Slippers on and a balanced meal is in store tonight for Celtic players, as they prepare to face our nearest challengers in the league on Sunday. Their opponents have a game which should see them progress to the Europa League quarterfinals. Despite their 1-3 win in the first leg, Fenerbahce are not Queen’s Park, this will be a draining game for both sides.
It is a measurable fact that athletes do not fully replenish muscle glycogen within three days. Two games a week carries an energy burden, putting players into what sports scientists call the “red zone”.
Red zone concerns before Celtic last met Newco might well have cost Philippe Clement his job. Worried about Celtic, he rested players for the games in the week before Celtic’s visit. Newco took one point from six that week, rendering their win over Celtic moot. The league was gone and all Clement had was his “sports scientists” defence.
Celtic should have the advantage, but games are won on the pitch, not with rest and slippers. Three years ago Ange Postecoglou lost his only trophy in Scotland when Celtic lost a Scottish Cup semifinal to Newco, three days after Newco played a Europa League game, while Celtic players rested up.
Barry Ferguson might not know how many vowels there are in the English language, but he’s not stupid. Well, not really. Unlike Clement, he will know to avoid “red zone” chat this week. We can expect lots of running around on Sunday, for a part of the game, anyway.
I could not care less for Real Madrid, but the penalty event which saw them progress to the Champions League quarterfinal last night would normally be considered an emotional trauma. However we are talking about pain for Diego Simeone here. He lacked the courtesy to shake hands with Brendan Rodgers on the two occasions they met last season.
Real keeper Thibaut Courtois got it right with his post-match comments. “I’m always fed up with that victimhood, always crying over things.
“If you’re winning 1-0 in the first minute and don’t go for the second, that’s the fault of their game.”
Simeone and Athletico would kill the sport as entertainment if they prevailed. Fortunately, they never do. The tie was there for them and they closed the game down. And for the record, there was no video evidence of a double touch.
*Update: someone sent me a video clip of the penalty I hadn’t seen before. There was a double touch, VAR was right.
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EC67
I read today that the semi-automatic offside detects contact with the ball.
Very unlucky but rules are rules and they were applied correctly.
Was fed up saying it,Lagerbielke,was never a dud,flop,failure,whatever name thrown in his direction.Hope the kid carries on to bigger success..
Good afternoon all from the Brazen Head.
GEEBEE1978
There is no chip in the ball for UEFA Champions League.
Well we certainly wouldn’t want anybody disrespecting Brendan Rodgers, would we………
Don’t care for Real or Athletico but glad it’s not just me that could not detect the double touch even on a slow mo replay.
Incredibly harsh but if it had to happen then it couldn’t have landed better. Except for perhaps against whoever is managing Sevco at any given time maybe.
Never quite understood the animus towards Real Madrid from some but not all Celtic supporters.
Could that be the same Real who played Celtic in Glasgow in 1963, or who won the European Cup at Hampden Park a few years earlier. Or maybe it is the Real Madrid who hosted the new European Champions, for
Di Stefano’s testimonial in June of 1967?
The Battered Bunnet Bournesouprecipe
Thanks for posting of Eurochamps67,as you say One of the good guys.we have lost some cqn titans in this last year
HH
Huns v Fenerbache…
After watching the shocking display by Fenerbache last week at Home, I think their ONLY hope is that they score the 1st goal tonight, as it may just cause some panic with the Hun players and their fans ?
On the other hand IF the Huns score first, I can see Fenerbache throwing in the towel and the Huns winning by a few goals ?
From what I saw last week from Fenerbache v the Huns….I do NOT hold out much hope for them tonight unless they really get their act together and make it a tough night for the Huns ?
HH.
“*Update: someone sent me a video clip of the penalty I hadn’t seen before. There was a double touch, VAR was right.”
New clip to my eyes too – so his standing foot slightly touches the ball first before he kicks it? Presumably then when he kicks the ball it may be in contact with both feet as he is slipping at this point.
Still, clear and obvious though is doing some heavy lifting here unless they intend it to be this forensic. I guess given you can be offside by a toe nail, they do want this level.
At least it looks a factual overturn decision unlike some we’ve seen recently. Indeed, the clip I saw of it had panellists all stating he kicked it off his standing leg and none mentioned that initial contact from the standing foot.
Cheltenham Today…..
MON my Horses….Just Dae It.
LOL
HH.
Or the Real Madrid that ‘stole’ Di Stefano from Barcelona
An Tearmann
From previous.
Indeed.
Thanks.
HH.
AN TEARMANN on 13TH MARCH 2025 12:26 PM
The Battered Bunnet Bournesouprecipe
Thanks for posting of Eurochamps67,as you say One of the good guys.we have lost some cqn titans in this last year
HH
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👍
I’m reminded of the penalty ‘miss’ by Tom Rogic at hampden, when his standing foot pushed the new turf, which moved the ball, causing him to miss
From the previous thread
I’m a Peter Lawwell fan.
Happy to debate his merits, it does not mean he is infallible (John McGinn) but cash is king. He gets my vote
You could argue he is our most successful CEO ever (in terms of volume of trophies and cash in the bank)
The views and opinions of Burnley and Paul67 regarding PL and more importantly Brendan are up to them
Paul67 not being Brendans biggest fan, doesn’t keep me awake, he is entitled to his view
BUT
If Peter has a problem with Brendan (the assumption is Paul67 shares Peter’s view) well this would keep me awake at night.
Peter has been a model Chairman allowing the Board and the Manager to do their job
Brendan like Peter may not be infallible but what Brendan is doing right now is music to my ears
Let him play on I’m loving every minute
67ECW
67 European Cup Winners on 13th March 2025 12:43 pm
Have you ever bought a box of staples ????????????????????????
Did you get told what kind?????????????????
The hun match tonight will be interesting insofar as assessing Jose Mourinho’s managerial acumen.
His team were abhorrent in the first leg. I genuinely don’t think he bothered to watch or analyse the Huns prior to the game. Let’s see whether Jose is indeed yesterday’s man or retains something of his special skill set.
As it is, I’ll be watching Athletic Club v Roma, the early kick off is the tie of the round for me. I’ll check the hun score tomorrow.
It would be an ignominious end to a stellar career were Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce team to be papped out of European competition by a side managed by the 11th best Alloa manager of the past 30 years.
Or the Di Stefano who Celtic tried to sign from Real Madrid?
FRIDAY 13TH
I’m not superstitious, and it was an uneventful day today. I feel all right, and my weight is 58.5 kgs.
I was not so tired today, but my back gets sore now and again sitting in the bed. I didn’t get the Irish News, which makes me think there is probably something in it that they don’t wish me to see, but who cares. Fr Murphy was in tonight for a few minutes.
The Screws had a quick look around my cell today when I was out getting water. They are always snooping. I heard reports of men beaten up during a wing shift …
Nothing changes here.
Sean McKenna (the former hunger-striker) is back in H-4, apparently still a bit shaky but alive and still recovering, and hopefully he will do so to the full.
Mhúscail mé leis an gealbháin ar maidin agus an t-aon smaointe amháin i mo cheann – seo chugat lá eile a Roibeard. Cuireann é sin amhran a scríobh mé; bhfad ó shin i ndúil domsa.
Seo é cib é ar bith.
D’ éirigh mé ar maidin mar a tháinig an coimheádóir,
Bhuail sé mo dhoras go trom’s gan labhairt.
Dhearc mé ar na ballai, ‘S shíl mé nach raibh mé beo,
Tchítear nach n-imeoidh an t-iffrean seo go deo.
D’oscail an doras ‘s níor druideadh é go ciúin,
Ach ba chuma ar bith mar nach raibheamar inár suan.
Chuala mé éan ‘s ni fhaca mé geal an lae,
Is mian mór liom go raibh me go doimhin foai,
Ca bhfuil mo smaointi ar laethe a chuaigh romhainn,
S cá bhfuil an tsaol a smaoin mé abhí sa domhain,
Ni chluintear mo bhéic, ‘s ní fheictear mar a rith mo dheor,
Nuair a thigeann ar lá aithíocfaidh mé iad go mor.
Canaim é sin leis an phort Siun Ní Dhuibir.
Translated this reads as follows:
I awoke with the sparrows this morning and the only thought in my head was: here comes another day, Bobby — reminding me of a song I once wrote a long time ago.
This is it anyway:
I arose this morning as the Screw came,
He thumped my door heavily without speaking,
I stared at the walls, and thought I was dead,
It seems that this hell will never depart.
The door opened and it wasn’t closed gently,
But it didn’t really matter, we weren’t asleep.
I heard a bird and yet didn’t see the dawn of day,
Would that I were deep in the earth.
Where are my thoughts of days gone by,
And where is the life I once thought was in the world.
My cry is unheard and my tears flowing unseen,
When our day comes I shall repay them dearly.
I sing this to the tune Siun Ní Dhuibir.
Bhí na heiníní ag ceiliúracht inniú. Chaith ceann de na buachaillí arán amach as an fhuinneog, ar a leghad bhí duine éigin ag ithe. Uaigneach abhí mé ar feadh tamaill ar tráthnóna beag inniú ag éisteacht leis na préacháin ag screadáil agus ag teacht abhaile daobhtha. Dá gcluinfinn an fhuiseog álainn, brisfeadh sí mo chroí.
Anois mar a scríobhaim tá an corrcrothar ag caoineadh mar a théann siad tharam. Is maith liom na heiníní.
Bhuel caithfidh mé a dul mar má scríobhain níos mó ar na heiníní seo beidh mo dheora ag rith ‘s rachaidh mo smaointi ar ais chuig, an t-am nuair abhí mé ógánach, b’iad na laennta agus iad imithe go deo anois, ach thaitin siad liom agus ar a laghad níl dearmad deánta agam orthu, ta siad i mo chroí — oíche mhaith anois.
(Translated, this reads as follows:)
The birds were singing today. One of the boys threw bread out of the window. At least somebody was eating!
I was lonely for a while this evening, listening to the crows caw as they returned home. Should I hear the beautiful lark, she would rent my heart. Now, as I write, the odd curlew mournfully calls as they fly over. I like the birds.
Well, I must leave off, for if I write more about the birds my tears will fall and my thoughts return to the days of my youth.
They were the days, and gone forever now. But I enjoyed them. They are in my heart — good night, now.
Barry Ferguson has one more big orange FO motor than Brendan Rodgers
I noticed 3 or 4 players slipped a wee bit taking penalties last night
I was going to have a bet on Tuesday that Liverpool and Sevco would get beaten in their return games!
One down one to go, lol.
tickets for the William Hill Premiership match v Hearts (Saturday, March 29 | Kick-off 3pm) will go on general sale from 10am on Friday, March 14.
ZIGGYDOC1 on 13TH MARCH 2025 12:43 PM
I’m reminded of the penalty ‘miss’ by Tom Rogic at hampden, when his standing foot pushed the new turf, which moved the ball, causing him to miss
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Bang on.
I’m no fan of RM but Atletico fall into same category as Thems – I want them to lose every game, every time.
Having said that , it seems they have been deprived of a goal in the same way we were by Mr Muir recently.
In the absence of clear video evidence to establish the that the on-field decision was definitively wrong then the on-field decision should not be overturned.
All that video shows is that the ball moved , not that it was kicked twice.
My understanding is that the ball is not “in play “ until kicked for the first time so that if it is moved by the turf rather than the penalty takers foot it isn’t a double tap.
Having said all of that I won’t be crying myself to sleep over Atletico’s misfortune.
I watched the Madrid derby and was happy to see Real finally go through. It was harsh on Athletico to be denied the penalty and that their fans didnt seem to know what was happening.
During the game I was appalled by the simulation of players of both teams, rolling about when little or no contact. The microphone also picked up players screaming. The game was already a tinderbox and this simulation is plain cheating. Television also picks up these overreactions.
It ruined the match for me
I showed a friend two posts from here from two different posters .
He said must…. be a couple of hurting huns.
Astonishment etched on his face when I told no , both Celtic fans , in fact one is the most Uber Celtic fan your ever likely to meet .
Well they both have their own views and obviously their own agendas ……sad really .
Couldn’t disagree tbh .
Bada
Was going to get hospitality tickets for me and the small doll for the 29th but it’s for fartz. Their followers are worse than the hun so I’ll be going solo. Kilmarnock game a better bet for us together.
Paul 67,
“It is a measurable fact that athletes do not fully replenish muscle glycogen within three days. Two games a week carries an energy burden, putting players into what sports scientists call the “red zone”
————-
I agree, but im sure there will be some who would argue the very basic fundamentals of human biology.
For a long time I have stated that we have had a phycological block regardi g European football.
I niw feel that Brendan has addressed that failing and we are now a bona fide Champions League team.
As for the huns, Barry the ned is certainly no biopsychologist. He will be found wanting, but it may not be tonight.
HH.
As far as I can see Clement has made thems much fitter – their game plan now lasts the entire game – it took a long time for the game plan to work against us but they can do it all game.
We know what we’re up against on Sunday – in BR we trust !
Any defeat for serial cheats ( Athletico and Sevco) is fine with me 🤣
AIPPLE, thanks again for the diary extracts.
Ave Ave
Those cheating bassas have never won European cup/ECL and long may it continue ..,I echo sionnaigh’ s comments Aipple
Another fabulous weekend of sport in store for us with Cheltenham, GAA, Egball and oof course finishing up in Celtic Park with the big derby match although probably with less tension as the Title is already done and dusted.
Celtic are cantering to the winning post like Willie Mullins thoroughbreds but there’s still some important business to be taken care of on Sunday against Rangers who have another European final in their sights. Celtic are chalking up the victories in impressive style and Brendan knows how to win these derbies.
why might some celtic supporters dislike real madrid..
its not football successes, its politics, as always.
The story of Real Madrid and the Franco regime
https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/09/27/real-madrid-and-the-franco-regime/
what ever happened to ‘ball is in play after being kicked and the ball moves’?
ball never moved
looked to me that the madrid player called for it and ref went to VAR. If so, footie players are all thick😎
last night was not what the rule is for.
The penalty Athletico scored vs us last year was a better example. looked like it struck the post and double kick from Griezmann.
VAR or just the replay, showed Hart had got a touch on it.
Yer man didn’t play the ball with his left last night
Anyway, i think Sevco will get beat 2-1 tonight and progress in 90 mins.
I also think Bazza has a big choice to make on Sunday
1. try to copy the successful pressing game from New Year
2. be more pragmatic and go for a low block as they are away from home
I personally think it will be 2 and looking to break out through Cerny and Igamane/Dessers
PS just heard on Irish radio that Scales is dropped from Ireland squad and Vata is selected. How did Scotland let Vata slip away ?