A rare midweek night of fixtures in the SPL, and it didn't disappoint. After withstanding the expected Rangers barrage for 90 minutes, David Weir of all people conceded a penalty, got himself sent off, and Ian Black put the chance away to give Inverness Caledonian Thistle a highly unlikely win at Ibrox.
As well as handing advantage back to Celtic at the top it's also made things much more interesting at the bottom of the table. ICT are now above Falkirk, who are in terrible form at the moment. Terry Butcher looks to be desperate to upset we love fitba's prediction that the Highlanders would be relegated this season.
Falkirk say they won't countenance getting rid of John Hughes - but must feel less loyalty to their man after he expressed ambitions of managing in England. Hamstrung by a cautious club who - rightly in the current climate - will not agree new deals for any players until they know what division they'll be in - Hughes' managerial stock is dropping by the week.
Showing posts with label ICT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICT. Show all posts
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Friday, August 08, 2008
SPL predictions 08/09
The 08/09 SPL season starts tomorrow, so it's time for we love fitba to stick it's neck out again. No comprehensive preview here - just opinion - but if it's facts you're after, the Beeb have come up with a pretty comprehensive preview this time around
Alternatively, Inside Left have previewed all the weekend's games, and have got more predictions on their site too.
So here's how its' gonna pan out:
1. Celtic, obviously. 3 in a row, and although they were very, very lucky last time, they should have enough in the tank to make it 4. Strachan has won over more of the doubters with that last-gasp title clincher, by proving that even if some of the fans don't believe in him, his players surely do. Holding onto McGeady and Boruc will help, as will the form of Hartley and Robson at the end of last season. Surely Celtic will have a more coherent midfield this season?
The only doubts might arise if Celtic get into a European final, and become as distracted as Rangers did. But it's looking good for the team in green.
2. Rangers. What is Watty Smith up to? He had lots of strikers, so he's gone and bought 3 more, yet forgotten about his midfield entirely. Madjid Bougherra is presumably a replacement for Cuellar. It may all make sense come the end of August (will Real Madrid panic buy Lee McCulloch for £30m to get over being jilted by Ronaldo) but it doesn't right now.
3. Dundee Utd. Craig Levein is not just the manager at Tannadice, but he sits on the board too. The trust he enjoys there seems to be transmitted to his players, and he's done well in the transfer market, getting Willo Flood to return for another season's loan and strengthening upfront to make up for Noel Hunt's departure. Good work.
4. Hibs. Everyone's written off Hibs, who have had a shocking pre-season. Yet radgy manager Mixu Paatelainen has already shown he can mix it in the SPL, with decent results if not performances. Now he needs to step up, by proving he can beat the Old Firm occasionally as well, and get the team playing better football. He's not a great tactician, mind.
5. Motherwell. Did brilliantly by finishing 3rd last season, but the squad looks weaker without Ross McCormack, and manager Mark McGhee is not known for his consistency.
6. Falkirk. Slowly, slowly inching their way up the League, and play decent football too. This could be their season to break into the top 6. Their worry will be that another club finally realises what a fine job John Hughes is doing, and nicks the gaffer.
7. Aberdeen. Some characteristic wheeling and dealing from Jimmy Calderwood this season, but hard to say if the squad is any better. And the fans really don't like him at all, despite the UEFA Cup heroics last season. The wheels might be about to come off.
8. Hearts. They might have a manager at long last, but they've only made one signing so far, and that's just not enough. All the talk of unity and togetherness just rings a little hollow, too... this is Hearts we're talking about, after all. Expect the next crisis sometime before November, as Vlad re-asserts his authority and starts faxing through the team sheets again. Jambos believing that they are going to finish 3rd are living in dreamland.
9. Kilmarnock. Shocking last season, but the shock should jolt them into a (slight) improvement this time around.
10. St Mirren. Steady as she goes at Love St. Wait, not Love St, that'll be a building site come the end of the season.
11. Hamilton. They're young, untested at this level, and should go straight back down again. But that's no fun! Let's go crazy and predict a stirring start for the new boys, until reality and injuries kick in and they sink to a still-respectable finish.
12. Inverness Caley Thistle. Really not great last season, and with Niculae gone, it can only get worse. Will be hoping that Hamilton get put in their place early on.
Alternatively, Inside Left have previewed all the weekend's games, and have got more predictions on their site too.
So here's how its' gonna pan out:
1. Celtic, obviously. 3 in a row, and although they were very, very lucky last time, they should have enough in the tank to make it 4. Strachan has won over more of the doubters with that last-gasp title clincher, by proving that even if some of the fans don't believe in him, his players surely do. Holding onto McGeady and Boruc will help, as will the form of Hartley and Robson at the end of last season. Surely Celtic will have a more coherent midfield this season?
The only doubts might arise if Celtic get into a European final, and become as distracted as Rangers did. But it's looking good for the team in green.
2. Rangers. What is Watty Smith up to? He had lots of strikers, so he's gone and bought 3 more, yet forgotten about his midfield entirely. Madjid Bougherra is presumably a replacement for Cuellar. It may all make sense come the end of August (will Real Madrid panic buy Lee McCulloch for £30m to get over being jilted by Ronaldo) but it doesn't right now.
3. Dundee Utd. Craig Levein is not just the manager at Tannadice, but he sits on the board too. The trust he enjoys there seems to be transmitted to his players, and he's done well in the transfer market, getting Willo Flood to return for another season's loan and strengthening upfront to make up for Noel Hunt's departure. Good work.
4. Hibs. Everyone's written off Hibs, who have had a shocking pre-season. Yet radgy manager Mixu Paatelainen has already shown he can mix it in the SPL, with decent results if not performances. Now he needs to step up, by proving he can beat the Old Firm occasionally as well, and get the team playing better football. He's not a great tactician, mind.
5. Motherwell. Did brilliantly by finishing 3rd last season, but the squad looks weaker without Ross McCormack, and manager Mark McGhee is not known for his consistency.
6. Falkirk. Slowly, slowly inching their way up the League, and play decent football too. This could be their season to break into the top 6. Their worry will be that another club finally realises what a fine job John Hughes is doing, and nicks the gaffer.
7. Aberdeen. Some characteristic wheeling and dealing from Jimmy Calderwood this season, but hard to say if the squad is any better. And the fans really don't like him at all, despite the UEFA Cup heroics last season. The wheels might be about to come off.
8. Hearts. They might have a manager at long last, but they've only made one signing so far, and that's just not enough. All the talk of unity and togetherness just rings a little hollow, too... this is Hearts we're talking about, after all. Expect the next crisis sometime before November, as Vlad re-asserts his authority and starts faxing through the team sheets again. Jambos believing that they are going to finish 3rd are living in dreamland.
9. Kilmarnock. Shocking last season, but the shock should jolt them into a (slight) improvement this time around.
10. St Mirren. Steady as she goes at Love St. Wait, not Love St, that'll be a building site come the end of the season.
11. Hamilton. They're young, untested at this level, and should go straight back down again. But that's no fun! Let's go crazy and predict a stirring start for the new boys, until reality and injuries kick in and they sink to a still-respectable finish.
12. Inverness Caley Thistle. Really not great last season, and with Niculae gone, it can only get worse. Will be hoping that Hamilton get put in their place early on.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Old Firm tied at the top of the SPL as Rangers beat Celtic again
Rangers won the first Old Firm clash of the season on Saturday, an impressive 3-0 win that puts the Old Firm level on points again at the top of the SPL. After two seasons of not mounting a decent challenge for the title, this season's battle already looks like it could go down to the wire.
Gordon Strachan admitted that Rangers deserved to win, and he will be used to it by now - since Walter Smith returned to Ibrox, they've won all three Old Firm clashes. To be fair, Celtic weren't helped by a nasty head injury to captain Stephen McManus, especially as Gary Caldwell is such an inferior defender. With the games now coming thick and fast, Celtic still need to learn how to stop conceding cheap goals or their season could unravel.
Elsewhere, Hibs' unbeaten start to the season was ended by impressive Motherwell, but John Collins praised his players for their performance: with Hibs only a point off the leaders, he claimed there is a "huge amount to feel positive about". Mark McGhee was naturally pleased with the win, but was also full of praise for Collins' passing football philosophy. These two teams are arguably the ones a neutral would choose to watch this season.
Hearts were undone by Dundee Utd, and Aberdeen beat ICT. Kilmarnock and Falkirk shared the points, while St Mirren beat Gretna to move away from the foot of the table.
Gordon Strachan admitted that Rangers deserved to win, and he will be used to it by now - since Walter Smith returned to Ibrox, they've won all three Old Firm clashes. To be fair, Celtic weren't helped by a nasty head injury to captain Stephen McManus, especially as Gary Caldwell is such an inferior defender. With the games now coming thick and fast, Celtic still need to learn how to stop conceding cheap goals or their season could unravel.
Elsewhere, Hibs' unbeaten start to the season was ended by impressive Motherwell, but John Collins praised his players for their performance: with Hibs only a point off the leaders, he claimed there is a "huge amount to feel positive about". Mark McGhee was naturally pleased with the win, but was also full of praise for Collins' passing football philosophy. These two teams are arguably the ones a neutral would choose to watch this season.
Hearts were undone by Dundee Utd, and Aberdeen beat ICT. Kilmarnock and Falkirk shared the points, while St Mirren beat Gretna to move away from the foot of the table.
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