SATURDAY JURY
Record Sport’s top team tackle the big issues
1 After another good night in Europe, how confident should the Old Firm be of making the knockout stages of the Europa League?
It’s on. The pair of them have a foot in the last 32. Rangers held their own and should have no fears in home games against Porto and Young Boys. Celtic are in great shape even with two away games on the horizon as one more win could see them there. Too soon to get carried away? Nah, sod it.
The Old Firm gave Scottish football a shot in the arm and both can emerge from their groups but only if they continue to use home advantage. Celtic showed by claiming Lazio’s scalp they can deliver against quality opposition and Rangers now have games at Ibrox to cement their position.
Extremely confident – and maybe it’s time for Scottish football to applaud the efforts of the big two in dragging the co-efficient back to where it should be in a week in which the national team dropped another place in the FIFA rankings.
2 Celtic slipped up domestically after their last European victory, is there a danger of history repeating itself at Pittodrie tomorrow?
There’s every chance. It’s a dangerous trek on the back of a European game and the Dons getting their act together at Motherwell last week. Celtic will need to be fully on the ball and it would be huge if they can get chisel out three points up north in the Granite City.
No. Celtic have the measure of Aberdeen and have so much quality in the final third. There’s a strength in depth which makes Neil Lennon’s men so formidable and the win over Lazio will only have enhanced confidence so fatigue shouldn’t be a problem.
Celtic have to beware the comedown, but they haven’t lost at Pittodrie since a 2-1 defeat more than three years ago, when Ronny Deila was boss. Neil Lennon will have them well warned after that shocker at the Spaghettihad.
3 Hearts and Hibs are complaining that the SPFL reduced their League Cup semi-final ticket allocation too quickly. Do they have a case?
Gie’s peace. The Edinburgh clubs are moaning about travelling and kick-off times. It’s Glasgow the games are being held not Timbuktu. Both clubs are toiling and a fair chunk of fans fear the worst and were holding off for a glimmer of hope. They knew the deadlines and can’t complain.
It’s a familiar argument from both Hearts and Hibs but an equal share doesn’t appear an unreasonable solution to this spat. The bottom line is that Hampden needs to be filled and if either club has a genuine gripe then it’s been the timing of the decision to cut their allocations.
It’s time for Edinburgh’s big two to face facts – the confidence of their fans is lower than the buttons on a turtle’s waistcoat. If fans hadn’t bought by now, there was hardly likely to be a late demand. The SPFL did the right thing, even if latecomers face having to buy the most expensive seats.
4 St Johnstone are rooted at the foot of the Premiership. Is Tommy Wright under pressure or does his previous record keep him safe?
Wright has earned the right to be given time to sort out his side. Saints are a streaky side at the best of times and you wouldn’t put it past them clicking into gear and going on an unbeaten run to shoot up the table. The team had major surgery in the summer and it’s too early to press the panic button.
There’s a sense that Wright needs a change of scene after so many seasons working his magic at Saints but if he’s under any pressure then it’ll come from himself. He’s stored up so much goodwill in the bank with both the fans and the board that he’s in no danger of the club hitting the panic button.
Of course he’s under pressure but if he’s looking for sympathy he’ll find it between s*** and syphilis in the dictionary. He’s big enough and ugly enough to get his team out of it.