Iain Laird gives his verdict.
Here's my predictions for 2004 - 2005 season.
1. Celtic to win a much tighter race. They have a depleted Squad compared to Rangers but I still believe they have more players willing to play for the shirt, which means the players give 100% every game. This fact should
clinch the title for them in a very tight race. They will exit from
Europe at the same time as Rangers this year, so will not have to play a lot more European games than Rangers with their depleted squad.
2. Rangers to come second simply because they didn't finish first. That's how much of a joke the SPL is.
3. Hearts are still better than the rest of the pack but I expect it to be less than 15 points this time.
4. Dunfermline because of David Hay's management skills and the advantage they have over everyone else because of their plastic pitch.
5. Motherwell because of Terry Butcher's motivational skills. A young side that now has a lot of SPL experience.
6. Dundee because we are definitely as good as the rest, and we will be hungrier than most clubs after the scare of administration. JD is an expert at picking out young talent and getting it on the cheap, and I have faith in him that he will blend them into a consistent outfit this season. I expect us to improve this season the way Motherwell did last season. I would have put us fourth but our squad is extremely thin and we will undoubtedly suffer from injuries. Unfortunately their is nothing JD can do about that. Here's hoping Sutton and Lovell avoid injuries.
7. Arabs because they have a fairly settled outfit now. As usual the advantage of having 2 derbies at Tannadump will be squandered though, and justice will have been done again on the playing field. Eddie the Grocer will unfortunately never the less be laughing all the way to the bank, thanks to the incompetent handling of SPL fixtures.
8. Aberdeen will finish 8th which is an improvement on last year. They will have the advantage of being used to playing on a much over used Pittodrie crappy playing surface. They also have the advantage of an extra £600,000 and two less away games than anyone else thanks to the incompetent SPL.
9. Hibs because they are better than all the other teams left, who would all be relegation candidates if it wasn't for ICT.
10. Killie because Jim Jefferies is probably the worst motivational manager in Scotland. The guy is a constant complainer and never smiles so that has to put everyone in the dressing room on a real downer. It's hardly surprising that they play the most boring football in the SPL, as the team has Jim Jeffries personality stamped all over it.
11. Livingstone made a huge mistake sacking David Hay. They don't deserve any better than 11th. They've also lost too many players and are a side having to rebuild.
12. Inverness CT will have a terrible season because no team can do well having to play 38 away games. They can thank the incompetent SPL for that.