SPL Preview - Part 3

MOTHERWELL

Jim Gannon has a big challenge in front of him, The Irishmen takes over the Steelmen, previously the manager of Stockport County, has to overcome the loss of David Clarkson, Cillian Sheridan, Stephen Hughes, Bob Malcolm, and Grame Smith, those are big holes to fill.

In comes 3 players from the lower league in England, Stephen Jennings, Chris Humphrey and Giles Coke, I have never seen these guys play, so how much they will improve the team remains to be seen.

Captain Stephen Craigan remains, as does John Sutton and Jim O'Brien, 3 talented players, I get the feeling Motherwell will battle for mid-table and finish in the bottom 6, I think they are too good for relegation, however I thought this about Inverness last year.

RANGERS

If I was a Rangers fan the one thing that would worry me is that Rangers have let 15 players go and no one has come in, Barry Ferguson is the only player from the starting line-up that's gone, it's more the fact that no one has come in.

The players will be buoyed on by being the Champions, and the players they have at the club are still very talented, Weir and Bougherra are the best Central Defender partnership in the SPL, Kris Boyd will always score goals, and with Pedro Mendes and Steven Davis in midfield, Rangers will be right there at the title challenge.

If Celtic can play more attacking football than last season, I think Ranges will come close but finish 2nd.

ST JOHNSTONE

With no coverage at all of the Scottish First Division on TV, I've not seen this St.Johnston team play at all, looking at their squad they have veteran keeper Alain Main in goal, ex Gretna defender Danny Grainger, surprisingly ex Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris, trying to score the goals will be Gretna legend Kenny Deuchar and ex-Dundee Utd/Falkirk striker Collin Samuel.

From history all signs say St Johnstone will struggle to stay up, however I think if they can score goals they can battle for a place in the league next season.

ST.MIRREN

The Buddies are my pick to surprise the league this season, coming into the team are Lee Mair from Aberdeen, Michael Higdon from Falkirk, Paul Gallacher from Dunfermline, the only person leaving the team is veteran striker Jim Hamilton.

Gus McPherson has done a fantastic job with this team and I think this season they could challenge to move into the top 6, although if they finished 7th or 8th it would be a success.

There we go, the season is underway now at Pittodrie, Celtic v Aberdeen , I hope this preview helped you learn a little about the league and I hope to increase this knowledge.