Gribz

2 matches played and 2 wins. Has Pedro started to redeem himself? Its still very early and the bigger tests come with the next two matches against Hibs and Hearts. But after the end of last season and the disaster in the summer it was imperative we got off to a good start. There will be belief installed following these results, plus the squad is looking good with good options in every position, we have a nice balance.

And the one game I dont tip Miller to get the first goal. This sort of result was needed, a great confidence boost ahead of Hibs on Saturday - which should be a belter. To be fair they have started the season well. Morelos looks like he has made himself first pick upfront.

Yes WBA arent a bad side and Id have them down for mid table easily. Looking forward to seeing West Ham this year. Much made of Spurs playing at Wembley but the same can be said for West Ham, if they settle into the London stadium then they could be the surprise package. Hart and Zabaleta are good signings. Newcastle are the ones who could struggle, their transfer business has been poor. I expected them to be heavy spenders getting some big names in under Rafa. Cant see Huddersfield staying up, they will probably go back down along with Brighton. But its tough to call the 3rd team. Will be a battle between Swansea, Burnley and Watford.

This is where Scott and I will do battle each week with our predictions - feel free to join in. Looking forward to the most entertaining league in the world kicking off this Friday - note I say most entertaining and not the best league purely because its not the best standard wise. Yet I dont think I will be watching too many West Brom v Stoke matches. I usually have a flutter on Arsenal to win the title every year - last season was the first time I didnt and I slapped my well earned sponds on Man Utd which was even worse. The runners and riders: Arsenal - Just havent done enough in the transfer market again. They need a solid midfielder and have dabbled too much talk about Tomas Lemar and look to miss out on him. I worry for the Gooners this season but will still be hoping they win the league. Chelsea - Very thin squad and losing Costa bullying defences is a huge loss. They need at least 3 players to compete. I think they will get more found out this season and Conte may not last the full year. If they sign a few players things may be different. Everton - Koeman has really gone for it and I like the look of Everton. Its about time they stepped up to the plate. They have no excuses this season. They have a strong team and have spend well. Man Utd - Jose usually wins the league in his second season. He has signed Matic which is supposed to free up Pogba but the frenchman cruised the italian league and not this division. I am 50/50 on Utd, they will either blast the league ugly style or be the same as last year. They have become unlikeable again due to Mourinho. Man City - Spend silly money and have unreal players going forward but that doesnt guarantee wins. Kompany is still their best centre half yet cant prove his fitness. There is still holes at the back their but their options of forwards and midfielders is scary. A big season for Pep. Again - like Jose isnt very likeable and he has a lot to prove this season. He won domestic league in germany which isnt hard with that Bayern team but he didnt do anything in Europe with them. Liverpool - I fancy them to pull off a shock purely because of the Klopp factor. He gets 10-20% extra out of players and installs a wonderful harmony. They are the most exciting team going forward. Mane is the most unplayable player in the league and can ruin teams. If Coutinho stays then they could win the title. They still need to add Van Dijk at the back though. Tottenham - The Wembley factor will ruin them. They will struggle to win there. They have a solid XI but like Chelsea have no depth and they wont perform in Europe. They need at least 3 new additions to compete in the CL. They didnt show up last season. Im going to stick the neck out and have a flutter on Liverpool to win the league but hope im wrong.

Best way to get match fit it playing in matches. Throw him in against Dunfermline for an hour. If the lad is struggling to adapt then let him go back to Mexico, he wont do any good if he cant give all.

No worries Pete. Just thought id get the game chat going - was a quick few liners. Didnt know you would be writing one up also while having your evening pipe and cocoa.

No Joe Dodoo. Someone needs to reveal what the script is with that. But good to see Kranjcar and Rossiter in the squad. As mentioned earlier Id make numerous changes to give game time - with the match against hibs in mind.

Beg to differ there - No.1 keeper should always start. Id really like to see Dodoo play though. But no idea what even the chances are. its a strange one.

Just a few lines to get the match talk going as its tomorrow. Obviously cant see mass changes like Ive listed but its the sort of team I would put out. Im not sure on the fitness info RE Kranjcar and Rossiter, cant see them making it. Pena perhaps will get game time but throwing him in the deep end in a start next to Holt could make him. At least we are talking football again with plenty options - thats what its all about.

This game isnt on the preview list so dont mind if I hit a quickie? Football is well and truly back and after the long wait for competitive action the games come thick and fast with 3 games within 6 days. The second coming on Wednesday evening UK time and our first domestic home match of the season in a league cup match against Dunfermline. Sundays league victory at Fir Park helped soothed the sore summer and now we cement into the season with 3 home games coming up - its fair to say expectations are on the high and 3 victories are required. We boast the best record in this cup by a mile. 27 wins and 11 ahead of Celtic. This is the tournament that I have a soft spot for from when I starting out to watch Rangers in the 80s from the 3 Skol Cup final clashes v Aberdeen in a row 1987-89 two of which were wins - up to the 1996 final where Gazza stole the show in a 4-3 win over Hearts with two brilliant solo's - its amazing what a nip at half time can do! Dunfermline are starting to get it together on the pitch again, after having a season in the third tier - which we know about - we bypassed them during our journey up through the leagues but now they are also attempting to return to the top flight after being regulars in the 90s. Im hoping Pedro makes numerous changes to the side that played at Motherwell on Sunday. Hibs come to Ibrox on the weekend which is a far bigger game and we need to offer the full squad plenty minutes at the moment. I dont think Pedro will make so much changes as I would but we will see. As such I certainly wouldnt be unhappy with a line up of the following - which should still have more than enough to see off out Championship opponents. Foderingham Hodson Wilson Bates Beerman Candieas Holt Pena Dalcio Dodoo Morelas However Pedro is from a different brand altogether and second guessing his sides at the moment isnt an easy task especially on matchday 2.

Yes - the goal came from that foul so that would have been all square. I felt the red was slightly harsh. But a silly challenge all the same and probably cost them. Arsenal need to trip the squad players by selling Debuchy, Gibbs, Jenkinson then possibly Chambers although id keep the latter for a season to see if he can step up. I would say they need to get Lemar ASAP or be out bid by a big team. Someone like Calvalho to sit next to Xhaka sorts their midfield out then ahead of them you have Ozil or a fit Cazorla playing behind the strikers. I do like Xhaka and think he will be a key player this season after 1 year settling and a full pre season. He was unlucky with that 30 yard effort on Sunday.

Cant decide if McLaren is good or not. Done well at certain places (Boro, Twente) but poor at others. Probably the ideal No.2 in England rather than a manager or head coach.

1m for Waghorn is good money. I quite like Waghorn but if he gets a move away then so be it. Interesting to know whats going to happen with Dodoo though, nothing mentioned about him leaving and he isn't getting playing time.

I don't like the new penalty shoot out format to start with. Arsenal started well but Chelsea would have probably held on with 11 men. Its a match that's hard to judge but Chelsea need a few additions to the squad or they wont win the title. Costa is a big miss for them. I will probably do a premier league preview later this week.

A really good game to watch, and bizarrely probably the most entertaining game Ive seen us in for a while but a few things still missing and a game that we could have won 5-1 or drew 3-3. Fair play to the ref for once - he let the game flow and it was quite end to end and a great spy for the pen. Going forward we look good and should only improve. I just think there is a presence missing somewhere - perhaps Pena or Kranjcar will fill that void. Dorrans will absolutely stroll this league but Jack was a bit quiet. Windass has plenty ability but lacks a bit of composure, if he starts to read things better he could be very key. He has plenty drive and pace and deserved a goal. Im wondering if 3 at the back would suit us more though to get an extra man in midfield because Motherwell aren't a great side and made chances. Wallace had a good game down the left so would fill the left wing back role and that means we go to a 4 when defending and Id keep Candeias on the right as he has pace to burn. But we never looked like losing the game and its a great 3 points to get out the blocks. 3 home games in a row coming up and we should be more in control of games at Ibrox so they will be good to asses.

A chap called Joe Garner netted the only goal as Ipswich beat Birmingham 1-0. McKay and Garner grabbing winners on their debuts. For me id have rather seen McKay stay at Ibrox but Im still glad Garner left.

Still think we could be done with Kranjcars class and playmaking.

Im the opposite yet Ive not been to Edinburgh in a long time so it may be a bit different. But football aside if I was having a day away it would be Glasgow 9 times out of 10.

Agreed, Levein shouldnt be interfering with footballing tactics at all and Cathro wasnt probably in a position to say anything and he probably has been gagged due to pay off money to not say anything so its come from another source and I agree with BR. If Levein wants the job he should just take it, he has clearly been running most things anyway. Maybe even the Hearts fans dont want him after 4-6-0 hence him playing the shadow manager role.

Villa continue last years trend of draws with a home draw with Hull. I had a look at Villas starting XI and based on that I would change my prediction and wouldnt tip them to go up automatically. Also considering they have to better their points tally this season by about 35 to get up thats a tough ask with nearly the same team. I know its only one game but I dont see how thats possible. QPRs win was surprise of the day. A quick note on league 1, Blackburn start life there with a defeat at Southend.

All the callers to Talksport and match report said Forest were lucky and were getting caught out in their own third all the time, when better teams play them they wont get away with it.

Realistically a comfortable second. We have to start seeing off the run of mill clubs in the league. 3rd placed team shouldnt be close to us. We have to compete in the OF games this season home and away and be winning at Ibrox. The footballing side HAS to show progress (I dont like that word now) and improvements are being made. I always thought It would take 2-3 seasons to realistically win the title again so its all about getting closer. Celtic's gap was because they would win games against the Hamiltons and Particks consistently so we have to cut out dropping points against certain teams.

Went to put a draw on at Sunderland but decided I will cut back on betting on singles outwith the top flight. What a bad decision that was. Mckays goal was supposed to be a screamer. Yet Millwall were the better side in the game.

Tough away game for Celtic. Should be good for Liverpool and Klopp going to Germany. Qarabag (Azerbaijan) v Copenhagen (Denmark) Apoel Nicosia (Cyprus) v Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) Olympiakos (Greece) v HNK Rijeka (Croatia) Celtic (Scotland) v Astana (Kazakhstan) Hapoel Beer Sheva (Israel) v Maribor (Slovenia) Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey) v Sevilla (Spain) Young Boys (Switzerland) v CSKA Moscow (Russia) Napoli (Italy) v Nice (France) Hoffenheim (Germany) v Liverpool (England) Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) v Steaua Bucharest (Romania)

A league I watch a lot of over the last few years kicks off tonight with Sunderland v Derby and Notts Forest v Millwall. 18 of the 24 clubs have played Premier League football showing how competitive this league gets. There are two former European Champions in the division with Villa and Forest. There will be big derbies in the second city derby between Villa and Brum, the Steel city derby returns in Sheffield, the old farm derby at Norwich v Ipswich. The bookies favourites are Steve Bruces Aston Villa with Gary Monks Middlesboro right behind them. I find those a bit surprising. For Villa John Terry is obviously the stand out signing but he has not played at this level before in a 100 mph demanding league which is both a marathon and a sprint. Gabby Agbonlahor has put form and weight issues behind him and back in the team so thats potential straight away. But Bruce is one of those managers who knows this division and he will see himself finally at a big club - possibly top 8 in the country on their day (would he have got the job otherwise) - and will see this as his chance to build. Middlesboro have put in a good manager who is now at his third club and he has to keep up his good reputation. He has addressed the goalscoring problem by spending 24 million on a few strikers - Britt Assombalonga from Forest and Martin Braithwaite from Toulouse. Straight away I would put Fulham 7/1 up their as favourites, they were quality in the second half of last season but just fell short at the end. Id equally put Derby 12/1 and Reading 14/1 in there. Jaap Stam did wonders in his first season and will improve, they only missed out due to Huddersfields rise from nowhere. Derby have Gary Rowett who was unbelievably dismissed from Birmingham last year while they were in the play off hunt only for them to collapse and avoid relegation on the last day. Sheff Wed are the other in the runners and riders but I expect a play off spot at best. Wolves are the bookies surprise team - a big club on their day but I dont know why they would propel from mid table to challenging with another set of rash owners. They have forked out on Ruben Neves from Porto for a club record £15m. Norwich also need a mention but have let go some players for their second season in the league so they may find this one a bit tougher. Relegated Sunderland are in a bit of a mess but have a real working in Simon Grayson in charge who had Preston punching above their weight. Fellow relegated Hull have sold off a load of players and lost their quality manager Marco Silva so could be in for a tough season. Harry Redknapp is back and in charge of Birmingham. he went their thinking he would bring in household names like Terry and Robbie Keane but cant get any names over the line so far. I dont expect to see Harry lasting the full campaign if doesnt get a few bargains on transfer deadline day. Mark Warburton has made signings at Forest and will be trying to push them up the table. A lot of Bears will have interesting eyes on them this season to see how they do. Leeds make yet another change of manager and I simply dont know what to expect from these giants. Sheff United return to this flight and will be hoping for a solid season. They return along with Bolton who will hope for survival. QPR are in a bit of a mess in the last few seasons and Ian Holloway is back in charge - again will he last the season!! Cardiff have plummeted since their 1 season in the top flight and have expectations. Mick McCarthy at Ipswich is under huge pressure after a 6-1 thumping from Charlton last week. With no money to spend he has done well there but the fans are now turning. Brentford and Preston will be hoping for very respectable mid table finishes again along with Barnsley. Burton and Bristol City had wonderful finishes last season to avoid the drop and will hope for the same around this season but Bristol City may set sights higher. And then there is Millwall...... I am tipping Fulham and Aston Villa to go up automatically. Play Offs - Reading, Derby, Middlesboro, Sheff Wed. Relegated - Burton, Millwall, Bolton.