While there are many that are critical of Scottish football and the standard of the game, new rankings to have been released might have them thinking twice before making dismissive claims about the game in the Scottish borders.
Indeed, according to statistical analysis website FiveThirtyEight, Celtic have been named as one of the top 50 clubs in world football at the moment, with their Soccer Power Index metric ranking the team based on offensive and defensive ratings so far this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s club has ranked highly in both categories, with the club having out-ranked some of the biggest football clubs in the history of the game, including the likes of Manchester United and Juventus; although admittedly they are two clubs to have been struggling badly in recent years for their own respective reasons.
With this in mind, it is hardly a surprise that the Glaswegians have become a popular choice for football betting tipsters and sports betting fans alike, as they know what they are getting when they wager on the Bhoys.
According to FiveThirtyEight’s metrics, – where offensive ratings are based on the number of goals expected to be scored, and the defensive ratings which are in terms of average number of goals conceded on a neutral field – the Hoops are said to be one of the best.
That has seen them handed a combined SPI rating of 70.8, ranking at 42 ahead of the likes of Manchester United and Juventus.
Naturally, given that they have been able to dominate domestic football and remain ahead of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table at the moment is perhaps a reason for why they are placed as high as they are, especially as their form in Europe has not been something that has been enjoyable or deserving of a top ranking.
Of course, the attacking metric is perhaps high given Postecoglou’s all-out attacking style of tactics, with the manager continuing to utilize his full-backs as additional attacking outlets, thus making the Bhoys one of the most dangerous going forward.
The club is also defensively strong when it comes down to the SPL, though, as they have only conceded just five goals all season.
Rangers do make the top 100 list, though, with a SPI ranking of 68.5 (52nd in the list), therefore further highlighting that the criticism against Scottish football perhaps needs to be toned down a little bit in some parts, albeit if it does only seem to be a two-club league.
