You don’t need a crystal ball to predict title win for Hoops

IT wasn’t a wise man who first claimed he’d never make predictions. That’s one forecast too many right there.

But with a new season upon us, Nostradamus or not, it’s time to take a stab as Scottish football’s seer.

Thankfully a crystal ball isn’t required to foresee Celtic’s routine march to an eighth successive title.

Despite howls of protest at declaring before the first whistle’s been blown, it’s already fait accompli and it’s a matter of finance and the fact the also-rans are taking a pea shooter to a pistol fight.

Unbackable at the bookies, Brendan Rodgers and his players won’t be long looking over their shoulders as they march out of sight.

No. This is the campaign that separates the wheat from the chaff over the issue of who’ll be the best of the rest and who’ll be heading downstairs.

The early evidence suggests a changing of the guard for Scotland’s second force may still be a step too far as Rangers go in search of beating Aberdeen to that particular throne.

It’s a consistency of selection with the Dons that will once again give them the edge.

There has been some tinkering by Derek McInnes with a few new faces and several heading out but the addition of Michael Devlin will bolster their defence.

Steven Gerrard is still searching for strength and depth as his Ibrox reign shows signs of promise but it’s already looking like a patchwork quilt in the quality stakes. A few decent signings and even more where the jury remains out.

Shouldering the striking responsibilities will be Roma loan recruit Umar Sadiq and the inconsistent Alfredo Morelos.

It’s already a recipe for disaster in the making linking up a moody blue with the Nigerian who to the naked eye appears to struggle with the basics of the game. That’s the thing about prophesies, there’s plenty of time to be proved wrong.

Managerial nous will allow Neil Lennon’s Hibs to emulate their fourth-place finish of last term. The Achilles heel of conceding too many goals needs to be addressed and retaining the services of John McGinn would also be a statement of intent.

Once again familiarity breeds success for the Easter Road side who already have the edge over Hearts who’ve once again taken a scattergun approach to their signing policy after Ian Cathro’s recruits have been handed their P45s.

The Jambos look better but just not enough to suggest they’ll be upsetting the natural order of the previous campaign.

Motherwell have muscled up in every sense of the word and even though they may not be pretty to watch, prepare for the Fir Parkers to bully their way to the last top-six spot.

It’ll be as you were with St Johnstone, a season of good weeks and bad.

Kilmarnock’s meteoric rise will become a false dawn.

There is an average appearance about Stevie Clarke’s squad if anything happens to Kris Boyd.

Now we come to the dogfight, this prophet of doom has a warning for Dundee.

Unless the eyes have been deceiving, Betfred Cup displays appear a relegation battle in waiting for a side well short in all departments.

Hamilton’s new faces have also fallen short, early days but ominous all the same that they appear more impoverished especially middle to front.

It’ll be the new boys who’ll be fighting to keep their heads above water. St Mirren and Livingston appear to be most lacking in the requirements to take the Premiership leap.

Don’t shoot the messenger, it was written in the stars.

Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts, Motherwell, St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Dundee, Hamilton, St Mirren, Livingston.