Another season of Scottish football commences this morning as Rangers head to Livingston to kick off their Cinch campaign full of excitement and optimism as they aim to wrestle the title back from bitter rivals Celtic. While the green side of Glasgow anticipates flag day tomorrow against Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen striving for more success on the domestic front. 

It’s as tight as ever all over Scottish football making the job of predicting affairs ever the more exciting and unforgiving. Last season was the most competitive league campaign in recent memory as just four points separated the top two, while seven split fourth from tenth. This season we hope for more of this edge-of-your-seat drama:

12)Ross County 

A surprising one perhaps, considering Malky Mckay’s men defied all odds and achieved a top six finish last season to make it their most successful placing since 2015/16 but didn’t have the domestic trophy to match that they managed against Ronny Diela’s Celtic side ( not that there can be many complaints of that of course). Dingwall was a formidable home last season at times and boosted their top-half aspirations. Even so, Mckay had got this side overperforming. Charles-Cook managed thirteen goals, therefore losing their talisman along with Blair Spittal could be detrimental. Purrington, Dhanda and Akio could be competent replacements but time will only tell. It’ll be a struggle for the highlanders this time round as when the competition has strengthened, they look to have weakened. A season of Championship football could await them in the not-so-distant future. 

11)Livingston 

The Lothian side are effectively becoming the Hamilton on previous seasons, defying all odds with limited resources to stay up. with their petite resources. It’s been a routine window for Livingston, in other words, a quiet one. Yet again, they have lost their key performers in Allan Forrest and Craig Sibbald. It’s an unsustainable model although unfortunately one they are forced to take. That plastic park is a tough place to go to though, their record against Celtic in recent times has proved that. I see this as being the season where it is a step too far, however. David Martindale has done miracles with this side in his tenure, although for me he will endure his first play-offs as manager come May. 

10) St Mirren

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Bullish claims of top four finishes years ago from the Paisley side were met scoffed at by many as delusional, yet last season they let it slip through their fingers when Jim Goodwin took his goods up north. Stephen Robinson was appointed at a time when St Mirren were in a solid position for European football yet publicly stated that avoiding relegation was the aim, while they did achieve that it was a real lack of ambition from the Northern Irishman (or maybe the scoffers would approve). Since though, the Saints have lost a few key players such as Jack Alnwick, Alan Power and Connor Mccarthy. Being knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup already highlights those early struggles. Signings such as Trevor Crarson, Mark O’Hara and Declan Gallagher have all previously played under Robinson. Some would claim that is the old-pals-act while others would say astute business. (It was a Motherwell side in 2017/18 who managed two cup finals and a top six.) Yet, all the early signs are far from positive, and it’ll be a tight battle at the bottom for St Mirren.

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