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Stephen Craigan Opinion Ange Postecoglou has to adapt his philosophy as Celtic’s greatest strength is also their biggest weakness

No-one said it was going to be easy or plain sailing when Ange Postecoglou took over as Celtic manager in the summer and so far that has been the case.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Rangers’ fringe stars need to step up after reality check

What Thursday night’s 2-0 Europa League defeat to Lyon highlighted for Rangers is that the step up to the next level in European football is going to be a considerable ask for the club and current players.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Northern Ireland’s future is bright now that the likes of Daniel Ballard are setting the standards for the senior pros

International football finally returned to Windsor Park on Wednesday night and it’s how we love to see the stadium. The stands were packed, the atmosphere was electric and the young team put in a performance that the occasion deserved.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Lithuania win offered clear shoots of hope in young Northern Ireland team

Ian Baraclough may have looked and sounded calm ahead of Thursday night’s game in Vilnius but I imagine inside his stomach had a few knots and his heart was racing a bit.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion This Rangers v Celtic clash could be the most open in years thanks to the managers’ egos

The Old Firm fixture needs no introduction, and tomorrow’s game absolutely follows that pattern. It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated contests in the football calendar and it is finely poised for the winner to grab the early initiative in the Scottish Premiership title race and lay down a marker to their rival.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Celtic and Rangers face the same transfer dilemma as Scottish Premiership title race is set to be a tight one

We’re only a matter of weeks into the new Scottish Premiership season and already the lead-up to the transfer window closing at the end of August looks pivotal for Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Why Kyogo Furuhashi just might be the new hero Celtic fans have been waiting for

Football in Glasgow at its best is volatile with no grey area in moments of disappointment and all logical thinking can quite quickly go out the window.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion No surprise that Steven Davis is stepping up for Rangers

You find out who your real leaders are in adversity and during tough times, so when Steven Davis stepped up in the 95th minute on Tuesday night to drag Rangers back into their Champions League qualifier against Malmo he just reaffirmed his importance to the Glasgow giants.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Ange Postecoglou needs to get working on Celtic defence

Ange Postecoglou got his first win as Celtic manager on Thursday night against Jablonec which will have been a relief for him, but it wasn’t without its glitches.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion There's no denying Rangers are the team to beat in Scottish Premiership title race

The Scottish Premiership returns this weekend and it’s fair to say you’ll be hard pushed to find anyone who doesn’t fancy Rangers to retain the title.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic have already shown early signs of progress but I must admit I didn’t see it coming

Last Saturday after Celtic lost a pre-season friendly to Preston North End, new manager Ange Postecoglou cut a forlorn figure as he spoke to the media in the aftermath.

Postecoglou scrambling for options at Celtic

Steven Gerrard has too many players at his disposal and Ange Postecoglou simply doesn’t have enough, which is a major concern ahead of his opening competitive game against Danish side FC Midtjylland in a Champions League first leg first round qualifier on Tuesday night.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Steven Gerrard needs to be ruthlessly selfish and cut his squad to make sure Rangers stay united

Since Steven Gerrard took charge of Rangers three years ago, it’s fair to say everything around the club has evolved on and off the pitch.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Celtic’s lack of transfer business is alarming… the delayed appointment of Ange Postecoglou is still harming their chances

New Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been working with the players for just over two weeks but what is concerning is the lack of transfer activity or speculation.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Once again, Rangers have big call to make on Alfredo Morelos as Porto consider £15m move

It’s the off season in Scotland, which usually means one thing: Alfredo Morelos is being linked with a move away from Rangers.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Griffiths really is on his last chance at Celtic and it is on him to prove he wants to stay

Leigh Griffiths is one of the most natural goalscorers Scotland has ever produced, yet over the past two weeks, when his country was desperate for someone like him at the Euros, he was sitting idle.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Extending Goldson’s stay at Ibrox a real priority

WHEN the end-of-season Player of the Year awards were announced, it was no surprise that the name of Rangers defender Connor Goldson was among the nominees.

Stephen Craigan Opinion Gerrard clever to sign up veteran Defoe to new player/coach role at Rangers

As Celtic start a new era, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has conducted another smart piece of business this week with evergreen front man Jermain Defoe signing a new one-year player/coach contract.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Postecoglou is a risky choice by Celtic, but he must be given their full support

At long last, Celtic have clarity and direction as a football club with Ange Postecoglou finally being appointed as new manager after a long and drawn-out process.

There are plenty of positives for Northern Ireland boss Baraclough to build on

I’m always wary of end-of-season international friendlies when it’s easy for players to switch off and take their foot off the gas, and probably more this time round after the busy schedule a lot of the players have endured this season.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Celtic may be the right club for Postecoglou, but this isn't the right time for him

It’s just over 100 days now since Neil Lennon left his post as Celtic manager and it’s astonishing that the role has yet to be filled.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Why this end-of-season tour can be so crucial for Northern Ireland’s future

International football at the end of a long, hard season can sometimes be an afterthought for players but that couldn’t be further from the truth on this occasion. With limited time to coach and train during the triple-headers in the international windows, this time together is vital for a number of reasons.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Gerrard has big decisions to make as Rangers need investment to compete in the Champions League

As the dust settles on another Scottish Premiership season, the focus already for all the managers will be on the new campaign and new targets.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Celtic legend Scott Brown has been the envy of every club in Scotland… even though they wouldn’t admit it

Scott Brown today makes his last ever appearance for Celtic, against Hibernian, as he prepares to start a new chapter in his career as a player/coach at Aberdeen.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Why Steven Davis is the outstanding performer and deserves to win Scottish Premiership Player of the Year

It is hardly surprising that a quartet of Rangers players make up the list for SPL Player of the Year. There may be some ambiguity about the four selected, depending on personal preference, but it sums up what all fellow players in the Scottish Premiership feel about their season.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Rangers must expect Celtic to come back with renewed focus for title joy next year

An Old Firm game with just pride to play for. I'm not sure it will catch on but that's exactly what's at stake tomorrow at Ibrox as Rangers and Celtic face off for the second time in two weeks.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Celtic are too big a club to wait on anyone... if Eddie Howe is stalling then it's time to move on

With Celtic's season officially ending last Sunday after their Scottish Cup defeat against Rangers, it seemed very convenient that incoming CEO Dominic McKay started at the club on Monday morning.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Old Firm cup derby carries huge significance as Rangers bid to become serial winners while John Kennedy stakes his claim for permanent Celtic job

What a game we have in prospect tomorrow as once again the Old Firm go head-to-head - but this time with an extra edge, if that's possible.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Rangers showing intent to prolong success by getting key stars to commit

When Rangers clinched the Scottish Premiership title on March 7, manager Steven Gerrard was adamant his first trophy was just the start and not a one-off.

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Stephen Craigan Opinion Eddie Howe will need to adapt his mindset quickly to avoid fans' frustrations if he takes up Celtic rein

It's been a drawn-out process with a lot of fans being frustrated at the lack of communication on the matter from the club, but, finally, Celtic look to be on the verge of filling the managerial void left by Neil Lennon’s February exit.