Beyond The Score

 Rangers head to Livingston this midday looking to wrestle back the title from Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic, meanwhile it’s the Parkhead side who face Aberdeen starting a campaign in which they look to make it eleven titles in twelve. The title race prospect is mouth-watering once more as Glasgow’s big two battle it out. It’s the first season for a substantial time where both clubs seem in a solid position for success ahead, who will edge it?

3) Hearts 

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Taking the title race aside for the moment can expect Hearts to have another solid season. Guaranteed group stage football is a luxury that would have been unthinkable two seasons ago as they limped over the line of the Scottish Championship. That is a testament to how far Robbie Neilson has taken this side. Sure the loss of John Souttar will be a blow however, it’s a player who they coped without last season for great durations due to injury blows. Plus, Neilson, Shankland and Forrest are all solid signings adding to an already solid in-depth squad. Although last season they were still an alarming twenty-eight points off second place Rangers and won less than half of their games, so to say they were remarkable would be re-writing history. While club insiders are adamant about their ambition of title-chasing, which is commendable, currently that isn’t realistic. Not to mention the strain on the squad that having a European schedule will have, so yes, a third place finish will prevail, but once again far off the summit. 

2) Rangers

With a pristine Europa League run in the bag and a Scottish Cup victory, Rangers look solid. They made a substantial step last year which no Scottish side has done for ages, to get to the business end of a major competition. It brought a real buzz and togetherness around the Ibrox side which they aim to translate to the domestic stage this season. Although the loss of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo should hurt them on the European stage, domestically more than enough cover is there to do the job. Davies, Souttar and Yilmaz do look promising signings however the proof will be in the pudding and no doubt the Ibrox faithful will have their fingers and toes crossed that they live up to the billing. There is no reason why Rangers cannot win the league, although season after season when the business end beckons, they slip up under pressure and whether they follow this pattern will be telling. Sure, some will use the European schedule being detrimental to their domestic form as an excuse last year although the reality is Celtic were top of the pile before the knockout stages commenced. There could be only a point between the sides come the end of the season however I believe Rangers will just miss out.

1) Celtic 

The difference between this season’s prospects and lasts is complete night and day. While the rebuild job continues, you sense it’s near the end of that stage. Postecolglou will abstain from telling though you can be certain he will want to go one better than a double. Despite falling eight points behind rivals last season due to only winning three of their first seven games, Postecoglou’s men went on a storming run and didn’t lose another match for the whole league season. With the unwanted burden of Champions League qualifiers no longer an issue, pre-season has been routine and smooth, with panic buying no longer an issue. The bhoys business has been astute with the likes of Moyy, Bernabei and Sens signing permanently and Jota and Carter-Vickers penning down a permanent deal to bolster their squad. As much as a title is far from a guarantee Celtic are in a far stronger position to do so than they were this time last season when they struggled to fill up a bench. The bigger-picture aim for the champions will be to improve in Europe. Despite holding the domestic cards there would have been a substantial amount of jealousy at the journey their bitter rivals enjoyed last season. As difficult as it will be, I expect another league title heading to Parkhead. 

Scottish Cup Winners: Rangers

Premier Sports Cup Winners: Celtic

Furthest in Europe: Rangers 

POTS: Georgios Giakoumakis 

MOTS: Ange Postecoglou

Unexpected performer: Scott Wright

Championship winner: Dundee Fc

Championship bottom: Cove Rangers 

League One Winner: Queen of the South

League One Bottom: Alloa Athletic

League Two Winner: Dumbarton

League Two Bottom: Albion Rovers