Monday jury
Our top writers give their verdicts on the burning issues as we gear up for another big week in Scottish football and in the European arena
1 CALLUM McGREGOR reckons Kyogo is up there with the best he’s played with but is the Japanese ace Celtic’s greatest striker since Henrik Larsson?
They’ve had a few over the years but, yes, Kyogo is a phenomenal talent. Not quite at Larsson’s level perhaps but then the Swede did set the highest of bars. Celtic should simply enjoy him while he’s theirs.
It’s a bold one as there’s been some top frontmen over the years. Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard banked the club £40milion, Gary Hooper and Leigh Griffiths scored for fun. Kyogo has been sensational so he’s right in the conversation.
He’s been a sensation since arriving 18 months back but the likes of Gary Hooper, Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard had periods where they were equally deadly. Only if Kyogo can sustain his levels over a longer period can he be talked as the best since the Swedish icon.
His movement and ability to ghost into the danger zone in the blink of an eye must terrify defenders. Dembele and Edouard were class acts while Hooper and Griffiths were also deadly in front of goal but Kyogo might just eclipse them all.
2 RYAN JACK looks set for a new deal at Rangers but Scott Arfield is another soon to be free agent – should the 34-year-old be handed a contract extension?
That’s a real toughie. Arfield’s influence on the pitch might be in decline but he remains a standard setter off it. And yet, with Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence on the way back to add to the manager’s options next season, it could be the right time for a parting of ways.
Arfield has never let Rangers down and he’s been a good impact man from the bench. But Beale needs to streamline his squad and bring in fresh faces.
Rangers need to start making tough decisions, especially if they want to maximise the cash they have to spend in the summer. Arfield has been a terrific servant but it’s time to move on.
Arfield brings something to the table – a goalscoring ability from midfield which can change a game when deployed off the bench. For that reason I think he will avoid the cut when Michael Beale streamlines his squad in the summer.
3 STEVE CLARKE names his Scotland squad this week but with so many big hitters benched or injured what surprises could he spring?
Barrie McKay has been waiting patiently for his opportunity. This might be the ideal time for the Hearts winger’s introduction. But don’t expect too many surprises as Clarke’s core group remains intact.
Unless he can unearth Kylian Mbappe’s secret Scottish cousin, it’s hard to see any surprises. Ryan Hardie could be one after scoring a decent whack of goals at Plymouth.
It’s two years since Lawrence Shankland had a call-up. After the season the Hearts striker has had its time he was invited back. Ryan Hardie also deserves an opportunity after netting 17 goals for Plymouth.
Kevin Nisbet and Lawrence Shankland both deserve recalls given their goalscoring form of late. For international rookies then Aberdeen’s Ross McCrorie and Hibs’ Josh Campbell could be knocking on the door.
4 NO Premiership sides outside the Old Firm in the Scottish Cup semi finals – what does that tell us about the standard of the top tier?
It tells the story of missed opportunities. Four or five top-flight clubs should be kicking themselves for allowing this chance to get away – while the sponsors will be praying the big two dodge one another in the draw for the last four.
The Cup doesn’t tell us too much but the league table does. The gap between the Old Firm and the rest is wider than ever but the gap between the rest of the Premiership and the Championship is getting narrower.
Luck of the draw always has the potential to throw up these kind of scenarios. I’d be more concerned about the growing chasm between the top two and the rest, which has never been bigger.
Aberdeen, Livingston, Motherwell, Ross County and Kilmarnock were all dumped out by lower-league opposition and in miserable circumstances. Fans of the 10 clubs outside the Old Firm dream of Scottish Cup success but like the Premiership they are nowhere near it right now.