Livingston

Who will win the League, Scottish Cup, and Champions League?
With Celtic not winning anything last season, they'll have the bit between their teeth and will win the championship. But it might depend on whoever has the most successful run in Europe — the other side could win the title. If Celtic win the League, I can see Rangers winning the Cup. Real Madrid for the Champions League

Who will be relegated?
The teams who were down there last year, with the exception of Dundee United and hopefully us — Motherwell and Partick

Ideal number of clubs in the League?
We should have two Leagues — a top one of 16-18 teams, and a bigger, stronger First Divison. The teams outside that should move into junior football

Worst ground to play at?
Albion Rovers's Cliftonhill. We were drawn against them in the Cup a year back and we had to share the changing room with them. One of our players was sitting on the toilet before the game and a young supporter nudged a brick out of the way to get a look at him. The game was eventually abandoned due to floodlight failure

Any pre-match rituals in your team?
Davide Xausa strides about the dressing room in his underpants with his personal stereo on and massive DJ-style headphones, listening to American hip hop and rapping under his breath

Memorable moment from last year?
Leading the team out against FC Vaduz and Sturm Graz in the Uefa Cup

Which musician should write your club song?
Damon Albarn, of Blur, writes a lot of soundtracks these days. Blur were one of my favourite bands when I was younger

Rob McLean or Jim Delahunt?
I've sat beside them both in a studio and they're both pretty good at their jobs, but the BBC show is a bit more professionally done, so I'll say Rob McLean

Rule change?
Getting booked for celebrating should be scrapped. It's a rule made by people who have never played the game. I'm not saying it's right to taunt opposition fans but Phil Stamp picking up a second booking, when he celebrated with the Hearts fans after scoring the winner against Hibs last season, was an absolute nonsense

Describe manager Davie Hay in three words:
Patient, intelligent, driven

3 key questions that will decide this season

1 Will Marcio Maximo's ideas translate?
Most recently technical director of the Cayman Islands, the Brazilian is an intriguing choice by Dominic Keane, the Livingston chairman, to be the new head coach. You got the impression Keane stopped being excited by his club last year, but Maximo is an attempt to do something about that — he's a man who once coached Ronaldo. Communication, however, is bound to be an issue, and making the Livingston players understand what he wants from them is essential if Maximo is to have the maximum impact at the City Stadium

2 Who will have the last word on team selection? Livingston have long picked the side by proxy. When Jim Leishman shared managerial duties with David Hay, they would discuss matters between themselves before agreeing on a final choice. Both insisted there was never conflict. As the senior figure, Hay will anticipate having the final say with Maximo and, in theory, that is how it should work out. Hay has already admitted that privately he may have to remind Maximo: "This is Scotland, not the Maracana". Already you sense new Scottish signings like Derek Lilley and Jamie McAllister were unlikely to have been instigated by the newcomer

3 Are forward-thinking Livingston heading reluctantly backwards?
An astonishing rise from Meadowbank to West Lothian has given Livingston their place in Scottish football history, but there is always the nagging concern that what goes up must come down. After defying predictions in the opening SPL season to finish third, Livingston were firmly planted in the bottom half last term. Establishing a fanbase remains a work in progress and needs to be sustained by Premierleague football. The question of what is Livingston's true level remains unresolved. Sustaining what they have already achieved is the challenge. Might this be a romantic tale with a heartbreaking conclusion?

New arrival

Jamie McAllister was part of the Scotland Future squad, but Aberdeen decided that he was not part of their future squad. Having long been grouped as one of the many promising youngsters at Pittodrie, the official reason for him going was a shift in formation to 3-5-2, but if they rated him he would have stayed and adapted. McAllister has it all to prove at Livingston, but if he gets it right he will form a potent right flank with Burton O'Brien

Strongest XI

Main
Toure-Maman
Rubio
Andrews
McAllister
Makel
Lovell
Quino
O'Brien
Wilson
Lilley

The squad

Alan Main G
Julian Maidana D
Oscar Rubio D
Marvin Andrews D
Emmanuel Dorado D
Barry Wilson M
Francisco Quino M
Lee Makel M
Stuart Lovell M
David McEwan G
Richard Brittain M
Burton O'Brien M
David McNamee D
Colin McMenamin F
F'ndo Pasquinelli F
Cherif Toure-Maman M
Jamie McAllister D
Theodore Whitmore M
Derek Lilley F
Guy Ipoua F
Manager: Davie Hay

Celebrity fan

Robin Cook, MP
The rise of the Lions has been fantastic, with a historic first venture into European football last season. We'll see some Latin American flair this time, with a top-six place being the reward for everyone's efforts at Almondvale

Where are they now?

Scott Crabbe: The former Livingston striker now plies his trade with Alloa, and turned out for Hearts in the Scottish Masters six-a-side