Saints deliver another home thrashing

When St Johnstone beat Hibs 5-1 in mid-February, it was the Hibees' John Hughes who came under pressure. After a promising start to the season, the wheels had come off and they had been hammered by a newly promoted team who many had expected to be fighting for SPL survival this season.

What to say now, after the Perth side beat Rangers 4-1 last night?

Well, firstly, credit where it's due. Let's not talk about Rangers, but rather how the home team once again turned in an energetic and astute performance, and thoroughly deserved their win.

They were helped on their way by an outrageous strike from on-loan Cillian Sheridan (who has generally disappointed) and a deflected shot that wrong-footed Alan MacGregor. But Rangers got a goal back to make the scoreline 2-1 after just 16 minutes. Surely enough time for the Champions Elect to mount a comeback? Clearly not.

But we also have to mention that, as with his predecessor Owen Coyle, manager Derek McInnes will be attracting a lot of interest from other clubs now. Saints have probably managed to fend off any would-be new employers until the summer, but may struggle to hold on to their gaffer for next season.

Mind you, if they can keep finding people like him and Coyle to run the club, there won't be much to worry about.

St Johnstone thump Hibs

They say you're only as good as your last game. In that case, Hibs aren't very good at all.

All credit to St Johnstone for thumping their visitors 5-1 last night, a result that gives them real hope of moving up into the top six. But they were certainly given a big helping hand from an insipid opposition.

Their second goal came from a counter attack, and as the Saints swarmed up the park, most of the Hibs team decided that getting back to defend was a job best left to other people. The third was even worse from a defensive point of view, the Hibs defence simply inviting Cilian Sheridan to cross an inviting ball and then leaving Kenny Deuchar the time he needed to nod it in.

John Hughes now has issues to sort out, with serious questions being asked about his team for the first time this season. He pointedly refused to bring in cover at right back in January, saying it was unnecessary, but in the past two games has moved Chris Hogg out there from central defence. And they've conceded 8 goals.

Meanwhile, the crazy 4-2-4 formation that Hibs have been playing most of the season now looks to have run its course. There is no point having so many strikers on the pitch if midfield is being over-run.

Time for the Hibs manager to earn his corn. His team needs a little attention now that the season is entering its decisive phase.

Winners and losers so far in the SPL

So... the transfer window has shut, we're three games in... who's hot and who's not in the SPL this term?

Looking Good...

Rangers have avoided any more departures, and that's a good thing for them. The income from the Champions League (they don't have to share any of it with Celtic now) will help with the cash flow at least, and the arrival of Jerome Rothen on loan from PSG adds experience and guile for those ties too.

Given that they are not even offering new contracts to anyone currently on the payroll (Kris Boyd is now in his final year), don't expect much business in January either, unless they sell first. They remain dependent on a few key players staying fit - otherwise, that title looks very vulnerable. For now, though, the Champions have made an impressive start.

A year ago, Derek Riordan returned to Hibs from Celtic for a rumoured £400,000 (big money these days for a non-OF outfit), and the Edinburgh club's chief executive described the deal as a "statement of intent". This summer, they've invested a similar sum in Anthony Stokes. Hibs now have lots of options up front and John Hughes has done some fairly radical reshaping of the rest of the squad, with Liam Miller the latest to join. It might take time to gel, but Hibs are looking promising.

So are the Arabs, with Craig Levein again pulling a rabbit out of the hat with Danny Cadamateri. Who knows how, but the well-travelled and wayward striker has hit the ground running. Dundee Utd have started well and still have a number of injured players to come back into the team. These two clubs are surely favourites for third place.

Motherwell will be pretty happy with a top six finish, but that looks on the cards following a decent start. Jim Gannon is living up to his reputation, and he's been given some money to bring in much needed strength in depth.

St. Johnstone, meanwhile, managed well-earned draws against Motherwell and Hearts, but got thumped by Celtic. That's a tough start for a promoted team, even if Hearts aren't anywhere near as good as they'd like to be, so probably a job well done. And they are scoring goals, which is crucial for the confidence.

Steady as she goes...

Neither wonderful nor woeful, St Mirren and Kilmarnock have both made respectable starts, and have legitimate reasons for optimism. As both clubs are vulnerable to being dragged into a relegation scrap, any early points are a bonus.

Early signs of shakiness...

After being dumped out of the Champions League, there were rumours that a few Celtic players might be on their way, but in the end they've all stayed. Things should be pretty peachy at Parkhead, yet somehow problems seem to be surfacing early in Tony Mowbray's tenure. The bad natured and narrow win at Hibs looked ugly, with Mowbray first orchestrating a "huddle" at the end of the game and then refusing to accept that McGeady dived (he did, and everyone knows it). A siege mentality at the end of August - is that really healthy?

Still, at least they are winning games, which is more than can be said for Hearts. Manager Csaba Laszlo has been spilling the beans about his difficult relationship with Vladimir, and we all know that Mr Romanov does not tolerate insubordination. Is his employee asking to get sacked? Hearts had a woeful summer, the new signings (much hyped by some supporters) have looked substandard so far, and Larry Kingston is stirring the pot, too. Oh dear.

Things aren't much happier at Aberdeen, where the manager also seems content to moan about his squad in public. Best get your excuses in now, Mark McGhee, because those fans who were so excited about your arrival in the summer might just be having second thoughts.

And so to Hamilton and Falkirk. Both managers were sounding very optimistic during the summer, but that optimism has looked seriously misplaced so far. Falkirk have, at least, held on to Darren Barr and Scott Arfield, two vital players. They are going to need them, while Hamilton look well short of the required standard.

SPL 2009/10 - how's it's going to pan out

The new SPL season is about to kick off, so it's time to put our money where our mouth is and predict who's going to win it... and where everyone else will finish too. Firstly, a health warning: with the transfer window still open until the end of August, there's still time for players to come and go. If Rangers, for example, decide to spend a little of their Champions League windfall (unlikely, we know), then they could still improve their chances of retaining the title.


But this is We Love Fitba's season preview:

1. Celtic will be champions. We might have got it wrong in backing them last season, but we'll do it again this time around. A new management team, new players and the breaking of their European away day hoodoo have all brought optimism to Parkhead this summer. That victory over Dinamo Moscow reinforced the feeling that Tony Mowbray is the right man at the right time, able to inject some verve and flair into the side. With Nakamura and JVH gone and a few new faces, Celtic have refreshed a decent squad and will play with more pace this term.
   
   Key man: Aiden McGeady. Looked like he was on the verge of leaving the club in January, the girl-faced Irishman is an unquestioned talent. If Mowbray can get him back to his best, Celtic will be too strong for everyone else.
   


2. Rangers. Celtic might have thrown away a position of strength last season but Rangers deserve credit for winning the title. Walter Smith has helped to keep the wolf from the door, but there are still clear financial problems at Ibrox. So far this summer, players have gone but none has arrived. Fans can reassure themselves that their club has probably got the best years out of Barry Ferguson, and Birmingham have done them a favour (cheers, Alex McLeish), while Charlie Adam and Alan Gow weren't involved last season anyhow. But Celtic have got stronger while Rangers have stagnated. The squad is looking too thin to defend their crown.
   
   Key man: Kevin Thomson. Talented but fragile, the oft-injured midfielder has a vital role to play this season. With Ferguson gone, Rangers need someone to anchor the midfield and control games. It's telling, though, that Thomson has barely played for Scotland, despite his talent - he needs a solid, uninterrupted season to make his mark.
   


3. Hearts. On the basis that they finished 3rd last time, and no one else looks better placed to challenge them, the "Best of the Rest" title is theirs by default. They have steadily improved throughout pre-season and they seem to have brought in some decent replacements to cover departures. But Bruno Aiguar will be a big loss, and they still need a decent striker. And of course, the swirling rumours about financial problems and Vladimir Romanov's crazy unpredictability threaten to capsize the boat at any moment. Hearts better hope that Lithuanian bank holds out, because it's the only thing stopping them from following Livingston into crisis.
   
   Key man: Andy Driver. If Hearts continue to play with a fence post upfront, then the winger's attacking threat will be even more vital. An injury during the summer probably rules out his transfer this summer, a boost for the team if not the bank balance back in Vilnius. He could well go in January, though.



4. Hibernian. Another new manager for Hibs, and one that Falkirk fans weren't exactly sorry to see go. John Hughes certainly likes his teams to play well, but his results at Falkirk, plus the sales of Rob Jones and Steven Fletcher, suggest little more than top-6 anonymity this time around. However, there is a feeling, just like Mowbray at Celtic, that Hughes is the right man for the job, and that this appointment could work out very well indeed. After all, it was Hughes who got Falkirk to the SPL and kept them there, and got them to the Scottish Cup Final in May as well. He seems to know what's doing, and his roots with the club are doing him no harm at all. And, of course, the Hibs academy just keeps on churning out promising looking players, seven of whom have been promoted to the senior squad.
   
   Key man: Merouane Zemmama. Hibs will still rely on prodigal son Derek Riordan to score the goals, but it's the little Morrocan who Hughes will build his team around. If it works, Hibs could be looking to take 3rd from Hearts.



5. Dundee Utd. As Director of Football, Craig Levein has been busy restructuring the club's academy, admitting that it was not fulfilling its function. A smart move, but not one that's going to have an immediate impact on the first team. As manager, Levein once again traded to try and replace decent players who have gone. The Arabs will be tough competitors but it's hard to see them improve much on last season.
   
   Key man: Morgaro Gomis. That Levein signed the Senegalese midfielder from Cowbenbeath shows the global reach of the game these days. That Roy Keane has offered £800,000 for him shows yet again Levein's eye for a player. With money tight, though, can they hold on to him?
   
   
6. Motherwell. New man, fresh ideas, and a few new faces from the English lower leagues for fans to get used to as well. Jim Gannon is by all accounts a talented manager, and - crucially - used to operating at the "value" end of the transfer market. Motherwell have sold most of their assets and need a manager who can spot a bargain, but Gannon also likes his teams to pass the ball, which the Well fans will lap up. This just could be an inspired appointment.
   
   Key man: Stephen Craigan. With all the youthful enthusiasm ahead of him, the Well skipper could do with a nice, consistent, mistake-free season to show leadership to the young charges and keep the goals against tally respectable.
   
   
7. Aberdeen. The Dons were delighted to get Mark McGhee, who of course was part of the increasingly distant mid-80s glory years, after becoming so exasperated with the two Jimmys. But they've lost Scott Severin and Jamie Smith, the squad looks thin, and pre-season has not gone well. Without more investment, Aberdeen have to be realistic about their prospects. And could it be that Messrs Calderwood and Nicholl actually knew what they were doing? This season may be one to forget for the Dons, while inertia elsewhere leaves the club in seemingly perpetual limbo, wondering whether they are going to leave Pittodrie or not.
   
   Key man: Zander Diamond. Without a prolific striker, Aberdeen need to be tight at the back. Diamond's progress has been erratic but he's shown signs of maturing into a consistent centre-half.
   
   
8. Kilmarnock. Everyone knows that Killie don't have a pot to piss in, and the last couple of seasons have had fans biting fingernails at some point as relegation fears bubble up again at Rugby Park. But Jim Jefferies knows what he's doing and Killie also have the habit of stringing a set of results together when needed. Given the circumstances, they've done well to keep the squad more or less together and - you never know - Mark Burchill might announce his return to Scottish football with goals aplenty. Or not.
   
   Key man: Mehdi Taouil. The Morocco midfielder has tricks and talent, and is just plain good. He should be the difference between Kilmarnock and the teams below them.
   
   
9. St Johnstone. Gretna apart, the promoted club has tended to survive their first season in the SPL, and St Johnstone should do at least that. A well-run club with a solid support, the Saints have been waiting to get back to the top flight for a long time, and finally have their chance. Manager Derek McInnes is both realistic and ambitious, a nice combination to have. They've added a bit of depth to a squad that already looked pretty solid.
   
   Key man: Paul Sheerin. Craft and invention in Perth.
   
   
10. St Mirren. They've not been in the SPL long enough to feel completely secure, but the Buddies should be ok in their first full season in their new home. Gus MacPherson seems to have strengthened the squad, with Michael Higdon from Falkirk earmarked as the man to help score more goals than last season.
    
    Key man: Andy Dorman. Struggled last term, but if he returns to his best then he will make the Buddies tick.
    
    
11. Hamilton. Second Season Syndrome might hit hard at Hamilton, especially having seen James McCarthy and Brian Easton go for big money down South. But Billy Reid has been given some of that cash to rebuild the squad, and has made some big changes to freshen things up. More youthful exuberance/naivety this time around, but it should still be enough.
    
    Key man: Tomas Cerny. To balance out all that youthful inconsistently, an experienced pro between the sticks. A good keeper makes the difference, you know.
    
    
12. Falkirk. Apologies to the Bairns, but their time might be up. Escaped relegation on the last day of last season, and while Eddie May talks a good game (and has the odd pop at previous gaffer John Hughes while he's at it), he also lacks experience. The fans seem optimistic, though, so they won't be bothered by others backing them for the drop.
    
    Key man: Danijel Marceta. The striker has been signed on loan from FK Partizan's academy, which sounds like plenty enough pedigree for the SPL. If he's another Anthony Stokes, then Falkirk may well be laughing in the face of relegation threats.

Celtic close the gap, but it's too late

It was a perfect night for Celtic - a first Old Firm win for 19 months (first for Gordon Strachan since the Uncle Watty n Super Ally show arrived back at Ibrox), an absolute belter from Nakamura and the last gasp goal from JvH closing the gap to just one point.

Strachan reckons the title isn't lost yet, and the equation's simple for Celtic now - win every remaining game in the SPL and they may, just may, win the title.

They won't, though. Rangers have got mounting problems with injuries, suspended players and a fair fixture backlog to negotiate, but they're not gonna mess it up now. Uncle Watty may claim he's not prioritising any competition over any other, but he knows without question it's the SPL title that Ibrox craves. Letting Celtic get 3-in-a-row would be simply unpalatable.

Katie Thomson and Bazza Ferguson are banned for the first leg against Fiorentina, making their selection in remaining league games a no-brainer. Rangers will have to cope without player of the year Carlos Cuellar after his sending off, and David Weir also misses a match for his handbags with Gary Caldwell at the end of last night's game (as does Caldwell). Injuries to Lee McCulloch, Charlie Adam and Allan McGregor don't help. But they've got a big enough squad... if Kris Boyd starts against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, it will be a clear indication that Uncle Watty is spreading resources in order to keep the League Title in sight.

So a thrilling match last night, full of competitive spice. But it doesn't really change anything.

If Celtic can win the next Old Firm game, though, then things really will get tight.

Gretna are promoted, but is it good news for the SPL?

As with the top flight, the Scottish Football League Division One took a surprisingly long time to declare a winner this season. Twelve points clear at the top at the turn of the year, and scoring for fun, Gretna looked a shoe-in for the title and their third successive promotion. But their subsequent wobble, coupled with St. Johnstone's great run of form (they were fighting in both cup competitions, too, remember) made for a thrilling last day of the season.

It's heart-breaking for the Perth team, who have ended up with nothing after a season that promised so much. They got to the semi-finals of both the League and Scottish Cups, and pushed Hibernian and Celtic hard in both games, but eventually the better resourced teams came through. On Saturday, they got even closer - they beat Hamilton 4-3 in a pulsating game, and for 5 minutes were Division One Champions as it stood. But then the news came through from Dingwall - Gretna had scored again to go 3-2 up against Ross County, and back above the Saints in the table. They held on and took the title by a single point.

Gretna's rise has been meteoric. The former English non-League team have risen from Division Three to the SPL inside 5 seasons, and became the darlings of many last season when the got to the Scottish Cup Final, and only lost out to Hearts on penalties. Those same observers will now be hailing the romance of this small-town club earning its chance to play against the giants of the Scottish game next season. Eccentric owner Brooks Mileson has promised he will invest more of his fortune to ensure that Gretna will be able to hold their own in the SPL.

And yet... while the management team obviously deserve credit for organising things on the park, Gretna's turbocharged ascent has been entirely down to Mileson's cash. In Division Two, they assembled a squad more costly than many SPL clubs' wage bills. Their crowds at Raydale Park have hovered around 2,000, and while they can expect their SPL status to attract more fans, the fact that they will be playing their "home" games at Fir Park next season (Raydale Park doesn't meet the SPL's minimum criteria) means a 250 mile round trip will probably dissuade many of them from travelling. And the SPL needs more empty seats like the Scottish Labour Party needs the Iraq issue.

Given the limited catchment area, it's genuinely hard to see how the support can grow significantly in the longer term. Gretna are a small town club, propped up by a wealthy benefactor, not a genuine new force in Scottish football. If Mileson ever turns off the taps, it's hard to see how they can sustain their position.

Compare this with St. Johnstone. While Gretna took 500 fans to Dingwall on Saturday (admittedly, a tough journey), the Saints took 3,000 to Hamilton. They have built a team under an astute young manager, Owen Coyle, with the experience of players such as Derick McInnes and Jason Scotland, who desperately wanted to test themselves in the SPL again, week in, week out. McDiarmid Park would love to welcome the Perthshire crowds back to watch the big boys come to town, and dream of the days when their club took on SV Hamburg or Monaco in European competition. At the end of the day, they couldn't quite do enough to get promotion, but romance is not the preserve of the wedding specialists from near the Border.

As it is, they will have to bide their time. Gretna are up, and time will tell how much further they can go.