Rangers look likely to name Michael Beale as their new boss within the next few days. What will success look like for him for the remainder of this season?
KEITH: Objective No.1 will be to take a chunk out of Celtic ’s huge nine point gap at the top of the table. If silverware can be added in the shape of a cup then the new man will have got off to a decent start.
DAVID: Winning the league is the obvious answer, but the bare minimum has to be an eating into the gap created by Celtic and the winning of at least one of the cups. Neither will be straightforward.
MICHAEL: He needs patience, which isn’t always available in Glasgow. There is a lot of work to be done at Ibrox but if he can keep the title race going into the final stretch and pick up a trophy, it would be a solid start.
GRAEME: Beale left a Rangers team who had Celtic’s number when they faced off but Ange Postecoglou has flipped the script since then. He’s convinced Celtic wouldn’t have won the league last season if he and Gerrard hadn’t left but talk is cheap. Mid-season arrival Alex McLeish famously secured a cup double which set the tone for a Treble in his first full season. How Beale would love to replicate that.
Onto the World Cup, what or who has caught the eye in the first week?
KEITH: The best performances have come from the underdogs in Saudi Arabia, Japan and Canada. The rest of the tournament has been a bigger damp squib than expected. Let’s hope it catches fire before it’s too late.
DAVID: I’ve enjoyed seeing the underdogs having a real go. The Saudis and Japanese wins over Argentina and Germany were thrilling and I loved Canada’s display against Belgium. Their boss, John Herdman, is a manager to keep an eye on.
MICHAEL: The standard of the seemingly worst teams in the competition. The likes of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia have all made their mark and shown just how far Scotland needs to go to be competitive at this level.
GRAEME: Spain appear to be repeating the trick of 2010 where the lack of a recognised striker proved a help rather than a hindrance. The free-flowing football which made fools of Costa Rica underlines the belief their greatest edge is boss Luis Enrique. The former Barcelona boss is top class with Gavi and Pedri proving stars for the here and now.
Has the reaction to England’s 0-0 draw with the USA in the English media been over the top?
KEITH: What else is new? They thought they had the whole thing in the bag after beating Iran. England and overreactions were made for one another. It’s all part of the fun.
DAVID: Yes, but it’s down to the ridiculously high level of expectation they have before every tournament. England are a good, not great, side and four points from two games is a decent start. Still won’t get beyond the last eight, though.
MICHAEL: I think it’s actually been more restrained than usual. It was a bit of a reality check for the English and they do tend to throw in a stinker in one of the group games. England have hope rather than expectation this time.
GRAEME: Yes and no. Gareth Southgate’s record should earn him some wiggle room, however, the overly cautious approach appears an ill-fit for a squad which is brimming with top quality. Southgate’s cerebral mindset has led England deep into consecutive major tournaments but there’s a compelling case the Euro 2020 losing finalists would be hard to stop with an attack-minded coach who had Phil Foden front and centre.
Harry Souttar has been outstanding at the heart of the Australian defence in Qatar. Did Scotland miss a trick by allowing the Aussies to nab him?
KEITH: Obviously. Souttar’s last gasp tackle against Tunisia on Saturday morning was one of the best moments of the World Cup so far. Which also says a lot about how bad FIFA’s debacle in the desert has been.
DAVID: With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, yes. He looks like a bigger, stronger version of his brother and although John is better with the ball at his feet, Harry looks the real deal.
MICHAEL: Definitely. Souttar’s superb tackle against Tunisia was one of the moments of the World Cup so far. We’re not exactly flushed with centre backs and it’s a sore one watching one of our own doing the business in Qatar.
GRAEME: He has been brilliant and the simple answer is yes. Souttar is a towering presence and a prototype tournament defender Scotland punters would adore. He broke Tunisia’s hearts as he headed every cross clear and would be a likely starter for Steve Clarke. An opportunity missed.
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