FORGET HEARTS ..THEY WON'T MOUNT SERIOUS TITLE CHALLENGE

GLORIFIED pre-season friendlies mean nothing to me so it was great to see the SPL roar back to life yesterday.

Thankfully, the fans will get far more value for money now we're back to meaningful games and I saw Celtic start the defence of their title with an easy 4-1 home win over Kilmarnock.

But there's still more nonsense to come and the Hoops players will find it absurd that they're now being asked to play a friendly in the early hours of Thursday morning in Japan. The trip to take on Shunsuke Nakamura's old club Yokohama Marinos is purely for marketing purposes.

And the timing of their jaunt is madness as it comes just days before an SPL crunch against title rivals Hearts at Tynecastle.

Celtic are obliged to explore every market but why make such a draining journey only days after the season has started? It's the worst preparation for facing the Jambos.

Hearts will be also travelling in midweek as they head to Bosnia for a Champions League qualifier with Siroki Brijeg.

But with a 3-0 lead from the first leg at Murrayfield they look certs to go through and that result will make them buoyant.

Valdas Ivanauskas' men will then be just 180 minutes away from the group stages of Europe's premier competition with AEK Athens standing in their way.

A European run will boost confidence at Tynecastle but spare me the predictable guff that they will build on last season and give the Old Firm a run for their money.

Hearts did NOT compete for the title last term as many would have you believe.

They only thing they accomplished in the league was holding off a terrible Rangers team for second place.

There's more to competing for a championship than winning a few games at the start of the campaign. Pushing for a title means being involved from March onwards.

Hearts will find that more difficult with European games as a distraction and owner Vladimir Romanov will probably feel the need to interfere at some point. That's his style.

The Jambos are capable of beating the Old Firm on their day - as are Hibs, Aberdeen and one or two others. But my guess is we'll be reverting to another Old Firm title race.

Celtic have to make some key moves in the transfer market before they can feel confident of retaining the flag. Their priority has to be getting unsettled midfielder Stan Petrov out of the door. Boss Gordon Strachan can then use the money to add quality to his squad.

Celtic are crying out for a left-back and a striker with physical presence. Petrov's departure would also leave a gap in midfield.

The Bulgarian desperately wants away and his lack of commitment can only hinder Celtic's title chances.

Strachan has no option but to say Petrov looks great in training and is the same guy who penned a four-year deal just months ago.

But when a player wants to leave - especially such an influential and talented one as Stan - the unhappiness is bound to show in his game. Strachan has added more of a Scottish flavour to his squad with the capture of Gary Caldwell, Kenny Miller and Derek Riordan.

Of the three, Riordan has the most potential and should be a big success.

His goal-scoring record for Hibs was excellent and if he can show the maturity to reach the next level and stay away from trouble Celtic could have found a gem.

Riordan can score from any angle and with either foot. He can spot a pass too.

The 23-year-old will find himself a marked man now he has moved to one of the big two. Defenders always raise their game against the Old Firm. But Riordan has the talent - just look at some of the spectacular goals he scored for the Hibees.

The challenge for him is to do it with a bigger club and claim his fair share of tap-ins.

Celtic create heaps of chances in the six-yard box and if Riordan gets in where it hurts he could surpass his scoring exploits at Hibs.

Strachan's side won the league at a canter last term but rejuvenated Rangers won't give them such an easy ride in the new season.

The arrival of Paul Le Guen has added spice to the title race.

The Frenchman showed he wasn't going to be messed with when he sent Fernando Ricksen home from the tour of South Africa for misbehaving.

His actions were clear, concise but ultimately fair.

That's sound management.

The fans will also have no qualms with the way he has handled players like Bob Malcolm and Marvin Andrews. No messing - he doesn't like them and wants them out. Players want the gaffer to be honest - there's nothing worse than hanging about for a handful of starts.

Fans will be disappointed more money hasn't been given to Le Guen after rumours of a £10m warchest.

But the lack of big-name signings could help some Rangers youngsters develop.

Charlie Adam must be pinching himself at the thought of being considered for the first team.

The midfielder spent last term on loan to St Mirren and being at the sharp end under Le Guen will seem like a dream.

With Scotland's kids getting to the final of the European Championships, yet another home-grown star making the grade at Ibrox is a massive boost.

The challenge is to take these promising youngsters and mould a memorable Scotland senior side.

Taken from the Sunday Mail