Record Sport's Michael Gannon, Andy Newport and Ryan McDonald have tackled the big issues heading into the new season, from Arne Engels' anticipated departure to the future of the Commonwealth Games.
Arne Engels to West Ham: The verdict
Michael Gannon believes the move makes sense for all parties, insisting the fee is decent for Celtic and the player, who was destined to leave. He noted that while West Ham are in the Championship, they are a big club and will bounce straight back up, meaning Engels will be a Premier League player within 12 months. Gannon added that Celtic knew the transfer was coming and should have brought in midfield reinforcements before now.
Andy Newport thinks it is a decent move for the Belgian, who showed flashes of quality at Parkhead but seldom hit the expected heights consistently. He said the deal works for Celtic if the fee matches the £25m Nottingham Forest bid from January.
Ryan McDonald said banking £20m-plus would be great business, and while Engels will treble his wages, he was surprised the midfielder is settling for the second tier. He drew a comparison with Ryan Christie, who joined Bournemouth in the Championship and has thrived since.
Scottish Premiership: Surprise packages and title talk
Gannon expects Celtic and Rangers to potentially drop more points than last season, opening the door for a surprise challenger at least early on. He even floated a 'bonkers' bet of Aberdeen sitting top of the league by Halloween.
Newport is hoping for another thriller like last year's three-way title race, which captured global attention, and wants another nail-biting scrap for silverware.
McDonald is focused on the top of the table, questioning whether Rangers can last the pace or Celtic will claim a sixth consecutive title. While Hearts get plenty of attention, he is excited to see how Motherwell perform under new boss Johansson, who has made a flawless start in Europe.
FIFA: Infantino's position under fire
Gannon declared the FIFA chief is "cooked", claiming his plan to sell off parts of the World Cup has overreached and triggered a federation backlash that leaves his position untenable. He said Infantino has even made UEFA look like the good guys.
Newport believes that is only one of many reasons Infantino should be chased out of office, citing his close relationship with Donald Trump and branding him a disgrace to the sport.
McDonald pointed to UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC all vowing to boycott FIFA competitions as an effective vote of no confidence. He argued the proposals will eventually be scrapped, but Infantino's reign must end.
Commonwealth Games: Missed opportunity or a sign of things to come?
Gannon called the Glasgow event a huge missed opportunity, saying athletes and punters deserved more. He criticised ticket prices, half-hearted transport infrastructure and poor TV coverage on a paid platform, adding that the Games should have inspired youngsters like the 2014 edition did.
Newport gave credit to the athletes but said a cloud hangs over the event's future, made worse by miserable weather that left many events a damp squib. He doubts the Games will survive much longer.
McDonald noted Team Scotland are on course to finish fourth in the medal table, matching their position when Glasgow last hosted in 2014. He called it an enjoyable spectacle and said the athletes have done the nation proud, but he still fears for the event's long-term future.
