LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 1st SCOTTISH CUP Fifth Round
LEAGUE CUP Second Round TOP SCORER Billy McKay (20)92 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo
RAnGERS ROSS COUnTY
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
2019-20
FFTVERDICT
2nD FFT VERDICT
11TH
The Gers were markedly improved
under Steven Gerrard (far left) last
season and, in snapping up Aribo
from Charlton, have made a true
statement of intent. The smart
money remains on serial winners
Celtic but, one thing is certain, this
season there will be a title race.The Staggies are a different beast
from their previous six-year stay in
the top-flight from 2012. Owner
Roy MacGregor has tightened the
purse strings, while bosses Stuart
Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson
are untested at this level. A fight
for survival awaits this season.The big talking point among the fans
is question marks over the future of
Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier,
two of our key players.
This season will be different because
we should be more consistent. We
need to win when not playing well.
I won’t be happy unless we stop
Celtic winning nine titles in a row.
Our most underrated player is Glen
Kamara. A £50,000 steal. So calm.
Look out for Motherwell winger Jake
Hastie, a direct and pacy arrival, plus
fellow signing Joe Aribo [below, right].
The best away ground is Pittodrie.
The atmosphere is always red hot.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Eros Grezda. He’s just
not good enough, simple as that.
The pantomime villain will be
Alfredo Morelos. He had a bad year of
ill-discipline. Must stay out of trouble.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Manchester City’s Bernardo
Silva. No one in Scotland, though.
Our best celebrity fan is AC/DC’s
Angus Young. Worst? Amy Macdonald.
The one change I’d make to my club
would be to make Ibrox bigger. Fill in
the corners and remove the screens.
There are 14,000 fans on the waiting
list for season tickets.
Save the date for the first Old Firm
game at Ibrox [September 1].
The best Gers social media account
is @4ladshadadream. A must-follow
for all the latest news and gossip.
The signature local dish is Glasgow’s
famous Munchy Box. A 3,000-calorie
pizza box full of kebab meat, fried
chicken, chow mein noodles, garlic
bread and more to clog your arteries.
The other recommendation for away
fans is to visit the city centre for some
lunch and a few beers.
Our key player will be Morelos. The
wee man scores goals. Lots of them.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that Steven Gerrard is the man. He
has brought some long-absent high
standards back to Ibrox. He must now
deliver success on the park.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
We’ll finish Top. #55 awaits...This season will be different because
we’re in the Premiership! We’re quite
good going forward, but need to bring
in more attacking players.
I won’t be happy unless we reach
a cup semi-final. It’s not so unrealistic.
We’re a match for anyone on our day.
Our most underrated player is Liam
Fontaine. A solid defender who rarely
puts a foot wrong.
The best away ground is Ibrox –
hearing Penny Arcade is amazing.
The best away fans are Celtic’s –
they always sell out their allocation.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Kenny van der Weg,
though I’d probably need a bus to fit
in all the players who won’t be good
enough for this level next season.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Aaron Doran from our rivals
Inverness. He’s a winger who would fit
into our team nicely.
Our best celebrity fan is singer Lewis
Capaldi. He once wore a Staggies shirt.The one change I’d make to the club
would be to make tickets cheaper for
all ages. We only ever manage to sell
out when the big clubs come to town.
The best Staggies social media
account is @TheStaggies. They always
have the latest transfers and rumours.
The signature local dish is the
macaroni pie at Deas bakery.
The other recommendation for away
fans is a pint in The Mallard. Best pub
around – good service and people.
Our key player will be the wideman
Michael Gardyne [below]. He’s scored
the most goals in our entire history,
has bags of experience and can also
create a goal from absolutely nothing.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffers is
that we’ve got two! Co-managers
[and former players] Stuart Kettlewell
and Steven Ferguson [above] are very
popular and shouldn’t come under any
pressure if we avoid relegation.
If they left, they should be replaced
by former manager Derek Adams,
who knows the club inside out and
got us promoted to the Premiership
for the first time in our history in 2012.
We’ll finish 9th, above the relegation
play-off spot. Just.FAn FILE
CRAIG MORRISON
@craig_mo5
FAn FILE
CULLAN BRUCE
@CullanBruce4LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 2nd SCOTTISH CUP
Quarter-Finals LEAGUE CUP Semi-Finals EUROPA LEAGUE
Group Stage TOP SCORER Alfredo Morelos (above right, 30)