MONDAY JURY
LET’S have your New Year predictions .. with half the season gone who do you reckon will be champions of the four Scottish divisions come May?
1
Rangers will win the Premiership although it will be tight. I’d love Arbroath to win the Championship but still have a feeling that Partick Thistle will end up top of the pile. Cove Rangers and Kelty Hearts are strong favourites for Leagues One and Two.
2
The SPFL have said there are no more free dates, so let’s see if they are strong enough to stand by that and resist any attempt to have the February 2 match postponed. These clubs have big squads, so they should just play the game.
3
Seems like a sideways step for the player but if the clubs don’t come to an agreement that sees him move this month, Motherwell will surely play him. He’s their best striker and can help them in their bid to reach Europe.
4 WHAT is your New Year wish for Scottish football?
That it gets a fair crack of the whip from the Scottish Government. It seems a forlorn hope but we can all dream. Oh, and that our national team gets to Qatar in November!
Having tipped Rangers before a ball was kicked it makes no sense to switch now. But Celtic are going to make them work for it. Arbroath are shaping up as this term’s Leicester in the Championship though Inverness might be too strong. But there’s no stopping Cove and Kelty Hearts.
No. The games must go on. As Ange Postecoglou has already said, now is not the time to start pulling out the violins. It’s time to get the boots back on and fulfil as many fixtures as Covid allows.
It must make financial sense. So if it adds up, Watt is well within his rights to make the switch. But Well have been as good for him as he’s been for them. Just as he finally looked settled he’s hitting the road again. Graham Alexander should get as much out of him as possible until then.
That the words ‘closed’ and ‘doors’ never appear in the same sentence again.
If Rangers can keep their squad intact this month I still think they have the strength to go all the way again. Arbroath are a great story in the Championship but I expect Billy Dodds’ full-time Inverness to edge that one. Cove and Kelty Hearts should romp to the lower league crowns.
Celtic pushed for the postponement of the January 2 date knowing they’d likely be without international stars for the rescheduled clash while Gers look like they’ll only miss Joe Aribo as things stand. With Covid still a threat to the fixture list, it’s sensible every game is played as soon as possible.
It’s a tough one. Watt is playing the best and most consistent stuff of his career at Fir Park but Tam Courts has made an impressive start at United. I’m not sure Well will have to face that selection dilemma as I expect the Terrors to push hard to get a deal done this month.
That we get the punters back in as soon as possible. Last year was grim so it was great to see the return of full houses earlier in the campaign. Hopefully Nicola Sturgeon takes the handcuffs off soon and we can re-open the turnstiles.
Rangers are back in the groove, I can’t see them letting a six-point lead slip. Kilmarnock have an underperforming squad but with the right manager in they will pip Arbroath and Inverness in the Championship. Cove and Kelty Hearts should see it out in Leagues One and Two.
SHOULD Celtic or Rangers request postponement of the Old Firm clash if they’ve three or more players on international duty – or get the game played?
They would have every right to request it if they were missing more than three stars. But hopefully both resist the urge and get this one out of the way or the league will be in danger of serious congestion.
WHAT do you make of Tony Watt’s decision to swap Motherwell for Dundee United and should the Fir Park side play him or bench him in the meantime?
You can’t knock anyone for choosing an improved financial package you’d presume is on offer at Tannadice. But Well have given Watt the platform to finally realise his potential. He takes a huge risk leaving that behind. Well should squeeze every last goal out him while they can.
That the Tartan Army are packing their bags for Qatar ready to watch Steve Clarke’s troops mix it with the world’s best for the first time since 1998. Come on!