the saturday jury
1 WHERE does this title rank in terms of Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic achievements?
It’s a title win. Any title win is big. There was pressure on the Celtic manager this time and he has delivered. It’s decent but some way behind his Invincibles campaign.
Going his first season in Scotland undefeated probably still takes top spot but there’s no doubt this has been his closest contest after that mid-season wobble allowed Rangers back in to it.
It’s up there with the Invincible campaign given some of the hurdles Rodgers has had to overcome this term. He produced a managerial masterclass in the last few months of the campaign.
2 RANGERS face a major rebuild. should they cash in on some top performers to pay for it?
Keeper Jack Butland is one and Rangers could maybe get their money back on Cyriel Dessers but I don’t see too many others, unless James Tavernier and Connor Goldson get offers from Saudi Arabia.
Clement has made clear to the Ibrox board Butland can’t be sold but given there’s not much else available to raise cash he might have to rethink if a silly offer came in. Gers really need the funds for a significant rebuild.
They need to keep their best players like Butland – not flog them. It won’t be easy to assemble a new-look side with Celtic’s financial advantage but this is where Nils Koppen will earn his corn to unearth topclass bargains.
3 TOMORROW is drop zone D-Day. who ends in the Premiership relegation play-off spot?
I suspect that St Johnstone will end up in the play-off. Ross County are ahead of them and know their destiny is in their own hands.
I’ve tipped St Johnstone over the last few weeks and have seen nothing to change my mind. Craig Levein’s team have struggled to score goals all year and that soon catches up with you in this league.
It’s hard to see St Johnstone getting out of it, despite their late salvage mission in midweek. Aberdeen will do them a favour by beating County but it looks doubtful Saints have what it takes to capitalise.
4 STEVE CLARKE has three extra spaces for his squad. who gets to go to germany?
Ross Stewart might have a chance of making a late push. Also wouldn’t be surprised to see Ross McCrorie and Connor Barron in there.
James Forrest is a cert after his impressive return to the Celtic fray. I can see Ross McCrorie getting called in for rightback cover and it’s worth taking a wild card forward pick like Ross Stewart or Ryan Hardie.
Forrest should get his passport out for a start as he’s bang in form and can play a number of roles. Grant Hanley would be worth the gamble if fit and Ben Doak would be an interesting wild card.