Right, we're four months into the league season now - which means that it's no longer too early to jump to conclusions. We have a good idea about who's going to fight for a top six place, and who is going to be struggling at the other end of the table. And we've seen enough of each team to be able to judge whether the signings made since the end of last season have been studs or duds. I've taken a look at how the new players at each Premiership club have performed so far in 2013-14. Which teams hit the jackpot with their moves, and which teams (I'm looking at you, Killie!) just signed a bunch of diddies?
ABERDEEN
Best signing: When he's been fit, former Dundee United and Celtic midfielder Willo Flood has added quality to the midfield.
Worst signing: There haven't really been any duds. Arguably the biggest disappointment so far has been ex-Rangers winger Gregg Wylde, who has struggled to make any impact since returning north of the border and has spent most of the season on the bench.
Verdict: Out of the newcomers, only Michael Hector (on loan from Reading) and Calvin Zola have started more than 10 league games. Zola looks dreadful, but the lumbering forward has managed three goals and the team seem to be more effective when he is playing. But Derek McInnes will be happy that he improved squad depth. The Dons will expect to get a lot more out of Flood and Barry Robson, as both have missed plenty of time with injuries.
CELTIC
Best signing: After a slightly rocky start, Virgil Van Dijk has been tremendous and will be a strong candidate for Player Of The Year honours. The Dutchman is probably more comfortable on the ball than any central defender I've seen in Scottish football.
Worst signing: I hope Steven Mouyokolo is on a pay-as-you-play contract. The defender had a dreadful injury history prior to his move to Celtic Park...and, guess what? He got injured again, after just two games. A ruptured Achilles has ended his season, and I suspect that it'll end his Celtic career too.
Verdict: As shown by their disappointing Champions' League campaign, Celtic did not come close to replacing the likes of Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper. Derk Boerrigter, Amido Balde and Teemu Pukki cost £6.5million in total, but not one of them has established themselves as a first choice player. Israeli Nir Biton hasn't really had enough opportunity yet. The bottom line is that Neil Lennon's business last summer didn't really improve the squad.
DUNDEE UNITED
Best signing: Andrew Robertson was playing for Queen's Park last season. By the end of 2013-14, I wouldn't be surprised to see him playing for Scotland. This young left back is a solid defender, but is also such an attacking threat that he's scored five goals this season.
Worst signing: The biggest disappointment is unquestionably David Goodwillie, who looks a shadow of the player who left for Blackburn two and a half years ago. He looks bereft of confidence, and Jackie McNamara showed guts to drop the former golden boy.
Verdict: Pretty positive. Whilst Goodwillie has been a let down and defender Calum Butcher was quickly dropped after looking out of his depth early on, Nadir Ciftci has been superb, as has defensive midfielder Paul Paton, who played under Jackie Mac at Partick Thistle. Another former Partick player, winger Chris Erskine, was a target for the support after a poor start, and hasn't even been a sub most weeks. Bringing Mark Wilson back to the club for a second spell has proven an astute move and the defence looks considerably stronger than it did at the start of the season.
HEARTS
Best signing: There was only one - Danny Wilson, whose loan from Liverpool was made permanent. He's been their best player.
Worst signing: Wilson again, technically...
Verdict: The only verdict that can be made here is that, without strengthening the squad in the summer (and without the opportunity to do so in January), this Hearts squad is far too weak to overcome their 15 point penalty.
HIBERNIAN
Best signing: Liam Craig has shown flashes of the outstanding form of his last couple of seasons at St. Johnstone, though there should still be plenty to come from him.
Worst signing: Another former Perth Saint, Rowan Vine, has been a huge disappointment. It's incredible to think that Birmingham City once paid £1million for this guy. Maybe he'd be more mobile if he ditched that dreadful beard, which must be weighing him down no end.
Verdict: None of these players were signed by Terry Butcher, of course. The issue with Pat Fenlon's summer signings was not so much the lack of quality as the failure to address certain positions, such as the full back and wing areas. Fraser Mullen is in the former category but was sidelined after some rotten performances after joining from Hearts. Wideman Abdellah Zoubir looks exciting but doesn't appear to have much end-product. Owain Tudur Jones, who played for Butcher in Inverness, is just one more central midfielder in a squad with about a million of them. Paul Heffernan has so far proven to be a more dangerous signing up front than James Collins - though I understand Collins did not cost nearly as much as the quoted £200,000 fee.
INVERNESS CT
Best signing: Aside from one blunder against Partick Thistle, Dean Brill has been solid and dependable in goal for Caley Thistle. He's already arranged to make his loan move from Luton permanent.
Worst signing: Does Northern Irishman Curtis Allen actually exist? The striker, signed from Coleraine, got injured in pre-season and hasn't got close to seeing first team action since he returned to fitness.
Verdict: Okay rather than brilliant. Jamie Vincent looked good before getting injured at the end of September. More recently, left-back Carl Tremarco and winger Marley Watkins have established themselves in the team. We've yet to see the apparent best of Toby Agdestein or Ben Greenhalgh yet, though.
KILMARNOCK
Best signing: When you've signed eleven players and the best one is 35 years old, that doesn't reflect well on your actions in the transfer market. But I'd say that veteran Barry Nicholson has been consistently decent, though not particularly special.
Worst signing: Considering David Silva wasn't particularly good the first time he was at Rugby Park, what possessed Allan Johnston to decide to bring him back? The winger has only made 3 appearances before getting injured.
Verdict: I think it's fair to say that Kilmarnock's manager doesn't have much in the way of contacts when it comes to signing good players. Kyle Jacobs (ex- Livingston) and Mark Stewart (ex-Dundee) are no better than Championship level, while Michael Gardyne's performances both at Killie and at Dundee United suggest the same of him. Jackson Irvine, on loan from Celtic, struggled in defence but has looked better after moving into midfield. Darren Barr also had a poor start to the season but has improved recently, and the same could be said of full back Sean Clohessy.
MOTHERWELL
Best signing: Stephen McManus has been solid and dependable, just as Stuart McCall hoped when he signed the former Scotland international.
Worst signing: To be fair to Iain Vigurs, he hasn't been truly terrible; however, he's had barely any impact compared to how brilliant he was for Ross County last year. It doesn't help that McCall hasn't worked out how to get the best from him.
Verdict: On paper, 'Well's transfer business looked great - but Vigurs and ex-Staggie teammate Paul Lawson haven't made an impact. Lionel Ainsworth and Henri Anier both made quick impacts - Ainsworth scored a screamer against Dundee United, while Anier scored a few goals - but both have regressed in recent weeks, with the latter unable to establish himself as a consistent partner for the more dependable John Sutton. I expected more from goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, given he was on Manchester City's books for so long.
PARTICK THISTLE
Best signing: Isaac Osbourne looked good on occasion in Aberdeen - that is, on the rare occasions that he wasn't actually injured. But he's been one of the best defensive midfielders in the league this season.
Worst signing: Mexican defender Gabriel Piccolo has been an absolute nightmare whenever he's seen action - which, given how poor he has played, is surprisingly often. Is he blackmailing Alan Archibald with dodgy pictures, or something?
Verdict: Partick Thistle didn't do a good enough job strengthening for the top flight. Mark Kerr and John Baird weren't good enough with Dundee last year and haven't got any better. Gary Fraser, on loan from Bolton, was decent initially but got himself a hefty ban for kicking the s*** out of an opponent in a reserve game. If they are to stay up, it will be because of the efforts of the players who won promotion last season.
ROSS COUNTY
Best signing: Dutch winger Melvin De Leeuw has looked very slick - when he's been moved inside to play off a front man, which has allowed him to assert far more influence on matches. The less said about Derek Adams' decision to play him as a lone striker against Celtic, the better.
Worst signing: Apparently Orhan Mustafi has played up front for Switzerland's under-23 team. But he looked unfit when he arrived on loan, then broke a toe. He still hasn't scored a league goal...which makes him no different from County's other strikers.
Verdict: County's Dutch experiment hasn't been a success so far, De Leeuw aside. It's been downhill for fellow wideman Darren Maatsen since he scored at Celtic Park on opening day, while Kevin Luckassen has struggled mightily up front and young midfielder Marc Klok has only started one match. Adams' attempts to reshape the defence have also failed miserably, with Brian McLean showing why Dundee United wanted shot of him and Ben Gordon displaying none of the form from his previous spells at Kilmarnock. At least Graham Carey has done a good job on the left flank.
ST JOHNSTONE
Best signing: After looking stale during his final season at Hibernian, David Wotherspoon has been revitalized since moving to Perth.
Worst signing: I presume Rory Fallon was signed to offer a target-man option when the Saints are desperate late in games. At least, that's the only reason I can think of. He isn't anywhere near as good as the other strikers in the squad.
Verdict: It's hard to criticize many of the players Tommy Wright brought in. Brian Easton has been decent at full back, while Gary McDonald has been a pleasant surprise, given that he was nicknamed 'the ghost' at other clubs because of how little impact he had on games.
ST MIRREN
Best signing: Marian Kello by a distance, even though the Lithuanian keeper was only signed in October. He's looked far more reliable than either of his predecessors, both of whom were signed in the summer.
Worst signing: The deadline day signing on loan of French forward Stephane Bahoken felt a bit desperate at the time - which is ironic, since 'desperate' is an appropriate way to describe his performances. After starting two games in September, he has drifted out of first team contention.
Verdict: Not good to be honest, apart from Kello and Conor Newton, who returned for a second loan spell after playing in Paisley last season. David Cornell was supposed to be the first choice goalie, but made several errors, prompting the signing of Kello. Ex-Hearts defender Danny Grainger has lost his place at left-back to youngster Sean Kelly. Another loanee, midfielder Jake Caprice, has seen action only as a sub. The team's form has improved considerably since the highest profile signing of the summer, Gary Harkins, lost his place in the lineup.
L.
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