The Scottish Cup quarter-finals get underway tonight as Hearts and Dundee get the chance to become the first side into the semis. Tomorrow, Queen’s Park visit Aberdeen while Livingston are home to St Johnstone on Monday evening.
Having watched Queen’s Park crumble against Scott Brown’s Ayr United on Tuesday, I don’t expect the lower league side to remain in the competition after their visit to Pittodrie. Fellow Championship club Livingston will fancy their chances against St Johnstone. Livi are still in contention for the title but will comfortably finish in the promotion play-off places. They could yet have a more important couple of games against the Perth side this season.
You and I have a great cup tie to look forward to on Sunday. Sure Celtic Park will be covered in banners of green, as so many people leave Edinburgh for a sporting event you would think the rugby was on. Try, though the club often has, to forget it, Hibernian have a different heritage to much of Edinburgh, indeed, for their first 45 years of their existence, Leith was a town in its own right.
Hibs performances have earned them the right to feel the hand of history upon their shoulder with respect to this season’s Cup. The last time they won a Scottish Cup tie at Celtic Park was 1902. Unusually, this was the final and was against Celtic. It was also the last time they won the Cup until current manager and then captain, David Gray scored the winner in the 2016 final.
When their team is on an historically good run, football fans believe in destiny. The 7,000 in the away end on Sunday are there to inspire an historic performance out of their team. You and I have a part to play in making sure that doesn’t happen.
Well done to our Coefficient Monkeys last night. I have lost count of all the Champions League money they have earned us in recent seasons. They truly are the most generous collection of ‘turn it on when it suits us’ merchants in the business.
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St.Stivs
I wish UEFA would give different weightings to
Champions League
Europa League
Europa Conference
HH
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it does in the bonus pointss
Saint Stivs on 7th March 2025 2:04 pm
“when something called the rangers played in the same group level competition as us, notably the champions league group, how many co-effcient points did they gather ?
was it a big fat zero ?”
Ah now, did they not get a point or two for qualifying for the groups before they added a big fat zero by recording the worst results ever?
On the accruing of these points, I thought that I read somewhere that EUFA had recently adjusted the co-efficient system to weight it to recognise CL wins are harder than EL wins that CL wins etc?
I do miss the drop down from each competition to the other, it really did help improve the quality of the teams/games in the later stages of the lesser euro competitions.
UEFA Coefficients calculation method
UEFA European Cup Football
by Bert Kassies
For history and details of the calculation method see below.
UEFA coefficients are based on the performance of clubs in the European Cups during a five year period. During those 5 years match results (2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw) are awarded from the group stage onwards of the Champions League (CL), the Europa League (EL), and the Conference League (CO). However, in the knockout round play-offs, match results do count for the country ranking but not for the club ranking.
In addition bonus points are allocated for reaching the round of 16, the quarter finals, the semi finals and the finals. For each stage in CL the bonus is 1.5 point, for each stage in EL the bonus is 1 point, and for each stage in CO the bonus is 0.5 point.
Furthermore there are bonus points for the final ranking of the league stage. Clubs at ranks between 1-9, 9-17, 17-25 get bonus points on a linear scale between the indicated ranks. Clubs between rank 25-36 get the same bonus points as those at rank 25.
Re. McCoist and Hamilton their anguish and inability to look at still pictures, which in both occasions, clearly demonstrated the goals were offside, what’s difficult to understand? As well as that, as someone mentioned earlier, Hamilton wanting a ‘margin of error’.
McCoist is an awful co commentator and seems to be on so many games, across different channels. As I’ve said before his agent is a genius, however by and large the co commentary on football is so bad, no wonder he gets the jobs there’s not exactly a queue of people waiting in the wings with some insights. As Mick McCarthy once remarked co commentary is supposed to be about not describing what’s happening, that’s what the video is for, we can all see it, but actually outlining why something might have happened and how it might be negated or enhanced at the next phase of play, it’s not supposed to be audio description!
I am sure we can all recall some really great Scottish cup games with Hibs at Hampden, likewise some League Cup and even Dryburgh Cup. Personally I am struggling to recall any Scottish Cup games at Celtic Park.
Aside from the 6-1 Cup Final and MON’s treble 3-0 one which sticks out in my mind was the 4-3 defeat at Easter Rd in the Scottish Cup exactly 39 years ago tomorrow.
Why does a defeat and cup elimination register to positively for this Celtic supporter ?
Well as I wearily walked up Leith Walk that day after losing 4-3 in an absolute bonkers match I had resigned myself to a miserable season chasing Aberdeen Dundee Utd and now Hearts for the honours.
We were 4th in the league and showing no form or consistency. Hearts inching away and showing no sign of losing. We had ibrox to go to and we were now out of both cups.
We had 10 games left in the league. Incredibly that was our last loss of the season. We drew with United and then same at Ibrox. We then won 8 in a row to win the league at Love Street on Albert Kidd day.
Losing that crazy game helped us focus and deliver the title against all odds.
NB our average home crowd for the final 5 home games was less than 20,000 that season. And we had a cracking attacking team at the time playing awesome football when it did click. God bless Davie Hay.
I would rather we kept our focus on the treble this Sunday. Great Celtic times.
Quadbhoy
It definitely is weighted much more fairly now than before. Re CL v EL v EC co effs.
I see the audio of the VAR Daizen Maeda goal at Easter Rd confirms that VAR had no evidence to overturn the referees decision.
As predicted from the moment it happened CSC
Coefficients eh?
Who came up with them?
Who made them so complicated?
Yawn.
So R2ngers have a higher 5-year coefficient score than us.
Genuine question. So what?
Other than their fans having bragging rights?
There is no downside to that specific situ.
None.
Nada.
BSR any links to the audio?
Brendan’s Presser
I thought the team looked miles off it during the first half at Love Street.
Understandable.
The players and coaches know we’ve won the league.
Subconsciously, easy to switch off just a bit.
Brendan will already be thinking about how he can rest players for short periods BEFORE the end of this season … as part of a process to have them razor sharp fit for Champions League play off in August.
If we drop off before season’s end, just means we’re dropping off.
Doesn’t mean others are “closing the gap”
Interestingly, we have a maximum of 12 competitive games left to play this season.
Incredibly, we could win 5 and lose 7 ….
…. and still win the treble.
Glendalys
The VAR review
So Alan Muir overturned a referees decison based on no evidence. He should be sacked by the SFA forthwith for cheating.
Ten men
They all cheat
KINGLUBO,
Seems there is now proof of his cheating…..
Interesting footage of the VAR review there.
Much to ponder
Willie actually talks well
VAR has brought cheating out of the shadows
Muir appears to make unusual decisions which unfairly penalise Celtic
https://youtu.be/nxVKVzcBqGg?si=oy3q2TwfuAYKPAlO
More than enough on Muir for the Club to say,we are not having him anymore
He was the one saying no for Daizens penalty against Motherwell
I remember in 1961 we drew 1-1 with Hibs at Celtic Park in the Scottish cup: Stevie Chalmers scored a late equaliser for us. The replay at Easter Road went to extra time and John Clark scored the only goal to take us into the semi-final. There were almost 40,000 at the game in Leith…I don’t think John ever scored again for us…
bournesouprecipe on 7th March 2025 3:47 pm
Thanks for the link . Interesting that Muir chose to disregard the advice that the angles couldn’t be conclusive . Amounts to an admission of cheating . I hope we never see him near one of our games again .
Weebobbycollins
Back then the Scottish cup crowds were often a lot bigger than the league games from what I can see.
Even in the 80s that was the case I recall. I think season books being the norm when Fergus took over changed it all.
One of the things I remember about that game is that my pal and I watched it from the enclosure. We walked out with just a few minutes to go (early leaver even then). There was a BBC van outside the main stand, like a small transit van but there were a couple of big cables going in to it. We looked in a little window and saw a small monitor screen just as Stevie Chalmers scored the equaliser. Of course we ran straight back inside the stadium to celebrate…
“Back then the Scottish cup crowds were often a lot bigger than the league games”
In 1966 we drew 3-3 with Hearts at Tynecastle with nearly 50,000 in attendance. I recall the crowd spilling on to the running track. In the replay at Celtic Park there were over 72,000 with many locked out. We won 3-1…
At the time of that 3-3 game at Tynecastle I was an avid collector of football programmes…however, after the game I realised I had chewed and slabbered so much on the programme I had to chuck it away…it was a nerve shredding tie…
And so endeth today’s history lesson…
In the Centenary season did we not draw with Hibs at Parkhead and beat them in the replay at Easter Rd , courtesy of a Peter Grant shot ?
TT
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 12:29 PM,
:))))
Bazza & Co the new dream team as Walter and Ally were before Rangers died…
Wonder if McCann secretly negotiated a better deal than Barry;)
BURNLEY78…
There is no relevance to R2ngers co-eff relative to Celtic’s, it’s the overall Country total that counts.
Celtic have been underachieving in that regard for an age.
When Peter Lawwell retired after a generation of Domination, our co-eff was 34 it’s- it is now 38 it’s.
We have amassed 16 pts this season last time we did that was 2012/13 season – so we are doing very well as regards garnering points in the senior competition.
As far as this season’s UCL draw goes it could have been easier* it could have been a lot harder.
As I stated earlier today OPTA originally had us to finish in 28th place.
After the draw our outlook got better, yet OPTA still had us down as a possible marginal qualifier on 9.7 pts.
We did 25% better by gaining 12 pts, not underachieving as you have presented it.
Our play-off game against Bayern, one of the competitions favourites was far from easy but we made a great account of ourselves and drew with Bayern in the Allianz Arena.
Brendan Rodgers has won European knock out competitions with Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester – Bazza has a way to go to tie Brendan’s boots.
CELTIC40ME @ 1:08 PM,
There is no problem on my part having an open and frank discussion on CQN as to BR&CO’s Celtic tenure.
It is you who do down the site and stifle honest debate by your mendacious comments, which are oft repeated as in the case yesterday.
Hail Hail
*Aston Villa as a pot 4 side, as you say, was no gimme…
Hail Hail
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 3:47 PM,
🎶Same old Alan, always cheating 🎵
Hail Hail
weebobbycollins
Some great stories there. Great that Hibs are bringing 7000 supporters to The Park (Fergus McCann) on Sunday. Not unlike the Hearts and Aberdeens of the past for Scottish Cup ties. Rangers FC too obviously. We have been quite lucky in recent times with with home ties, and not just with SPL clubs but with Falkirk, Raith Rovers, even Buckie Thistle all generating quite a lot of interest from both sets of fans. And there is a different atmosphere at a Celtic Park cup tie. Lot easier to just turn up at the Ol’ Celtic Park than now hence some huge crowds, but there have been good turnouts recently, and I could see 50,000 plus against Hibs.
The audio of the VAR call at Easter Road should result in action against Muir. It’s clear from the audio and transcript that Muir is actively pushing to overturn the decision. Twice the Assistant VAR pushes back and emphasises the need for conclusive evidence before submitting to Muir’s interpretation at the third time of asking.
Muir should be stood down indefinitely pending training and assessment.
Muir should be stood down indefinitely pending training and assessment.
—
im pretty sure that decision had nothing to do with a lack of training!
GLENDALYS
It’s pretty straightforward for Celtic who face,
A) A full-time VAR referee that doesn’t know the VAR rules ( clear and obvious error ) before he can intervene, and then he has to prove it.
OR
B ) Partiality
Doesn’t matter which way you slice it, someone should fall on his sword.
Chairbhoy @ 5.29
LOL 👍
Looking out over the skies of ayrshire last night there was a bright star in the east announcing that the tactial genius of bazbawl had arrived
Turns oot it was just a helicopter….
A good wee Day oot with the SHIPWRECKS CREW..
Sadly I can’t drink the way I used to… thats why I am in the hoose eating mince and tatties.
My Jokes are BEST….So there now.
LOL
HH.
McCoist is a LIAR yet again…
After the Huns 1st Goal he was shouting down his microphone….” Its Goal, its over the line….WE can SEE IT FROM HERE” !
That was a deliberate LIE….How can HE or anyone else make THAT CLAIM….” WE CAN SEE IT FROM HERE” ?
How far away was McCoist and his Commentator pal from the Fenerbache Goal Line ?
Has McCoist got SUPERMANS Vision ?
LIAR, LIAR ….and NOT for the 1st time.
HUN CHUMP !
Alan Muir overturned a referees decison based on no evidence. He should be sacked by the SFA forthwith for cheating.
agree
Celtic F.C. v Hibernian F.C.
Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup 2024/2025
09/03/2025 3:00pm Celtic Park
Referee:Nick Walsh
AR1
Frank Connor
AR2
Colin Drummond
VAR
Kevin Clancy
AVAR
Andrew McWilliam