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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“Gie hum the joab………………….”.
Oh my, they’re celebrating like they’ve won the trophy.
These people never learn.
Long may it continue.
Those celebrations remind me of when they beat us 3-3 at ibrox.
At least B78 will be happy tonight.
Ouch
Cerny is a decent player, other than that not much skill on display. Maeda, Jota and Khun should run them ragged.
If our midfield shows up (and they didn’t in January), we should win with ease.
They were bad and they know it.Fenerbache should have had the game wrapped up,due to inept finishing, ‘they’ were let off the hook.Well another trophy to celebrate– getting to the quarter finals of a European trophy even though we didn’t deserve so cup’. A hammering on Sunday will be pleasing.
Missile thrown at the Fenerbache keeper. Guy picked it up and gave it to the ref. Hopefully a fine for the monkey’s
Turned the. Pens off.When it comes to the crunch,Turks have no bottle.Certainty they would fek it up.
Cerny is a good player.Need to watch him on Sunday.Apart from him,they are Hibs or Hearts.
Big blow for them to lose him.Another record shattered.4 defeats in a row at Ibrox.
Schlupp will sort out Cerny,not bothered about tonight, I had them through anyway,an extra 30 minutes great,
Turkeybhoy.
You are right about Cerny. Only footballer in a team full of cloggers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3d80p2v0x9o
Just watched this man united new stadium video for the first time.
Absolutely incredible.
Norman Foster is an architectural genius.
So talented in fact ….
…. he can even make Manchester sunny !
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
FF,
That was some performance.We are a European team of superb pedigree.
So much to take from tonight.
Where do you start?,except, 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I was really hoping the Souter and Diomande suspensions would carry onto next seasons CL qualifiers.
Bheaver (11.33pm), that’s exactly what concerns me for Sunday.
They had 7 players booked tonight as they left their mark on their opponents, no doubt as instructed by Barry The Thug Ferguson. And they’ll play it exactly the same way on Sunday, but with more pliant officials.
The instruction from Ferguson will be “kick them off the park”. And with no Kyogo to injure in the first 5 minutes (their usual opening gambit), will their alternative target be Maeda, Kühn… or both?
I hope Brendan has words with the ref before the match to insist that our players are protected. And I hope the GB (and any other miscreants) leave their pyrotechnics at home!
A 4 or 5 nil win will do me, and it would effectively leave us only needing to win the Ibrox game to flinch the title – though obviously I want us to win every remaining game to get to over 100 points, and if we maintain our current 3 goals per league game (with an extra couple on Sunday), we’ll beat our own SPL record for most goals in a season.
“clinch the title” 🤭
It’ll be the Hun hordes doing the flinching! 😂
Anyone remember the pasta party the last time we were in Europe in April. 21 years ago.
A lovely sunny night in Villarreal but sadly our hosts were less charitable on the park than off it.
I still have the Villarreal scarf swapped at the end of the game.
One of the last years we made a loss. We have won 17 leagues out of 22 since then.
Our biggest domestic rivals have been in Europe in April 5 times to our none. Despite our financial advantage. Despite their re-formation and time in the hedge.
It is a weird comparison or contrast.
For the record I dislike them winning anything Wee Bobby Collins. Many on here would testify to that.
I also attended every Celtic game in knockout stages after Xmas since 1977 up until Munich when I could not go through illness. It’s fair to say I spent a fair bit of time and money supporting Celtic. Regardless of your views.
Bigchipsuk
7-0 would do for me on Sunday.
B78, who to? 😂
Deniabhoy
I do agree but we need to show we have learned something about how they play us. Clearly we didn’t at ibrox after they had played similarly at Hampden. I think the change of manager and a more aggressive style might just suit us if the game is refereed fairly.
I think it could be a real good day for us.
The thing I hate about tonight is the extra cash and platform for their players that they have. They sold 2 ordinary ones for decent money after Seville. I hate the idea they can do the same again with this lot.
BURNLEY78, no one on here doubts you are a Celtic man :)
B78, their relative success in Europe is likely a product of their improved effectiveness against teams that take the game to them, leaving space for their attackers to break into, with Cerny particularly adept at playing this way. By playing our normal game last time we left ourselves open to this sucker punch.
When they pay other SPL teams who defend in numbers, they struggle to find a way through and leave themselves rather open at the back. But while the other SPL teams don’t have the speed and quality to break out of defence and score, we most certainly do.
So perhaps we should adopt a more defensive game on Sunday to pull them forward, then unleash our lightning fast trident of Jota, Maeda and Kühn to pick them off over and over…
Our biggest domestic rivals have been in Europe in April 5 times to our none. Despite our financial advantage. Despite their re-formation and time in the hedge.
Unfortunately no amount of financial advantage can force UEFA to let us into the Europa League instead of the CL.
glycogen
after each of the 2 semi-finals v Boavista, we played the huns 3 days later.
we won both games.
must have been down BR not being the manager tho…
The thing I hate about tonight is the extra cash and platform for their players that they have. They sold 2 ordinary ones for decent money after Seville. I hate the idea they can do the same again with this lot.
Agreed 100%
At least they cannot sell Cerny.
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/25005102.rangers-host-glasgows-first-ever-iftar-celebration/?dicbo=v2-M4Rvsxn
wonder if they’ll be flying their Star of David flags to welcome them
Good morning all.
Bring on Der Hun.
D. :)
Hoople 14 Mar 2025: 3/6
❌❌🏆❌🏆❌
❌❌🏆🏆🏆🏆
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/hoople/
#hoople #celtic #celticfc
Fenerbache left themselves too much work to do in the end.
Commiserations to Barry Ferguson who went from one of the best managers in European football history to an also ran in the space of that match. Life comes at you fast.
Unfortunately no amount of financial advantage can force UEFA to let us into the Europa League instead of the CL.
——
😂
There’s a thin line between success and failure. Huns lose on penalties and they’re shite, fans only think about losing 2-0. They win and they’re brilliant again, newspapers talk usual shite. They will be ecstatic though and will stick by the team now, irrespective of result on Sunday (unless we totally gub them, which is unlikely).
Good morning all from Govanhill. Day 4 Cheltenham. I could be rich!
I wonder who was Beaton and McLean’s favourite player, when they were boys
Ziggydoc1
Anybody in a hun shirt.
My friends in Celtic,
The huns got lucky last night. Luck will not be enough to progress further
There is a massive gulf between the Champions League and the lesser European trophy’s. However if the very unlikely happened and they won the Europa, would that be a better season than winning a domestic treble ?
I have my own opinion.
HH.
bigrailroadblues on 14th March 2025 8:24 am
Ziggydoc1
Anybody in a hun shirt
____
A Hugh Dallas pat on the bum inspired Bazza :)
CHELTENHAM DAY 3…
I had Three Winners on Thursday at Cheltenham…..the Early Odds were, 12/1, 3/1 and 6/4.
BOB OLINGER won at 8/1, but I had it at 12/1. Jockey Rachel Blackmore is a very talented Jockey.
I also had the QUADPOT come up but it only paid out £7.80 for a £1 Stake. I just missed out on the PLACEPOT with my final selection NOT Placed. The Placepot paid just over £80.00 for a £1 Stake.
I managed to have the SPURS V AZ Correct Score come up at odds of 9/1.
Not a great day by any means…..I will see how my Horses run Today ( The 4th and Final Day) ?
So far over the first Three Days, I have had 10 Winners from 21 Races that have been run.
I must do better !
LOL.
HH.
MH
Hoople – took 4.
You are really good at this!
Huns v Fenerbache…
I didnt watch the game, but knowing the Full Time Score at 90 minutes ( 2 – 0 to Fenerbache ), I switched to watch the Penalty Shoot Out.
It appeared that Fenerbache were about to MAYBE change their Goalie for the shoot out, as their Goalie may have been injured………MCCOIST was OUTRAGED, and SCREAMING down his Microphone….” WHO DECIDES that their Goalie is injured” ?
The commentator was quick to tell McCoist that it was probably the teams Doctor.
McCoist wasnt having it, and was clearly unhappy with the previous 90 minutes. He OBVIOUSLY hadnt thought that the Huns could get beat AGAIN at Ipox.
WHY did McCoist demand to know WHO makes medical decisions ?
What a Hun CHUMP….A total embarrassment.