Brendan Rodgers says he won’t change Celtic’s style of play for the next Champions League away day against Atalanta. Do you believe him?
KEITH JACKSON: No because he’s not that daft. Rodgers doesn’t have to park the bus in Bergamo but he can tweak his team to make sure the Italians don’t find it so easy to play through. They must be more compact and robust in midfield in particular.
MICHAEL GANNON: Not entirely. Rodgers didn’t send his side out totally gung ho in Dortmund but it was optimistically adventurous and it backfired. Rodgers is smart enough to know that was a test of his side’s level and the tactics will need tweaked accordingly depending on who they face.
ANDY NEWPORT: He’s clearly not going to go full Walter Smith but he’ll have to make some adjustments to stiffen up his side. The Celtic support simply won’t accept yet another Euro humiliation when there’s a fairly obvious alternative approach.
SCOTT BURNS: I don’t think he will. Brendan Rodgers’ self-confidence in his team and his own management skills will remain unwavering. I am not sure they can change too much either as they don’t have a defensive midfielder.
When Philippe Clement subbed James Tavernier against Lyon was the Rangers manager making a statement about his skipper?
KEITH: Perhaps. Tavernier was in all kinds of trouble against Malick Fofana right from the start so it was a change the manager had to make. But it’s not the first time the skipper has looked miles off it this season. Dujon Sterling should be given the chance to make the position his own.
MICHAEL: It was a big call but Tavernier was clearly struggling to cope against top class opposition and the hook was the best move for him and the side. Tavernier still has a part to play but the long term writing is on the wall.
ANDY: I think it was him just accepting the reality of the situation. Tavernier is clearly on the decline and it’s time the club started preparing a successor. I suspect we’ll see more of Nana Kasanwirjo or Dujon Sterling in the weeks to come.
SCOTT: I’m not sure if it was a statement. It is more down to the fact that James Tavernier is going back the way as a Rangers player. He was given the run-around and Lyon and Clement needed better defensive cover.
Now that Kilmarnock have got a first win under the belt can Derek McInnes lead them back into the top six this season or has that ship sailed already?
KEITH: Of course it’s not sailed. Saturday’s win means they are only two behind sixth placed St Mirren. When Kilmarnock click they’ll start to motor back up the table because they have an outstanding manager.
MICHAEL: There is every chance they will be back in the top six. It’s a cut-throat division from third place down and Killie are well equipped to be in the scrap, especially with Hearts and Hibs toiling.
ANDY: It’s been a tough start but there’s still plenty time to get Killie back into the top half. They’re going to have to string a few results together quickly if they’re to stay on the tails of the leading pack, though.
SCOTT: They are still leaking goals and were unconvincing at Dundee. They will need to improve dramatically if they want to make the top half. The good thing for Killie is that a lot of the bigger clubs are stumbling again.
Should Craig Gordon get the nod to return as Scotland’s No1 against Croatia on Saturday?
KEITH: Yes – regardless of whether or not Angus Gunn is fit enough to make the flight to Zagreb. The Norwich man has looked low on confidence lately and that’s something Gordon has never been accused of..
MICHAEL: Absolutely. Gordon is fit and in form and he’s also Scotland’s best keeper. Age has nothing to do with it, he deserves to be between the sticks.
ANDY: Angus Gunn is an injury doubt but even if fully fit, I reckon Gordon might still have got the nod given the Norwich keeper’s patchy form of late. Gordon deserves huge praise for refusing to give up on his cap dreams and has earned his chance.
SCOTT: I would play him regardless of Angus Gunn’s fitness. Gunn has been underwhelming of late in a Scotland jersey. I know Gordon wasn’t great against Finland but he is still more of a calming influence.