With three new teams and six managers entering their first full season at their respectives clubs, it'll be hard to call. Nevertheless, Mirren Mad will try.
The clear favourites have to be St. Johnstone. They have signed a ton of new players, including the likes of Colin Marshall from Aston Villa (who was on loan with Clyde last season), Michael Moore from Stranraer, Stephen McConalogue from Clyde and Paul Sheerin from Aberdeen. They also have a new manager in the shape of John Connolly. Connolly joined from Queen of the South towards the end of last season, having won them the second division title and the league challenge cup over the previous two years. He did extremely well at Palmsteron, keeping the part time outfit fighting with the divisions big boys. St. Johnstone should do very well this season, and are my tip for promotion.
Usually the team that has just been relegated from the SPL is seen as one of the favourites for the title, or even the outright favourites. The situation is the same this season, as we actually have a relegated team, despite Partick Thistle's best attempts to cling onto their SPL status via the courts. A few weeks ago I reckoned Partick Would be struggling, thanks to losing their two best strikers over the course of the summer. Since then, they've signed Leigh Hinds from Aberdeen and a few foreign guys who are supposed to be the business. Their biggest weakness could be the fact that they have two managers, neither of whom have previous managerical experience. Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte were decent players, but will they work well with equal managerial status? It remains to be seen.
Having finally moved to their new stadium, with the grand total of one stand, Falkirk will once again be a force in the division. They've got rid of the donkey that was Jason Lee, and have signed a guy from Portugal and ex Rangers kid Darryl Duffy, as well as Partick Thistle's Andy Thomson. If John Hughes decides not to play, they could be really strong, although ex Saint Scott MacKenzie will no doubt hinder their title amibitons. Unless they actually build another stand, which will probably take a further few years, they could well fail to get promoted if they win the league once again. Which would be quite funny.
Ross County have pulled off a bit of a shock over the summer by signing Stuart Taylor, Alex Burke and Sean Kilgannon, none of whom have played for Dundee United. What's going on there then? Fortunately, the signings of Gary McSwegan and some goalkeeper bloke have seen them resorting to type. Ah well, can't have everything. County could be hit or miss this season, they certainly have the players to score the goals, but do they have the ones to keep them out at the other end?
Queen of the South should be able to build on their previous good seasons under new manager Iain Scott. They have lost Burke to Ross County, but have signed David McNiven from English Conference side Leigh RMI. Leigh got relegated last season, but McNiven scored in the region of 25 goals, which is damn good. Based on that, I'd have loved to have seen him at Love Street in a Saints shirt. They also have one of Scottish footballer's smallest players in the shape of ex Celt Brian McLaughlin, who is back after a season at St. Johnstone. They have lost a few players, but I think they could spring a surprise this season, and certainly won't be the relegation candidates most other people reckon they will be.
One team who certainly are relegation candidates are Clyde. They might have finished second last season, but I'll be extremely surprised if they are in the top half of the table this season. They have hel;d on to star players Bryn Halliwell and Ian Harty, but thats about it. Manager Alan Kernaghan has gone to be the assistant at Livingston, and so are most of last year's players. They have signed a few more, but nowhere near as good, and no doubt a number of their younger players will see a lot of first team action this season. With the way the financial problems at Broadwood have been reported, they'll no doubt be happy still to have a club next season.
As per usual, Mirren Mad will go with the flow and list the newly promoted teams as relegation candidates as well. Morton will be... oh wait, I'm sorry, they blew their 15 point lead din't they? My apologies. Airdrie United won the second division last season, but the chances of them winning two in a row the way Partick Thistle did are slim. They do, however, have a star striker in the form of Owen Coyle, and just about all their hopes will rest on his shoulders. He may be ancient, but he knows the route to goal. In Mark McGeown, they also have a top quality keeper, even if the price isn't always right...
The other newly promoted side are Hamilton Accies, who have a brilliant new arrival at New Douglas Park. An artificial pitch. I don't care how like grass it is, it will provide some sort of advantage to them. They also signed Paddy keogh from Clyde over the summer, another player I'd have loved to see at Saints, and he could link up well with Brian McPhee and score a bundle of goals.
The season hasn't even begun yet, but I feel Raith Rovers are almost relegation certainties. New manager Claude Anelka, brother of Manchester City's Nicolas, has filled the team with French and Slovakian guys who no one has ever heard of (put their names into Google if you want to test this theory). They lost 2-0 to Albion Rovers in the diddy cup last Saturday, and could be in for some hammerings this season. We can only hope.
The preview started with a look at the Fake Saints, now lets see how the Real Saints will do this season. Sadly, I don't think we will be anywhere near the top of the league (unless the table is turned upside down), but I think enough teams will be worse than us to keep us up. We've only made three signings, we could do with another three. We desperately need another striker, possibly two, and someone who is an out and out right winger. If we find them, we might make mid table, but I seriously doubt it.
For added amusement, here's how I think the table will end up. Please come back in May and have a good laugh at it!
1. St. Johnstone
2. Partick Thistle
3. Falkirk
4. Queen of the South
5. Hamilton Accies
6. Ross County
7. Airdrie United
8. St. Mirren
9. Clyde
10. Raith Rovers
In conclusion, the fake Saints will win and we'll just stay up.
The title of the preview, "Here We Go Again" is the first line by a song from some 60s group called The Dave Clark Five. The next line (and indeed the title of the song) is "Catch Us If You Can". I'd love to be able to use that about St. Mirren over the course of the season, but sadly I don't think Iwill be able to.
The clear favourites have to be St. Johnstone. They have signed a ton of new players, including the likes of Colin Marshall from Aston Villa (who was on loan with Clyde last season), Michael Moore from Stranraer, Stephen McConalogue from Clyde and Paul Sheerin from Aberdeen. They also have a new manager in the shape of John Connolly. Connolly joined from Queen of the South towards the end of last season, having won them the second division title and the league challenge cup over the previous two years. He did extremely well at Palmsteron, keeping the part time outfit fighting with the divisions big boys. St. Johnstone should do very well this season, and are my tip for promotion.
Usually the team that has just been relegated from the SPL is seen as one of the favourites for the title, or even the outright favourites. The situation is the same this season, as we actually have a relegated team, despite Partick Thistle's best attempts to cling onto their SPL status via the courts. A few weeks ago I reckoned Partick Would be struggling, thanks to losing their two best strikers over the course of the summer. Since then, they've signed Leigh Hinds from Aberdeen and a few foreign guys who are supposed to be the business. Their biggest weakness could be the fact that they have two managers, neither of whom have previous managerical experience. Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte were decent players, but will they work well with equal managerial status? It remains to be seen.
Having finally moved to their new stadium, with the grand total of one stand, Falkirk will once again be a force in the division. They've got rid of the donkey that was Jason Lee, and have signed a guy from Portugal and ex Rangers kid Darryl Duffy, as well as Partick Thistle's Andy Thomson. If John Hughes decides not to play, they could be really strong, although ex Saint Scott MacKenzie will no doubt hinder their title amibitons. Unless they actually build another stand, which will probably take a further few years, they could well fail to get promoted if they win the league once again. Which would be quite funny.
Ross County have pulled off a bit of a shock over the summer by signing Stuart Taylor, Alex Burke and Sean Kilgannon, none of whom have played for Dundee United. What's going on there then? Fortunately, the signings of Gary McSwegan and some goalkeeper bloke have seen them resorting to type. Ah well, can't have everything. County could be hit or miss this season, they certainly have the players to score the goals, but do they have the ones to keep them out at the other end?
Queen of the South should be able to build on their previous good seasons under new manager Iain Scott. They have lost Burke to Ross County, but have signed David McNiven from English Conference side Leigh RMI. Leigh got relegated last season, but McNiven scored in the region of 25 goals, which is damn good. Based on that, I'd have loved to have seen him at Love Street in a Saints shirt. They also have one of Scottish footballer's smallest players in the shape of ex Celt Brian McLaughlin, who is back after a season at St. Johnstone. They have lost a few players, but I think they could spring a surprise this season, and certainly won't be the relegation candidates most other people reckon they will be.
One team who certainly are relegation candidates are Clyde. They might have finished second last season, but I'll be extremely surprised if they are in the top half of the table this season. They have hel;d on to star players Bryn Halliwell and Ian Harty, but thats about it. Manager Alan Kernaghan has gone to be the assistant at Livingston, and so are most of last year's players. They have signed a few more, but nowhere near as good, and no doubt a number of their younger players will see a lot of first team action this season. With the way the financial problems at Broadwood have been reported, they'll no doubt be happy still to have a club next season.
As per usual, Mirren Mad will go with the flow and list the newly promoted teams as relegation candidates as well. Morton will be... oh wait, I'm sorry, they blew their 15 point lead din't they? My apologies. Airdrie United won the second division last season, but the chances of them winning two in a row the way Partick Thistle did are slim. They do, however, have a star striker in the form of Owen Coyle, and just about all their hopes will rest on his shoulders. He may be ancient, but he knows the route to goal. In Mark McGeown, they also have a top quality keeper, even if the price isn't always right...
The other newly promoted side are Hamilton Accies, who have a brilliant new arrival at New Douglas Park. An artificial pitch. I don't care how like grass it is, it will provide some sort of advantage to them. They also signed Paddy keogh from Clyde over the summer, another player I'd have loved to see at Saints, and he could link up well with Brian McPhee and score a bundle of goals.
The season hasn't even begun yet, but I feel Raith Rovers are almost relegation certainties. New manager Claude Anelka, brother of Manchester City's Nicolas, has filled the team with French and Slovakian guys who no one has ever heard of (put their names into Google if you want to test this theory). They lost 2-0 to Albion Rovers in the diddy cup last Saturday, and could be in for some hammerings this season. We can only hope.
The preview started with a look at the Fake Saints, now lets see how the Real Saints will do this season. Sadly, I don't think we will be anywhere near the top of the league (unless the table is turned upside down), but I think enough teams will be worse than us to keep us up. We've only made three signings, we could do with another three. We desperately need another striker, possibly two, and someone who is an out and out right winger. If we find them, we might make mid table, but I seriously doubt it.
For added amusement, here's how I think the table will end up. Please come back in May and have a good laugh at it!
1. St. Johnstone
2. Partick Thistle
3. Falkirk
4. Queen of the South
5. Hamilton Accies
6. Ross County
7. Airdrie United
8. St. Mirren
9. Clyde
10. Raith Rovers
In conclusion, the fake Saints will win and we'll just stay up.
The title of the preview, "Here We Go Again" is the first line by a song from some 60s group called The Dave Clark Five. The next line (and indeed the title of the song) is "Catch Us If You Can". I'd love to be able to use that about St. Mirren over the course of the season, but sadly I don't think Iwill be able to.