Monday jury
Our top writers give their verdicts on the burning issues in Scottish football as Old Firm bosses look to shore up transfer business before the window shuts
1 Todd Cantwell’s signing for Rangers looks imminent. Will he improve them and, if so, how?
If he can rediscover the form he showed for Norwich in the Premier League then there’s no doubt he’ll be an improvement on what Gers have. They’ve looked stale in midfield and the likes of John Lundstram appear burnt out. The Ibrox men need a fresh spark.
Cantwell’s a crowdpleaser who can turn a game with a piece of magic and dictate play. If he stays fit he will be an excellent addition and, combined with the return of Tom Lawrence, will provide a real boost to Michael Beale’s options in the middle to forward areas.
The midfielder has clearly got footballing quality as he’s been highly rated since he began his career but it takes more than ability to succeed at Rangers. He will improve the team if he handles the demands and expectations.
That depends on what version of Cantwell they’re getting. The one who was banging on England’s door two years ago or the one who can’t get a game at Norwich now. At his best, he would challenge Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman for a creative role. It looks like an exciting bit of business.
2 Giorgos Giakoumakis is on a long-term deal yet Celtic seem willing to let him leave for about £4million. Are they getting value for money?
It looks a tad low given he’s grabbed a goal essentially every other game since joining Celtic. But it still represents a profit on the £2.5m they paid to lure the Greek from Holland.
I’m really surprised by this. For one, I think he’s a fantastic striker that offers a serious goal threat and a different option to anything else at Parkhead. And for another, I reckon his goal return is worth far more than £4m.
Giakoumakis’ scoring ratio would suggest £4m is not really top dollar when you consider goals are the most sought-after commodity in the game.
Something seems strange where this one is concerned. It could be Giakoumakis has a release clause in his contract, leaving Celtic no choice but to cut their losses. But Ange Postecoglou doesn’t seem concerned which suggests he has something better up his sleeve.
3 St Johnstone have lost all but one game since coming back from the World Cup break. Are they now in the relegation shake-up?
They’ve got a tough run coming up with both halves of the Old Firm to play either side of a huge clash against fellow strugglers Motherwell. They were brighter against Rangers at the weekend but need a big result soon.
It’s alarming form but St Johnstone are a streaky team and, after getting the Old Firm out the way in the next fortnight, Callum Davidson has the players to go on another winning run. They’re a better team than last season.
Callum Davidson has been through tough periods in the past at St Johnstone and he will be in the dogfight if they don’t arrest the slump quickly.
Absolutely. It looks like the toss of a coin between them and Ross County for the automatic trapdoor. Kilmarnock and Dundee United are improving at a critical point in the campaign and Motherwell should also have enough to dig themselves out of a hole.
4 The SFA were blasted for the state of the Hampden pitch last weekend but was the criticism justified, given the horrendous weather conditions?
Without a doubt. Clubs like Motherwell have had the same weather conditions to deal with but the pitch at Fir Park is flawless. As with many aspects of Hampden, the pitch isn’t fit for purpose.
It was a bit over the top. Both games were engrossing encounters and that’s all that matters. But we like a good moan in this country and, while I’m no horticulturalist, for national cup semi-finals the pitch should have been better.
No pitch could have handled that weather last weekend. The problem comes with having two semi-finals in less than 24 hours if conditions are as extreme as they were.
Yes. There’s not a pitch in the top flight which has cut up as badly and they’re getting played on every second week at least. There’s no excuse for the state of the playing surface at the National Stadium and it feels very much like a cost-cutting job.