WHEN I was doing my predictions at this stage last season I said that if Aberdeen could keep the gap to Celtic to less than 20 points then it would be a great achievement. People criticised me for it, but I felt I was just being realistic and that was how it proved.

By the end, the margin was 17 points but I thought it was unbelievable how well Derek McInnes’s side in particular managed to push Celtic. Up until the last couple of weeks the margin was only five or six points. They effectively managed to make it a six or seven-game season and that is pretty much the most you can ask.

I’m definitely predicting Celtic to win the league again this year and I can see the gap being similar, with Aberdeen pushing them again for a spell but falling short.

Over the course of a long hard campaign it is asking a bit much of the other teams to try to turn them over. While you never give up, what happened last season just underlines how difficult it is to beat Celtic over the course of a league season. It is practically impossible although I can still see them slipping up against someone, somewhere in one of the cup competitions.

Outwith the top few positions, any Premiership predictions come with a disclaimer because I really don’t think there will be many points in it, say from fifth down to 12th. As Mother- well – and ourselves at Ross County – found last season, anyone who doesn’t get off to a decent start in this Premiership could get sucked into a relegation fight. Just look at the Fir Park side: they had finished in the top three for the last three seasons, but they soon found themselves battling relegation all campaign long. Everybody will be thinking the same thing.

I guess there are easier places to start for us than Celtic away on the opening day of the season. It could go either way for us. With the match falling between the two legs of their Champions League tie against Qarabag, we could catch them when they have one eye on Europe, or maybe a bit jaded or flat because of their European matches. Or else they could be buzzing because it is so early in the season.

But we will do our part in the game. We are a decent side who finished strongly last season and we want to continue that. Other than the first match up in the Highlands, when we tried to press Celtic high up the park and got a bit of a doing, we had some close matches. We got a draw against them at Parkhead. It will be tactical but Ronny Deila will know it is going to be tactical from us, let’s hope we are going to be able to counter attack.

Anyway, here are my best guesses for the rest of the campaign, starting with the top six:

CHAMPIONS: Celtic

IN: Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City), Saidy Janko (Manchester United), Logan Bailly (OH Leuven), Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United)

OUT: Teemu Pukki (Brondby), Lukasz Zaluska, Joe Chalmers (Motherwell), Jason Denayer (loan ended), John Guidetti (loan ended), Aleksandar Tonev (loan ended), Mubarak Wakaso (loan ended), Jackson Irvine, John Herron (Blackpool), Holmbert Fridjonsson (KR Reykjavik), Paul McMullan (St Mirren, loan), Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock, loan), Amido Balde (FC Metz), Adam Matthews (Sunderland)

IT doesn’t matter whether Celtic get off to a great start and keep it consistent, or whether they don’t get off to a good start, and just ease away again. Every scenario ends with them winning the league. They weren’t unbeatable in the early part of last season, so Ronny Deila will want them to learn from those mistakes and ease a bit of the pressure Aberdeen put on them.

Dedryck Boyata looks like a straight replacement for Jason Denayer. I haven’t seen a lot of him but by all accounts he is a really good player. Once the ban is over Nadir Ciftci will do well, I think he was the type of player they needed – direct, strong and will score goals. While they already have Leigh Griffiths, and Anthony Stokes, Stefan Scepovic looks like an in-behind kind of player, rather than a real dynamic focal point.

THE REST OF THE TOP SIX

Aberdeen

IN: Graeme Shinnie (Inverness), Joe Nuttall (Manchester City), Paul Quinn (Ross County), Danny Ward (Liverpool, loan)

OUT: Russell Anderson (retired), Donervorn Daniels (loan ended), Nicky Low (Dundee), Andrew Driver, Kieron Gibbons (Livingston), Declan McManus (Fleetwood Town), Jamie Masson, Craig Murray (East Fife), Clark Robertson (Blackpool), Joe Shaughnessy (St Johnstone), Danny Rogers (Falkirk, loan)

THE Dons will comfortably be second again. Derek McInnes is putting together a really good squad and he can just pick and choose where he needs to strengthen now. They took Paul Quinn, our captain, who will enhance their squad, especially with Mark Reynolds being out for the first few weeks. He is a leader of men, a good player who scored some vital goals for us in the run-in. We are gutted to lose him but Aberdeen are a big club and that is the way it is. They have got their goalkeeper sorted out with Danny Ward coming in on loan and re-signing Ryan Jack is a major bonus although down the line they will still expect to lose him. Everything is positive, but they will look to do better in the cups.

Hearts

IN: Blazej Augustyn (Górnik Zabrze), Gavin Reilly (Queen of the South), Juanma Delgado (Kalloni), Igor Branco (Maritimo)

OUT: Danny Wilson (Rangers), Adam Eckersley, Genero Zeefuik (loan ended), James Keatings (Hibs), Brad McKay (St Johnstone), Scott Robinson (Kilmarnock), Dale Carrick (Kilmarnock), Liam Henderson (Stenhousemuir, loan), Jason Holt (Rangers)

OUTWITH the top two I feel all the teams will bunch up. I know this is Hearts’ first season back in the top flight and first and foremost they need to make sure they stay up. But I just have a feeling that all the positivity about that club right now under new owner Ann Budge will continue.

They had an SPL team in the championship last year, and most of the side are still together. All these young boys have gelled and got experience now. Craig Levein will help Robbie Neilson with the recruitment side of things, having already brought in three new players from abroad.

Dundee United

IN: Simon Murray (return from Arbroath loan), Justin Johnson (FC United of Manchester), Mark Durnan (Queen of the South), Coll Donaldson (QPR), Darko Bodul (SC Rheindorf Altach)

OUT: Michael Gardyne (Ross County), Brian Graham (Ross County), Keith Watson, Radoslaw Ciernziak (Wis?a Kraków), Kudus Oyenuga (Hartlepool United), Darren Petrie (Raith Rovers), Calum Butcher (Burton Albion), Jaroslaw Fojut (Pogon Szczecin), Nadir Ciftci (Celtic)

EVERYONE will expect the Tannadice side to sink like a stone as they have lost Nadir Ciftci, Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong but for me they are definitely a top-six team and I fancy them to finish fourth.

Coll Donaldson from QPR and Mark Durnan from Queen of the South can come in at the back, where they also still have John Souttar, and up front Mario Bilate is back while new Croatian striker Darko Bodul has come in. I don’t think they will be pushing Aberdeen but their young players have got more experience and they will do fine.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

IN: Nat Wedderburn (Cowdenbeath), Jordan Roberts (Aldershot), Dani Lopez (La Roda), Owain Fon Williams (Tranmere Rovers)

OUT: Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), Marley Watkins (Barnsley), Nick Ross (Dundee), Tarmo Kink (FC Levadia Tallinn)

EVERYBODY keeps waiting for Inverness to struggle. They have lost some big players in captain Graeme Shinnie, and cup heroes like Marley Watkins and Edward Ofere, but you can’t take away what they have done and with John Hughes around they will always have spirit. They still have the nucleus of a good squad, with the likes of David Raven, Gary Warren, Josh Meekings and Richie Foran, and have made a couple of signings. It will take some season to eclipse last year, though, because finishing third and winning the Scottish Cup is just fairytale stuff.

St Johnstone

IN: Graham Cummins (Exeter City), Brad McKay (Hearts), Joe Shaughnessy (Aberdeen), John Sutton (Motherwell), Liam Craig (Hibernian)

OUT: Brian Graham (loan ended), Danny Swanson (loan ended), Lee Croft (Oldham Athletic), James McFadden, Gary Miller (Partick Thistle)

A BIT like Inverness, you just keep waiting for them to slip up, but I don’t think it is going to happen this time around. Scottish Cup winners two years ago, they also have their reliable players such as Steven Anderson (once he has recovered from his cheekbone fracture), Chris Millar and wee Michael O’Halloran the speed merchant. Tommy Wright has a tight budget to work with but some players suit certain clubs and I think Liam Craig is one of them. I would expect them to sneak back in again this year.

TWO THAT WILL JUST MISS OUT

Dundee

IN: Kane Hemmings (Barnsley), Nicky Low (Aberdeen), Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia (East Fife), Rory Loy (Falkirk), Daryll Meggatt (Alloa), Kevin Holt (Queen of the South), Nick Ross (Inverness CT)

OUT: Kyle Benedictus (Raith Rovers), David Clarkson (Motherwell), Iain Davidson, Willie Dyer, Kevin McBride, Paul Heffernan, Kyle Letheren (Blackpool), Jamie Reid (Arbroath), Alex Harris (loan ended), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Craig Wighton (Raith Rovers, loan)

PAUL Hartley and Gerry McCabe did brilliantly to make the top six last year. Paul is a good young manager who is always really good at keeping the place ticking over, and once again he has made some good signings. They have signed a Spanish centre-half who was excellent last season playing for East Fife while studying at university, and got Kevin Holt from Queen of the South, who we were also interested in.

Kane Hemmings, their big signing from Barnsley, will be reunited with Greg Stewart up front, after playing together at Cowdenbeath. Although they won’t be in any fear of relegation, I think they might just fall out of the top six, but that is fine. Too many times in recent history they have gone up and down and up and down.

Ross County

IN: Brian Graham (Dundee United), Ian McShane (Queen of the South), Michael Gardyne (Dundee United), Scott Fox (Partick Thistle), Darren Holden (Hartlepool United), Stewart Murdoch (Fleetwood Town), Jonathan Franks (Hartlepool United), Richard Foster (Rangers), Chris Robertson (Port Vale), Andrew Davies (Bradford)

OUT: Darren Barr (Dumbarton), Richard Brittain (Brora Rangers), Mark Brown (Dumbarton), Cameron Burgess (loan ended), Joe Cardle (Dunfermline), Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle), Terry Dunfield, Benedict Frempah, Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle), Filip Kiss (loan ended), Jackson Irvine (loan ended), Abdoulaye Meite, Ruben Palazuelos, Steven Saunders, Darvydas Sernas (FC ?algiris), Martin Woods (Shrewsbury Town), Paul Quinn (Aberdeen) Antonio Reguero (Hibernian)

WE have lost some big players too. Martin Woods and Paul Quinn are away, and Jackson Irvine could go too. But we have worked hard to replace them. Andrew Davies, the Bradford captain, who played in their FA win at Chelsea, is our new captain, and we have made plenty of other signings.

Richard Foster arrives from Rangers to battle it out at right back with Marcus Fraser, out wide Raffaele De Vita and Michael Gardyne, who were flying for us last year, are still there with Brian Graham coming in up front, to join the likes of Liam Boyce and Craig Curran.

We will look to improve and that would mean us finishing eighth. While we would love top six, it is a hard league and we need to appreciate that. The one thing we don’t want to do is go through what we did last year, which was that relegation battle.

FOUR THAT WILL BATTLE IT OUT AT THE BOTTOM

Motherwell

IN: Joe Chalmers (Celtic), David Clarkson (Dundee), Wes Fletcher (York City), Louis Laing (Nottingham Forest), Louis Moult (Wrexham), Kieran Kennedy (Leicester City)

OUT: Lee Erwin (Leeds United), Stuart Carswell (St Mirren), Adam Cummins, Zaine Francis-Angol, Conor Grant (loan deal ended), Fraser Kerr, Paul Lawson (Formartine United), George Long (loan deal ended), Bob McHugh (Falkirk), Mark O’Brien (loan deal ended), Simon Ramsden (Gateshead), Ross Stewart (Albion Rovers), Anthony Straker (loan deal ended), Nathan Thomas (Mansfield Town), Iain Vigurs, John Sutton (St Johnstone), Steven Higgins (Queen of the South)

I could end up on my face here but I feel these four are all capable of avoiding relegation while also capable of getting caught up in it as well. So could we, if we don’t start the season well. I am listing these in no particular order but Motherwell have re-signed Scott McDonald which is great news for them and they did finish the season strongly.

Kilmarnock

IN: Scott Robinson (Hearts), Jamie MacDonald (Falkirk), Kallum Higginbotham (Partick Thistle), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Steven Smith (Rangers), Dale Carrick (Hearts), Stuart Findlay (Celtic, loan), Lee McCulloch (Rangers)

OUT: Connor Brennan (Stranraer, loan), Paul Cairney (Stranraer), Chris Chantler, Sammy Clingan, Nathan Eccleston, Lee Miller, Dylan Pooler, Euan Smith, Mark Thomson, Manuel Pascali (A.S. Cittadella)

Gary Locke isn’t daft. He has brought in some good, experienced players in the likes of Kris Boyd and Kallum Higginbotham, plus Scott Robinson and Dale Carrick from Hearts. They are definitely capable as well. Someone has to finish in the bottom six or bottom four, all these teams could get caught up in it. You need to start with positive vibes, which we didn’t do last year.

Partick Thistle

IN: Callum Booth (Hibs), Tomas Cerny (Hibs), David Amoo (Carlisle United), Gary Miller (St Johnstone)

OUT: Scott Fox (Ross County), Stephen O’Donnell (Luton Town), Lyle Taylor (loan ended), Conrad Balatoni, James Craigen (Raith Rovers), Dale Keenan (Stranraer), Ben Richards-Everton (Dunfermline Athletic), Kallum Higginbotham (Kilmarnock)

Partick have lost goalkeeper Scott Fox to us, Kallum Higginbotham to Kilmarnock, and striker Lyle Taylor to AFC Wimbledon, but at least they got Sean Welsh back, who was a key player for them. They still have a strong base with Freddy Frans at the back, Abdul Osman in midfield, and Stuart Bannigan who is a very tidy player. But if they don’t start well, they could get dragged into it.

Hamilton AcademicAL

IN: Alan Martin (Clyde), Chris Turner (Dumbarton), Antons Kurakins (Ventspils), Gramoz Kurtaj (Banik Most), Christian Nade (Raith Rovers), Carlton Morris (Norwich City, loan), Salva Chamorro (Lleida Esportiu)

OUT: Blair Currie, Nigel Hasselbaink (Excelsior), Jason Scotland, Stephen Hendrie (West Ham United, pre-contract), Nico Sumsky (Airdrieonians, loan)

Everybody wrote off Hamilton last year, but what a season they had. One of the biggest losses of all, though, was that of manager Alex Neil, who is now working in the Barclays Premier League.

They have added a couple of players, although they are not household names, and the one thing Hamilton always are is fit and energetic, with loads of young boys who can get about the pitch. Ali Crawford is a top player but you wouldn’t want to lose him halfway through the season, like they did with Tony Andreu last year.