Defending champions Celtic are looking to make it four-in-a-row while the league welcomes a new team, Hamilton Academicals. Last season had an exciting finish, with Celtic and Rangers both needing wins on the final day - and results elsewhere - to help decide the champions, while the teams in 4th to 6th all swapped places. There where no final-day worries though for Mark McGhee's Motherwell as they had already secured their third spot.
With the exception of Hearts' Laszlo Csaba, all the managers in place at the end of last season are still in charge of their teams. Mark McGhee decided to remain with Motherwell despite the overtures from Tynecastle, while Mixu Paatelainen's career as SPL manager has already had the bookies shortening the odds on the big Fin's survival aspects this season. So let's look ahead to the fixtures that take place on Saturday.
Falkirk vs Rangers
In the opening game of the season, the 1230 kickoff sees John Hughes' Falkirk play Glasgow Rangers. Now, one of two things can happen here. Scenario 1 has an enraged Rangers, pilloried by the press and the fans after losing to part time FBK Kaunas earlier this week taking out their frustration and anger on a Falkirk side and go on to better the 7-2 thrashing they handed out to Falkirk last season; or, Scenario 2 has a lacklustre and limp Rangers, still depressed and wallowing in self pity, losing to a Falkirk side that have been hard to beat at home last season and shown to be capable of playing pretty football. Either way, expect the Sunday press to be featuring a big story about this game. Falkirk have lost Andy Stokes and his fourteen goals to Sunderland while at the other end John Hughes has brought in Dad's Army with Jackie McNamara, Lee Bullen and Neil McCann (average age 35). Falkirk lost a lot of goals last season and the experience should plug the leaks in a leaky defence, but you just look at another veteran - Rangers' David Weir - to see that playing older players brings with it risks.
Prediction: A tough one this. If the outcome is Scenario 1, then 4-1 for Rangers; Scenario 2 has Falkirk winning 2-1. You decide.
Aberdeen vs Inverness Caley Thistle
Aberdeen start their season at home to Caley Thistle. The Inverness side should be worried they're starting away from home, as their away form was pretty much their downfall last season - only Gretna lost more games on the road. In the off-season, Inverness lost striker Marius Niculae but in Andy Barrowman, signed from local rivals Ross County they have someone that knows how to find the goal and together with Don Cowie, another Ross County alumni, scoring goals shouldn't be a problem. Aberdeen meanwhile have had a bit of a clear-out over the summer, but they've brought in some decent players too: Gary McDonald and Mark Kerr will fill the void left by Barry Nicholson and if Andrew Considine and Zander Diamond can get their act together this year (a leaky defence cost them a lot of goals) then things might just work out for the Dons.
Prediction: Since they've been promoted to the SPL, Caley have never beaten Aberdeen, so we go for a 2-0 win for the Dons
Heart of Midlothian vs Motherwell
Csaba against McGhee. Romanov versus Boyle. Third versus eighth. The soap-opera that is Heart of Midlothian kick off another season with a new manager at the helm. The Jambos have had a boost with the arrival of the big Hungarian and certainly he's got a team there that has all the potential to do well. Christophe Berra, recently called up to the Scotland side by George Burley is a hot prospect. Andrew Driver, Michael Stewart and Eggert Jonsson make for a tidy midfield but it's up front that Hearts lack conviction, a problem noted by Csaba whose search for an eleven to fifteen goals per season striker continues. They've been sniffing around Celtic's out-of-favour Derek Riordain but so far no offers have been made. Laryea Kingston and Driver both chipped in with five last season, but that's spreading it a little thin. For Motherwell, another recent Scotland call-up, David Clarkson, will be hoping to add to his tally of 12 goals last season, but Motherwell have been quiet in the transfer market over the summer with only Bob Malcolm new to the Motherwell dressing room. McGhee set a high standard last season and quite frankly we doubt he'll be able to repeat last seasons form and unless they stop conceding silly goals from set-pieces, expect a long season for the Steelmen.
Prediction: In terms of Saturday's game, Hearts have the slight edge over Motherwell, having won 2 of the 3 encounters last season. We give the Jambos a slight edge again, mainly because we think Csaba's arrival has given the team a bigger boost than Motherwell got from McGhee's decision to stay another season. 1-0 for Hearts.
Kilmarnock vs Hibernian
Kilmarnock had a rotten season last year. Second bottom, with an injury list as long as your arm, Jim Jefferies had another long season in charge of Killie. With little money available to him, he's gone down a division to pick up Allan Russell from Airdrie (good for 19 goals last season) and across the Irish Sea to pick up Irish U21 striker Conor Sammon from Derry City in order to start scoring some goals. New signings Manuel Pascali (given a contract following a successful trail) and Mehdi Taouil will boost the midfield while the creative element will come from young Craig Bryson, who impressed last season. If Killie had a rotten season, Hibernian have had a rotten pre-season which must leave the Hibs fans with some doubts about whether this season will be an improvement on last. Star man Stephen Fletcher is still with the club and should increase his goal tally this season. From defense (Chris Hogg) to midfield (Dean Shiels) to attack (Fletcher) Hibs have a good core, but without decent wingers, the play is all too predictable. Mixu's touchline antics will get him in trouble this season - he's already got a 2 match touchline-ban following his heated discussion with referee Brian Colvin during his sides 2-0 defeat at Cowdenbeath and without strong leaders in the team (there are doubts about Rob Jones as captain), not having the manager on the side-line to push the team on might become an issue.
Prediction: History favours Hibernian in this tie. Hibs where not good on the road last season, while Kilmarnock where not good at home. We go for a 1-1 draw.
We'll preview Celtic's opener against St. Mirren on Saturday, while on Monday our featured game in Match Programme will be the tie at New Douglas Park between new boys Hamilton Academicals and Dundee United.
Division 1
Now that the first round of the League Cup is out of the way, the teams in the lower divisions can continue their League campaign. Airdrie United play Partick Thistle, Dundee tackle Clyde and Dunfermline and Queen of the South meet for the first time. Livingston and Ross Country seek to get some points on the board as they go looking for their first win while Morton, winners in a thrilling 6-3 win over Stranraer take on early Division leaders St. Johnstone at Cappielow.
Division 2
In Division 2, Alloa play Ayr, we have an east coas
t derby as Peterhead (who finally conceded a goal when they lost to Dunfermline in midweek's Cup game) play Arbroath. Raith Rovers entertain Queens Park while Stirling take on East Fife. Stranraer are at home to Brechin.
Division 3
Leaders Annan Athletic try and make it two-in-a-row in the league when Stenhousemuir travel south. East Stirlingshire play Albion Rovers. Elgin City go for their first win of the season against Dumbarton, and Forfar take on Cowdenbeath. Lastly, Berwick are away to Montrose.
No comments:
Post a Comment