This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine.
Chris Sutton "I can’t wait. That was the most dramatic end of the season I can remember. I had a couple of dramatic days as a player at Celtic, but that was something else. Can Hearts challenge again? Which version of Celtic and Rangers will we see? Then you’ve got Motherwell, who did so well under Jens Berthel Askou, Hibs, Aberdeen – lots of stories. I can’t wait to get stuck in."
Kenny Macintyre "If it’s anything close to last season, it will be remarkable. The atmosphere, the tension in the studio for Celtic v Hearts was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in 20 years at Sportsound. Scottish football went global for the first time last season. Can we get anything close to that again? I certainly hope so. We’re looking forward to Celtic boss Martin O’Neill going up against Derek McInnes again, this time with McInnes as Rangers manager."
Why should prospective fans watch the Scottish Premiership?
Sutton "People in Scotland love the product; it’s the best attended league per capita in Europe. There was more interest outside Scotland last season because of the Hearts story – the underdogs that had come from nowhere – but the story wasn’t just about Celtic and Hearts. You also had Motherwell, the best-coached team I saw in the whole of Britain and an absolute joy to watch."
Macintyre "We don’t have the quality of some top European leagues, but we do have incredible passion, incredible rivalries and incredible drama. Last season, we saw that in abundance. The connection that Scottish fans have with their teams is something special and the sacrifices they make are incredible. If anyone outside of Scottish football wanted proof of that, just look at the Tartan Army."
Who will win the title?
Sutton "You have to make Celtic favourites. They were fortunate last year, but showed great mental resolve at the end of the season. They seem to be getting into gear with transfers – signing Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán – and it’s about maintaining their depth of quality. Hearts need to be patient. Losing their manager Derek McInnes and Lawrence Shankland, the best striker in the league, is an enormous loss.
"There has been an overhaul of players and new manager Wouter Vrancken will try to implement his style. Fans may expect them to challenge again, but I don’t think it’s as easy as that. McInnes has been a hugely successful manager in Scotland. He is a brilliant organiser and a pragmatist, so it will be interesting to see how he sets Rangers up as there is a pressure at Ibrox to play a certain brand of football. Rangers are crying out for a bit of stability after six managers in six years. McInnes knows the importance of winning, but realises it’ll take time."
Macintyre "Celtic. It’ll be between the big two, but Celtic have so many title winners in that team and that could be the difference. Earlier in the summer I might have said Rangers, but Celtic have splashed the cash. They were short up front last year but they’ve now brought in Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán – two quality players with proven records in the Champions League. Martin O’Neill is a special manager and a key factor. Celtic also have one of the best defenders in the league in Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is back fully fit and will be a big factor."
Sutton "I don’t see anybody else challenging for the title. Last season, both Celtic and Rangers hit lower levels that they won’t hit again. That makes it incredibly difficult for anyone else, whether it’s Hearts, Motherwell, Hibs or Aberdeen."
Macintyre "No one will split the Old Firm this year. Rangers are too strong and it will be a two-horse title race. The best of the rest will be Aberdeen, who have brought in a very experienced manager in Stephen Robinson. He kept them up last season when they were in a wee bit of trouble and he’s made a few signings.
"They started the year well in the league and Kevin Nisbet, a good striker who struggled last year, has been in fantastic form. A lot of our Hearts contingent felt that last year was just the start, but the concerns already are there with the massive upheaval of losing players like McInnes, Shankland, Beni Baningime and Frankie Kent."
Which team could be a surprise package?
Sutton "I like Neil McCann, he did brilliantly to keep Kilmarnock up. They seemed to really grow and believe. They could be a bit of a surprise package, but does that mean they get in the top six? Maybe. Jim Goodwin’s done well at Dundee United, but such an overhaul of players every season makes it so difficult for everybody to connect. It’s the same for Dundee, but I’d expect more this season from Aberdeen."
Macintyre "Kilmarnock. Having worked very closely with Neil McCann and Billy Dodds for a number of years, I know how well they speak about the game. I can imagine what it’s like for the players on the training ground or in the dressing room, how these two would make you feel. The return of a grass pitch at Rugby Park is a big thing. They like to play football and that should suit them."
Sutton "St Mirren. They were 11th last season, stayed up via the play-offs, and decided to stick with Craig McLeish as manager – which is fine but he tried to play a different way to Stephen Robinson. They were a bit direct at times under Robinson and ended up winning the League Cup, but McLeish is trying to play a more possession-based brand of football. I’d worry about them."
Macintyre "There are concerns for St Johnstone. They’ve been promoted after a fine campaign in the Championship when they played great football. A lot of fans thought it was a good thing for them to be relegated, reset and come back up, but their form in the League Cup has been very poor."
Who are the players to watch?
Sutton "The Celtic strike force of Høgh and Durán. Will they click? Shankland going to Rangers is massive. Motherwell have lost Elijah Just, but Tawanda Maswanhise is a handful, if they can hold onto him. In terms of younger players, Findlay Curtis is a talented boy who may end up getting a run in the Rangers team. Callum Osmand scored the goal that sealed the title for Celtic last season. He has pace to burn."
Macintyre "Alex Lowry is an interesting one. He was seen as a star at Rangers, but it didn’t work out. Going on loan to a side like Motherwell, who play a great brand of football, could be his rebirth. Findlay Curtis is exciting. It’s probably too much to say he will be one of Rangers’ top players this season, but we’ll see him get more opportunities and become a regular in the Scotland squad."
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