The final derby game of the season comes to Ibrox this Saturday for Setanta's 12.30pm live offering from the SPL this weekend. The race for the title looks like reaching an intriguing crescendo with 4 games remaining for both title combatants Celtic and Rangers, with this game in particular the definition of the infamous 6 pointer. Both managers have several crucial decisions to make with regards to team selection and formation, with each side having forced absentee’s and injuries to contend with in what could very well be a ‘title decider’. Here we will look at each team in isolation;

Celtic

Manager - Gordon Strachan

The 3 in a row title winner won the tactical battle the last time both sides met with a couple of shrewd and bold tactical switches in the Co-Operative Cup Final. Eyebrows were initially raised when there was only 1 striker named in the team sheet but placing Aiden McGeady in a more central role with a greater licence to roam proved to be a pivotal decision in the outcome of the cup. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has since hit a run of goal scoring form, however, and Strachan could very well stick with his tried and tested partnership up front, especially considering the contribution of both players in the key defeat’s of their greatest rivals in the run in last season. This game could again make a little bit of history for Strachan as he aims to become only the third Celtic manager in recent history to do the away league double over their rivals, achieved by Billy McNeill in 1983 along with Martin O’Neill in 2003 and something 8 other managers have not been able to do.

Key Man - Scott McDonald

The Australian striker is proving more and more important to Celtic with each passing game. Already a proven goal scorer in the hoops, notching his 50th last week, he has led the line fantastically well whilst both his natural partners up front have struggled for form at times through the season. His dogged determination, work rate and constant goal scoring threat could very well be the deciding factor as it was the last time the 2 sides met at Ibrox.

Injuries & Suspensions - Brown(Suspended), McManus(Injured), Robson (Doubtful)

The loss of the recently crowned PFA Player of The Year Scott Brown is a substantial one for Strachan. Relied upon to supply the energy and drive from central midfield that is crucial in a derby game, replacing him could give the manager his biggest headache in the run up to the game. Before McManus hobbled off at Pittodrie the temptation may have been to move Gary Caldwell further forward into a holding role and replace him with Glenn Loovens, a move that has worked in the past, but the Captain’s injury looks to have withdrawn that option for the time being. A lot, therefore, could hinge on the fitness of Barry Robson but having been out for 3 months there is every likelihood this game has came to quick for him. Willo Flood, Shaun Maloney and possibly Koki Mizuno could all come into contention depending on how the manager wishes to reshuffle the pack to compensate for the loss of Brown.

Rangers

Manager - Walter Smith

The shadow of a second successive defeat at Ibrox against his greatest rivals is looming for the Rangers manager and having been outfoxed at Hampden by his counterpart this game is a test of his character. Often criticised for being too negative in these games and playing to stifle rather than create, the burden of Rangers fans expectations lays solely at his feet. Does he stick with the 4-4-2 which has bore fruit in recent weeks? or will he again replace a striker for a midfielder in order to shut up shop and hope to sneak a goal to protect? Kenny Miller could very well be at the forefront of his plans should he decide to play someone off a lone striker.

Key Men - Kris Boyd & Andrius Velicka

Both strikers are in good goal scoring form just now for Rangers. Their problem could be their managers reluctance to have both on the pitch at the same time, with Smith feeling neither contributes enough to justify their selection together in the big games. Interestingly, although Boyd would probably be considered first choice to start, his record of 1 goal in 18 career appearances against the Hoops is poor for someone of his goal scoring prowess and indeed Velicka scored 4 times that against Celtic in a matter of 2 seasons with Hearts.

Injuries & Suspensions - Ferguson (Doubtful), Papac (50/50), Broadfoot (50/50)

Controversial ex-Captain Ferguson has returned to light training with Rangers following the injury he obtained playing for the reserves but it remains highly unlikely he will start, even if he was in Smith’s pre-match plans. Papac is considered a slight doubt but should be in line for a recall having been possibly the most consistent player in Rangers back line for a number of months. Kirk Broadfoot, who’s lunge gave away the penalty that decided the destination of the Co-Operative Cup and who was also turned with ease by Scott McDonald for the winner at Ibrox, has been visiting a specialist in London to get to the bottom of a foot problem. Should he not be fit to return, Whittaker and Dailly are in line to take up the right back berth.

The game threatens to be an electric affair with so much at stake and with the previous encounters being met with a mixed response from tepid to dull, we are in line now for a potential title deciding cracker. Sitting 1 point ahead in the table as it stands, there’s a belief that anything but a defeat sees Celtic remain in the driving seat going into the last 3 games. Anything but a win for Rangers leaves the title’s destination out with their control and will create a reliance on other teams to stop the Celtic juggernaut that is 4 in a row.

If I had my way I'd have started this with a wee taster of one of several songs written in praise of our manager. As of yet there are none to plagiarise so I'm stumped right off the bat. In which case I'll attempt to give a short summary of the most successful manager in Celtic's history since the legendary Jock Stein.

Gordon David Strachan OBE was born in Edinburgh on the 9th of February 1957. A small, tenacious, red headed winger Strachan forged an extremely impressive career as a footballer which saw him pick up both the Football Writers' Player of the Year Award North and South of the border, the only player ever to do so up to this date.

From the very beginning of his career his leadership qualities have shone through for all to see. From the day he was named Dundee's youngest ever captain to the time he was an integral cog in Sir Alex Ferguson's all conquering Aberdeen side of the 1980's all the way through to his appearance at 2 World Cups for Scotland - in 1982 and 1986. All this from a man that stands at 5ft 6in in height yet owning the heart and guts belonging to that of a man twice his stature.

His early managerial career began at Coventry City in 1996 after finally hanging up his boots at the impressive age of 40, another record, as the oldest Premiership player in history. He took over from the ageing Ron Atkinson who had moved upstairs and guided them to Premiership safety no fewer than 5 times before being eventually relegated in 2001 where he was dismissed shortly after. As a side note the very same club has since had 13 different people in charge of the club in 7 years, never been promoted since, narrowly avoided relegation to league one last year and was on the brink of administration had it not been for a takeover. I think that tells its own story as to where that particular club was heading.

Within a matter of weeks following his departure from Coventry, Strachan was handed the manager's job at Premiership relegation strugglers Southampton. Not only did he revitalise a team destined for a drop down a division, he guided them to a final place of eleventh in the table. The following season and with the time afforded him to put his own stamp on the side, Southampton done even better by finishing in the superb spot for a side such as their's in eighth and even managed to guide them to the FA cup final before being narrowly defeated 1 nil by Arsenal. Consistency of finish followed in the following season as Southampton finished just outside the top half again in twelfth.

In 2004 Strachan announced his departure from managing Southampton citing personal reasons. He quickly moved on to working with the BBC as a pundit, possessing a sharp wit and a knack of deadpan comedic timing several of his quotes have became legendary in footballing circles. For anyone wanting a more in-depth analysis of his time up to the point he was announced Celtic's manager I'd suggest reading 'Gordon Strachan : The Biography' by Lee Moynihan, a well written version of his life.

Following Martin O'Neill's departure from the Parkhead hot seat in 2005, having left to nurse his ill wife, Gordon Strachan became Celtic manager on 1st June. With a remit of reducing debt, reducing playing staff wages, reducing the overall squad age whilst wrestling the title from Rangers that had been lost on the final day of the season AND progressing in Europe, his task was a daunting one. Include into this the fact he was handed the baton by the universally adored Martin O'Neill who had led us to our first European final in over 30 years and it becomes an extremely unenviable prospect for anyone. For a man that had led by example throughout his entire career; overcoming adversity through hard work and dedication Celtic fans should maybe have felt a little less apprehension to his appointment than the initial general consensus had suggested.

In fairness, the disastrous capitulation which occurred on his first European away day at the hands of Slovakian champions Artmedia Bratislava did very little to endear him to the hordes. Being destroyed 5-0 against relative unknowns, despite winning the return leg 4 nil, caused an early exit from Europe and the riches that entails. The following SPL match and the 4-4 draw with Motherwell further handicapped his ability to engage the more hard-line fans to his way of thinking. Following this however Strachan has defied critics left, right and centre. The progress and the success he has brought in the interim are un-paralleled by any manager in recent years and are second to only that of the great Jock Stein in our entire history.

As it stands the 'Ginger Genius' has brought Celtic 3 straight SPL title's, 2 last 16 finishes in the Champions League (something which has never been achieved once before), 2 domestic cups and has himself lifted the manager of the year twice. We are in a significant position of strength on and off the field as we have reduced the debt to manageable levels which are dwindling year on year, the playing squad is continually being strengthened from Under 19 level right through to the first team through a scouting system aided by John Park and Willie McStay. We also stand 7 points clear in the SPL following a festive period victory of Rangers at Ibrox, we won't be having any mass squad clearouts to reduce wage figures, we have cover in almost all positions on the field - highlighted by the fact we were missing our 2 most creative players and our most decorated striker against Rangers and guys like Koki Mizuno, Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan are proving that the conveyor belt from reserve to first team might just be about to start producing with more regularity.

The catalyst for all this - Wee Gordon Strachan. He may not be everyone's cup of tea; today, tomorrow or 15 years down the line but one thing is for certain....you cannot deny the fact he has the guts for a fight. So from myself and I believe from every other Celtic fan the world over I have one very simple thing to say - Thank you Mr Strachan. We are appreciative of everything you have given our club and hope you continue to do so in the future.

Hail, Hail.

Breaking news via the Celticfc website this afternoon is that Aiden McGeady has been fined 2 weeks wages and suspended from training with the first team for 2 weeks following a 'breach of club discipline'.

This news comes following an apparent post match bust up in the dressing room between Aiden and Celtic manager Strachan following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hearts at Parkhead. Many fans were of the opinion that, yet again, the tabloid media were in cahoots with a view to souring a dressing room morale that has led Celtic to the summit of the SPL. Timed perfectly to coincide with the run up to the Rangers game at Ibrox on the 27th, I'll admit, I was one of these fans. Subjected to vile abuse from the away grounds in just about every stadium in Scotland and slandered in every paper, holding that view seemed to be the correct one. Maybe not.

Aiden McGeady is somewhat of a press whipping boy in these parts. Fuelled by his decision to turn his back on his country of birth to play for the Republic of Ireland, media hacks hold a varying degree of resentment towards last seasons player and young player of the year. Jibes ranging from the subtle to the verging on clear abusive have been woven in print from the fingertips of the journalism brigade on Tabloid Hill. We, acting as Celtic fans do, decried their treatment of him furiously. The Bhoy brought through the youth system with the magic in his boots, a Celtic fan from birth and with the potential to be a superstar deserved our unwavering backing. Today's news however leaves a many peoples at a crossroads; the manager, the fans and most importantly the player himself.

Aiden just now as it stands is an outcast of the Celtic first team squad. Whether or not the reports he was picked on, reacted and was subsequently banished from eating with the rest of the first team following the first derby game are now immaterial. This afternoon the news comes from Parkhead AND with the full co-operative support of the board of directors. This comes a mere matter of weeks before the annual cattle market and loony bin inducing event that is the January transfer market. Is it time for the 22 year old to cut himself loose from his club, OUR club, and attempt to make the grade in La Liga or the Premiership? Or does the 22 year old now do what he maybe should have done before now and knuckle down and keep his mouth shut? His mentor throughout his time at Parkhead, the late and sorely missed Tommy Burns, is no longer there to be the arm round the shoulder. He no longer has the saving grace of a calming influence and buffer between himself and Strachan. Maybe, just maybe, this was his time to integrate himself into the squad ethos and curb the immature tendencies which, by all accounts, have plagued his progress up to this point.

Next, it has to be said, is Strachan and his choices. The manager has taken his time over this decision and allowed himself a couple of days to simmer himself down before deciding McGeady's fate. For that he cannot be brought to task. The next phase of this is, does Strachan go out of his way to offload the prodigious winger? Or does he allow McGeady time to cool off, reassess his own options and then take it from there with the January window, in all probability, slammed shut? The suitors are plentiful and have been for a fair period of time, could getting rid of McGeady for a substantial fee and replacing him with a talent less obtuse in their handling of authoritative figures be the way forward for Celtic?

Lastly, the fans. Sides will be taken here, they were already taken off the back of the Sunday papers headline's with no substantiated source. I personally count myself as an appreciative party of both player and manager, one has constructed a side capable of winning 4 league titles in a row, has reached the last 16 of the elite competition in Europe twice and the other has been an integral part of delivering that success. So where does that leave everyone else? Those that have always disliked Strachan, for whatever reason, will see this as being a chance to twist the knife and those that believe McGeady is a sand dancer with limited end product will see it as a chance to cash in on an over-rated talent. This will manifest itself into unrest in the stands, backed by fan groups with the mask of improving stadium atmosphere and it could be conducive to a downturn in morale.

Anti/Pro Strachan, Anti/Pro McGeady, now is the time Celtic needs a united front when it comes to the supporters. The issues split opinion but they should not split the backing of the team for 4 in a row. One man does not make a team but one man has the ability of handicapping it. Aiden himself just now will be aware he's the centre of attention, it's up to him to decide if he's got the balls for a fight or if he wants to bail. This could be the catalyst for McGeady to become the player he's been capable of since he stepped foot into Martin O'Neill's office and demanded to be in the first team at 15 or, sadly, this could very well be the end of the road.

Hail, Hail.

'Oh Artur Boruc, The Holy Goalie'

A song that rings around Parkhead regularly as we fans pay homage to our hero, the best keeper Celtic have ever had in a lot of our eyes and, as it stands, the only player considered to be a world class performer in our ranks.

Artur Boruc was signed by Gordon Strachan from his hometown club, Legia Warsaw, in the summer of 2005 on an initial years loan as a complete unknown quantity to most Scottish football fans. Fast forward 3 and a half years and he is now widely regarded as one of the greatest keepers in European football bought and contracted until 2009 and from January this year tied down until 2011. Just this year he was nominated for the FIFPro World XI Player awards as one of only 5 keepers in the group of 55 and the only representative of Scottish football.

His journey from a homeland Polish star to Worldwide acclaimed footballer has led him to not only become Poland's first choice keeper in a World Cup and European Championships but saviour on numerous occasions of Celtic's Champions League aspirations, namely, Spartak Moscow and Manchester United. His Euro outings in particular provided the catalyst for several fervent rumours regarding his future at Celtic and even compelled Carlo Ancelloti, the AC Milan manager, to express his interest in Boruc. Make no mistake about it, throughout Europe his star burns bright and there are plenty of envious eyes on him at all times not to mention those of the more disparaging variety willing him to make his next gaffe.

And here is where the problem starts to become a bit more complex for us fans because, the truth being told, Artur Boruc has and will make blunders as a goalkeeper. There are several trains of thought as to why he lapses in concentration from time to time and each reason has its own merits. Firstly, it's in his make-up as an eccentric human being. He's a devout Catholic and he isn't afraid to brandish that fact in public even to the dismay of referees, rival fans and the authorities. He's been called everything from 'madcap' to plain crazy for his on the field behaviour which hasn't stopped him from continuing to act in a extroverted fashion whenever he feels like it. Secondly, he gets and/or has become bored at Celtic. The nature of the beast in the SPL as regards to our club is that we will dominate most games and opposition chances are at a premium, this isn't particularly conducive to keeping our goalkeepers mind active for 90 minutes and has been the downfall of many of our past keepers. A negative collateral reaction to this could be that Artur himself believes he's became stale in a relative footballing back water such as the SPL or possibly even believes he's outgrown the club he himself has grown to love. Plaudits from the AC Milan management et al will not be aiding this any. Lastly, and here within lies the biggest reason in my own view, is that the past couple of months have been ones of personal off the field turmoil for him. A public split with his wife, a messy divorce, a knee injury which required surgery and personal pictures of him with another woman and 'apparently' drunk have seen him thrust into the spotlight even more acutely than before. Possibly a victim of the negative press brigade or possibly a victim of his own outgoing, in your face nature.

Don't get me wrong I'm not making excuses for his form, he's paid more in a week than I will earn in a year so it's not my job to paint him as the innocent party that's being picked on. From the start of this season he simply has not been the keeper that has been granted cult figure status by myself and my fellow fans. The high profile matches we've realised he revels in are the same high profile matches that have highlighted deficiencies in his game. He dropped a shocking clanger in the first derby match at Parkhead which gifted Kenny Miller a goal on his return (something the fans prayed would not happen). He then diverted a Cristiano Ronaldo shot into the path of Giggs for the equaliser against Man United at home, albeit an extremely tricky shot to handle with the amount of movement on the ball and then only on Sunday fails to deal with a speculative at best 40 yard effort from John Rankin at Easter Road against Hibs. It has not been good enough for a player considered to be one of the top 5 keepers in Europe and he himself will be fully aware of it.

Being such a high profile star he is afforded the leniency that all top players are, just hark back to Ronaldo again and how Sir Alex Ferguson treated him with kid gloves this summer over the never ending Real Madrid transfer saga. It may not appear fair on the face of it but it's the workings of modern top level European football and it's the same for every club. Only last week comments attributed to Boruc through the Polish press about how the squad dynamic at Celtic was purely based on working relationships was batted back at journalists by Strachan. He noted how he must have been talking about himself and how he likes to spend time in his own company and joked about how he'd rather be cavorting with females the way Boruc had been instead of talking to the other players given the chance.

So outwardly our manager appears to be dealing with this off and on the field turmoil (and let's face it that's pretty much the point it has escalated to) fairly well and in a light hearted manner. However, If there's any fan out there that doesn't believe he's facing a dilemma on how to go about eradicating the mistakes that are piling up game on game then they are kidding themselves on. We're at the crossroads now where Strachan either stands by his keeper through thick and thin or he drops him in place of his deputy Mark Brown in the hope it spurs him on. As one of many Celtic fans in the same boat I can see the argument for both.

The one thing we're all in agreement over just now though is that whatever the manager chooses to do with 'The Holy Goalie' we can only wait and hope he regains the confidence, the cockiness and the form which has made each and every one of us place him on a pedestal and helped him to become the world class goalkeeper he undoubtedly is.

Hail, Hail.

It's been a while. Crashing out of Europe before the final game in the group has even kicked off has taken it's toll on all of us.

Match Day 5 in the Champions League was a sickener. Barry Robson's inch perfect header had us all in raptures....the end of the away day hoodoo was nigh, fast forward to the end of the 90 minutes and here comes that old familiar friend numbness. The friend we ALWAYS make welcome as Celtic fan's after a European adventure. All the deflected leveller and the own goal winner did was open it's arms to it this time, bad luck or something a tad more sinister?

Football is a funny old game sometimes, as predictable as can be and oh so unpredictable all in one. The inevitability factor of last Tuesday wasn't lost on a lot of people, it was bound to happen to a team that doesn't so much have a monkey on it's back as King Kong's cousin. We don't travel well at all, it's the worst kept secret in European football. When Aalborg, that shining beacon of European success, have the audacity to taunt us pre-match like a wee boy poking a dog in the nose with a stick we sat and took it. Sure we snarled back at them; this was our time to eventually pick up a win on our travel's, our time to stick two finger's up at the watching world and it's condescending eye, our time to shine. Maybe not eh? As has became the unfortunate norm our bark was much, much worse than our bite ever was.

Many of our own fan's will tell you that when we went ahead on Tuesday losing was still very much a realistic possibility; call it pessimism, call it realism, whatever. An engrained notion that we're nothing more than fodder to the foe whenever we board a plane to the continent is simply an acute fact I and many other's are well aware of.

Now, every football fan owns a set of blinkers to a degree, it comes with the 'football fan' territory. It's the bulldog effect which kicks in whenever your team is on the ropes and taking the criticism from all corners that galvanises the support. Celtic fan's are renowned for it, maybe even more so than any other clubs. This week, however, has been different and it's something that's not lost on myself. A week full of post-mortem analysis stretching from the ability of our captain as a leader and a footballer all the way to that of the board and their reluctance to release significant transfer funds has ensued and been hotly debated from the pubs in the Gallowgate to the forums of the internet. The conclusion to all this is, as a support, there are times we are split clean down the middle on the pressing issue's. Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder this week, tumbling out of Europe has provided the catalyst to an abrasive meeting of minds. That isn't often the case, so what's different this time? For me, it pains me to say it, but I think we've just found out where we are in European football terms and a lot of people are finding that a bitter pill to swallow.

Onto the matter at hand now anyway.....

Inverness Caley at Paradise, the perfect opportunity to cure a European hangover. Parkhead is our safe-haven, the place we are most comfortable playing and winning football matches, so it's with a sense of renewed vigour we come back to domestic matters. Time to wipe away a week of numbness and chalk up our 12th straight victory in the SPL, time to stand together as fans and unite behind a unified cause. All is not lost as a Celtic fan, 4 league title's in a row is pending and 2 domestic cups are there for the taking. A season of Champions League under-achievement could be all blown away in 3 fell swoops, 3 moments of momentous glory. Come the end of the season you can make mine a treble and whilst you're at it stick on The Fantastic Four.

Hail, Hail.