Celtic demonstrated their strength by making six changes to their lineup yet still managed to secure an easy victory. The question remains: what is their strongest starting XI? Keith Jackson believes that Brendan Rodgers now has exactly what he wanted from the start—quality options for nearly every position. This allows him to make changes without compromising the team’s overall quality, putting the champions in a great position.
Michael Gannon sees this as a welcome dilemma for Rodgers, noting that the lineup from the match against Club Brugge seems to be the strongest, with Paulo Bernardo possibly replacing Arne Engels. Meanwhile, Alex Valle and Luke McCowan are also pushing for a spot in the team. Scott Burns lists the expected starting lineup as Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate, Engels, Kuhn, Kyogo, and Maeda. Andy Newport agrees that the team from the Brugge match is the strongest on current form, with Bernardo in for Engels.
As for the Rangers AGM, the immediate future of Philippe Clement is the key issue, particularly after another potential defeat in the League Cup Final. Keith Jackson expects a tense meeting, with patience running thin among fans and shareholders. Michael Gannon raises other crucial questions, including the future of Clement, the budget for January, and how Rangers plan to close the financial gap with Celtic. Scott Burns highlights the need for investment in January to help the team close the distance between them and their rivals. Andy Newport believes shareholders will demand answers on a range of issues, including stadium construction, recruitment, and the manager’s future.
Regarding David Gray at Hibernian, Keith Jackson sees Saturday’s win at Motherwell as a promising sign, especially following a comeback against Aberdeen. He feels Gray is starting to get a response from his players, but cautions that he is not out of the woods yet. Michael Gannon agrees that the win was significant but warns that tougher challenges lie ahead, with games against Celtic, Aberdeen, and Hearts on the horizon. Scott Burns views the win as just a start and believes Gray must steer Hibs out of the relegation battle to secure his future. Andy Newport agrees that it’s a decent beginning, but Gray will need to ensure the January recruitment is right to avoid a repeat of Hibs’ 2014 collapse.
Kilmarnock are still struggling to find consistency this season, and the question arises whether another top-six finish is out of reach. Keith Jackson warns not to write off Derek McInnes, as Kilmarnock is still just a couple of wins away from the top half of the table. He expects them to find their form in the coming months. Michael Gannon believes the five-point gap to the top half isn’t insurmountable and that McInnes’ experience could help the team mount a successful run. Scott Burns concurs, pointing out that Kilmarnock are only five points off the top half and could still go on an unbeaten run. Andy Newport acknowledges the five-point gap but also highlights the lingering issues from Kilmarnock’s European exertions, making the January transfer window crucial for McInnes’ side.
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