Barnes is probably being slightly optimistic with his prediction. There is no doubt that the standards set by Rangers have dropped, but Celtic really need to get their own house in order first.

The defence has been rather porous, to say the least, while there is no certainty that all the new recruits will turn out to be good buys. There are a lot of unknowns at the moment, and Postecoglou must prove that he is able to build a team capable of winning trophies out of the squad available to him.