Season Preview 2008/9

The top of the table will once more be dominated by the Old Firm. Celtic have not done much of note in the transfer market other than play fun and games with us over John Kennedy. Their partners in crime at Ibrox have signed several strikers, taking their total up to 437, which, with just one forward being used in Walter Smith's 9-0-1 is a bit strange. Rangers do have some decent players and there is no question they won't finish second but they might still be too boring to take the title.

Our fellow European contenders - how good is it to say that? - have had a distinctly mixed time of it. Dundee United have lost Noel Hunt which will be a blow but Warren Feeney could be a good replacement. Their defence should be solid with Dods and Wilkie in the centre and the midfield containing Gomis, Bauben and Flood is not to be sniffed at. If they can score goal, they will be one of the favourites for third.

Aberdeen somehow managed to finish fourth despite being utterly mediocre for long spells last season and they will want to make a more serious challenge this time. No distractions from the UEFA Cup in the autumn and winter will definitely help them a lot but the loss of Nicholson will be a sore one. They don't have many wonderful players but there are few who are truly terrible and that should be enough to give them a solid foundation to their campaign.

Hibs have endured a torrid time having given up scoring altogether. There are murmurings about Mixu Paatelainen already as loss after loss was racked up in the friendlies. They will need a good start but they too have some quality players interspersed with some dross. They are unlikely to come third but shouldn't be written off altogether.

Hearts are a lottery, as ever. Another new manager has brought another promise from Romanov to stay clear of the football decisions but whether that turns out to be true remains to be seen. The likes of Berra, Driver and Kingston would walk into most sides but they will need to sort out the baggage behind the scenes if they are to compete.

Falkirk could well be the dark horses this year. They have had a solid side for a while and arguably it was only Michael Higdon's injury which kept them out the top six last time. While John Hughes has been ridiculed for signing half the cast of Dad's Army, some more experience could be just what they need. They might not quite have the depth to challenge for Europe in the league but could be worth a flutter in the cups.

St Mirren have also made some good moves in the summer with Tom Brighton and Dennis Wyness being decent additions. They have done just about enough to establish themselves in the SPL and they will feel capable of avoiding the relegation scrap.

That can probably not be said about Kilmarnock and Inverness who look set to struggle. The Highlanders are on the verge of losing one of their few footballers, Marius Niculae, and though Black can play some good passes, the rest of the squad is utterly dismal. The likes of Munro, McGuire and Tokely lumbering around the back four cannot be good for their goals against column and if we drop many points to them we will feel disappointed.

That leaves our Lanarkshire cousins across the water to complete the league. It is hard to say how their bunch of kids will do as they are totally untested at this level. If they play without fear and are given space then they might thrive. Alternatively if they are booted off the park by cynical old pros, the red and white Hoops might find themselves returning to Division One quicker than they would have liked.

FPC predictions:

Title

Winners: Celtic, runners-up: Rangers

European spots

Third: Dundee United, fourth: Aberdeen

Scottish Cup

Winners: Rangers, runners-up: Falkirk

League Cup

Winners: Motherwell, runners-up: Celtic

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