Rangers vs Celtic: 10 Reason Why the Gers Will Dominate the Old Firm This Season

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The Old Firm derby.

Arguably one of the biggest, fiercest, and most competitive clashes in world football.

World Soccer Magazine recently voted it as the 3rd greatest derby match in the world, only behind Argentina's Superclasico and Spain's El Clasico.

With both clubs boasting impressive squads and young managers, this season's Old Firm matches could really light up the Scottish game and make headlines throughout the footballing world - for all the right reasons.

However, one team has to come on top throughout the course of the season, and here's ten reasons why Rangers will be that team.

Nikica Jelavic

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The big Croatian striker has bags of talent, and will have an important part to play if Rangers are to dominate the Old Firm matches this year.

Jelavic's big-match pedigree has already been proven, as he scored the winning goal in March's League Cup Final victory over their bitter rivals.

The £4m forward is arguably the best player in the league and so, having him in the team is only going to be to Rangers' advantage.

McCoist Has More Experience of the Old Firm Derby

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Both McCoist and Lennon, the managers of Rangers and Celtic respectively, experienced the Old Firm at first hand.

Although the two never played against each other, McCoist scored many goals against Rangers' arch rivals whilst Lennon was instrumental in the games he featured in.

However, McCoist has arguably more experience due to the three years he spent as assistant to his managerial predecessor Walter Smith.

Smith, one of the Ibrox side's greatest ever managers, masterminded several crucial victories over the Bhoys.  McCoist was right next to him, taking it all in.

The time Ally spent learning from Walter undoubtedly gives him the edge over Lennon's Celtic this season.

The Current Celtic Side Have Not Won the League Yet

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Of the current Celtic squad, only a handful of players were at the club when they last won the league in 2008.

Compare that to Rangers where, bar this summer's signings, everyone else at the club has won the League before.

Even something as simple as this could be an important factor when the two sides meet.

Rangers Have the Psychological Edge

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Much like my last slide, Rangers already hold a significant advantage over Celtic.

They have a winning mentality.

Having won the league three times on the trot, beating their arch rivals on the way, the Gers players know that Celtic can be beaten and how to do it.

The men in the green and white, however, are yet to find that winning combination when it comes to the Old Firm match.

Whoever holds the psychological advantage prior to this season's matches may well end up as champions.

Rangers Have a Solid Defence

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In the last few hours, Rangers have added to their squad with the impressive signing of USA captain Carlos Bocanegra.

The versatile defender joins the likes of Dorin Goian, Kyle Bartley, Ross Perry, Sasa Papac, Steven Whittaker, Kirk Broadfoot, Lee Wallace, and the veteran Davie Weir at the back.

In the games against Celtic, it now seems likely that McCoist will go with Wallace, Goian, Bocanegra and Whittaker in defence, with Bartley, Weir, Perry, Papac, and Broadfoot in reserve. 

A defence of this calibre should definitely manage to keep the likes of Hooper & Stokes at bay.

Steven Davis

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The diminutive Northern Irishman is the most creative player in the Rangers side.

Capable of playing in the centre of midfield or on the right, the 26 year-old will always cause Celtic problems by dictating play and spreading passes across the park.

Even worse news for the Bhoys and the rest of the SPL, is that Davis recently signed a new five year contract with the club.

If the talented midfielder stays injury-free, expect him to play a big part in any Rangers victory.

The Pressure Is on Celtic

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After being dumped out of the Champions League, and subsequently the Europa League by Braga and Utrecht respectively last season, the least that was expected of Neil Lennon was that he win the SPL.

Unfortunately, he didn't manage that either.

Although the former Celtic captain has been granted another crack at it by chief executive Peter Lawwell, it looks like this season will be make-or-break for the Northern Irishman.

The added pressure on Lennon's side to perform well against Rangers could cause them to collapse under the strain.  

The Injury to Emilio Izaguirre

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Emilio Izaguirre, Celtic's star player last season, was last week ruled out for six months after breaking his ankle against Aberdeen.

The 25 year-old Honduran won four major awards at the end of last term, which rewarded his excellent form throughout the season.

Despite being linked to a host of Premier League clubs in the summer, including Manchester United, the left-back stayed put and looked set to terrorise SPL clubs for another year.

However, the unfortunate injury to the talented defender deals a major blow to Celtic's hopes of beating Rangers to the SPL title.

Rangers Are the More Stable Side

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Rangers have had essentially the same squad and staff for the past three seasons.

Although a number of players have come and gone, the core of the team remains the same, with the likes of McGregor, Alexander, Weir, Whittaker, McCulloch, Davis, and Naismith having been at the club for several years.

This extends to the staff too, with Ally McCoist, Pip Yeates, Ian Durrant, Kevin McDowal,l and Jim Stewart spending long periods of time with the club.

This sense of unity and stability can only bode well for Rangers going into this season's Old Firm games.

Allan McGregor

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Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in Europe just now, Allan McGregor has proven time and time again his value to Rangers and to Old Firm derbies.

24th April 2011. The penultimate Old Firm derby of the season is finely balanced at 0-0 when Celtic are awarded a penalty with eight minutes remaining.

Georgios Samaras steps up - but McGregor dives to his left and turns it brilliantly round the post.

The match ended in a draw and one month later, Celtic ended up losing the SPL title by a single point.  However, if McGregor had not saved that Samaras penalty, the trophy would've ended up at Parkhead.

The Scottish keeper will no doubt have a massive impact on the destination of this season's league title.

Conclusion

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It's anyone's guess as to who the league champions will be, come the end of the season.

Will the trophy end up in the hands of Ally McCoist at Ibrox?

Or will Neil Lennon be celebrating at Parkhead come May?

One thing's for sure - this season's Old Firm derbies will most definitely have a say in where the SPL title ends up.