Gary Sutherland Of The Scotland On Sunday states his Predictions.
Has Gary made the same mistake that Jim White made last year having United finishing above Dundee. Another journalist who's maybe living back in the Jim McLean years and hasn't really opened his eyes to the change in the balance in power in the city over the past three years.
Maybe one year was a fluke, but three consecutive years time to take a reality check maybe? We'll see at the end of this season, let the fun begin.
1st
Celtic:-
Last season:- 1st
2nd
Rangers:-
Last season:- 2nd
3rd
Hibs:-
Last Season:- 3rd
4th
Hearts:-
Last season:- 5th
5th
Dundee Utd:-
Last season:- 11th
6th
Killie:-
Last season:- 4th
7th
Dundee:-
Last season:-6th
8th
Aberdeen:-
Last season:- 7th
9th Dunfermline:-
Last season:- 9th
10th
St.Johnstone:-
Last season:- 10th
11th
Livingstone:-
Last season Division 1 Champions
12th
Motherwell:-
Last season:- 8th
:- The boring Bobo Balde saga seems finally to be concluded as everyone stifles a yawn. He is the first player Martin O’Neil has signed this summer. Mind you, those already there did not too badly last year. O’Neil now guns for a double treble, but Rangers should provide stiffer resistance this time. It would be hard not to. Eyal Berkovic moved yesterday and at least for Celtic fans, Rafael is shouting about staying put in Brazil. Ex-goldie locks now golden shoe winner, Henrik Larsson will aim to beat last season’s tally of 53 goals in all competitions, ably assisted by Chris Sutton. It’s also the last season for Lubo Moravcik, so expect a few more helpings of Magic, while Balde should beef up a rearguard that has lost Ramon Vega and Alan Stubbs. First on the schedule St. Johnstone so cue a hat-trick for Henrik.
This season:- 1st
:-Even before league duty gets underway, Rangers have their crucial Wednesday tie in Slovenia against Maribor. How they fare in the Champions league will, as ever dictate Dick Advacaat’s season. A good domestic start is paramount, though after last term’s unmitigated disaster. Giving Celtic any sort of a lead could prove fatal. Barry Ferguson must hope for a more successful second season as captain and the fans will be anxious to see how the midfield works out after all the summer changes. The rehabilitation of Michael Mols continues and any neutral would wish him well. Tore Andre Flo and Ronald De Boer must be big players if Advocaat’s time at Ibrox is not to end on a sour note.
This season:- 2nd
:-Runners-up in the Scottish Cup and third in the league was a record for Alex McLeish and Hibs to be rightly proud of. A similar tale this time, with perhaps a Hampden triumph thrown in, would surely suffice. Out with Rangers, Hibs are the SPL’s biggest Summer spenders. Ecuadorian Ulises de la Cruz could replace the magic that went with Russell Latapy, while Bosnian Alen Orman got off the mark in the fiery friendly with Marseille. With Marc Libbra unlikely to sign and Mixu Paatelainen offski, Paco Luna and David ‘Rocky’ Zitelli will lead the attack. Finishing above Hearts is no longer the be all and end all for Hibees they’ll expect another challenge to the Old Firm.
This Season:- 3rd
:-The Benelux nations seem to be in vogue this summer for SPL clubs, Hearts being another lot who have headed to Holland and Belgium for fitness training and public park kickabouts. There has been little transfer action at Tynecastle in the close season, at least compared with their Edinburgh neighbours, although Canadian International defender Kevin McKenna is a real boost for Levein, who has shown recent interest in Charlton’s Greg Shields. Keeping the ‘keeper may prove more difficult before long if Antti Niemi carries on the way he performed last season. Steve Fulton has been given another chance to get back in the frame, although Gary McSwegan is less reluctant to hang around. Levein must be relishing the prospect of a full season in charge of the club where he spent his playing days.
This season:- 4th
:-After removing toiling United from the spectre of relegation, Alex ‘I’ve never had a season like it’ Smith agreed a three year deal with the Tangerine board. On the evidence of last season at least, the club are in good hands. Now they aim to build further and Smith even has a few Pennies to fritter away on new players. The boss has said his first priority is removing the threat of the drop, although he is really pitching for a top six place and, whisper it, Europe. The fans are optimistic too, and you would not bet against the two Dundee sides swapping places in the league rankings. Jim McIntyre gives United some extra attacking strength, although Jason de Vos’s exit looks ever imminent.
This season:- 5th
:-In finishing fourth last term, Kilmarnock qualified for Europe for the third consecutive season. Bobby Williamson, already the SPL’s longest serving manager, signed a new five-year deal in the aftermath while Sir John Orr became Rugby Park Chairman. With Paul Wright going to Falkirk and Ally McCoist eventually hanging up his boots, Williamson could do without Craig Dargo’s recent ankle surgery. The manager still has Jerome Veraille, Christophe Cocard, Andy McLaren and young Paul di Giacomo at his disposal, though. Kilmarnock failed to lure Billy Dodds after finding his wage demands prohibitive, but they enter the new season with hope. Improving their home results a bit would go a long way towards another European qualification.
This season:- 6th
:-Ivano Bonetti’s band slipped into the top six last season by the skin of their teeth…. And no-one has any idea how they will do this time. The second campaign will be crucial for the management team with the long honeymoon well over. The fact that Fabian Caballero has recently committed to a long-term deal is a smile raiser and should go a long way to compensating for the departure to Ibrox of his idolised compatriot Claudio Caniggia. The perplexing Juan Sara, top club scorer last term, has also put pen to paper. The Intertoto exit seems ages ago already and Dundee start the SPL in earnest with a less exhausting, though no less feverish, jaunt across the street to Tannadice. If these two join forces for Euro 2008 the travel time will be slashed further. The two clouds remaining over Dens Park are those renegades Patrizio Billio and Marco De Marchi.
This season:-7th
:-Ebbe Skovdahl’s men finished a creditable seventh last season and even had the odd sliver of praise slung their way. The fans, though, have suffered enough mediocrity over the years and will demand more. The traitorous Arild Stavrum-17 goals in 2000/1- will be missed and while the manager has added Roberto Bisconti to midfield, he still lacks firepower. The fact Skovdahl has been tracking Dutchman Edwin Van Ankeren(Willem Van der ark’s cousin?) will not exactly send the fans dizzy with delight, though. More positive is the handing of a new contract to Darren Mackie and the return of a fit Hicham Zerouali, who last week threw a two-fingered salute on tour. First up Rangers at Pittodrie, so the home side will be trying really, really extra hard then?
This season:- 8th
were unfortunate not to end up in the top half last year, dramatically dumped by dastardly Dundee on the last day before the split. For the new campaign, Jimmy Calderwood has enlisted Gus McPherson from Kilmarnock while Moroccan Youssef Rossi looks to the glamour of Serie A, which could benefit Dunfermline by up to £1M if Udinese complete the move. The Fifers missed out on a UEFA Cup trip after the Fair play draw, but they have been on the continent recently, training and playing in the managers old stomping ground of Holland. One match with Steau Bucharest ended in a 4-0 loss. Stevie Crawford will hope to get in among the goals this season while the impressive Barry Nicholson will seek to firm up his claim for a Scotland place.
This season:- 9th
:- Underwhelming summed up St. Johnstone in 2000-01, whiole at times the club seemed to be enveloped in off-field events, particularly the George O’Boyle Kevin Thomas affair. However, Sandy Clark has agreed a new two-year deal with the club, so must feel that more progress can be made. St. Johnstone got off to a bit of a flyer last year, losing only one of their first eight matches. The same again would do, along with the avoidance of a subsequent dip in form. Nathan Lowndes has been lost to the cause, but Darren Jackson joins in after his spell with Livingston. Clark feels his experience counts for something, even if some of the fans disagree. The manager believes his side became complacent last season and will demand a bit extra now.
This season:- 10th
:- The new town club’s rapid journey to the SPL promised land has been nothing short of remarkable and they’ll be determined to avoid a quick return trip. But the Almondvale men reek of ambition, shown in the signings of stuart Lovell, Gary Bollan and Nathan Lowndes. Jim Leishman will hope to emerge unscathed from a tough set of opening fixtures and watch out for David Fernandez - a star in the making.
This season 11th
:- With the likes of Andy goram and John Spencer long gone from Fir Park, times have changed and hard-bitten reality has set in. The club are more modest in their transfer pursuits now, not pitching for the big names, but Billy Davies has still been busy trying to add more experience to his youthful ranks after the anti-climax of last season. While Derek Townsley has gone, more have been the number travelling in the opposite direction towards Lanarkshire. In come Andy dow from Aberdeen and goal keeper mark Brown from Rangers. Add Roberto Martinez and others to the mix and there may be a significantly changed team on the park come the opening day. Bagging a few early points could, as with many sides, dictate how the season pans out.
This season:- 12th