League placing: 1st
Scottish Cup: Winners League Cup: runners-up Europe: Champions League qualifying round two

Ins: None.

Outs: Christian Dailly, defender; Brahim Hemdani, midfielder; Dean Furman, midfielder; Graeme Smith, goalkeeper; Andy Webster, defender (loan); Barry Ferguson, midfielder; Charlie Adam, midfielder.

Walter Smith Rangers manager

We are looking forward to getting started this season in comparison to last year when there was a bit of trepidation after our exit from Europe.

Coincidentally, our first SPL outing last year was also against Falkirk, away from home, and we managed to scrape our way through that game as we did in a number of the early matches.

But now we are looking forward to getting going. There is a freshness about our group in comparison to last year.

This season will be a big change for our boys because, for the past two seasons, they have been challengers.

Sometimes it is a little bit easier to be a challenger than it is to be a champion.

There was an extra pressure on us in trying to win the championship last season and there will be that little bit of extra pressure on Celtic to win it back.

Similarly, there will be an extra pressure on us to defend the title so it's a big challenge for all of the boys because most of them haven't experienced that before.

Billy Dodds BBC pundit and former Rangers striker

Anyone who wins the league deserves it - the same could be said for Celtic in previous seasons. It wasn't one match that decided the destiny of the title, it was the whole season, and that's the way it's been for the last four or five years.

Rangers handled the pressure and I think they'll handle it again this season.

Rangers are at a stage now where they know they have enough to challenge Celtic for the title and they might pick up the odd player along the way, but they will work with what they have.

The way football is going, Rangers can cope with the demands, they have a big enough squad, and they feel they don't need to spend.

Walter Smith might dabble in the January transfer window, but he can mount a creditable challenge with the players in his squad. The fans will be screaming out for new signings, but that happens every season. There's no need for panic buys.

Madjid Bougherra and Steven Davis were stand-outs for Rangers last season. With Barry Ferguson leaving, Kevin Thompson will be be the player to watch if he can stay fit. Rangers missed that natural holding role last season and Thompson can bring that back. Those three will be the key players at Ibrox this season.

In terms of the title, it'll either be Rangers or Celtic who win the league - there's simply no money for other clubs to mount a challenge. With the recession biting, no-one else will come close.

It's going to be another close-call this year. Tony Mowbray has brought a freshness to Celtic, so they'll be in there all the way with Rangers. I think this one will go down to the wire again.

I'm going to predict Rangers to win the title, but it'll be another close-run thing.

For me, the lack of defensive cover is a concern for Europe, but I believe the cover available in Wilson, Little and McCulloch will be more than enough for the SPL.
BIGBEAR85

Good enough team to win the treble, but not sure about last 16 of the Champions League.
usedaforce

MY SPORT: DEBATE How will Rangers fare this term?

Worrying that we haven't signed a centre half, but hopefully Smith has a cunning plan. Not sure if Weir can last the full season and I worry about him in the Champions League as his age may finally start showing in that competition.

Overall too tight to call in the league. Be ready for another rollercoaster and for it to go right down to the wire again.
atholl_highlander

I don't see any reason why we can't win the league again despite not strengthening the squad, there's nothing to suggest that Celtic will put up a better challenge this season. I think Europe could be tough for us.
Fernando Macho

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