CHRIS Sutton seems to have two emotions when on television, anger and frustration, and we can now add excitement to his repertoire.

We are three days away from the start of the sporting world’s strangest and by far intriguing thing: Scottish fitba. And those of us, the former Celtic players included, who love our game find a level of excitement about what it to come which many feared had gone forever.

Sutton believes this is going to be the best season for many a year, one which will be filled with drama, tension, shocks, scandals and, of course, sheer bampottery.

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The best pundit on television - admit it, you love him on BT Sport – sees an eight league win for Celtic who he fears in terms of their defence and the manager’s happiness in Glasgow.

But then Steven Gerrard isn’t here for second place and will give Brendan Rodgers his biggest test. Plus, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen have got better.

And one thing he believes it will be is fun. Which is good.

“I think this is the most exciting it has been before a season for however many years,” said Sutton. “The addition of Steven Gerrard gives an added spice to the league. As a player, he accomplished so many things and he is not coming up here to finish second. But he has one hell of a job on his hands.

“On the flip side, you have Brendan Rodgers who sees an ex-pupil come north of the border, with Gary McAllister as well. They are going to pose a challenge. This will be Brendan’s biggest test so far.

“I don’t think Steven Gerrard would come up unless he actually thought he could do something. A lot will come down to recruitment. We have seen a number of personnel changes and I think that had to happen but Celtic still hold all the aces.

“I still feel Celtic need strengthening in that central defensive area. Rangers are still an unknown quantity, although they have started well in the Europa League and haven’t conceded a goal. Other teams will be up there as well. Hibs have lost players but it is never dull with Neil Lennon around.

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“Aberdeen’s recruitment has been interesting. Have they got enough firepower? But their performance against Burnley was really impressive.”

So, what about Rodgers who has not been his usual self? Sutton has been reading the Celtic manager’s body language and he doesn’t like what he’s soon.

“In January, Brendan was saying he was really happy with everything and the way things had gone,” said Sutton. “He thanked Peter Lawwell and the board. It’s the first time we have seen him lay down a bit of a challenge to say that he’s not happy.

“Last year he was talking about being the ‘manager’. This year he’s the ‘coach’ and recruitment isn’t his job, which is in contrast to what he said before. So that’s a worry. Lee Congerton was brought in by Brendan.

“There have been question marks about Brendan this week. He didn’t seem happy. I wasn’t there but I read what he said after the Rosenborg game. I don’t know whether he is laying down bit of a challenge to Peter Lawwell.

“I think it’s a little bit of worry if you’re a Celtic fan. I think he was inferring that he wanted to get players in but for some reason, that’s not happening.”

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All eyes will be on Gerrard and what he can do with Rangers and it all starts on Sunday when they go to a full Pittodrie. If that hasn’t got your juices flowing then check for a pulse.

“Look, Gerrard will need time to build his team,” said Sutton. “It’s a question of whether he is going to get time. He has brought in these players and made changes, which he had to do, and we need to judge the man at Christmas rather than right now.

“We all know what could happen. He could lose up at Aberdeen and the pressure would be on because of the hysteria. But he will need to work with that team. It won’t click overnight. You could tell after the European performances that he wasn’t happy. He is moulding a side, making signings and from a Rangers point of view they simply have to knuckle down.

“He is signing players with character and grit. Rangers need to try and stay in the race and stay with Celtic and a squad blessed with stronger quality. There is no doubt about that. Rangers have to hang in there and that won’t be easy.”

And he added: “At the start of the season I think very few of the Rangers players would get in the Celtic team. I don’t think any more than three although these players deserve an opportunity to show what they can do. “

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But Sutton is not having the latest player to be wanted by Gerrard.

“I think Kyle Lafferty over the years has been a good footballer but I think it would be an underwhelming signing,” he said.

“I don’t think he is as good as Alfredo Morelos. I know Morelos has his critics about his finishing ability. But, I think he is a handful.

“Lafferty, at his age, is a player who needs to play games. We all know he is ab bit of a nutter at times. I’m not so sure he will be the answer. I don’t know if he will be a good influence, but why would you want to chuck in a time bomb at this stage when everything seems to be going smoothly at Rangers.”

Why? Because it’s Scottish football, that why. We need some bomb chucking. Not in a general sense. Of course.

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