THE MONDAY JURY
1 FABIO SILVA grabbed his second goal in three games for Rangers – is he the answer to the Ibrox outfit’s issues up front?
By his own admission he’s not an out-and-out No.9 but Silva is a talented operator regardless. Injuries mean Rangers are having to share the load in the forward areas and the Wolves man is clearly up for the challenge.
There’s no doubting his talent. It’s his hunger for goals that is the big question given he’s already admitted he does most of his best work outside the box. But if he carries on as he’s started he can be a real threat.
He’s a decent option but it would be harsh to dismiss Cyriel Dessers when the big fella has shown signs of coming on to a game and posting decent numbers.
Not on his own. There are games which will suit Silva and others better suited to Cyriel Dessers. It’ll be a joint effort.
2 BRENDAN RODGERS expects Greg Taylor back next week – but does Alexandro Bernabei deserve a longer run at left-back?
No. He may have come on to a decent enough game in Paisley but only after giving the ball away on countless occasions and piling the pressure on a makeshift defence. Taylor will quite rightly walk straight into Celtic’s back four.
All the talk last month was that Celtic needed a new left-back to challenge Taylor. Fair play, Bernabei has put in two of his best performances since joining the club but Taylor is still a stronger option.
Bernabei has slotted in and looked keen but Taylor is a cut above and brings more to the build up play.
No. Taylor is a key member of the Celtic team and goes straight back into the line-up if ready.
3 DAVIE MARTINDALE feared the axe before Livi’s Firhill fightback against Partick Thistle. Will this make any difference to their survival scrap?
No. The fact that they came so close to the Scottish Cup exit door merely underlines the state they have got themselves into. Livi are in a seriously bad way and are heading in only one direction.
Livi are currently the 8-1 on favourites to finish bottom and as we well know, the bookies rarely get these things wrong. The safe money is on Martindale’s men going down.
It’s a rare bit of joy that might help but Livi have a long way to go before the can think they’ve turned a corner. Defending is still a major problem and until they get back to being hard to beat, they are going to be in bother.
It’s not just the six-point deficit, but the two extra games played. Martindale has produced magic in the past. Survival this term would top his greatest act.
4 SCOTLAND suffered last-gasp agony as their try against France was ruled out. Does Saturday’s loss spell the end for their Six Nations bid?
Probably. Scotland are progressing under Townsend but they can’t shake off the status of perennial nearly men. Close but no cigar seems to be the way of things at Murrayfield.
It was always a major ask to go the distance with a daunting St Paddy’s Day trip to Dublin awaiting on the final day. Saturday’s result just means we won’t get our hopes up before facing a merciless Irish outfit.
The TMO call would have given our VAR crew a run for their money. There was enough in the two performances to suggest Scotland can shock our old chums over the border but Ireland are streets ahead. Scotland were unfortunate at the weekend and it’s hard to see them topping the table now after the unjust setback against France.