Daizen Maeda position, Philippe Clement latest & Jimmy Thelin
2025-02-14
Category: sports

The Premiership returns this weekend after a Scottish Cup weekend that did not lack for storylines.The Ibrox inner sanctum has said nothing about Philippe Clement's position since their cup exit and in that vacuum gossip and fan fury have thrived. Rangers' trip to Tynecastle on Sunday is therefore eagerly awaited - and so too is Aberdeen's game against Dundee, with Jimmy Thelin also remarkably feeling the heat.There are calmer waters at Celtic, but the biggest game of their season looms large.Here are a few things to look out for this weekend...
Game of the weekend - Hearts v Rangers
Clement will perhaps be surprised he is still in charge at Ibrox after the embarrassing Scottish Cup exit against Queen's Park.With Rangers failing to mount a title challenge, the defeat against the Spiders has turned up the heat significantly on the Belgian.Rangers' hierarchy have been tight-lipped all week, which is a backing of sorts. But Clement will surely know a poor result at Tynecastle will nudge him closer to an exit.Six weeks ago he might have fancied his side's chances of earning a morale-boosting victory, but Neil Critchley has steadily improved Heart of Midlothian since taking time to assess the squad.They have won four of their five league games in 2025 - with one draw - which is as many victories as in their final 22 matches of 2024.Cammy Devlin has been pivotal to their resurgence. He tops the table for the number of tackles (23) as well as being joint-top for interceptions in the Premiership in 2025. To get at Hearts' defence, first you have to find a way past the Australia defensive midfielder. The loan signing of Belgian striker Elton Kabangu seems to have liberated Lawrence Shankland too, and the Jambos showed the sort of resilience that was sorely lacking earlier in the season when they edged past St Mirren in the Scottish Cup.Yet, despite the cloud hanging over Clement, Rangers have won each of their past four league games - and all by a margin of at least two goals. It is Rangers' longest run of league wins by more than one goal since April 2023.History is in Clement's favour too, with Hearts winless in their past 17 meetings with Rangers in all competitions, a run that includes 13 defeats.Rangers' only defeat in their past 26 league games against Hearts was a 2-1 reverse in January 2020 under Steven Gerrard.That record means Rangers and their fans have become used to success against Hearts - and therefore anything other than another victory in Gorgie could spell the end for Clement.
Player to watch - Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
Third-placed Dundee United are the visitors to Celtic Park this weekend, so it is a long way from the Premiership leaders' most straightforward game of the season.That said, the Tangerines have won just once in five league games, and Celtic's lead at the top is 13 points.So, while Brendan Rodgers will be focused on a win against Jim Goodwin's side, he will surely have one eye on Tuesday's Champions League game at Bayern Munich, when they need to turn around a 2-1 deficit.Could that therefore mean a start on Saturday for Jota, to get the Portuguese winger valuable minutes as he seeks sharpness?He has understandably looked short of top form since he returned to Glasgow after relatively little football in the past 18 months, but Celtic looked a more effective team when he came on against Bayern in the first leg.Perhaps just as important, his introduction meant Daizen Maeda moved more central, and his harassing of Bayern's defenders meant they hit more long balls under pressure.Might Rodgers be tempted to play Jota from the start against United to help his fitness before Tuesday's big game?If he does that, would a game alongside Maeda as the central striker help their understanding or might Adam Idah continue as the number nine to give the workaholic Japan forward a rest before the do-or-die match in Germany?
Manager in the spotlight - Jimmy Thelin (Aberdeen)
Every new Aberdeen manager walks in the daunting shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson when they arrive at Pittodrie.It usually takes no more than a game or two for fans and the outside world to conclude that the new man is not going to be the second coming of 'Fergie'.Then Thelin pitched up. The Dons had chased the Swede for a long time before landing him and it soon became clear why they had been so patient. Ten wins from their first 11 Premiership games at the start of the season and a dramatic point at Celtic led to talk of a title challenge.Thelin had somehow turned largely the same squad that saw off Neil Warnock within eight games into one that seemed poised to push Celtic into the new year.  His stock went through the roof and there was even gossip linking him with ambitious Birmingham City.But if his stock rose rapidly, it has dropped even more quickly. Aberdeen have lost eight and drawn one of their past nine league games - as many defeats as in their previous 37 games.They have gone from putting pressure on Celtic in second to fourth - just five points ahead of eighth. Thelin, incredibly, is under serious pressure for his job within two months of being touted as Fergie 2.0.His tactics and style of play have been criticised, with suggestions other teams have now worked him out.The good news for him is the Dons play Dundee next.Aberdeen's last league win was against Dundee, three months ago, and the last time they won an away league game was against Dundee, almost five months ago.Tony Docherty's side have conceded more goals (53) and faced a higher expected goals against total (46.1) than any other side in the Premiership this season. They have won just two of their past 30 league meetings with Aberdeen and Saturday's visitors have won both of their league meetings with Dundee this season. Oh, and Dundee have been thrashed 6-0 in their last two games - the first side to suffer two six-goal margins of defeat in a season since Motherwell in 2015-16.Aberdeen stopped the rot with a cup win last weekend but, a bit like Clement, Thelin is expected to win this game. He will know that if he doesn't, he then faces exacting matches against former Dons boss Derek McInnes' new side Kilmarnock, Celtic and third-placed Dundee United.