THE SATURDAY JURY
1 STEVE CLARKE feels Scotland won’t need the safety of the Euro play-offs. Do you share his optimism?
It will depend on the qualifying draw but being a pot two side and avoiding the likes of France and England is massive. So, yes, the manager has every right to be confident in the squad of players he has assembled.
Nothing’s ever straight-forward where Scotland are concerned but on the whole, Clarke and his players have found a way to get results and we should be looking forward to the next campaign with confidence.
It’s a bold claim and maybe one made on the back of a euphoric Nations League success but it’s also wishful thinking. The reality over the years is that qualification is always beyond us through the normal route and once again it will require the backdoor.
2 BACK to domestic duties today...who should lead the line for Rangers against Hearts and why?
I’ll turn the question around... who would Hearts least like to face? I think that’s Alfredo Morelos. He gives defences a harder time than Antonio Colak, although the Croatian is in good scoring form. I’d go with Morelos but I don’t think Giovanni van Bronckhorst will.
Morelos, provided he has proved his fitness. There’s no doubt Colak is a classy finisher but Gers’ Colombian king gives van Bronckhorst’s team a whole different edge when he’s at his best.
Colak by a country mile. Rangers need to ease themselves off the memories of Morelos being the main man. There have been too many letdowns from the Colombian and Colak can be their new hero.
3 WILL Ange Postecoglou have one eye on RB Leipzig when selecting a team to face Motherwell?
I doubt it. That St Mirren defeat means Celtic can’t afford to take any chances and I reckon the manager will play the strongest side he has available.
Unlikely given events in Paisley but then Celtic should still be able to put out a second string and take care of Well at home. Whatever team he picks, expect Jota to start. He’s the man who makes Celtic tick and Ange will feel far more secure with him in his line-up.
Once again it will be a balancing act against a side who haven’t beaten them over 24 successive outings. Players will be rested for Europe with someone like Callum McGregor due a break.
4 IT’S Liam Fox’s first match as full-time Dundee United boss today. What will he regard as success this term?
Short-term? Taking them from 12th to 10th and out of the relegation zone. Then to push for top six. If he achieves that this season, given his starting point, that will be a success.
He has been left a right mess by Jack Ross to sort out in terms of the position United find themselves in but there’s some decent talent in that Tannadice squad. If Fox gets it right, they can still aim for a mid-table finish.
Survival. It’s the cheap appointment by United and throwing a rookie in at the deep end is the remedy for a season of struggling to keep heads above water.