It’s the film awards season, so the Courier sports writers dust down their finest attire (not their yellow ties though!) and head for the movies to discuss Souttar, O’Halloran, East Kilbride and Pep…
Q The Departed. What do you make of this whole transfer window malarkey?
IR: Dress it up as much as you like even give it a yellow tie but the final-day shenanigans look ridiculous at times. Surely there is a better way to do it than this.
EN: I don’t actually mind the two windows. It all seems a bit panic-driven on the last day but I still prefer it to what we used to have. It’s right that clubs can’t keep buying throughout the season. I’d bring in a rule to only let managers be changed in the windows as well.
NR: Some may call it colourful theatre but it is more pantomime at times. I can understand why the windows were introduced but the final-day frenzy is becoming ridiculous.
Q Unforgiven. Do you think Dundee United fans will understand why the club chose to sell John Souttar to Hearts?
IR: I was at Pittodrie on January 2, 2013 to see Soapy become United’s youngest-ever debutant at the age of just 16 years and 100 days and I am sorry to see him go. The move looks right for him but whether it will be good for United, only time will tell. As for the fans, they must hate transfer windows but at least he didn’t go to Celtic.
EN: It’s a finger in the wind, but I suspect United fans are split 50-50 on Souttar. There’s undoubtedly potential in him but is there a position where he’s excelled? Not yet. I certainly don’t see him as a regular starter at Tynecastle, so I’m not so sure this is a great move for him.
NR: The move made good business sense but I am not sure the United faithful will see it that way with Souttar just the latest departure in what has become a long-running player drain at Tannadice. Even more annoyingly for the Tangerines support, I feel that the teenager may just fulfil his undoubted potential under the watchful eyes of Craig Levein and Robbie Neilson at Hearts.
Q Birdman. Do you think Michael O’Halloran can wing his way to success at Rangers?
IR: He is a quality player who will enhance the Rangers side. Coming on the back of the semi-final loss to Hibs, this has been a tough one for Saints fans but they need to trust manager Tommy Wright to get the team back on track post-O’Halloran.
EN: It’s probably a good time for him to go to Rangers. O’Halloran should be a big hit in the Championship and he’s already proven at Premiership level as well, so next season shouldn’t be a problem either. If he doesn’t get off to a flying start, though, the whole ex-Celtic thing could become a burden and we would then find out if he’s mentally tough enough. From a Saints point of view, his form had dipped and Rangers have paid a fair price.
NR: Having been lucky enough to watch O’Halloran take Rangers apart at Ibrox earlier this season in the League Cup, you would have to say he will be a success at his new club. However, Saints boss Tommy Wright pulled him out of his squad recently because he was not mentally right which does not bode well for someone now part of the pressure-cooker atmosphere that surrounds the Glasgow club.
Q (Not) Gone With The Wind. Have Dundee been big window winners by hanging on to Greg Stewart?
IR: Yes, they come out of the transfer window in decent shape. From the start of the season up until reasonably recently the “smart” money had been on Stewart moving on, with Ibrox the likely destination. The fact he has stayed is another sign of a club free of the old drama and doubts.
EN: Only the Dundee money men will know whether they were hoping Rangers would have thrown the O’Halloran money their way. Getting Stewart tied up on a new deal should be a priority as they certainly won’t get that in the summer if he’s only got 12 months left on his contract.
NR: The Dundee support will be delighted that Stewart has stayed and like Eric, I hope the club will soon dangle the carrot of a longer contract at Dens. The player is 26 next month and he should be entering his prime, which considering what he has achieved so far in a Dark Blue jersey is a mouth-watering prospect.
Q Million Dollar Baby. Any other transfers catch your eye?
IR: It wasn’t a surprise but it is a shame to see Nadir Cifti last only half a season at Celtic before going out on loan to Turkish side Eskisehirspor. He showed at Tannadice what a talent he can be but I think we can expect to see his departure from Parkhead become permanent in the summer.
EN: I’m intrigued to see how Aidan Nesbitt gets on at Partick Thistle. He’s been getting the full hype from people who watch Celtic’s under-age games. How Greg Tansey deals with the bizarre non-transfer from Inverness to Aberdeen will be worth keeping an eye on as well.
NR: David Goodwillie going on loan to Ross County is an interesting one. It only seems like yesterday that I was talking to his agent on the eve of his move to Blackburn with his representative insisting the English side was the “right fit” for his client. I am not sure the same can be said about Goodwillie and the Staggies.
Q Gladiator. Can you see both United and Dundee surviving their Scottish Cup ties to live to fight another day?
IR: The league may be a million times more important than the cup but it is still imperative that United beat Partick Thistle to build on the Kilmarnock victory. They can do it but it will be a tight one. Dundee will have way too much goal threat for Dumbarton to handle and are almost shoo-ins for the quarter-finals.
EN: Definitely. I think both will go through United because of the old cliche about the pressure being off them in the cup, and Dundee because they’ve got the best draw of all the top flight clubs. Then it will be a case of hoping it’s Annan or Morton in the quarters.
NR: Dundee are a sure thing to go through at the exotically named Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium but I am not so certain about United. Partick have beaten them twice already this season and will arrive at Tannadice in confident mood after their last-gasp win over Motherwell on Tuesday night. Hopefully though, United can put their league woes to one side and progress to the next round.
Q Titanic. Any potential cup icebergs looming on the horizon perhaps East Kilbride to beat Celtic?
IR: Most people will have Hearts down to win the Edinburgh derby but Hibs have now beaten top-flight trio Aberdeen, United and Saints in cup competition this season and I can see them upsetting their city rivals.
EN: The Edinburgh derby will be a cracker. I don’t think Hibs will progress, but after seeing them against Saints last weekend, I think they’re in good shape to win the League Cup final and get promotion through the play-offs. McGinn, Fyvie and Henderson are an exciting combination in the middle of the park. It will be cricket score territory in the East Kilbride match.
NR: I have a sneaking suspicion Rangers will not have it all their own way against Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock but League Two Annan will probably fancy their chances at home to Championship side Morton following their 4-1 demolition of Hamilton in the last round.
Q A Man For All Seasons. Manchester City have pulled off one of the biggest coups in English football history by getting Pep Guardiola as their new manager, yes?
IR: The announcement mid-season, with City battling on so many fronts, has been a bit unorthodox but Manuel Pellegrini insists he has been in the loop so I suppose that makes it acceptable. The Guardiola deal is further proof that City’s owners are serious about moving their club up another level.
EN: This does have the feeling of a game-changer. City may finally get the consistency that has been missing. Mind you, don’t expect a generation of dominance. Guardiola will bring success while he’s here but he doesn’t put down roots.
NR: I feel sorry for Guardiola as he will be joining Manchester City just as Liverpool enter a new period of unbelievable success after Jurgen Klopp uses the pre-season to bring in his own players and fully implement his ideas and playing philosophy . . . unfortunately, back in the real world, the Spaniard’s appointment is indeed a huge coup and I would not be surprised if City are the team to beat at home and in Europe next season.