The Record Sport team has weighed in on the big talking points in Scottish football, including whether Rangers should pay £15m to make Badredine Bouanani's loan from Stuttgart permanent. The Algeria international, 21, was man of the match in Saturday's semi-final win, and the pundits are largely in favour of the deal.
Bouanani worth the fee?
Keith Jackson said yes, arguing that if Rangers are heading towards stability they won't need to rebuild another squad next summer. He believes Andrew Cavanagh should be looking to tweak rather than overhaul, and that Bouanani looks like money well spent.
Andy Newport said it's still early days, but if he keeps up his form it will be a no brainer. He noted Bouanani has to add to the goal he scored at Dens Park, but the lad is clearly bursting with potential. Newport added that it's a huge fee, but Cavenagh has already made clear he's willing to invest big in players he believes can generate a major return.
Scotland squad and Celtic concerns
Scott McDermott said the outlay will surely depend on whether Rangers win the title with potential access to Champions League cash. He called Bouanani a top quality player who gives Rangers a different dimension, but said to wait and see if he can be a catalyst for trophies first.
Michael Gannon said Bouanani is starting to look like a proper player who can have a major impact this season. He noted the £15m price tag is serious dosh, but the Algeria star is still only 21 and could have a higher ceiling, so it might not be such a scary financial leap. The numbers will have to add up, but the decision has to come towards the end of the season.
On Sebastien Pocognoli's second Scotland squad, named on Tuesday, Keith Jackson said Scott McTominay and Che Adams are both fit and firing again and are certain to be recalled. Andy Newport noted McTominay has four goals in his last six games after his recent heart scare, while Adams has started Torino's last four games and bagged a couple of goals.
Scott McDermott expects Adams and McTominay to come back after injury and illness, and would like to see David Bates given a chance off the back of his performances in Turkey for Amedspor. Michael Gannon said it might be worthwhile bringing Adams back, but it will be more about giving game time to players who didn't get much of a sniff in the last batch of games, such as Josh McPake and Lennon Miller.
O'Neill's legacy and Hibs' chances
On Martin O'Neill's position at Celtic, Keith Jackson said his legacy will stand the test of time, but the veteran may end up regretting his decision to throw the dice again in the summer. He said winning a league and Scottish Cup double provided the perfect ending to a fairytale comeback, but having been left hanging by the board in the transfer market, this is now hurtling towards a messy, unedifying mess.
Andy Newport said O'Neill will be remembered as a Celtic icon no matter what happens, but the fans are right to question if he's the right man for the here and now. He added that Celtic look like a club in desperate need of change at every level, from pitch to dugout to boardroom.
Scott McDermott said he wouldn't go that far just yet, noting O'Neill and his players are going through a tough spell and the performance at Falkirk will only fuel his critics. But Celtic have two winnable home games either side of the international break which should see them get back on track in the league. Michael Gannon said O'Neill's legacy is set in stone, but he's in deep trouble right now and it's hard to see a happy ending this time around.
On Hibs' chances of beating Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final next month, Keith Jackson said it's unlikely, as yesterday's celebrations felt like the final before the final for the Easter Road outfit. He noted Derek McInnes knows anything less than silverware on December 13 will not be tolerated by his own club's fans, and Rangers should have enough quality to get the job done.
Andy Newport said it will take a repeat of what we saw at Hampden for them to have a chance, but that was a huge forward step after some really poor displays of late. Scott McDermott said if they play like they did in the first half against Hearts, they'll certainly cause Rangers problems, with players like Boyle and Elding who can hurt you. Michael Gannon said it's a huge ask, but Hibs will have a puncher's chance, and getting to the final is huge for Reedijk as it buys him time and takes off some of the heat.
