Some things never change.
Even before Celtic can kick a ball for the 2025/26 Premiership season, the supporters were duly entertained by Rangers against Motherwell on Saturday evening.
Despite a lot of expectation and hope for new Rangers manager Russell Martin, life has started with dropped points away at Fir Park.
It was a story of Rangers’ season last time out because, despite beating Celtic twice during the 2024/25 season, they still lost the title by 17 points.
And with the same problems rearing their ugly head, but with a different face in the dugout, it has already got Kris Boyd worked up.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesKris Boyd uses Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou as an example after Rangers draw at Motherwell
Ange Postecoglou was a huge success at Celtic, including winning the Treble in his final season in Glasgow, with his style of play perhaps the best supporters have seen during the modern era.
Boyd used the 2025 Europa League winner with Tottenham as an example, and how Russell Martin is trying to play a certain way with Rangers, but he doesn’t have the tools for it like Ange did back when he was in charge.
The former striker also wanted to point out how it’s easy for Rangers to get up for games like Celtic, but they don’t have the mental strength to do it for the rest of the games, as he told Sky Sports Football (02/08/25).
“You can’t affect what has happened in the past,” said Boyd. “But today, looking at it, Rangers have a lot of work to do – the second half was nowhere near good enough.
“You go back to Ange Postecoglou, and I am not comparing it to him, in terms of the pace in the wide areas that he had.
“When you are playing this style of football, and you have your two wide players playing the way they are, and you are trying to take them from one side to the other. You have got to have players willing to run without the ball. Rangers, right now, there is no pace in the wide areas.
“I think Russell Martin made the point there, European and Celtic games are fine for these players to get up for. The last thing Rangers need is for these new players coming in and then bombing into the culture that has been here for a long time.
Chris Sutton added: “Rangers, who were careless last season, 34 points, outside of Celtic, they dropped, and this is another two points dropped if Rangers want to go and win the title.
“For him (Martin) to call them out so early, he must think they are rank rotten – we all think he is right, by the way. But when have you seen a manager do that first game of the season?”
Chris Sutton reminds Boyd about his Celtic and Rangers title prediction
Remember, before a ball was kicked, Boyd backed Rangers to win the Premiership title, just like a certain Barry Ferguson.
And whilst on punditry duty for Sky Sports, alongside Chris Sutton, the former Scotland striker was reminded of his comments.
“They have a lot of work to do,” added Sutton. “Kris has tipped them for the title as well.”
Boyd responded: “It’s early doors. It’s early doors.”