MONDAY JURY
Our top writers give their verdicts on the burning issues as we gear up for another big week in Scottish football with the Nations League resuming
1 RYAN KENT is becoming the main creative force at Rangers, do they need to keep him at all costs to sustain a title challenge?
ABSOLUTELY. Kent has come flying out of the blocks this season and has quickly established himself as Steven Gerrard’s key man. The manager won’t even want to contemplate letting him go no matter what sums are involved.
IT’S been a slow burner but Kent now looks the part and is the brightest spark in the Rangers attacking armoury. It’s imperative he remains at Ibrox if they have genuine title ambitions. Money can talk louder than silverware sadly in football so a crazy offer could change everything.
YES they do. If they can bring in decent money for Alfredo Morelos, they should be able to resist offers for Kent, who has started the season superbly. He has already become the main man and Rangers have to hang onto him.
YES, especially if Morelos is on his way out. The additions of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten could make up for what the Colombian brings but Kent would be tough to replace like for like.
2 AFTER the return of fans to Murrayfield on Friday, football gets it’s chance to get the turnstiles clicking again in a fortnight. But is the Scottish Government too cautious with the numbers granted access?
YES. But at least it’s a start. The government needs convincing football can behave itself without endangering public health so our clubs have no choice but to get on with it and prove fans can be returned safely and socially-distanced to grounds. Hopefully, the numbers will follow.
THE balance between safely getting fans back into stadiums and the need for sport to be sustained financially has to be a cautious one. That said, having been at Murrayfield on Friday night, a few more thousand fans could’ve been easily and safely housed in the stands.
THERE does seem to be a lack of uniformity across the UK. There were 700 in a 67,000 seater stadium in Edinburgh on Friday, yet 2500 were allowed into Brighton’s friendly, in a smaller ground. The Scottish Government are taking baby steps, I’d rather see toddler steps.
GIVEN the size of Murrayfield and Celtic Park, if it’s to be used, then yes. How useful is 1000 people in such massive arenas as a logistical learning exercise? For smaller grounds absolutely but upping numbers for bigger grounds could be more beneficial long-term.
3 SCOTLAND face Israel on Friday night but who should get the nod to lead the line after Oli McBurnie joined Lawrence Shankland in pulling out injured?
McBURNIE would have been the obvious choice. He may not have got his international career off to a great start but he is making a name for himself as a Premier League striker and we haven’t been blessed with too many of them. Lyndon Dykes will probably now get his chance.
THERE has never been such a poverty of striking options but Dykes should be allowed to show what he can do.
THERE’S not much to choose from. Dykes has been playing regularly until his move to QPR last week, so that should give him the edge. Also, we have to see if he can cut it, so a home match against Israel is the ideal chance for him to show us what he’s got.
SCOTLAND boss Clarke put a lot of work into persuading Dykes to answer the call, so get him in the team, otherwise what’s the point? He’s match fit, in form and something a bit different against a team that have got to know us well recently.
4 NEIL LENNON claims Celtic haven’t dismissed Europe to focus on 10 in a row but how damaging is their Champions League exit?
LAST week’s defeat has whipped up a climate of hysteria which will do nothing to help the manager with so much on the line this season. But Lennon has been around this block before and will be hoping the situation becomes more stable as soon as the transfer window closes.
IT’S a massive blow to the psyche of the club and it’s supporters who believe they should be jousting with the European elite and financially it leaves a huge hole. Celtic failing year on year at this level remains a credibility issue.
IN terms of prestige and cash it’s massive. But ask the vast majority of Celtic fans if they’d take winning the league this year of all years over being in the Champions League and the answer would be a resounding yes.
FINANCIALLY, it’s massive. That they’ll still be playing at the same times as Rangers if they progress in the Europa League might help but they’d much rather the riches that came with the Champions League if they’re going to be juggling Europe and the chase for 10.