Celtic and Rangers move to the Premier League

It is a topic that has being discussed by many a football fan over the years. How would the Scottish old firm clubs get on if they moved to the premier league. How would they fair? Would they enjoy the same success in England as they enjoyed in Scotland. Well after a lot of transfers and in game editing. I moved Celtic and Rangers to the Premier league to see how FMM17 would play this scenario out. Given that Celtic were champions I chose the English champions Leicester as the suitable candidate to make the switch. For Rangers it was newly promoted championship winners Burnley who would be making the move north,

Season 1

Now that everything was in place. How would they get on in their first season. Also Celtic would have the benefit of an automatic champions league group stage place so could they progress.

Spoiler

 

Celtic
Premier League: 15th 
EFL Cup: 3rd Round (Lost 3-2 Bristol City)
Fa Cup: 4rth Round (Lost 2-1 Derby County)
Champions League: 4rth Group A
Community Shield: 2-2 (won on penalties v Man Utd)

Rangers
Premier League: 18th Relegated
EFL Cup: 2nd Round (Lost 1-2 Huddersfield AET)
Fa Cup: 3rd Rnd (Lost 3-1 Shef United)

Verdict

So for Celtic it was an up and down season. Lifting the community shield was the perfect start but it didn't get much better from there. Finishing bottom of their champions league group, was followed by early exits in the Fa cup and Efl cup to lower league opposition but they managed to finish 15th in the league and survive their first season. As for Rangers it was a disastrous, like Celtic they suffered early exits in the cups to lower league opposition. None of that compares to finishing 18th and relegation from the Premier league.  

Season 2

So Celtic have settled well in the premier league and Rangers are set for life in the championship. How would each side get on in season 2. Could Celtic improve on 15th and could Rangers bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt.

Spoiler

Celtic
Premier League: 16th
EFL Cup: 3rd Round (Lost 1-2 Tottenham)
Fa Cup: 5th Rnd (Lost 2-0 Man United)

Rangers
Championship: 22nd Relegated
EFL Cup: 4th Round (Lost 7-0 Liverpool)
Fa Cup: 4th Rnd (Lost 1-0 QPR)

So despite finishing with a better points total this season they slip to 16th but still premier league survival was once again priority for Celtic. They once again crashed out early in the cups although this time to premier league opposition. As for Rangers an improvement in the cups as they progressed further but their league form continued to suffer as they slipped to successive relegation as they are set for life in league 1.

 
Season 3

So we enter a third season in the hope to see some improvement by Rangers could they start the climb back up league ladder. Could Celtic improve on their position in the league or were they destined to be in another relegation fight.

Spoiler

Celtic
Premier League: 12th
EFL Cup: 2nd Round (Lost 1-0 Peterborough)
Fa Cup: 5th Rnd (Lost 4-1 Southampton)

Rangers
League 1: 6th Lost play offs 
EFL Cup: 1rst Rnd (Lost 3-1 to Watford)
Fa Cup: 2nd Rnd (Lost 1-1 Newport after penalties)
Checkatrade Trophy: (Lost 3-1 Shrewsbury)

The good news for Rangers fans is their slide down the leagues has halted in season 3 with a 6th place finish which earned them a play off but they lost at the semi final stage. Celtic enjoyed their best season yet finishing 12th and their highest point tally with 47 points. Both sides continue to fail to go any distance in the cups.

Season 4 Investment and Manager change.
So in one final season in our simulation and to just to give a helping hand to our test, I awarded both sides unlimited funds, Increased reputation and the two very best managers in the game.So with these added advantages will either side find success. Pep Guardiola moved to Rangers and Massimiliano Allegri moved to Celtic. Both sides spent heavily in the transfer windows given their new found wealth and increase in reputation. 

 

So how will the added changes help our sides....

Spoiler

 

Celtic
Premier League: 10th
EFL Cup: Quarter Final (Lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace)
Fa Cup: Winners 

Rangers
League 1: 3rd Lost play off semi final
EFL Cup: 3rd Rnd (Lost 3-2 to Liverpool)
Fa Cup: 5th Rnd (Lost 2-0 to Wolves)
Checkatrade Trophy:Quarter Final (Lost 4-1 Shrewsbury)

The investment helped Celtic achieve their highest finish yet and their first silverware as they landed the Fa cup. Rangers finished 3rd in the league but once again fell in the play offs.

Leicester and Burnley in Scotland

Just as a quick mention on our two sides that moved to Scotland. Leicester maintained Celtic's dominance as they went on to win three league titles and two Scottish cups. While Burnley also managed to land a league title.

Spoiler

Conclusion

So it seems fairly certain Celtic can cope in the premier league perhaps significant investment and they can challenge the top sides in the league. As for  Rangers look set to be a league 1 side. Which is not too much of a surprise given their recent troubles on and off the field perhaps if this was set a few years ago it may have being a different story but in this scenario Celtic win.

Thanks for reading.

[Ashez]

Simulations rarely interest me but I found this a very entertaining read, great work mate! 

[BatiGoal]

I remember reading a similar article/simulation on just Celtic in the EPL and thought here we go again but including Rangers and the two English sides in a reverse scenario coupled with all the relevant info you presented made for a really pleasant read. Great job!

[mcandrew003]

Really good work Niall, I feel you put a lot of effort into this, nice job 

[Jeroenvk94]

Well this looks nice

[samhardy]

Great article Niall very good read.

This is a topic that frustrates me irl as anyone with any real knowledge of the Premier League knows both would be convincingly relegated!

[Paul186]

Good read and an interesting article

[FoxD]

Very nicely done. Have to admit I was surprised Rangers found themselves in league 1 I thought they would consolidate in the championship or low half prem. Celtic surprised me less. At the moment I think mid to lower half premier league would be there level.

[Rocket]

I'm not suprised that rangers ended in league one because that's how good they are, isn't it? But I am suprised that Celtic never done the domestic treble the first year following it with them winning everything the next year. Call me bias all you want but that should of been how it happened ?

Anyway apart from that this was a great read and I look foward to your other experiments. KIU

[Kayy]

Good simulation