Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, July 2007

Celtic | Hearts | Rangers

Celtic Roundup

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Gordon Strachan’s side continued their recent traditions of preparing for a new campaign by jetting stateside and the SPL Champions are in little mood to relinquish their crown.

The Hoops have spent £4.4m on securing the services of the much coveted Scott Brown and a further £3m on Massimo Donati from AC Milan, and the latter is well prepared for the challenges that the Scottish game will offer.

The Italian has caused quite a stir in Glasgow with the Parkhead fans who expect big things from him and in the pre-season games so far he has shown some nice touches and clever feet. However, the midfielder has warned that he is quite prepared to stand his ground when it comes to the physical aspect of the SPL.

"Before I came to Celtic, I'd not studied Scottish football much," said the 26-year-old. “But I have always been aware that the SPL can be very physical. This does not concern me as I am a strong player, and I can look after myself."

Donati is also encouraged by the style of football Strachan has told him he wants the team to deliver this season and he is confident he can become a major player in a system which he is sure will be as effective as it is attractive.

"I've already seen Celtic are a team who try to play football on the ground with good passing rather than rely on long, high balls up to the forwards," he said.

"This suits the way I like to play the game, so I am looking forward to the new season."

Donati, who is currently acting as translator to fellow Italian Andrea Capone as he tries to win a contract, is already well-versed in what is being demanded of the team in the forthcoming campaign.

The emphasis is going to be on increasing the number of scoring chances created - his strength - and, more importantly, converted.

Donati revealed: "I spoke to Strachan about these things when I was considering the offer to join Celtic. He told me this is the way he wants the side to play. I'm happy to be playing in a team trying to do this or else I would not have agreed to come here."

Fellow new signing Brown is unfazed by his pricetag and can’t wait to get started in the Hoops. It was hardly likely to be problem for Brown to be accepted by the Celtic support - especially as he knocked back Rangers along the way. He got a standing ovation when he scored against the Hoops in one of his final games for Hibs and since then he has further endorsed himself to the support with his first goal for the club against QPR at Loftus Road.

The Scottish international impressed against Basel, Peterborough and against QPR but he wants to deliver that same type of performance when the real action starts in the SPL and Champions League.

"I hope the supporters have taken an immediate liking to me - I've certainly taken a liking to them because they've been great since I've come to the club," he smiled. "I don't know how many fans we had down in London for the QPR game but it's quite scary when you see the numbers who turn out.

"It was good to get my first goal. Hopefully it's the first of many and not my first and last. The thing is we could do as well as we want in pre-season but it's when it starts against Kilmarnock in the first day we've got to go out and prove ourselves."

The ex-Hibernian midfielder has already struck up a decent relationship in the middle of the park with Donati and feels he and the rest team will get even better when they get to know each others strengths and weaknesses.

"It's been good with Massimo," Brown insisted. "He doesn't speak much English but when you're running past people with the ball you don't really need to. He wants to play football and that suits me because I want to do the same.

"It is a different world here at Celtic. At Hibs we would just train week in, week out but here we're off to America to play the MLS all stars. It’s been brilliant."

Rangers

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Rangers prepared for the start of the new season with a three-match tour of Germany and although the excursion ended in defeat after a 1-0 loss Hannover 96, manager Walter Smith believes the trio has provided an ideal platform for his side to launch their offensive for the title.

Jean-Claude Darcheville made his debut for the Ibrox side in the defeat to the German side while new signing Kirk Broadfoot also made his first appearance in a blue shirt. Prior to the Ibrox side jetting out to Germany, Smith had stressed that the games were all about fitness and he feels that objective is reaching fruition.

In Darcheville he also believes he has a player of genuine pace who can menace opposition defences when the campaign kicks off at the beginning of next month.

"We hope that Darcheville can bring that dimension to the team," said the Rangers manager. "We needed pace up front and he has it.

"We have tried different things to see how some of our new players handle different positions and that was a factor tonight. While we're disappointed to lose, especially to a deflected goal like that, winning was not the main object of the game. We have had six days of really intensive training as well as the three matches. We have now reached a level where the next week or so will be solely concentrated on the performances rather than, the level of fitness.

"We needed to make sure everyone was at a level where they could handle competitive games with the Champions League qualifier coming up so quickly."

Rangers will face either FBK Kaunas or Zeta in their opening European tie, with the first leg at Ibrox on July 31. The club will complete their preparations with friendlies against Falkirk, Ajax and Chelsea back in Scotland.

"The next three games will be mainly about sorting out a team and we may have to take into consideration the reports we receive from the first leg of Zeta against Kaunas," added Smith. "It could be that we have to think about what kind of team we will be playing against in Europe."

Roy Carroll is the only new signing yet to make his debut, but the former Wigan, Manchester United and West Ham goalkeeper will play in the next friendly.

"Roy needs a good level of training as he is still way behind the rest of them in that aspect," said Smith "But he will get a bit of the game on Saturday."

Current number one Allan McGregor echoed his manager’s sentiments about being prepared for the start of the season, and, crucially, the Champions League.

"The bottom line is we need to be ready to play well and win the first game of our season - and that's in the Champions League,” he said. "The SPL kicks in just a few days after that, and those are our targets. That's what we are building towards in terms of match fitness and the gaffer trying things out. So while Rangers want to win every game, we were very disappointed to lose.

"Everyone would agree what happens on July 31 is massive, so that's what we need to be prepared for."

Carroll as well as former Kilmarnock keeper Graeme Smith have been added to the ranks at Ibrox but McGregor is in no mood to step aside.

"I don't think I needed the two guys coming in to keep me on my toes - I am always focused on what I have to do here," he said. "I just want to be as consistent as last season and keep improving. Rangers always need competition for places, and the goalkeeping department is no different."

Hearts

He hasn’t sought showdown talks with Vladimir Romanov just yet, but Hearts keeper Craig Gordon has all but admitted that his Hearts career is drawing to a close. The Scotland keeper was subject of an £8m bid from Sunderland, a move that Hearts rejected. The Tynecastle club are believed to have placed a £10m pricetag on Gordon’s head, although it seems inevitable that the player will seek pastures new.

"I am just concentrating on trying to captain this team and as far as I'm aware no bid has been accepted,” shrugged Gordon as he got on with his pre-season duties. “That means there are no decisions for me to make or even think about.

"The speculation seems to come and go every now and then but at the moment it is probably the strongest it has been and who knows what will happen? There's a lot of money being talked about and whether it is true or not only the clubs will know for sure. A person is only worth what someone is willing to pay and players can go for vastly inflated sums of money if a team needs that kind of player. They will pay that little bit extra.

"I don't think you can put a value on anybody, it's the value the club puts on them that matters regardless of whether you feel you are worth it or not. But I'm not unhappy and I don't think it will come to a meeting with Mr Romanov. The communication between the club and myself has been fine so far and if I wanted to go and talk to Mr Romanov about it then I'm sure he would listen.

"Our relationship is as good as it has been over the last few years and I am sure if I had something to say he would be willing to listen to me. It's his decision on whether he accepts an amount of money and if he does then it is up to me whether I want to go to that club.

"There are still an awful lot of things to be decided between now and then and I have not had to make any decisions so far. It is out of my hands.

"I am quite laid back about it. The time will come at some point whether it is now, six months a year or five years where I will move on. It remains to be seen whether that time is now.

"I signed in 1999 when in started on the groundstaff and this is the beginning of my ninth season. That's a long time to be at a club and it will be a sad day when I go. But that day will come at some point and whether it is now or not remains to be seen."

While Gordon is keeping cool over what is potentially the biggest ever transfer fee for a Scottish born player, Sunderland are preparing to go back to Hearts with an increased offer for the player.