We're now sixteen games into the SPL season, just about halfway to the split. So, here's marks out of five for every team so far, taking into account how they've done and comparing it against pre-season expectations...
ABERDEEN 3/5
Slow start but have pulled themselves into the top six with back-to-back wins. The fact they have a chance of making the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup is a magnificent achievement. The rest of the season? Could yet haul themselves into the race for third place.
CELTIC 3/5
Has a team ever scraped so many narrow wins as Gordon Strachan's? Getting out of their Champions' League group is fantastic but you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times they have won matches this season by a comfortable margin. On the other hand, some might say that you make your own luck. The rest of the season? If Celtic find their form at last, I still can't see past them for the title.
DUNDEE UNITED 4/5
What a difference to the Arab teams of previous seasons. Craig Levein has restored his reputation this season, helped by some astute business in the transfer market. However, recent results have shown the lack of depth in his squad. The rest of the season? Should be good enough for top six, and a few more buys in January could enable an aspiration towards greater heights.
FALKIRK 2/5
Finally playing like last season with wins in their last two matches, but lost a lot of players in the summer who have not been adequately replaced, especially at the back, while Latapy is finally running out of legs. That said, Michael Higdon has been a great buy up front. The rest of the season? A top six challenge is going to need John Hughes' best efforts in coaxing Premiership youngsters up North on loan.
GRETNA 1/5
So much for the dream - one win and five points so far. Even Yantorno, after a bright start, has faded dramatically and not a single player looks good enough for this level right now. Mileson's cheque book remains closed when his side need it the most. The rest of the season? Even if they fork out the massive amounts required for survival they still don't have an SPL stadium. To call the future bleak would be an understatement. Relegation, surely.
HEARTS 2/5
About as consistent as a Lotto number. Romanov's rotation appears to have messed up team spirit, and the constant substitutions of players who are putting in good performances beggars belief. Yet there's no talk of whichever puppet is currently in charge losing his job. And 500 grand for Christian Nade?! Graham Rix couldn't be worse than this. The rest of the season? Already losing ground on the teams above them, and bar a change in the management of the team that doesn't look likely to change, even with the next motley crew of Lithuanians that come in.
HIBERNIAN 3/5
A nightmare end to 2007 has taken the shine of a fantastic start that had John Collins' side briefly leading the league after beating both Celtic and Rangers. However they have a defence that looks desperate when Rob Jones is out and there's still a huge Scott Brown-shaped hole in midfield. Give it another year, though, and Steven Fletcher could be the best of all the youngsters they've nurtured recently. The rest of the season? A return to form could yet see them as the best candidates for third, but they need to find some backbone.
INVERNESS 3/5
A horrific start to the season with six defeats in a row but now back in their usual lower-mid table spot with three straight wins, thanks mainly to some long-needed solidity at the back. The rest of the season? Still lack some quality and Craig Brewster would need to get the best from his players to aspire to a top six place. Relegation, though, doesn't look an issue.
KILMARNOCK 2/5
Crippled by an casualty list more suited to a World War I regiment, aided by the loss of Steven Naismith, all the good work done by Jim Jefferies has gone out the window as they slide down the table, with only one win in ten. The rest of the season? Surely when players come back, form will return with them, but it may be too late to repeat last year's sixth place.
MOTHERWELL 5/5
Team of the season so far, without a doubt; they've come a long way since Muppet Malpas left. Who foresaw that they would lie third? Perhaps the sign of what a good manager can do for a club, methinks. The rest of the season? Depends partly on injuries affecting key players and whether they can hold onto Mark McGhee, but why shouldn't they stay third?
RANGERS 4/5
Much closer to Celtic this season, but still prone to silly defeats, having lost to Hearts, Hibs and Dundee United. Also still lacking consistency, especially away from home, and are still a player or two short of having the depth available to their rivals. Have also had a smashing European campaign. The rest of the season? They look more than equal to Celtic just know, but can they play better than this if they have to? Only time will tell.
ST. MIRREN 2/5
Spent a fair bit on luring in players over the summer, but have keenly felt the loss of Kirk Broadfoot. The fact that they've scored only ten league goals so far tells you everything about why they are second from bottom. The rest of the season? If Gretna have a Lazarus moment, St. Mirren look the most likely to have brown trousers, but eleventh place will not appease the increasing numbers who expect better at Love Street.
And the team of the season right now -
Szamotulski (Dundee Utd)
Hutton (Rangers)
Cuellar (Rangers)
McManus (Celtic)
Murphy (Hibernian)
Brown (Celtic)
Kingston (Hearts)
Ferguson (Rangers)
McCulloch (Rangers)
McDonald (Celtic)
Fletcher (Hibernian)
Why do I feel that this may provoke an argument or two?
L.
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