Benitez or Mourinho for Rangers, Maeda Celtic transfer price named and your Cheltenham Festival banker
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The opinionated duo of Michael Gannon and Gavin Berry have kicked off the show, which will air every Friday, but other members of the team will frequently take their seat behind the microphone in the Record Sport studio.
In this week's episode which is available now on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, the guys discuss a range of topics from Rangers' fantastic win over Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Rafa Benitez's links with the Ibrox job, the futures of Celtic duo Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn.
Is Rafa Benitez the man for the Rangers job?
MG: He's a top class manager who has won the Champions League and been all over the world with top jobs but he's a wee bit of yesterday's man and turned into a gun for hire. He's been to China and taken the odd job here and there that hasn't worked out for him. I just think if you're going to be a forward-thinking, progressive football club building from the bottom up I'm not sure he's the figurehead you want. He's a big name but...
GB: That's ageism Michael!
MG: I just think Rangers need something a bit different. You need someone who can cope with the demands of Scottish football.
It isn't the same as Spain or England, an Everton or Newcastle. You need to work out how to play against teams who will try to frustrate you.
GB: Although I'm saying he's got a great CV, he hasn't won anything in over 10 years.
MG: He'd be box office.
Talking of box office, Jose Mourinho has been batting his eyelids at jobs in Glasgow. Would he not be a better choice?
GB: Mourinho's 62 which you forget sometimes so he's not exactly young but he just feels like he's still got that stardust. Record Sport's very own Scott McDermott asked him the question on whether he'd consider working in Scotland in the future. His answer was 'Why not?' and that's what I would say. Why not? You wouldn't replace Brendan Rodgers with Jose Mourinho but if you're the 49ers coming into Rangers then there's more appeal than Benitez.
MG: Can you imagine the chaos he would cause in Scottish football?
GB: As if it's not chaotic enough! If you look at Jose Mourinho and where he's been what his next move? Not the Premier League against. He's been in Spain, Italy. The fact he's working in Turkey tells you something about where he is. Maybe the Portuguese national team job would be on the cards but Scottish football isn't out of the question. He doesn't need the money.
MG: He's at a stage in his career where he's happy to suit himself. He'll go down as one of the all time greats and is at the point he'll tick a few things off his bucket list. He's always talked highly and maybe he's looked at Celtic and Rangers and thinks the madness would suit him and the challenge of taking Rangers from way back.
Should Celtic cash in on Daizen Maeda if a good offer comes in?
MG: Celtic fans won't be happy about talk of the club selling their best player right now. He's the Player of the Year in waiting but Celtic's model dictates they cash in at the right time and it all depends on bids. They got £10million for Kyogo. I thought they should have waited until the summer but unless it's serious dosh... Daizen Maeda is priceless. He's added a real cutting edge to his game which was maybe lacking in his early seasons. He's banging in the goals, his movement and touch and goal return has been sensational. If a bid of £20m-plus came in then they've got to sell him but there's no point unless it's that kind of figure.
GB: Is the key not that Celtic are looking to see how they can improve in the Champions League. Surely if you sell someone who is so pivotal to your success then that's lacking ambition?
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