PSV, Ross County And Celtic Are The Teams The Mooch’s Football Life Might Pivot On.

At the time of writing this, PSV are 3-1 up at half time against Strum Graz, after having had a goal chopped off towards the end of the half.

Their performance has been head and shoulders above what they turned in last season, on the way to being knocked out by Van Bronckhorst’s team.

They will present the Ibrox club with very serious problems.

If, indeed, the Ibrox club even manages to get through its tie with Servette.

They should. The Swiss are coming to Scotland tomorrow minus no fewer than eight key players. Even with a great performance the odds are stacked against them. The Ibrox club, as poor as they look right now, should have enough about them to get through.

Still, PSV are what looks likely to be waiting for them, and that’s interesting.

It’s interesting because, first, PSV are no mugs. But it’s also interesting because The Mooch is going to have to field a full strength side for that game, whilst Celtic enjoys another quiet midweek in preparation for going to Ibrox.

In a perfect world I’d have the game on Tuesday 29 August go to extra time, where PSV would win, and our rivals would come home to Glasgow in a sickened frame of mind.

Prior to that second leg, they have a game against Ross County – in Dingwall – slapped in between the home game and the away one.

That is not a trip I’d wish to make on either side of those massive, massive matches against the Dutch. Nor is it one you’d want to take if it finds itself a must-win fixture because they are already three points behind.

It’s very clear that it’s this four game run – PSV, Ross County, PSV and then Celtic – which could make or break the season for The Mooch. He has been in the papers and on the telly tonight begging their fans to give him the time to get it right.

They well might, if “time” means precisely two weeks because that Champions League game on 22 August, if they get that far, is already hurtling towards him at high speed and the three which come after it will not wait as they lick their wounds and try to get their act together.

Of course, he can spare himself the ordeal if his team cannot get past their injury plagued opponents tomorrow and in the away leg.

If that happens he and his club, like ours, will have a free week heading into that Ibrox game … but in that scenario he’s in even deeper trouble of course.