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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Russell Martin was playing to Rangers gallery as Brendan Rodgers works Celtic notice
The Record Sport team debate all the big issues after the opening weekend of the new Scottish Premiership season Was Russell Martin right to rip into his Rangers squad at Fir Park? KEITH JACKSON: Let's be honest, it all felt a bit manufactured, almost as if Martin was playing to the gallery. He's going to have to get his system and selections right before the Rangers fans can really get behind him. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: Yes. Because at the very least it will buy him a bit more time with the Ibrox punters who are fed up with managers making excuses for this group of players. Whether it will make a blind bit of difference remains to be seen. SCOTT BURNS: Definitely. You have to set standards from the off and Rangers were lucky to even get a point at Motherwell. Results and performances like these have happened too often at Rangers and have been major factors in why they have trailed Celtic. MICHAEL GANNON: He was entitled to slap down an early marker and he wasn't wrong on a lot of points. It was still a gamble though, especially when the midfield set up looked so suspect. Should Gers fans expect their side to get past Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifier? KEITH JACKSON: They can't be sure what to expect from this side but they do have every right to think a place in the next round is absolutely achievable. Failure to get there will not go down well. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: They should expect it but that's not to say it will happen. Plzen are a side Rangers should be beating, which would give themselves a real crack at the Champions League. But the display at Fir Park doesn't bode well for Tuesday night. SCOTT BURNS: If Rangers don't progress it would be a major blow. I was out with Hearts against Viktoria Plzen last season and Hearts should have beat them. If they don't progress then major question marks need to be asked. MICHAEL GANNON: It's too early to expect anything from Rangers right now. Plzen have been written off but they have tested plenty of decent teams in recent year and are capable of doing damage. Is it now inevitable Brendan Rodgers will leave Celtic at the end of the season? KEITH JACKSON: That all depends on what happens between now and the end of the transfer window. Rodgers has effectively put a gun to the head of Dermot Desmond and the board. It's now all about the nature of their response. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: Not inevitable but your gut reaction - after his comments last week about the board matching his ambition - certainly makes you think he's working his notice before leaving next summer. Which is what many of us expected to happen. SCOTT BURNS: The ball is in the hands of the Celtic board. If they back him then there is a chance he will stay. If they don't then it looks like his second coming will soon be coming to an end. It certainly looks like it will be the latter unless the club significantly ups its transfer activity. MICHAEL GANNON: There might actually be more chance of him staying now than before. Rodgers has told the board what it will take to convince him to stick around longer and it's now fully over to them. Can Hibs and Dundee United keep their Euro dreams alive? KEITH JACKSON: Hibs were unlucky not to get past Midtjylland last week but will have enough to take care of their Serbian opponents this time around. It looks like a much tougher assignment for United to get the better of Rapid Vienna. Unfortunately this feels like the end of the European road. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: It would be brilliant if they could but both have really tough ties. Can Hibs recover after that late kick in the teeth against FC Midtjylland? And are United really good enough to beat Rapid Vienna? It's difficult to see either side going through. SCOTT BURNS: It is going to be difficult because it is so early in the season and they are playing sides who are used to playing in Europe. These are games where our clubs need to start putting down markers and winning ties like this rather than putting out a plucky fight and bowing out. Hopefully, one if not both can progress. MICHAEL GANNON: They both have pretty tough ties. It's hard to see them getting through but it is about time Scottish teams caused upsets in Europe rather than being on the end of them. The key is staying in the ties for the second legs.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
The burning Celtic and Rangers questions answered as the Saturday Jury looks at the seismic issues
The Ibrox side have taken a step closer to the big time but the Hoops are still on the lookout for reinforcements to boost chances Will Rangers go all the way to the Champions League group stage? SCOTT BURNS: The reality is Rangers should be beating Viktoria Plzen. Hearts shouldn't have lost to them last year. I would expect Rangers to get to the play-off round and then it comes to the luck of the draw. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: They've given themselves a real chance with victory over Panathinaikos. I expect them to see off Plzen and set up a mouth-watering play-off. If they can avoid Benfica or Club Brugge in that they can defy the odds and make it. MICHAEL GANNON: The Champions League dream is on. Plzen shouldn't be underestimated but Rangers can see them off and have a right good go at it. There's nothing lose as the Europe League is in the bag and anything from here is a major bonus. Would Rangers be better developing their own players than signing young Premier League talent on loan? SCOTT BURNS: Ideally that is where they want to get to. Russell Martin had it got a bottom-less pit and so if a loan can fill a gap then by not do it? SCOTT MCDERMOTT: That depends on how good the Premier League prospect is. In the case of Mikey Moore, Rangers have no-one in their academy who's even close to his level so if the opportunity is there to get someone of his ability, they have to take it. MICHAEL GANNON: Rangers need to build for the future but they also need to sort out the here and now. Young players at the club – and at any club – should use these kids of moves as motivation. If they are good enough they'd be in the team. It's up to them to break through. Has Celtic's slow window put their Champions League hopes in danger? SCOTT BURNS: It all depends on the draw. They might still have enough to get through. I just don't get why Celtic always leave a lot of their business to closer to the end of the window. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: It certainly won't help. We seem to say it every year with the Old Firm, in terms of them not being ready for these crucial Euro qualifiers. Brendan Rodgers clearly isn't happy with his squad – for that to be the case so soon before the Champions League tie isn't ideal. MICHAEL GANNON: They've taken a major gamble. They've had two windows to prepare for this clash so to go in with a squad in weaker shape while having money in the bank is such an unnecessary risk. Who will be the Premiership surprise packages this season? SCOTT BURNS: What is a surprise package? I would expect all the big city clubs to make up the top five and Dundee United or St Mirren to complete the top six. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: I'll go with Falkirk. Expect John McGlynn's team to excite and bring something different to the league. There might just be a single top six spot up for grabs beneath the big five and the Bairns can compete for it along with the likes of Dundee United and St Mirren. MICHAEL GANNON: David Martindale's Livingston are going to be a major nuisance to teams again this season. The Lions have a good blent of muscle and ability – with a top boss to boot – and no one is going to enjoy going to Almondvale
