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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Betis down to 10 men
Guess the “Real” part isnt cutting it….
Just watched a couple of minutes of the Huns` game. From that small sample , I thought the Turks looked like a team without confidence. I fully expect Sevco to go through.
Get in there.
Goal. 😅🤣😂
My timing is just perfect :-))))
3-3
2-2 at Ayebrokes
Extra time please….
Whoops
0-2
The hun are hopeless. On a good day.
Come on Spurs
3-1 on the night
Again, based on just a few minutes of watching, I thought the Huns were playing quite well and Fenerbahce were making lots of mistakes.
So, what would we like:
a) The Huns to lose in normal time;
The Huns to lose in Extra time;
c) The Huns to lose on penalties;
d) The Huns to have a glorious victory?
PS One of the above is lighthearted.
Oh my. Two, really, really bad teams going head-to-head.
Can’t believe what I’m watching.
MON the extra time.
Tadic and Djecko are well past it. Fernabache well on top until those 2 came on.
Uefa want ManUre in the eight
extra time 🤞
extra time 🤞
extra time 🤞
Super salary is top tier tonight. Absolutely
Hot Smoked
Option C please.
Tav missing the final penalty would be the icing on the world’s biggest ever cake.
Imagine watching this stuff every week.
Wee Barry has the makings of a great manager
garygillespieshamstring on 13th March 2025 9:50 pm
Yes, I would like a penalty loss as well but I wouldn`t enjoy watching it !
I think Tav actually comes over as a half decent person so I would like Ferguson to miss !
Who’ll win the extra time scrap between the Special One and the Special Hun ?
Been flicking to and fro with the Apprentice
But enuff aboot Bazza
Nice.
Extra time.
Look what the BBC printed in their ongoing Match Report:
Rangers 0-2 Fenerbahce (agg 3-2)
McCoist , master of hindsight ☹️
Extra-time is pretty nice for us :-)) ( and a ready made excuse for the MSSM if the Huns lose on Sunday).
This won’t matter on Sunday. We have to get right into them. Never underestimate the hun.
Anyway chaps,it is a good night from me,
Goodnight.
Another tough. 30 minutes for the Sevco .
Could go any way now , although Fenerbahce have missed some great chances .
Hot Smoked
Not watching.
I still have the irrational belief that I can influence the outcome of a football match on the other side of the world by pressing a button on my remote control.
bigrailroadblues on 13th March 2025 9:59 pm
I agree with sentences two and three but recovery time is a fact so although not a guarantee to make a telling difference, it still does make a difference of sorts.
Definitely off now.
Well,wallet added to nicely,and ET being played at,as Rory loves to call it,”Fortress Ibrox”.
Dont care now.
4 home defeats in a row
@garygillespieshamstring on 13th March 2025 10:01 pm
I still have the irrational belief that I can influence the outcome of a football match on the other side of the world by pressing a button on my remote control.@
I`m the same :-))))
Definitely, definitely off now !
Perfect scenario at Ayebrokes….
ET could have a negative impact on Glycogen levels….
Jim the hall of famer scored an og tonight.
Hot Smoked
Who asked you anyway J ?🤣
Wee Bawwy doing well here 4 home defeats in knockout competitions as well.
What’s that I hear you say skippy ” is B78 here to tell us how great wee Bawwy is and how bad BR is).
Shhhhurly not
D. :)