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Re: Scottish League Ante Post 08/09
I'll half a reread of them in a bit Johnny as i didnt agree with with some of it. Here's the racing post's previews too. Handy to keep them all here together
Quote:
Cup exit can spur Dees on in bid for top flight
by Ian Wilkerson
LAST summer, analysts of Scottish Division One had to consider how0 Dunfermline would cope with dropping down a division, after putting in a spirited effort to stay in the SPL.
This year, though, there is no such conundrum following Gretna's demise, which should mean the picture is a whole lot less confused.
However, no great favourite stands out and the top three in the market – Dundee, St Johnstone and Queen Of The South – will all have high hopes on a place in the top flight.
For the latter two, that motivation will have been provided by cup runs where they both competed with Rangers in one-offs and Queens famously beat
Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup thriller.
For them to mount a championship push, however, they both have their issues to address.
St Johnstone drew 13 of their 36 matches, which proved costly as they lost just two fewer games than champions Hamilton but finished 18 points behind them.
They need to eradicate that problem, and there might be too much emphasis on the fact they have former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris at their disposal.
Consequently, they still need to convince.
Queens have to find their feet on the road, where they scored just 18 goals last season, a total eclipsed by basement boys Stirling. But theycertainly seem to be worth an each-way investment.
They reaped the rewards of holding training in the Glasgow area, which made them a much more attractive proposition in terms of player recruitment.
They have been in good form in pre-season, scoring 16 goals in their last five games – including last week's 5-1 Challenge Cup success at Berwick – and drew
1-1 with a strong Burnley line-up.
Manager Gordon Chisholm has a cracking team of strikers led by Stephen Dobbie, who netted 16 last season, and it would be a massive disappointment not to see them in the top three at least.
The main vote, though, goes to the men from Dens Park, who did well to keep on Hamilton's coat-tails last season.
Conceding 30 goals in their 36 matches suggests that manager Alex Rae had one half of the equation right last season, and the acquisition of Mickael Antoine-Curier, who found himself down the pecking order at Hibs following the arrival of Mixu Paatelainen, should be fruitful, especially as he is likely to partner Colin McMenamin, who was a big hit at this level when playing for Gretna.
Rae has also captured his former Wolves team-mate Colin Cameron from MK Dons, who will provide valuable experience in midfield.
If Saturday's Challenge Cup defeat at Alloa acts as the kick up the backside the manager hoped for, they should be able to make a return to the top flight.
Recommendations
Dundee, 2pts 13-5
Queen of the South, 1pt each-way 6-1
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Quote:
Troublesome forwards give the Blue Toon a crucial edge in title race
by Ian Wilkerson.
EAST FIFE won Division Three by 23 points last season and their chairman Willie Gray has made no secret of the fact that the big spending will continue at a club which he says is the only debt-free one in Scotland.
But the crucialquestion for punters is: does that justify them being as short as 11-4 to claim a second successive championship triumph?
No doubt confidence will be sky-high at the Methil outfit after last season's runaway success, but it is nevertheless a step up in class, and you have to go back to 2002 for the last time the Division Three champions finished top in the following season.
The capture of former Scotland forward Stevie Crawford from Dunfermline has certainly raised some eyebrows and it does suggestthat there is plenty of money available to attract players.
But the 34-year-old has not scored more than ten goals in a season for the last seven years.
Paul McManus is the top-scoring player still on the books and even as they cantered to the title last year, his double-figure goal tally was less impressive than it looks, including several barren spells.
They could certainly have a successful season, but you would probably want a bit more for your money.
Of the other challengers, Raith andAlloa both saw Ross County slip out of sight after performing well in the autumn and there has to be concerns about whether either side would be able to last the pace this time.
Relegated Stirling are also unattractive and the words of the manager Allan Moore concerning himself about the cost of travel hitting the budget he has for players has an ominous tone.
Looking further down the list, Peterhead could be an excellent each-way chance.
Pre-season results can be misleading, but the Blue Toon have been absolutely flying over the course of this summer, with the 4-0 victory over a strong
Aberdeen side the outstanding highlight.
They also stuffed Montrose, a team that are likely to go well in Division Three next season, 6-0 in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
Whatever the opposition, they are certainly a side who have hit the ground running and manager Neale Cooper has an interesting selection headache up front.
Martin Bavidge was his star performer last season with 15 goals, but Cooper has brought in youngster David Ross on a permanent deal after the 18-year-old scored an impressive four goals in eight matches last season.
And Craig Gunn has made an excellent start to his loan move from Ross County, scoring a hat-trick against Montrose, and his pace should cause problems for any defence in the Second Division.
They just missed out on the play-offs last season after giving themselves too much to do, but there is scope for a lot of improvement at Balmoor Stadium and the opportunity is there for them to make a big impression.
Recommendation
Peterhead, 1pt each-way 8-1
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Quote:
Dumbarton look capable of flourishing in weak section
by Ian Wilkerson.
IT would be difficult to imagine many divisions in which the favourites for the title had scored fewer than a goal a game in the previous campaign.
But Dumbarton have been afforded just such a position this summer in Division Three and Jim Chapman's side certainly look as if they have the capabilities to make a drastic improvement.
The Sons boss has looked for a combination of young players from the junior leagues and experience from players coming down the ladder.
Three years ago, new midfielder Stevie Murray was playing in the SPL with Kilmarnock and the task of boosting their dismal scoring record should fall upon Derek Carcary and Paul Keegan, both of whom were playing regularly at a higher level with Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle respectively.
Chapman has also brought in players who can play in more than one position like midfielder Ross Clark and full-back or midfielder Raymond Logan.
There is no reason to suggest that they should not flourish in a section which looks weaker than it did last term.
East Fife, Stranraer and Arbroath were all promoted as a result of Gretna's demise and it is bound to take time for new boys Annan Athletic to find their feet.
It will also be difficult for the relegated teams. Cowdenbeath were sunk by a dismal defensive record that saw them concede 73 goals in their 36 Second
Division matches and that has to be addressed as a priority.
There might not be an overnight solution to that so a play-off place may be considered a success, while the rebuilding at Berwick could be even more severe after they accumulated just 16 points last season.
Montrose fell in the play-offs last season, but may be a bit too reliant of the goals of John Baird, who netted 18 times last year.
They have to pick their chins off the floor after being thumped 6-0 by Peterhead in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, while, despite surrendering a two-goal half-time lead, there was still plenty of encouragement to be taken from Dumbarton's 3-2 defeat against Airdrie.
Chapman's side also performed well in friendlies against St Mirren and SPL new boys Hamilton, so they should hit the ground running.
Recommendation
Dumbarton 2pts 4-1
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Scottish League Ante Post 08/09
31-07-2008, 14:34
im glad to hear all that Wet sail. I was wonderng what i was missing on stirling. I started to fear them a bit without looking any further into them. Lets have a look again at all this with the frfar and cowdenbetah being the bets in mind. Actually is that Manson that used to be at Berwick?
