How are Celtic looking as they head in to next week’s Champions League qualifier with Midtjylland?
KEITH JACKSON: Not great. Last season’s problems have not been solved and Ange Postecoglou is in desperate need of new recruits. The club is so far behind the eight ball that the big Aussie is already needing snookers.
DAVID McCARTHY: This game is hurtling towards them too quickly but another two friendlies before then will help Ange Postecoglou get to know his players better and vice-versa. Chances of progressing? At this stage I’d say no better than 50-50.
CRAIG SWAN: Not great. Players are needed for the squad and very few have arrived.
MICHAEL GANNON: Dangerously undercooked. The same problems from last season remain with wantaway players still not sold and the club haven’t made any inroads in the transfer market. Next week’s tie looks ominous.
Should Rangers cash in on Glen Kamara after the arrival of John Lundstrum?
KEITH: That’s seven players fighting for three starting paces so it does look as if the Rangers squad is now top heavy. Kamara has been an excellent signing but it makes sense to cash in now so long as the price is right. A bid of around £10m should do it.
DAVID: They aren’t like-for-like players and I don’t think Steven Gerrard would want to lose Kamara. But if a really good offer comes in for the midfielder then it’s an area of the park where Rangers are really strong and they could afford to take the hit.
CRAIG: Looks like it would make sense. It’s an area of the pitch Rangers can now cover.
MICHAEL: It makes sense if Kamara is looking to make a move. Rangers could bank a tidy sum for him and Gerrard looks to have the strength in depth to cope with the arrival of another proven operator.
The Premier Sports Cup is back, is the group stage format really worth the hassle?
KEITH: Yes. If for no other reason than it means less meaningless friendlies.
DAVID: For many clubs, it is a replacement for pre-season friendlies and gives a competitive edge to games that are usually meaningless at this early stage. I’d stick with it.
CRAIG: Yes. It’s not the tournament’s fault that Covid is causing hassle. The idea of replacing pointless friendlies remains a good one.
MICHAEL: Certainly not this year with all the covid carry on. The competition has been devalued by the group stages anyway as managers see it as just part of pre-season. It doesn’t really have the interest or an element of danger, so it all seems a bit pointless.
How will Euro 2020 be remembered?
KEITH: As the tournament that pulled all of Europe out of the clutches of Covid. It might end up going down as one of the best of all time.
DAVID: It’ll be remembered in Scotland as the tournament when we finally returned to the big time, even if it ended in disappointment. Overall, though, it’s been terrific.
CRAIG: As a brilliant event which gave many memorable moments.
MICHAEL: As one of the best despite flaws. The multi-city approach was unfair on certain teams and rewarded others (yes, looking at you England) and it was also unwise during the current climate. But the games have been dramatic and entertaining right the way through.
