THE MONDAY JURY
1 Calvin Bassey has brought in a jackpot for Rangers but will this allow their boss greater spending power?
It can’t do any harm. But Rangers need to be careful to strike the right balance. Losing Joe Aribo and Bassey from last season’s starting XI significantly weakens the side.
It’s a muchneeded cash injection into the Rangers coffers and another feather in the cap of recruitment chief Ross Wilson – but don’t expect any multimillion pound arrivals as the model continues to buy cheap and sell big.
It should do. It’s unlikely to be the whole lot but there will be a chunk of it, surely.
2 Celtic’s defensive problems were laid bare against Blackburn, is a central defender a priority?
A centre-half and a midfield enforcer will be at the top of Ange Postecoglou’s priority list. The Aussie needs to tighten up Celtic’s defences to have any chance of surviving in the Champions League group stages.
Their central defence has a galling lack of height and that is the immediate priority to be addressed by Postecoglou in the coming weeks.
Regardless of the pre-season results, Celtic needed another centre-back.
3 Another poor League Cup showing for St Johnstone. Are the warning signs already showing for the club?
Yes. They’re coming off the back of a horrendous season last time out and the early signs this summer are far from encouraging. They can’t afford to sleepwalk into the new campaign.
Saints’ lack of quality recruits, on the back of losing their best players, is an issue. A lack of resources for Callum Davidson was always going to be a problem and recent weeks have highlighted where he needs to strengthen.
It’s not been brilliant but it’s still too early to be making judgements. There’s six weeks of the transfer window to go for a start.
4 Scotland’s tour of Argentina ended with another defeat. Is it time for Gregor Townsend to go?
No. Townsend is very close to cracking the code with this side. They can be a frustrating watch at times but only because they’re knocking on the door, threatening to do something special. Give him the Six Nations to prove it.
Toony must be galled at the poor game management while protecting a lead against Argentina but he’ll get the next Six Nations to prove there has been progress. If it’s more of the same then he should be shown the door.
Townsend has been a good Scotland manager but perhaps the players need to hear a new voice.