Is there a widening gulf between champions Celtic and Rangers?
Keith Jackson: It’s always dangerous to read too much into one game but, that said, Celtic do appear to be kicking on to the next level while Rangers are moving backwards. There’s time for Rangers to recover but the alarm bells should be clanging.
Craig Swan: It shows that if Celtic are in the mood and Rangers are off it, then Ange Postecoglou’s side will run riot. It’s not the first time and the champions are just getting stronger.
Andy Newport Celtic are way out in front now. Rangers’ only hope of staying in touch is that new recruits such as Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz can spark a resurgence in this team once they get bedded in but the signs don’t look promising.
Fraser Wilson: It appears so. It shocked me. Rangers were as flat-footed as Celtic were sharp at the key moments. They seem to have lost a yard of pace and more importantly physicality this season. The only positive is there’s plenty of time to claw the gap back.
Who should be the Rangers first choice goalkeeper?
Keith Jackson: He should give Allan McGregor the gloves for Ajax on Wednesday night. Jon McLaughlin is a competent understudy but McGregor remains the best keeper at the club.
Craig Swan: He should stick with McLaughlin. No-one deserves to be dropped after one bad game. If that was the case, he’d barely have anyone to pick in Amsterdam after their Parkhead shambles.
Andy Newport There is no choice. McGregor has to come back in to face Ajax. McLaughlin looked shell-shocked after his catastrophic display and Gers must now call on the experience of McGregor in Amsterdam.
Fraser Wilson: Stick with McLaughlin. McGregor has had his day. It was a bad afternoon for everyone in light blue. The one I feel for is Robby McCrorie who has been forgotten about despite two huge performances in wins against Alashkert and Celtic last season.
Can Celtic really shock Real Madrid?
Keith Jackson: You do start to wonder! Postecoglou said from day one he wanted all of Europe to sit up and take notice of Celtic’s football. If they can trade blows with the champions then Postecoglou’s work will be impossible to ignore.
Craig Swan: It’s a big leap to go from facing a dismal Rangers effort to Real. But they have nothing to lose and it’s great they’ll have a go. Fingers crossed it’s a night to remember.
Andy Newport Routing Rangers is one thing, stunning the 14-time European champions is another. But with confidence soaring, this may be their best chance. However, Celtic cannot allow themselves to open up like they did against foreign opposition last term.
Fraser Wilson: They might give them a fright at the back and nab a goal but Real are European champions for a reason and I can’t see how Celtic stop them. More importantly I DO think the Hoops can shock Leipzig and Shakhtar and nab second place in the group.
Hearts have lost five of their last six games. Are alarm bells ringing?
Keith Jackson: Not yet. It’s been a difficult start to a busy season and luck has not been on their side. But Robbie Neilson has gone the course and distance before and deserves to be trusted to steady the ship.
Craig Swan: Hearts were always going to be asked new questions with the additional European rigours on the squad. It was always going to be tricky. It might get worse before it gets better.
Andy Newport : Not yet but injuries are clearly taking their toll on Neilson’s team. Performing on dual fronts at home and abroad was always going to test the Jambos squad to the limit but Neilson may worry that the extra strain has bitten so soon into the season.
Fraser Wilson: Worryingly they ran out of ideas at Livingston on Saturday and have yet to keep a clean sheet all season. The loss of Boyce, Halkett and Rowles through injury not to mention Baningime’s continued absence has been a huge blow. But with Halkett back on Thursday Robbie Neilson will be hoping things can turn and soon.
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