IT’S BACK to the Scottish Premiership with it the competition for honours, survival and everything in between. This season, Celtic is feeling like they can take over from the rest of the teams once again. But will they smother their opponents, and how will the rest of the league play out? Let’s break it down.
Celtic’s position of power
With Celtic at the top of the table, four points ahead of Aberdeen, whom they meet tonight, and 11 points in front of Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side, things are looking good and the lead is enough to keep them in control. This cushion isn’t a fluke, this is the result of consistent efforts, good plays and contributions from a well-balanced team.
The manager, Brendan Rodgers, only in his second stint at the club, is accustomed to the stress of a title push. He won two consecutive titles during his first season, picked up a third in his comeback term and is sitting in pole position at the moment.
He provides the comfort and consistency Celtic needs. It’s been the depth of the team — Kyogo Furuhashi at the front, Callum McGregor in midfield and Cameron Carter-Vickers at the back — that has kept them leading up to date.
If Rodgers keeps the team focused and healthy, they won’t be out of the picture for taking this season by storm.
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Can Clement’s team close the gap?
The Ibrox club have failed to inspire this season and only an own goal from their former player Jason Holt gave them a win at St Johnstone at the weekend. They have lost to Celtic, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in the league this term and were booed off the pitch by their own fans following the recent draw at home to Dundee United.
Boss Clement continues to make promises, but his pledges have not been transformed into consistently positive and impressive displays on the field.
They play Celtic in the League Cup Final at Hampden a week on Sunday while their next league encounter against their city rivals is due at home on January 2.
These are the types of high stakes that always make championship matchups exciting and hopefully won’t stop this season.
The race for European spots
The battle for fourth and fifth places in the top flight is intriguing. Dundee United are moving well after last season’s promotion, but Kilmarnock, Motherwell and St Mirren are hovering while Tony Docherty will be determined to push his Dundee side into a qualification place.
The fight to avoid relegation
On the other side of the table, it looks a bit bizarre to see the Edinburgh duo of Hibs and Hearts occupying the two bottom positions.
However, it is difficult to envisage the capital teams not getting their acts together to climb the table as the season wears on.
That would put the spotlight on Ross County and St Johnston, two clubs who struggled for most of last term before achieving survival with Livingston dropping out of the top flight.
Conclusion
It would take a collapse of seismic proportions for Celtic to fail to win their fourth successive title, thirteenth championship in 14 years and their 55th crown in their history.
Rodgers has spent big money – twice breaking the club’s transfer record in the summer by bringing in midfielder Arne Engels and striker Adam Idah at a joint cost of just over £20million. He also spent £6million in USA international centre-back Auston Trusty to shore up his defence.
To many observers, Kasper Schmeichel is an upgrade on fans favourite Joe who retired at the end of last season.
Undoubtedly, they are in a position of strength and it’s difficult to imagine a spectacular fall from grace.
Wherever you look, European spots and relegation battles will have you clenching your teeth. There’s so much on the line for all 12 clubs, so be sure to keep watching.
Scottish football doesn’t ever let you down.
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