Forster proves a wiser choice last year than Sandomierski

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News that Fraser Forster has signed a long term contract with Celtic, who will pay Newcastle United £2m for his services, adds some welcome stability ahead of the Champions League qualifiers.  Buying a new, first-choice, keeper is fraught with the kind of difficulties Neil Lennon would rather avoid.

Last summer we looked at Croatian international Stipe Pletikosa, who performed at the European Championships, but he failed to impress during his trial period at Celtic, including a poor performance against Wolves at Celtic Park.

Last year we also looked at Polish cap, Gregorz Sandomierski, who subsequently went to Belgian club racing Genk for €3m, but he failed to make a competitive appearance for Genk and was shipped back to Poland on loan. By comparison, Forster, who turned 24 on St Patrick’s Day, cemented his place with the champions.

Last year Celtic concluded a provisional deal with Newcastle to sign Fraser on a permanent deal this summer but although player and club were both keen to do business, negotiations took until the end of the players’ summer break, perhaps reflecting a tightening of Celtic’s finances ahead of what could be a period of financial uncertainty in the Scottish game.

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  1. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JOBO BALDIE

     

     

    HAPPY 25TH,MATE,HAPPY 25TH.

     

     

    A little over a year till I draw the curtains and pull the duvet over my head for 24 hours. Then I can convince myself that it never happened.

     

     

    I trust your plans are a little more celebratory.

  2. Hector A – wading in at Prestwick beach V’s the clear, warm Red Sea? The Irish sea will always be good enough for me!! :O)

     

    MWD – I will try and bring some of the weather here home with me in a few weeks time! Hope you and yours are well!

     

     

    Hail hail,

     

     

    sTICks

  3. ♪ ♫ Hector Avocado ♫ ♪ on

    jtsTICks on 3 July, 2012 at 07:11 said:

     

     

    ————-

     

     

    Here in Queensland, the winter here is warmer than the Glesga summer. No kidding either.

  4. Billy's Bhoy on

    Morning all

     

     

    Left a damp and miserable Noddy land this morning and drove East threw the mist and fog to arrive at a SUNNY Auld Reekie.

     

     

    What is that firey ball in the sky????????

     

     

    Wooo Hoooo.

  5. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    HECTOR AVOCADO

     

     

    It only seems that way due to the simmering feud between two of our posters from your (out)back-yard!

  6. Billy's Bhoy on

    Jobo Baldie

     

     

    Commiserations on becoming 50! Dinnae worry though it is the new 30.

     

     

    I’m still a few years short of that milestone myself though:-)

  7. Billy's Bhoy on

    pauloantony

     

     

    There worried coz their jobs are on the line. Readership will plummet even further and nae mae succulent lamb junkets for them either.

     

     

    Should Traynor’s waistline the world of good.

     

     

    Anyways to work!

  8. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BILLY’S BHOY 0721

     

     

    Who telt ye leap years didnae count?

  9. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    Billy’s Bhoy on 3 July, 2012 at 07:25 said:

     

     

     

    And I’m worried that I can’t spell

     

    ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    Which reminds me-I’m outtahere before AWE NAW,who has no doubt been nursing his wrath and perfecting a new spellchecker overnight,logs in.

     

     

    Cowardycustard-whoDOESdorunningaway-CSC

  10. JohnnytheFox on

    ANOTHR ONE

     

     

    Club Statement – Monday 2nd July 2012

     

     

    The committee of Stranraer FC met this evening to discuss the papers recently received in advance of the SFL clubs meeting. The papers indicate a number of proposals and scenarios to deal with the potential vacancy that would occur if the expulsion of an SPL club occurs this week.

     

     

    The committee unanimously agreed that the proposals are produced in haste and are unconvinced about the justification for departing from the rules and standards that the SFL represent. As a club recently faced with possible extinction and fighting our way back from financial difficulties we fully understand the position that a club could find themselves placed in and as a supporters run club, fully understand the passions of the supporters of clubs affected by such an event.

     

     

    We are not convinced at the emotive language currently being aired to describe the potential ramifications to our game should a NewCo not be given special case treatment and consider that the benefits that could be negotiated do not counter balance the damage that would be done to the credibility of the SFL as a governing body.

     

     

    We hold the stance that it is our place to act in the best long term interests of Stranraer FC and for Scottish Football as a whole and see no reason to breach the integrity of the SFL by filling a vacancy at any level other than at the lowest tier. The possibility of placing a NewCo at any other level breaches the sporting competition of our organisation and compromises the very structure of our game. There should not be a special case made for any club and we believe that the proper place for a phoenix club to restart life is at the lowest level. We believe it is right and proper than any club should have the right to apply for the resulting vacancy and we would then form a view on which club we would support for election to any vacancy based on the presentation case made by the applicants.

     

     

    Irrespective of the size, stature, history and resources of the club filling the vacancy, the opportunity exists for that club to find their way back to their natural tier in the league structure in a fair and equitable manner while being encouraged to trade and exist successfully within the means at their disposal.

     

     

    Restructuring of the league set-up and governing bodies is complex and difficult with many differing views and interests across the clubs in the spectrum. The current proposal has been compiled as a reaction to the unique and unexpected circumstances we are faced with and while there are clearly a number of ingredients that have great merit, this is too great an issue to be dealt with in this seemingly indecent haste.

     

     

    Stranraer FC support the opening of a vacancy in the lowest tier given the options available at present and remain open to the continuing challenge of working towards a better future for all involved in Scottish Football.

  11. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    AFORE I GO…

     

     

    “Are Spain the best international team ever?” seems to be the question of the day in the English press.

     

     

    A follow-up to the regular “Are Barcelona the best club side ever?”

     

     

    Mibbes aye,mibbes naw. But it might be close…….

     

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sextuple#The_Sextuple

  12. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BLANTYRETIM 0742

     

     

    Not before time-I posted an e-mail printed in The Telegraph at around this time yesterday.

     

     

    Damning stuff

  13. BMCUW

     

    yeh saw it mate..

     

    after all they have put this country through and that clown at MPs last year saying time to stop blaming the bankers……

  14. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JOHNNYTHEFOX 0741

     

     

    Rangers tried to “restructure” Scottish football about fifty years ago by cutting loose seven clubs.

     

     

    Stranraer was one of them.

     

     

    I can feel a WICKER MAN moment in the air,haha!

  15. Bobby M

     

     

    Maybe Spaniards have best footballers but they have awful transport in the cities. I watched Spain team arriving into Madrid last evening. Unbelievable! Capital of the big EU country but that bus needed almost two hours to pass from one side of centre of Madrid to another side. Two hours 5km?

  16. merseycelt lmfao as the big house door slams shut on

    Some of the wee diddy clubs can sure pack a punch with their powerfully unequivocal stat!ements.

     

     

    Says a lot for Scottish football that most of us are thanking our club for staying silent because we know that, as soon as someone from Celtic opens their mouth to whisper criticism of the might sevco, the media scumbags will be lining up to slag us off.

     

     

    In any other country, Celtic, as the biggest club in the country by the proverbial mile, should be leading the way!

     

     

    Jabba was on R5 earlier peddling the tiresome and unproven (except for Celtic) financial imperative argument (you know how it goes).

     

     

    Have a productive day good people of Celtic!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    HH

  17. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BLANTYRETIM 0748

     

     

    He was right,actually.

     

     

    It IS time to stop blaming the bankers.

     

     

    It’s time to start punishing the b……s!

     

     

    For years,I thought the rules in this country were that if you mug an old dear in the street,you get probation,rob a bank it’s twenty years. Property and money mattered more than the person,if you see what I mean.

     

     

    But this lot have robbed everyone and beggared the country into the bargain-and not a blinkin’ criminal charge to be seen?

     

     

    I gi’e up…..

  18. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    ZBYSZEK 0752

     

     

    Are you coming over to London for the Olympics?

     

     

    The buses in London are a L-O-T slower than that-and they’re the fastest moving vehicles on the road there!

     

     

    Travelling around London is quicker on foot,no kidding…….

  19. I’m sure timbhoy2 will be on later to tell us it is all the fault of the

     

    unemployed… o))

  20. Morning from a wet, dreich, damp, Nw10. Complete damp squib of a day only lightened by tomo’s anticipated news, oh the birthday celebrations for oor jobo (had to be careful there- predictive text was suggesting bimbo our job*).

     

     

    Hoopy birthday jobo

  21. Good morning CQNers,

     

     

    This morning I’m heartened by the desperately pathetic efforts of Chas Green and J Traynor to garner some late, late support for the their isolated carcass of a club.

     

     

    They’re about to be served with the summary execution their club deserves.

     

     

    James Traynor’s – et tu Brute moment

  22. Fassreifen - you can't put a price on integrity on

    Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh ‏@Ciaran_O

     

     

    Classic from J Traynor in Record today: “Green has a helicopter at the ready & will fly anywhere and anytime to every SPL club.” #succulent

     

    Retweeted by Phil MacGiollaBhain

     

    Expand

     

     

    Reply

     

    Retweet

     

    Favorite

     

     

    It’s Helicopter Tuesday! Only this time the helicopter will stay grounded.

  23. Morning from a Pleasant Drizzly Chilterns…

     

     

    Great statement from Stranraer FC

     

     

    All Scottish Football Clubs could use it as a template.

     

     

    All Scottish Football Authorities could use it to contemplate.

  24. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    They sound like an increasingly desperate bunch.

     

     

    Maybe Traynor has been “promised” the reporting gig in Div3 next season and is seriously worried that they don’t have seats big enough to accommodate his big fat erchie…

  25. CHARLES GREEN has hatched a last-ditch plan to keep crisis-torn Rangers in the SPL

     

     

     

    Charles Green has hatched a last-ditch plan to keep crisis-torn Rangers in the top flight: bit.ly/MPLhiM 7 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

     

    scotsunsport Don Hutchison has urged the Rangers supporters to put their faith firmly in new owner Charles Green: bit.ly/LLHgyv 7 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

     

    scotsunsport Stoke City have targeted Steven Fletcher and Steven Naismith to be their Premier League strike partnership: bit.ly/KILq5W 3 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

     

    scotsunsport Carlos Bocanegra doesn’t regret signing for Rangers and wishes things were different at Ibrox: bit.ly/L99mWa 3 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

     

    scotsunsport Rangers newco chairman Malcolm Murray last night blasted John Brown as a war of words erupted: bit.ly/OFnEiv 4 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

     

     

    Join the conversation SunSport can reveal Gers chief Green has held emergency talks with other top-flight chairmen.

     

     

    He wants them to change their minds in tomorrow’s Hampden vote and allow Rangers’ newco to stay in the SPL and it’s believed he has offered a six-point plan of punishments in a bid to win their approval.

     

     

    Green’s sensational scheme would:

     

     

    Back SPL voting reform and slash the Old Firm’s influence;

     

     

    Agree a fairer split of revenue and cut payments to the Old Firm;

     

     

    Accept the transfer embargo given by the SFA appeals body;

     

     

    Pay all Gers’ football debts at home and abroad;

     

     

    Take a points deduction for at least one, possibly more seasons;

     

     

    Issue a public apologise for Gers’ past wrongdoing.

     

     

    Gers had looked certain to lose the vote tomorrow after SEVEN clubs said they would not back them.

     

     

    They seemed destined for Division One until a backlash from angry SFL clubs who want them in Division Three.

     

     

    But such a scenario would suck £16million out of the game, wreck key broadcast and commercial deals and put even more clubs in financial peril.

     

     

    Now Green has launched a dramatic final bid to convince rival clubs NOT to block the newco playing in the SPL.

     

     

    The Gers chief last night insisted a No vote would damage the whole of Scottish football.

     

     

    He said: “What league will we be in? I couldn’t tell you.

     

     

    “There are lots of meetings to be had. My team and my board will meet the SPL chairmen on Wednesday.

     

     

    “The financial positions are very clear and without Rangers playing somewhere, it will affect Scottish football as a whole.”

     

     

    In a jibe at Norwich-bound Steven Whittaker, above, Green claimed departing Gers stars were motivated only by cash.

     

     

    He said: “The reality is that before Norwich play in Europe, Rangers will be back in Europe.

     

     

    “I don’t accept that this is a career move — it’s for financial gain, no other reason.”

     

     

     

     

    Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/feeds/smartphone/scotland/4407410/Charles-Green-offers-an-escape-plan.html#ixzz1zXeGXymM

  26. So we enter into two very interesting days. Tomorrow’s outcome is a foregone conclusion thanks to supporters up and down the land. No vote will be taken today but carrot and stick will be openly on display for all to see.

     

     

    Celtic remain silent – and by doing so are acting in both a cowardly and underhand manner. I remain sceptical about their intentions and they alone have singularly failed to consult their support on the proposals. Some of you believe this is some kind of a masterstroke – I couldnt disagree more. Celtic are clearly not oppossing the latest shenanigans from the cabal of the SPL:/SFA and SFL and for that they should be utterly condemned.

     

     

    Once again we are being let down – and do you know what, we are letting down all of the other clubs and Scottish Football as well.

  27. For any Chairmen thinking of going back on their publicly pronounced position

     

     

    “Where there has been a fraudulent misrep, the innocent party is entitled to rescind the contract and claim damages. The damages that are awarded are not based on contractual principles but the damages available in the tort of deceit. There is thus no requirement that the damages are foreseeable:”

     

     

    Hearts , Hibs, Aberdeen, St Mirren, St Johnstone, Dundee Utd , ICT, and Motherwell have all made public statements which confirmed they would NOT vote Rangers into the SPL. The fact that they did so induced their supporters to enter into a contract with their clubs by purchasing a season ticket.

     

     

    They will leave themselves open to a legal challenge for damages, and will not be able to hide behind a “secret ballot ” if questioned in a court of law .

     

     

    I suggest all clubs supporters make this very clear to their Chairman before tomorrow. They should each and every one of them publicly confirm they will not be changing their stance, and will not accept a secret ballot

     

     

    What we may well be seeing is a softening up process. Current sentiment would see Rangers forced to start in SFL 3 . This latest “scoop” may well be an attempt to force an SFL 1 start by attempting to scare that their is a real possibility of New Club in the SPL

     

     

    Traynor and Doncaster must be thwarted . They will destroy trust for all time between clubs and fans If there is any truth in this latest propaganda

  28. Paidraig Marley on

    BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3 July, 2012 at 07:44 said:

     

     

    AFORE I GO…

     

     

    “Are Spain the best international team ever?” seems to be the question of the day in the English press.

     

     

    A follow-up to the regular “Are Barcelona the best club side ever?”

     

     

    Mibbes aye,mibbes naw. But it might be close…….

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………….

     

    Scottish team Celtic are the only club to accomplish this in one season. They did this in the 1966-67 season:[11][12][13][14]

     

     

    European Cup

     

    Scottish First Division

     

    Scottish Cup

     

    Scottish League Cup

     

    Glasgow Cup

     

    Oh to get on the time machine and attend every game :-)

  29. Jobo- Happy Birthday mate, not that bad being 50+ isn’t it?

     

     

    All the young posting pups will think you are pure ancient!

     

     

    Mature, dear boy, mature.