The big Kieran Tierney question for Celtic and key Rangers decisions facing Danny Rohl – Game On
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Celtic and Rangers collide at Hampden Park on Sunday in a mouthwatering Premier Sports Cup semi-final clash - and we get stuck into the big talking points in our latest Game On podcast.
Interim Hoops boss Martin O'Neill and dug-out rival Danny Rohl have some huge decisions to make Will the former pick Kieran Tierney who missed out in midweek and what strike force will the Rangers boss go with?
The top team also discuss who is to blame for the shock Celtic exit of Brendan Rodgers, look at who could replace the Irishman and predict the outcome of this weekend's huge Premier Sports Cup semi-finals – including Saturday’s intriguing clash between Motherwell and St Mirren.
We also pick our bets of the weekend after landing a mega 79/1 double last weekend - only for our top duo to reveal they FORGOT to back it themselves.
So you could even be quids in but either way you won't regret taking two minutes out of your day to enjoy it. Here's just a flavour of it. You can watch the full podcast in the player above, or listen here.
It’s a blockbuster at Hampden as Celtic and Rangers go head to head - who needs to win it more?
MG: What do you mean who needs it more? They both need it!
GB: Rangers would benefit more. Danny Rohl, just in the door, and getting those back to back wins. If he was to win on Sunday and get into the final then, on paper, they have a gentle run of domestic games after that. Away to Dundee and home to Livingston. If he could get that win on Sunday it could be the catalyst to a winning run which is what they really need.
MG: He still has some doubters to win over. A lot of Rangers fans see him as a young guy. But a few have warmed to him already and a win would turbocharge that.
GB: Martin O'Neill is 73, he's an interim manager, and he's beaten Rangers loads of times. Another derby win wouldn't change the bigger picture. It would maybe keep the fans' anger levels down for a few days but the anti-board protestors won't go away. It would give the fans a nice win over their rivals and another day out at Hampden but it's more important for Rangers because of what they're trying to build.
What are the big Hampden calls for Martin O’Neill and Danny Rohl?
MG: Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney have a big decision up front. Johnny Kenny has his critics but got his two goals against Falkirk and he wants to be picked but Daizen Maeda is back fit and came off the bench so that's a big call. Kenny or Maeda? I suspect he might go with Johnny Kenny because he's confident and Maeda hasn't been playing. The other big question is Kieran Tierney or Marcelo Saracchi. I thought Saracchi was excellent against Falkirk but I think Tierney was wrapped in cotton wool with a view to starting. He's had some good performances and big game experience. What about Rangers?
GB: Connor Barron, man of the match against Hibs, is suspended which is a blow but Mohamed Diomande will come in and he's been good in this fixture. Danilo looks to have played his way in but the big question is the other striker - Youssef Chermiti or Bojan Miovski? Neither have shown much since they arrived. I think he'll go for Miovski.
Who should be next Celtic boss?
MG: There's two questions really. Who should it be and who will it be.
GB: Answer both then. You're not going to say Shaun Maloney, surely. Fans wouldn't buy that?
MG: I wouldn't be too surprised, depending on how him and Martin O'Neill do in the next few weeks. Martin O'Neill dropped this thing about a young manager but I don't think it's a job for a young manager.
There's been a lot of talk about Kieran McKenna but I'm not sure about that one. They need a huge character and strong presence like Brendan Rodgers or Ange Postecoglou but those kind of characters are high maintenance. Kjetil Knutsen seems to love it at Bodo/Glimt and I don't see him getting dragged out of there. His contract is up in December but he has Champions League games until January.
GB: I fancy Knutsen but it's still a gamble because some managers are just a fit and there's no doubt he's comfortable where he is. It's a bit like Nils Arne Eggen with Rosenborg in the 1990s. But I'd like to see it.
Are Rangers already in better shape under Danny Rohl?
MG: The first clean sheet in a year away from home in midweek - what an incredible run.
GB: There's something to be said for that alone.
MG: It did require a late penalty save from Jack Butland, whose record in penalties is amazing.
GB: But to go to Easter Road, midweek, under the lights in Leith. Hibs going well...
MG: We don't want to dance on the guy's grave on Halloween but do you not think they looked far better organised than under Russell Martin.
GB: It's night and day. There's no way those players were playing for Russell Martin. They weren't buying into it and looked totally disorganised. A competent manager has been able just to come in and organise. It's basics. A few times in the Hibs game some of the defenders just hoofed the ball away because that's what was required - they weren't necessarily doing that before.
In this Record Sport podcast the expert panel discuss all the big issues in Scottish sport and beyond – in handy bitesize chunks.
We debate all the major global sporting topics in a fast-paced manner as the team gets their points across before the whistle blows. The handy segments of the show mean there's no waffling on, we get straight to the point and you can get your fix in a quick and easy manner.
Game On, which is available now on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, airs every Friday and this week Michael Gannon and Gavin Berry passionately debate the big talking points.