Scottish Premiership

With Rangers failing to make the grade in the Scottish Championship again, we won’t see a return of the Old Firm Derby in the Scottish Premiership this season. But can Aberdeen mount another title challenge?

Scottish Premiership Winners Prediction

Celtic

Not a betting proposition but we had to highlight our prediction. However just for a moment last season we though we might see a change in the tide of Scottish football. Aberdeen were keeping pace with a Celtic side that looked below par in comparison to the domination we usually see from them.

It turned out to just be mild teething problems caused by new manager Ronny Deila’s change in tactics though, and once they had got used to his more attractive system of football, they went on a rampage.

Eventually, they won the title by a margin of 17 points, scoring 84 goals and only conceding 17 in their 38 league goals.

This obviously gives them the pick of the bunch in the Scottish Football League, and they can sign whoever they wish to unless a Premier League side comes in for them.

They have utilised that advantage already, bringing in Dundee United’s Nadir Cifti alongside Manchester City defender Dedryk Boyata. There are also talks of them signing marksman Steven Fletcher before the transfer window closes.

However, it does work both ways. Celtic may be the parent club to any aspiring Scottish footballer, but they almost act as a feeder club to Premier League sides. Sunderland have purchased their highly rated left back Adam Matthews, whilst Virgil van Dijk is being thrown around as another potential exit.

Aberdeen are really the only other club with any chance of lifting the Scottish Premiership this season. They may have finished 17 points adrift of the Champions, but they themselves were 10 points clear of Inverness in 3^rd.

However, no money has been spent by them as of yet. They have brought in a couple of free transfers, and let a few of their players go, but no major changes have happened with their squad.

Unfortunately, now Ronny Deila’s system is well and truly in place, and all the players are comfortable with it, I just don’t see any situation in which Celtic don’t win the Scottish Premiership in the coming season.

Tip: Aberdeen to Win Scottish Premiership Without Celtic at 4/6 with Bet365!

Relegation Predictions – To Finish Bottom

Ross County (9/2 with Betfred)

Ross County managed to avoid the drop last season thanks to the dismal record of St. Mirren and Motherwell, however the summer has seen them lose a number of their key players.

Paul Quinn will be the biggest loss to the Ross County faithful, as the central defender was snapped up by Aberdeen after his contract ran out at the start of the month.

They have brought in a large amount of players so far, all of them on free transfers, but it will take a good amount of time for these players to be integrated successfully into the first team.

This is time that Ross County cannot afford, as a bad start to the season could see them fighting against the drop for the entire season.

Relegation Playoff Predictions

Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock, like Ross County, avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season. Motherwell’s disastrous start to the season helped them remain above them throughout the season and miss out on the dreaded relegation playoff position.

However, I think Motherwell’s squad is strong enough for much better things, and the newly promoted Hearts of Midlothian showed that they mean business as they trounced the competition in the Scottish Championship.

Kilmarnock, however, lost 7 of their final 8 games in the Scottish Premiership last season, and have only managed to secure the services of a couple of Scottish Championship players so far this summer.

I think their form at the end of last season showed that they just don’t have the quality to remain in the league for much longer, and so far they have showed little sign of trying to change that.

Top Scorer Prediction

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Nadir Cifti (7/1 with Sky Bet)

The newly signed Celtic man impressed enough for Dundee United last term to warrant almost £2 million being spent on him.

He netted 14 league goals for the 5^th placed side and was promptly snapped up by the Scottish champions.

With the added quality of Celtic players around him, plus Ronny Deila’s attacking mentality, I think Cifti will thrive in his new surroundings.

However, should Celtic sign Steven Fletcher this summer, I would revise my prediction and back him ahead of Cifti.

Adam Rooney (8/1 with Betfair)

It’s hard to back against a player that has improved year upon year and finished top of the scoring charts last season.

Adam Rooney scored 18 times for Aberdeen last season, and the 27 year old has averaged a goal every 2 games in his 50 Scottish Premiership appearances.

This is the record of a very consistent player playing in a good side, and I fancy him to end close to the top of the scoring charts again this season.