The new SPL season gets underway this weekend and the Old Firm will again do battle for the title.
Old Firm will again battle it out for title glory
The new SPL season gets underway this weekend and the Old Firm will again do battle for the championship.
This season has a lot to live up to after last season's thrilling finale when Celtic pipped Rangers at the post to clinch their third SPL crown in a row.
There has not been much change at both clubs over the summer and it will be neck-and-neck race between the two Glasgow giants for Scotland's top prize.
Improving Dundee United could push the Old Firm the hardest as the Tannadice outfit appear to be making giant strides under Craig Levein
At the other end of the table, Hamilton are the new boys after winning the First Division title last season and Accies will be hoping to consolidate back in the top flight.
Celtic look to be the team to beat again as they go for a fourth successive title.
The Bhoys produced a brilliant late surge to snatch the championship last season and they will go into the new campaign confident of more success.
Gordon Strachan has been quiet in the transfer market as he keeps faith with his squad and they boast the quality to come out on top again next May.
Rangers already find themselves under pressure before the SPL has even kicked off following their shock early exit from the UEFA Champions League and nothing less than the title will suffice this year.
The Gers produced heroics last season to challenge for honours on all four fronts and they will need to lift themselves quickly from the disappointment of crashing out of Europe.
The loss of Barry Ferguson through injury for the first three months of the season is a massive blow for Walter Smith and other players will need to step up to the mark if they are wrestle the title away from Celtic.
Struggle
Motherwell exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic Well fan last season with their third-place finish and they will struggle to repeat that feat.
Mark McGhee's squad is looking threadbare as he has been frustrated in the transfer market and European football back at Fir Park for the first time in 13 years could stretch their resources.
The departure of Ross McCormack leaves a huge void, but Well do have some promising young players who will help the club fight for a top-six finish.
Dundee United could replace Motherwell as the best of the rest after the Old Firm.
A fifth-place finish last season was seen as progress and United can finish higher in the table this term following a busy summer in the transfer market for Levein.
United are one of the most attractive sides in the SPL and on their day they are capable of beating anyone.
Aberdeen face a real battle to close the gap on the leading pack after losing a number of key players over the summer.
The departure of Barry Nicholson will be felt at Pittodrie and several other first team members from last season have gone to pastures new.
Dons fans always have high expectations following their success in the 1980s, but with little money available to strengthen the squad, Calderwood will need all his experience and guile to get the best out of his side.
Life is certainly never dull at Hearts as the club begin a new era under the stewardship of Csaba Laszlo.
Hearts endured a turbulent campaign last term with merry-go-round of managers and player unrest at Tynecastle.
The appointment of Hungarian Laszlo ended the club's six-month search for a new manager and he will have his work cut out to please controversial club owner Vladimir Romanov.
Hearts underachieved last season finishing in eighth and this term could be a season of transition in Edinburgh under the new manager.
Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen embarks on his first full season in charge at Easter Road needing to lift spirits.
Hibs have endured a miserable pre-season, including failing to qualify for Europe through the Intertoto Cup.
The Edinburgh club boast some of the best young talent in Scotland and keeping hold of the likes of Steven Fletcher will be key to their ambitions this season.
Experienced
Falkirk will be hoping to finally clinch a top-six finish after going so close in the last two seasons.
The Bairns have established themselves in the SPL since their promotion in 2005 and manager John Hughes has brought in some experienced campaigners in the shape of Jackie McNamara and Lee Bullen to help the side reach their goal of a top-six finish.
Kilmarnock will be seeking for a marked improvement on last season after experiencing their worst season under Jim Jefferies.
Injury problems and the loss of key personnel badly affected Killie last season and Jefferies will be hoping his side enjoy a clean bill of health this year.
Money has been in short supply for Jefferies this summer meaning his squad will be stretched to the limit again this term.
Inverness will be aiming to get back among the top six after a poor end to last season.
The Highlands outfit struggled badly in the second half of last term and if they do no recapture that winning formula they could face a campaign of struggle.
Replacing the goals of Marius Niculae is vital to Craig Brewster's side if they want to achieve a successful season.
Survival will once again be the name of the game for St Mirren as embark upon their third successive campaign in the SPL.
The Buddies were helped in their bid to avoid relegation last season by the demise of Gretna and Gus MacPherson will view SPL safety as a successful campaign for his troops.
Hamilton will be seeking to confound the critics tipping them for relegation by staying up in their first season back in the top flight since 1989.
The Accies have two stars of the future in James McCarthy and James McArthur, but whether or not they have the strength in depth to cope with the demands of the SPL is in questionable.
CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE
Manager: Jimmy Calderwood
Position last season: 4th
In: Gary McDonald, (Oldham Athletic); Bertrand Bossu, (Walsall) Sammy Stewart, (Glenavon); Mark Kerr, (Dundee United); Charlie Mulgrew, (Wolves, undisclosed)
Out: Jackie McNamara, (Falkirk); Barry Nicholson, Steve Lovell, Dave Bus, Richie Byrne, Derek Soutar, Jon Smith, Dan Smith, Martin Skinner, (Peterhead), Neil McVitie, (Peterhead), Davie Ross, (Peterhead), Karim Touzani, (Sparta Rotterdam).
Key man: Jamie Smith
Chances: Jimmy Calderwood will struggle to better last season's fourth place finish as they have lost a lot of players this summer.
For full Aberdeen preview click here
Manager: Gordon Strachan
Position last season: 1st
In: Pat McCourt, (Derry City, undisclosed), Georgios Samaras, Manchester City, undisclosed)
Out: Michael McGovern,(Dundee United), Diarmuid O'Carroll, (Morecambe); John Kennedy,(Norwich, loan)
Key man: Aiden McGeady
Chances: Celtic may prove too strong for Rangers again in the fight for the title, but the Champions League could be a distraction as Celtic aim to make it four-in-a-row.
For full Celtic preview click here
Manager: Craig Levein
Position last season: 5th
In: Scott Robertson,(Dundee); Michael McGovern, (Celtic), Andis Shala, (VFR Mannheim), Paul Dixon, (Dundee), Willo Flood, (Cardiff, loan), Warren Feeney, (Cardiff City, loan)
Out: Michael McGovern,(Dundee United), Diarmuid O'Carroll, (Morecambe); John Kennedy,(Norwich, loan)
Key man: Lee Wilkie
Chances: Dundee United are making strides under Craig Levein and they could run the Old Firm the closest.
For full Dundee United preview click here
Manager: John Hughes
Position last season: 7th
In: Jackie McNamara, (Aberdeen), Neil McCann, (Hearts), Lee Bullen, (Sheffield Wednesday), Dermot McCaffrey, (Hibernian), Erik Schultz-Eklund, (Gretna), Burton O'Brien, (Sheffield Wednesday), Ashley Young, (Bury)
Out: Pedro Moutihno,(CS Maritimo), Jack Ross, (St Mirren), Liam Craig, (St Johnstone), Kenny Milne, (Scunthorpe Utd), Peter McMahon,(Berwick Rangers)
Key man: Russell Latapy
Chances: Falkirk will challenge for a place in the top six and they are capable of shocking some of the big boys.
For full Falkirk preview click here
Manager: Billy Reid
Position last season: N/A
In: Sean Murdoch, (Dunfermline), Mark Corcoran, (St Mirren), Derek Lyle, (Dundee), Lucas-Jordan Akins, (Huddersfield)
Out: Mark Gilhaney, (Dundee, nominal fee), Bryn Halliwell, (Queen of the South), Kevin Davison, Gary Twigg.
Key man: James McCarthy
Chances: It will be a success for Hamilton if they can avoid relegation this season, but Billy Reid's men face a tough task to stay up.
Click here for full Hamilton preview
Manager: Csaba Laszlo
Position last season: 8th
In: David Obua, (Kaizer Chiefs)
Out: Roman Bednar, (West Brom, £2.3m), Ibrahim Tall, Neil McCann, (Falkirk), Marc McCusker, (Clyde), Mauricio Pinilla, Jose Goncalves, (Nurnburg, loan), Fernando Screpis.
Key man: Laryea Kingston
Chances: It could be a season of transition for Hearts and they will be hoping Csaba Laszlo can bring some consolidation to the club after a stormy 12 months at Tynecastle.
For full Hearts preview click here
Manager: Mixu Paatelainen
Position last season: 6th
In: David van Zanten, (St Mirren), Steven Thicot, (Nantes), Joe Keenan, (Melbourne Victory)
Out: Guillaume Beuzelin, (Coventry City), Mickael Antoine-Curier, (Dundee), Dermot McCaffrey, (Falkirk), Keegan Ayre, midfielder; Abderaouf Zarabi, defender; Patrick Noubissie, midfielder; Damon Gray, striker (Partick Thistle, loan)
Key man: Steven Fletcher
Chances: Hibs play some of the most attractive football in the SPL, but they face a fight to keep their place in the top six.
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here for full Hibs preview
Manager: Craig Brewster
Position last season: 9th
In: Andy Barrowman, (Ross County), Lionel Djebi-Zadi, (SC Verl), Ryan Esson, (Hereford)
Out: Dennis Wyness, (St Mirren); Stuart McCaffrey, (St Johnstone), Dean McDonald, (Rushden & Diamonds), Steven Watt, Richie Hart, (Ross County), Marius Niculae, (Dinamo Bucharest, undisclosed)
Key man: Grant Munro
Chances: Inverness are always a hard nut to crack, but the loss of Marius Niculae is a major blow to their hopes of challenging for a top six finish.
For full Inverness preview click here
Manager: Jim Jefferies
Position last season: 11th
In: Allan Russell, (Airdrie United), Gavin Skelton, (Gretna), Connor Sammon, (Derry City, undisclosed)
Out: Iain Campbell, (Alloa Athletic), Paul Di Giacomo, (Airdrie United), Cameron Bell, (Queen of the South, loan), Gary Wales, Paul Dalglish.
Key man: Mehdi Taouil
Chances: Killie endured a below-par campaign last term and Jim Jefferies men will be aiming to steer clear of trouble at the wrong end of the table.
For full Killie preview click
here
Manager: Mark McGhee
Position last season: 3rd
In: Bob Malcolm.
Out: Ross McCormack (Cardiff) Martin Grehan, (Stirling Albion), Chris McGuire, (Airdrie United), David Nixon, (Airdrie United)
Key man: David Clarkson
Chances: Mark McGhee will struggle to repeat the heroics of last season and the squad's lack of depth could impact on their league campaign with the Uefa Cup putting extra strain on the club's resources.
For full Motherwell preview click
here
Manager: Walter Smith
Position last season: 2nd
In: Kenny Miller, (Derby, £2m); Andruis Velicka, (Viking Stavanger, £1m), Kyle Lafferty, (Burnley, £3m); Madjid Bougherra, defender (Charlton Athletic, £2.5m)
Out: Filip Sebo, (Valenciennes, undisclosed); Thomas Buffel, (Cercle Bruges), Jeroen van den Broeckm, (AGOVV Apeldoorn)
Key man: Carlos Cuellar
Chances: Missing out on Europe will be a hard blow to overcome, but Rangers will be determined to win the title after seeing Celtic pip them last term.
For full Rangers preview click
here
Manager: Gus MacPherson
Position last season: 10th
In: Dennis Wyness, (Inverness); Tom Brighton, (Millwall), Jack Ross, (Falkirk), Steven Robb, (Dundee United), Antonio Guerao Mayoral Tonet.
Out: David van Zanten, (Hibernian), Mark Corcoran, (Hamilton), Ian Maxwell, (Partick Thistle), Stewart Kean, (Queen of the South); Richard Brittain, (Ross County); David Murray, (Queen's Park)
Key man: Andy Dorman
Chances: St Mirren will be hoping to continue their progress under Gus MacPherson and they should be strong enough to avoid a relegation fight.
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here for full Saints preview.
