The BBC pundits have offered up a clean sweep of predictions going Celtic’s way this season.
Over the last couple of days, pundits all over the country have been getting their title predictions in ahead of the new season. Celtic are looking to win their ninth straight Scottish Premiership title, whilst Rangers are looking like the nearest challengers after making a plethora of summer signings.
From the BBC’s side, however, it’s been a full house for the Hoops. Ex-Rangers players such as Stephen Thompson and Billy Dodds have even tipped Neil Lennon’s men for title success.
They have been joined by Willie Miller, Chic Young, and Michael Stewart too.
Both Stewart and Thompson have been giving their assessment on the BBC sport website. It’s no surprise that Rangers have been tipped for second either considering they haven’t won a major trophy (We’re dismissing the Petrofac Training Cup – shocking I know) since 2011.
Meanwhile, Miller, Young, and Dodds were talking on BBC’s Sportsound programme last Sunday about who they feel will finish the cream of the crop. Unsurprisingly, all three went for the Hoops.
Celtic have earned this level of respect
There will no doubt be a few eyes rolled across the city at a clean sweep. For some reason, sections in the Ibrox support can’t accept the fact that Celtic can still be predicted to win the league.
But the truth is the Hoops have more than earned predictions like this. They’re treble-treble winners for goodness sake. Nobody has proven that they can take a trophy off of Lennon’s side as of yet. Until that time comes, it’s difficult to see ourselves as anything other than clear favourites.
Nobody is denying the challenge that will come from Ibrox. If you are dismissive of it, then that’s a dangerous game to play. The two defeats at Ibrox left some bad bruises, and Lennon will be out to put things right against Steven Gerrard’s men on their own patch this season.
But how can anyone truly look past Celtic? They’re flying heading into the domestic action on Saturday. St Johnstone will come and try to be stubborn, but you would seriously expect Lennon’s side to knock home several goals against them at least.
The BBC pundits have the right idea. Predicting anything other than a Celtic success is likely to have you embarrassed come the end of the season. Lessons will have been learned amongst the Scottish media.
It’s now down to Lennon and his Bhoys that they deserve this kind of backing this season, of course. It all starts on Saturday, and all of us Celtic supporters simply can’t wait!
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
