SPL Preview - Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee

This is the first of (hopefully) 4 blogposts previewing each team in the 2012-13 Scottish Premier League.  Hopefully everything is up to date at the time of writing.  The players mentioned are only those who have played competitive first team games.  The formation picture is simply my opinion of the best 11 at each club.  If you disagree with any of this please feel free to let me know, but also feel free to put it in your pipe and smoke it.  Cheers.

ABERDEEN

LAST SEASON: 9TH

NOTABLE INS: Jonny Hayes (Inverness), Niall McGinn (Celtic)

NOTABLE OUTS: Kari Arnason (Rotherham), Fraser Fyvie (Wigan), Youl Mawene (Fleetwood Town), Rory McArdle (Bradford City), Mark Reynolds (Sheffield Wednesday, end of loan), Mohamed Chalali, Yoann Folly, Darren Mackie, Danny Uchechi

THE SQUAD (u-21 outfield players in italics)
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown, Jamie Langfield
Defenders: Russell Anderson, Andrew Considine, Clark Robertson, Joe Shaughnessy
Midfielders: Chris Clark, Ryan Fraser, Jonny Hayes, Stephen Hughes, Ryan Jack, Jamie Low, Jamie Masson, Niall McGinn, Robert Milsom, Isaac Osbourne, Peter Pawlett, Gavin Rae
Forwards: Rory Fallon, Josh Magennis, Declan McManus, Mitch Megginson, Michael Paton, Cammy Smith, Scott Vernon



STAR MAN: English midfielder Robert Milsom looked a class act until an ankle injury at Christmas ruled him out for the season.  He has a superb eye for a pass and will give the Dons a huge boost if he is fully fit again.

YOUNG GUN: Cammy Smith only turns 17 in August, but the young forward has already been compared to 'a young Dennis Bergkamp' by his boss.  No pressure then.

THE SEASON AHEAD: Craig Brown seemed to have finally made Aberdeen solid at the back and hard to beat last season, but they struggled in the final third of the field.  The arrival of schemer McGinn from Celtic - who may be used as a second striker - and winger Hayes from Inverness may give them the spark they sorely missed last year.  Scott Vernon is a reliable source of goals.  If Russell Anderson can roll back the years then the Dons could return to the top six.

THE MANAGER: There's no doubt that Aberdeen must show further improvement this season, or Brown's position will become untenable.  The well-liked 72 year old commands a lot of respect, and that has possibly deflected some of the criticism that might have come his way.

PREDICTION: 6TH

CELTIC

LAST SEASON: 1ST

NOTABLE INS: Fraser Forster (Newcastle, loan deal made permanent)

NOTABLE OUTS: Cha Du-Ri (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Efrain Juarez (Club America), Glenn Loovens (Real Zaragoza), Daniel Majstorovic (AIK Solna), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Pawel Brozek (Trabzonspor, end of loan), Darren O'Dea, Mark Wilson

THE SQUAD (u-21 outfield players in italics)
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Lukasz Zaluska
Defenders: Andre Blackman, Marcus Fraser, Emilio Izaguirre, Mikael Lustig, Adam Matthews, Charlie Mulgrew, Thomas Rogne, Lewis Toshney, Kelvin Wilson
Midfielders: Scott Brown, Kris Commons, Paul George, Rabiu Ibrahim, Beram Kayal, Ki Sung-Yong, Joe Ledley, Paddy McCourt, Dylan McGeouch, Filip Twardzik, Victor Wanyama
Forwards: Mohamed Bangura, James Forrest, Gary Hooper, Georgios Samaras, Anthony Stokes, Tony Watt



STAR MAN: Gary Hooper has proven a goal machine in Scottish football - 51 goals in 85 games for Celtic.  There's no reason to expect that production level to drop.  Neil Lennon will be relieved if he gets to September 1st and his star striker is still at Celtic Park.

YOUNG GUN: Midfielder Dylan McGeouch looked a real prospect when given the chance last season, and expect the skilful 19 year old to see more action this time around.

THE SEASON AHEAD: Anything less than the league title will not do, given the current circumstances.  In fact, there will be plenty of Celtic fans who will complain if they do not complete a domestic treble.  It's unlikely this squad is strong enough to get into the group stages of the Champions League, though.  And will some of the better players (Hooper, Ki, Kayal) be tempted to head south in search of a new challenge?

THE MANAGER: Neil Lennon is considered a deity by his supporters just now, and his job is secure unless there are surprise domestic struggles.  But does he have the tactical knowhow to succeed on the European stage?

PREDICTION: 1ST


DUNDEE

LAST SEASON: 2ND in the first division

NOTABLE INS: John Baird (Raith), Iain Davidson (Raith), Carl Finnigan (St Johnstone), Declan Gallagher (Clyde)

NOTABLE OUTS: Jake Hyde (Barnet), Rhys Weston (KR Reykjavik), John Gibson (Elgin, loan), Graham Bayne (retired), Ross Chisholm, Mark Fotheringham, Craig McKeown

THE SQUAD (u-21 outfield players in italics)
Goalkeepers: Robert Douglas
Defenders: Kyle Benedictus, Declan Gallagher, Gary Irvine, Matt Lockwood, Neil McGregor
Midfielders; Ryan Conroy, Iain Davidson, Kevin McBride, Jamie McCluskey, Stephen O'Donnell, Jamie Reid, Nicky Riley, Graham Webster
Forwards: John Baird, Carl Finnigan, Leighton McIntosh, Steven Milne



STAR MAN: Former Celtic winger Ryan Conroy was a real standout in the second half of last season, and might be one of the few members of this squad to look comfortable at a higher level.

YOUNG GUN: The club rate striker Leighton McIntosh so highly that they gave the 19 year old a three year contract in 2011.  He saw limited action last year but this might be his chance to shine.

THE SEASON AHEAD: Since their last-minute elevation to the SPL, Dundee have made no further signings, suggesting they will operate on a first division budget. Consequently they look much weaker than anyone else in the league and have to be relegation favourites.  The few players who have top flight experience either were not previously good enough for the SPL, or, in the case of 40 year old keeper Rab Douglas, are surely past their best.

THE MANAGER: Barry Smith is a hero to all at Dens, both as a former club captain who made 400 appearances for the club, and as the manager who steered them out of the mess of their second administration in 2010.  He is under contract for the next two years, and even relegation should not threaten that.

PREDICTION: 12TH

L.