Soccer 365’s football journalist Jerrad Peters takes your questions on Mark Hughes’ job security, if Rangers can catch Celtic and more….

Can Rangers overtake Celtic?
-Jonesy, Toronto

I have a rather lucrative bet that Rangers will win the Scottish Premier League this season. And I’ve already started saving. I just can’t see Celtic messing this up. Of course, their 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United immediately raised hopes at Ibrox, but it was probably little more than a blip on the screen.

Having said that, these two are just five points apart and will play each other twice before the silverware is handed out. That’s enough to close the gap. Furthermore, Celtic have won just two of their past five matches. When put in that context, Rangers certainly have it all to play for.

Nevertheless, I think they’ll still come up short. Dating back to November 4, Rangers have failed to take maximum points on five occasions. That’s simply not good enough to challenge for the title. And the recent unrest surrounding the future of Barry Ferguson won’t help any, either.

Is Mark Hughes in danger of losing his job?
-Kris, Boston

Harry Redknapp once remarked that every manager is constantly five results removed from the sack. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger might be notable exceptions, but it’s pretty much true for everyone else.

But I know what you’re getting at. After doling out the big bucks for Jo, Robinho and the rest, Manchester City approached the jam-packed Christmas schedule in 18th place. They entered 2009 just two points above the relegation zone and crashed out of the FA Cup after an embarrassing 3-0 trouncing at home to Nottingham Forest. No doubt the vultures are circling.

If Mark Hughes was almost any other Premier League manager, he’d be long gone by now. It’s his reputation that has him holding onto his job. In four seasons at Blackburn Rovers, he did nothing less than work miracles. We saw what a sudden drop in quality coaching meant for the Ewood Park outfit this autumn. That Hughes not only kept Rovers in the top flight but also got them into Europe remains a remarkable accomplishment. And it’s one that the new owners at Eastlands are very much aware of.

Still, patience will surely run out eventually. Hughes will be given a significant transfer budget this month. If he can have City in the top-half of the table by mid-February, he’ll be fine. If not, his departure won’t come as much of a surprise.

Can Middlesbrough actually stop Stewart Downing from leaving?
-Brian, Hartford

Sure they can. Stewart Downing signed a five-year contract just 11 months ago. He is a Middlesbrough player until the club determines otherwise.

This is a topic that rather rankles me. We always talk about “player power” and how superstar athletes seem to force their will upon clubs and managers. Why? Where in a footballer’s contract does it state, “…and the club must sell me to the club of my choice whenever I choose.” It’s nonsense. The club controls a player’s destiny for as long as he is contracted to them. Remember when Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to leave Manchester United? Did they let him?

Middlesbrough have every reason to expect Stewart Downing to turn up for them until his contract expires in 2013. Granted, Downing is within his rights to table a transfer request. But chairman Steve Gibson is equally within his to turn it down.

But what good is a player who wants to leave? Won’t he drag the team down on the pitch, and be a distraction off it? Hardly. If he chooses to sit out a few matches, let him. Athletes have very short careers. They come to their senses sooner or later. And while the whole mess might be a distraction for a while, a few goals or good performances are always enough to regain the favor of teammates and fans.

All that said, I hope Stewart Downing gets his wish. He’s always been too classy for Middlesbrough.

Inter Milan might sign Marcos Angeleri. Is he a good player?
-Marc-Andre, St. Louis

Marcos Angeleri won’t win you the Scudetto, but he’s a decent player. He was part of the Estudiantes side that pipped Boca Juniors to the 2006 Apertura and is currently on Diego Maradona’s radar for an Argentina call-up. He prefers the right-back position, however, and I can’t see him displacing Maicon in Jose Mourinho’s squad. I think it’s a bad move for him.

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