For nine years. the only speculation at the start of a Scottish Premier season has been about who will finish second to CELTIC. But, with a resurgent RANGERS threatening that dominance last season, are there grounds for optimism in believing that the monopoly may be about to come to an end?
Can Celtic make it 10 in a row?
CELTIC have lost Dedryck Boyata, Mikael Lustig, Cristian Gamboa, Emilio Izaguirre and Youssouf Mulumbu since last season but have added Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Luca Connell. All of their signings have so far being defensive but Neil Lennon is preparing himself for the possible loss of Kieran Tierney before the transfer window closes. Scott Sinclair could also be a late departure but the reason that the Hoops have dominated for so long is that they pay the highest wages so will therefore always have the strongest squad. You won’t get rich backing them at a best 4/9 with Unibet to win the Premiership – but what are the alternatives?
Has Gerrard learned from his first year at Ibrox?
RANGERS put up a good fight last season and finished strongly. Steven Gerrard has raided south of the border to bring in Joe Aribo and Sheyi Ojo with Steven Davis turning his loan into a permanent move. Fellow Northern Ireland internationals Kyle Lafferty and Gareth McAuley depart Ibrox. For all their improvement last season, the Gers still finished nine points behind their arch-rivals and failed to reach a single cup final. They are still only a best 9/4 for the title and only a best 1/7 in the Betting Without Celtic.
Best Of The Rest
Only fourth in the league last season, ABERDEEN will have to cope without Graeme Shinnie this term. Ryan Hedges could be a useful acquisition, however, and Curtis Main has arrived from Motherwell to boost the attack. Craig Bryson and Funjo Ojo should also ensure that the Aberdeen forwards see plenty of the ball and the Dons get an 18-point start in the Handicap Betting with Coral (9/1) with Celtic off scratch and Rangers only receiving five points.
KILMARNOCK performed a minor miracle to finish third last season. But much of their success was down to the organisational skills of manager Steve Clarke, who has left to take the Scotland job. Jordan Jones has completed his move to Rangers and Greg Stewart has also gone. Killie’s season has already started badly with defeat by Welsh part-timers Connah’s Quay Nomads in Europa League qualifying and there may be worse to come. Kilmarnock make some appeal to finish in the bottom six this season.
Edinburgh rivals HEARTS and HIBERNIAN are not likely to figure in either the battle at the top or the relegation scrap.
But Paul Heckingbottom will be keen to continue the progress that Hibs showed under him in the second half of last season. They’ve persuaded Scott Allan to return to Easter Road and have paid £250,000 for Forest Green striker Christian Doidge so fans are hopeful – they are 4/5 with Ladbrokes to finish above Hearts.
Who will finish bottom?
ROSS COUNTY and HAMILTON ACADEMICAL are likely to struggle again with small budgets and bargain-basement squads but ST MIRREN look worthy favourites at a general 9/4 to finish bottom of the pile.
It’s still a mystery how the Paisley club managed to avoid the drop last season and club legend Jim Goodwin faces a mammoth task to steer his team away from the trap door this campaign. On paper, they have the worst defence in the division.
Odds to Finish Bottom of the 19/20 Scottish Premiership
St Mirren 9/4, Ross County 3/1, Hamilton Academical 10/3, Livingston 8/1, St Johnstone 25/1, Motherwell 28/1, Kilmarnock 66/1, Hearts 150/1, Hibernian 200/1, Aberdeen 750/1
(Odds correct at 1.30pm July 31)
