Ajax will have too much for the Bhoys

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: AJAX v CELTIC – GO TO MARKET

What a bizarre pre-season this must be for Celtic.

Of course, in many ways it is business as usual for the Bhoys, whose playing staff will be getting put through their paces by manager Neil Lennon ahead of the start of the SPL season at the beginning of August.

But that doesn’t even begin to tell the story, does it? Just down the road, fierce enemies Rangers have gone into financial meltdown after years of mismanagement at boardroom level and have been punished in the most strenuous ways imaginable.

A transfer embargo was bad enough, but Rangers have now been expelled from the SPL and relegated to the Scottish Third Division.

Ajax have blasted 21 goals in four warm-up matches so far, so back the 27/20 that says they steal an early march on Celtic and are winning at half-time as well as the final whistle.

Of course, Celtic supporters are unlikely to show their counterparts any sympathy – in fact, fans of most clubs have adopted a ‘serves you right’ attitude towards the horrible element of Rangers’ fan base – but the latest example of football eating itself has put Celtic in a strange position.

The Hoops start pre-season knowing they cannot fail to win the SPL title, such is their advantage over the rest of the league (many of whom look set to go into administration as a result of Rangers’ absence).

But what kind of position is that to be in? As much as Lennon and the players will just do their job, the club cannot be relishing a new season where ‘glory’ is guaranteed and many of their opponents will do well to last the year.

It means Celtic should make the most of games like Saturday, when they travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax in a match between two fallen European powerhouses.

There has been a suggestion that Celtic will be looking to improve in Europe thanks to Scotland’s domestic woes and with Champions League qualifiers on the horizon, this is the sort of test Celtic need to get up to speed for their tie against HJK Helsinki, who lead 7-0 from the first leg of their first-round qualifier.

Odds of 17/4 suggest that the bwin bookmakers don’t fancy their chances of a morale-boosting win, with Ajax the 14/25 favourites and the draw quoted at 13/5.

Bhoys fans registering with bwin today can receive a free £20 bet and placing this on their men to spring a surprise would return a cool £105 if successful.

However, I suspect the odds compilers may be right, as Ajax are a cut above their Scottish opponents.

Frank de Boer’s side won the Eredivisie last term and have a fine young team, led by creative fulcrum Christian Eriksen, which has those connected to the club reminiscing about the glory days.

De Boer has resisted overtures from other clubs, including Liverpool, to remain the integral part of an exciting project and they have too much class for Celtic, who have a terrible record on their travels in Europe.

Ajax have blasted 21 goals in four warm-up matches so far, so back the 27/20 that says they steal an early march on Celtic and are winning at half-time as well as the final whistle.

Recommended bet: Ajax/Ajax half-time/full-time result @ 27/20

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