Times Talker: Who will be the winners and losers in Scottish football this season?

[ian1964 10,724]

CHRIS JACK

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

We have a two horse race once again in the top flight. Celtic are rightly favourites but Mark Warburton has recruited well and Rangers could sneak it on their return to the Premiership.

 

Who will finish second?

 

After four years apart, the Old Firm will occupy the top two spots and Aberdeen and Hearts will fight for third.

 

Who will be relegated?

 

Kilmarnock narrowly avoided the drop last season but there are doubts over Lee Clark’s position already. It could be a campaign to fear at Rugby Park.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Brendan Rodgers will be determined to pick up some silverware in his first season at Parkhead. With a large squad at his disposal, Celtic should go close here.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

A number of clubs have tasted cup success in recent years and it would be good to see Partick Thistle have a reason to celebrate this time out.

 

SCOTT MULLEN

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

The arrival of Rangers changes the dynamic this season and Celtic will have it tougher this season, but they should still win the Premiership comfortably. They have the squad with most experience, depth and quality.

 

Who will finish second?

 

Aberdeen. Derek McInnes’ side pushed Celtic hard last season only to fall away at the death, and his players will know only too well how much of a missed opportunity it was. This will spur them on.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

Kilmarnock. They escaped the trap door last season via the play-offs, but with a raft of new signings to bed in, it could be a long season for Lee Clark’s men.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Celtic. After a frantic first half of the campaign with a condensed Betfred Cup schedule and a European campaign, the Parkhead club will be favourites to get into their stride after Christmas and shoot for silverware.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

Rangers have looked impressive so far and if they can keep that up then they will be hard to look beyond, especially if Celtic have Europe to concentrate on.

 

NEIL CAMERON

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

It is all-but impossible to see past Celtic. They have more money than anyone else and while that does not always guarantee success, it usually does in Scotland. Their squad, on paper, is streets ahead with more signings to come. They could win it by 10 points or more.

 

Who will finish second?

 

I don’t buy the whole Rangers will at least be second. They have a chance, of course, but the runners-up will be between Aberdeen, Hearts and the men from Ibrox. I have a sneaky feeling for the Jambos. That is going to be a good battle.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

Either Kilmarnock, Hamilton or Inverness who could well struggle. If I had to choose it would be Killie, a club that seems to be anything but steady right now. Hamilton have a habit of proving people wrong but their budget remains tight.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Celtic. Brendan Rodgers really should be going for a Double, which eluded Ronny Deila. To be honest, nothing else will do unless they go on a great Champions League run.

 

For some reason I can see Hibs having a decent crack at retaining the cup.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

Rangers, probably. Even in the early 1980s, when the team was poor, this competition was good to them. It would be good to see a new name on the trophy but this might be Mark Warburton’s best chance of silverware.

 

ALISON MCCONNELL

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

Celtic. I can’t see past the Parkhead side retaining their title. They were pushed more than they would have expected last season by Aberdeen, but fully expect it to be relatively straightforward for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

 

Who will finish second?

 

Rangers. The Ibrox side have quality this summer in Joey Barton and Niko Kranjcar but they will need a season at least to bed themselves into the top flight.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

I think Kilmarnock could struggle, as too could Hamilton Accies.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Celtic. Brendan Rodgers’ side will push to take at least one of the domestic Cups on offer.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

Rangers will be under pressure to deliver some form of silverware this season and the League Cup would appear a decent bet for them.

 

GRAEME MACPHERSON

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

Celtic should have enough about them to make it six-in-a-row. They didn’t bring in a manager of Brendan Rodgers’ calibre to finish second.

 

Who will finish second?

 

Rangers. Mark Warburton has recruited impressively again this summer and that should see them finish the best of the rest ahead of Aberdeen and Hearts.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

Kilmarnock’s wholesale changes won’t spare them from the drop.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

On the 30th anniversary of their last Scottish Cup success, it would be somewhat poignant were St Mirren to lift the old trophy again.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

Rangers will take advantage of Celtic’s involvement in Europe to land the first trophy of the season.

 

GRAEME MCGARRY

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

Celtic. I expect Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts to fight it out for second, but I actually fancy the gap between first and second to be similar again to what it was last season.

 

Who will finish second?

 

Rangers, just. Mark Warburton has strengthened well, but I still feel they are too weak defensively to mount a serious challenge to Celtic.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

Kilmarnock. Expecting eleven players to come in from the fringes of English sides and compete in the Scottish Premiership is a big ask, and I don’t see the current negativity around the club lifting any time soon.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Despite my hope that an outsider like Motherwell or Partick Thistle can make it for their day at Hampden in May, I think that Celtic will have enough about them to make it a double.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

This is a bit more open, so I’m going to stick my neck out and say that a smaller team can win it. Inverness have a decent draw, but I think Hibs can have another Hampden triumph.

 

STUART BATHGATE

 

Who will win the Premiership?

 

Celtic. They will face stiffer opposition this season than last, and will have three serious rivals rather than two, but they are better equipped to deal with that challenge than they were under Ronny Deila.

 

Who will finish second?

 

Rangers. Aberdeen will find it hard to put in a sustained challenge for as long as they did last season, while on the evidence of their European games Hearts look like they are some way off from finding a successful blend.

 

Who will be relegated from the Premiership?

 

Either Kilmarnock or Hamilton, depending on who deals best with a likely early-season crisis. If new managers come into both clubs, the better choice will save his team from automatic relegation.

 

Who will win the Scottish Cup?

 

Aberdeen. It’s about time they did, although an extended cup run could damage their league challenge.

 

Who will win the League Cup?

 

Celtic. They won’t be consistent enough to win the Treble, but, in Brendan Rodgers’ first season, two out of three won’t be bad.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14657818.Times_Talker__Who_will_be_the_winners_and_losers_in_Scottish_football_this_season_/

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

Probably fair enough. Can see us giving some teams an absolute shoeing but think we're too flaky to win it just yet. We'll drop some daft points.

[der Berliner 3,747]

Nah, Alex Rae's Dundee will chase Hearts and Aberdeen for places ... it will be a blue season!

[Frankie 8,570]

Celtic are rightly big favourites and, personally, despite the quality in our squad I think it's asking a lot for us to win the league this season.

 

We can do it though and, at the very least, I want to see our players leave everything on the field in their attempts to do so.

[Frankie 8,570]

Nah, Alex Rae's Dundee will chase Hearts and Aberdeen for places ... it will be a blue season!

 

Alex Rae is the manager of St Mirren though...

 

Hopefully Hibs will be chasing his side.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

After watching Leicester winning the EPL, anything is possible in the SPFl for Rangers. If Hivs are in this years Scottish Cup then justice has not been done, after their thugs fans riot and assault on our players.

[der Berliner 3,747]

Alex Rae is the manager of St Mirren though...

 

Hopefully Hibs will be chasing his side.

 

Don't confuse me with facts! It is Paul Hartley over at Dens Park, of course. But yes, what a story it would be if St. Mirren sneak past Hibs and the Arabs ...

[calscot 0]

I think the more they write us off, the easier it will become... I'm thinking this kind of stuff could be amusing to look at come the end of the season.

[ian1964 10,724]

The new Scottish Premiership season begins this weekend and former players Pat Bonner, Willie Miller, Michael Stewart and Steven Thompson have told BBC Scotland who they think will finish top, second and bottom in this season's top flight as well as highlighting the players they are looking forward to seeing excel.

 

Pat Bonner

 

Champions: Celtic

 

"They've got the biggest squad and Brendan Rodgers coming in will bring a feel-good factor. They're odds-on."

 

Runners-up: Hearts

 

"Rangers have got to do what Hearts did last year and find their feet in the league. Aberdeen might struggle with the extra competition. Hearts could build on last year's experience."

 

Bottom: Partick Thistle or Hamilton Academical

 

"Unfortunately, it's going to be the same teams fighting relegation. It might just be Thistle and Hamilton propping them up at the end of it."

 

One to watch: Tony Watt, Hearts striker

 

"It will be interesting to see, can he fulfil his potential coming back to Scotland?"

 

 

Willie Miller

 

Champions: Celtic

 

"You've still got to go with Celtic with a new manager in place. Their strength in depth would make them favourites."

 

Runners-up: Aberdeen

 

"I feel Aberdeen are still strong enough to do that even though Rangers are in the league. I look at their strengthening over the summer. They've held on to their important players."

 

Bottom: Kilmarnock

 

"Killie still seem to be in a bit of disarray. I think it's going to be a struggle for them. They would be the team I would be nervous about."

 

One to watch: Niall McGinn, Aberdeen forward

 

"He's on fire just now, off the back of the European Championships [with Northern Ireland] and the confidence he's gained from that. The first half of the season in particular, I'd expect him to be on top form."

 

 

Michael Stewart

 

Champions: Celtic

 

"There's obviously not been a great deal done in the transfer market, yet. I think Brendan Rodgers will improve the side, regardless. I think they will win the title."

 

Runners-up: Rangers

 

"I do like the look of Rangers. It's a tough one between Rangers and Aberdeen. I think, perhaps, Rangers would nick it. If Aberdeen get into the Europa League group stage, then they could have a lot of extra games."

 

Bottom: Kilmarnock

 

"For the last few seasons, Kilmarnock have been on a downward spiral. If they don't get off to a great start, it could be a difficult one to turn around."

 

One to watch: Patrick Roberts, Celtic winger

 

"Patrick Roberts is absolutely on fire at Celtic. He was clearly a top player last year. This season, he's going to be a huge player for Celtic, one of their main attacking outlets."

 

Steven Thompson

 

Champions: Celtic

 

"They've got the biggest budget so should be able to field the best team. They've got the most resources."

 

Runners-up: Rangers

 

"Their summer signing policy has been very good. When they make a change to the team, it doesn't necessarily weaken the team. They've got a strong squad."

 

Bottom: Kilmarnock

 

"They were very disappointing last season and they seem to have signed mostly untried players from England, who possibly don't know how to play in the Scottish Premiership."

 

One to watch: Barrie McKay, Rangers winger

 

"He was outstanding last year and he has started this season well. On his day, there is nobody better in his position in Scotland."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36945066

[calscot 0]

I can understand that people would put Celtic top, but I personally think that not putting us in at least second is going to make them look like they are either too stupid to be a pundit or just too bitter. Of course, if they are right, I could be looking stupid - but it's not my job and I'm not getting paid for it.

 

But the point is that putting Celtic top and Rangers second, can both look not stupid and not bitter - even if you are wrong. It's probably the most sensible objective argument.

 

However, I think after the cup game, the fact we've strengthened and they haven't, and looking at the early form of both teams, it's so close that putting Rangers top, with Celtic a close second is hardly stretching it. That's my prediction and I look forward to looking back and comparing the accuracy with the so called, "experts".