Fraser Forster had a daily routine which verged on OCD. He rose at 6:00, ate his first meal of the day, drove to Lennoxtown (while eating six pancakes, as it happens), then worked-out in the gym. He stopped for ‘breakfast’ with the rest of the team, his third intake of the day, before training started at 10:00.
After training the players take lunch, then head home. Fraser stayed, back to the gym, or some specialist work with goalkeeper coach Stevie Woods, before heading home at 16:30. He was first to arrive and last to leave, every day.
This was his routine, broken only something as rare as a dentist visit. Every biological and fitness measurement was documented with improvements targeted.
Years ago, he decided he was going to this year’s World Cup. The personal relationship, which took visits to London to maintain, was put on hold. The visits interrupted the work schedule for two days, which he couldn’t afford.
There is a reasonable chance that he put more work into his game than any player in Celtic history, the contrast with some would anger you. The results were remarkable. Fraser transformed from a rough stone into the only man in the England World Cup squad not to play in their feted league.
Much of this was as a result of the meeting of minds he had with Stevie Woods. Stevie completely changed Fraser’s game, set career targets with him and planned how to reach them. I could make a good case that Woods is one of the leading goalkeeping coaches in Europe. He created one of the greatest keepers in Britain and will do so again.
On a personal level, he is everything you would want a Celtic player to be, had time for kids, time for fans. He graduates from Celtic as a credit to our club. We want more like this.
While I’ll have genuine regret if he goes, the axiom of the ages remains true, we manage our assets, or we fail to manage our assets. If we have £10m to add to or deny the budget, it should not be tied up in a goalkeeper.
So good for Celtic, but it’s left me with a problem. I’ve a nine-year-old who eats, sleeps, talks and, most of all, dreams, Fraser Forster. Hero worship has never been so intense, so I’ll delay wishing the big guy well, just in case….
Just so you know, Maribor would put us out if we played them this week. Don’t go dreaming of Champions League football yet.
Still cannot believe what happened yesterday.
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• SuperSutton
10:10 on 10 August, 2014
Hibs keeper scored from punt up the park after holding the ball for 13 seconds. Rules, what rules?
Did you see the goal though………………….
Absalutly faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic
watchedIT1000000000times
Big Cup Winners
Spot on re the 1985 Final, think big Roy moved to midfield after we replaced Maestro with O’ Leary. Who’d have seen that one working out ?
HH
may67
10:19 on 10 August, 2014
Anybody know why we’re not playing this weekend? HH.
_____________________________________________
We were due a home match, but the pitch is being re-layed because of the commonwealth games.
Corkcelt. So you are ignoring the fact the Fraser said the club tried to keep him and it was his decision to leave.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon 09:31 on 10 August, 2014
“God,I know mate.
“Any chance we could all just settle down and have a laugh about it.
“Was there ever a better time than this?
“Celebrate,ya bass.”
It’s been a weird couple of weeks, right enough, and the last few days have been totally bizarre.
On reflection this is a great time to be a Celtic fan. Far from perfect, but still the right side of wonderful.
• SuperSutton
10:13 on 10 August, 2014
Fraser Forster states that the club did everything it could to keep him but he decided the time was right to leave.
That blows a few theories out of the water.
He also said he will always be a Celtic supporter. Happens to us all big man.
You got a link to the great Walls interview mate……………
cannyfindit
May67
Pitch being relaid after the Empire games.
Good morning bhoys and ghirls. I’m an extremely long term lurker but this is my first time posting. What a week!
However, I’ve spent a lot of it defending Celtic’s position in the whole Legia affair, mainly to supporters of EPL teams. I’d be interested to known what would the position be if Celtic had refused to take Legia’s place in the Champions League (as a lot of ‘neutrals’ are suggesting)?
Could UEFA impose sanctions? In other words, it is simply a case that Celtic have no option but to do what UEFA say? (Apologies if already asked!)
P.s. I love this blog, easily the best on the internet!
Hail! Hail!
Secco mate having a cheap snide dig at me yesterday. ‘F&£&&?n luck of the Irish eh?’ he says…..’naw, luck of the Chinese’ I replied.
‘Eh?’ He says
‘That’s what happens when you’ve got 888 on the front of your stadium, meaning triple fortune in China, so probably one left, yous snuffing it being another one’.
He’s still to get back to me on that one….heehee.
HHS
jamesgang
10:13 on
10 August, 2014
Jobo
The scariest thing is that the explanation most of them will come up with is that they were ‘victimated’ (sic) by a big easy to see Unseen Hand cos PL’s brother runs HMRC.
====================================
Sorry Jamesgang, but can’t believe you think there is any reasoning, however irrational, behind their theories. It starts with hatred and ends there too.
big-cup-winners
10:08 on 10 August, 2014,
Think your right mate, those days are a bit fuzzy while I was attending games in that period.
After Neilsons statement about training a team to play ten men against a hun team at ipox, he has clearly nailed thems…might be too obvious now that someone has highlighted it.
Then again…
Big Joe..
FF Interview..
GOALKEEPER Fraser Forster has today completed a move to English Premier League side Southampton after a fantastic four-year spell at Celtic.
The English internationalist spent two years at the Club on successful season-long loan spells before joining permanently in the summer of 2012 from Newcastle United.
His heroics between the sticks helped the Hoops to three titles in a row, two Scottish Cup triumphs and a number of memorable results in Europe, most notably, the stunning 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
The shot-stopper’s fantastic feats in that encounter in Paradise saw him labelled by the Spanish media as ‘La Gran Muralla’ – The Great Wall.
In the 2013/14 campaign, the 26-year-old set a new Club record for consecutive league clean sheets with 13 in a row, while he also smashed Bobby Clark’s Scottish league record for minutes played without conceding a goal, which had stood since the 1970-71 season. In total, Forster went 1,256 minutes unbeaten.
His outstanding displays for the Scottish champions saw him called up to the England squad in October 2012. He made his debut for his county in November 2013 and was part of their World Cup squad in Brazil this summer. He leaves with the best wishes of everyone at the Club.
Fraser Forster commented: “I really want to thank the Club and the Celtic fans for all they have given me over the past four years. It has been a wonderful honour to play for one of the world’s great football clubs and I wish everyone at Celtic and the supporters every success for the future.
“I have received tremendous support during my time at the Club and it has been a brilliant experience being part of a squad which has won titles and trophies and taken part in the Champions League.
“I know the Club wanted me to stay, and I know the Club has done everything they possibly can to keep me, but I felt now was the right time for a new challenge in the English Premier League.”
“I would like to pay a special tribute to Stevie Woods and the Club’s fitness coach Bill Styles for their hard work and commitment during my time at Celtic.”
“I hope the Manager, the players, the staff and of course the fans enjoy more and more great times ahead. I have accepted a new opportunity away from Celtic, but I am a Celtic supporter for life and will be cheering the Club on in everything they do.”
Celtic Manager Ronny Deila commented: “Clearly we were desperate to keep Fraser at the Club but we fully understand that players can seek new challenges.
“We did everything to keep him here, but that’s football and we understand the situation. When a player wants to look at a new environment it is always very difficult to stand in his way, this is nothing new.”
“Although I have only worked with Fraser for a short time, I can see that he is a top class goalkeeper, a magnificent professional and someone who gave his all every time he pulled on the Celtic jersey”.
“I wish Fraser all the very best for the future, I am sure he will be a great success at Southampton.”
• may67
10:19 on 10 August, 2014
Anybody
I asked that ………………………………. 2
WhyAreweNOTplayingThisWeekrndPLEASE
niallo83
10:09 on 10 August, 2014
If DEILA sticks to his style of play we are out.
• 21-5-79
10:22 on 10 August, 2014
may67
10:19 on 10 August, 2014
Anybody know why we’re not playing this weekend? HH.
_____________________________________________
We were due a home match, but the pitch is being re-layed because of the commonwealth games.
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers for clearing that 1 up.
Murryfield………………?????????????????
Thorisbund
Welcome, as long as yer no a zomb.
We would be expelled from all Euro competition if we withdrew from the CL on principal.
Buona Domenica tutti.
Scorchio, 38 at 11 am , way down south .
Up at 5 to do some work before it is too hot .
Took the dogs for a swim at 9 30.. The sight of a dachshund swimming in the sea attracted the attention of a passing pensioner . He was English (part of a group of OAPs doing a Montalbano tour) We spoke.. He established that I was Glaswegian ————-cue a Celtic or the Deady Bears ? Cue Celtic -cue him telling me a a Bereszynski joke . I wont post it ( I laughed ) I asked him where he had heard the joke -” on a Mansfield Town forum “.
Off oot to the beach ————- sun, sea , sand and hordes of latin lovelies . That and a linguini con vongole and a big Mohito.
Enjoy !
Jobo- another question they don’t like is why were the “club” docked 10 points and effectively put out the title race when it was the “holding company” that went to administration (then liquidation).
(5 marks if they say the “holding company” had not been invented yet.)
thorismund,
Rules are rules, someone posted earlier about a scenario that if clubs just got fined, then what is to stop the likes of Real M fielding Ronaldo and taking the financial hit…
• Marrakesh Express
10:26 on 10 August, 2014
Secco mate having a cheap snide dig at me yesterday. ‘F&£&&?n luck of the Irish eh?’ he says…..’naw, luck of the Chinese’ I replied.
‘Eh?’ He says
‘That’s what happens when you’ve got 888 on the front of your stadium, meaning triple fortune in China, so probably one left, yous snuffing it being another one’.
He’s still to get back to me on that one….heehee.
HHS
Just googled 888…………………….
That’s nuts…………………………
I starded the job that changed my life…………
8am, on the 8th 08, 1988…………………..
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooow
BigJoecontemplating………………………..life
Personally I’d play zaluska AND Gordon. The former between the sticks. The latter would at least give us a big guy up front, esp in the latter stages of a game. ;-)
As for MIB. Must actually be quite difficult and tiring to spend the whole match just looking out for those moments to give dodgy penalties.
Why not tidy the while system up?
Start the match with a ceremonial red and penalty and then just play the rest of the game.
Make it easier for the wee (succulent) lambs in black.
Right. Aff oot.
Take care Timdom.
Any Hunterlopers, well TD will tell you what you can do……
HH jamesgang
starry plough
10:27 on 10 August, 2014
Big Joe..
FF Interview..
Cheers mate……………………..
YouareAstar
Cheers Delaneys! Cleared that one up!
Definitely not a Zombie (but did enjoy some of their films ; )!
It’s Celtic and Celtic only for me! Proud of the fact I was born in the same town as Willie Maley!
So Celtic signed Craig Gordon because they thought it was likely Fraser was going to leave, perhaps he told the club he wanted to. So Celtic planned for succession!?!?!?
Good management of assests there.
Oh, and a very good morning to all.
The rain is battering the conservatory roof and it feels like I’m back in a caravan in Arbroath circa 1978!
Big Joe
I heard that we were possibly back in the CL at 8 o clock on the 8th of the 8th :)
big-cup-winners
10:26 on 10 August, 2014
jamesgang
10:13 on
10 August, 2014
Jobo
The scariest thing is that the explanation most of them will come up with is that they were ‘victimated’ (sic) by a big easy to see Unseen Hand cos PL’s brother runs HMRC.
====================================
Sorry Jamesgang, but can’t believe you think there is any reasoning, however irrational, behind their theories. It starts with hatred and ends there too.
————
Interesting point.
My take for what it’s worth is that it’s formed in a vat of hatred and bigotry. But when their perceived view of the natural order of things is toppled – as it is now – then paranoid explanations that they see as ‘rational explanations’ take hold.
Monaghan’s quotes from FF make it look that way to me.
I may be wrong. I often am!
Laters pal.
HH jamesgang
Willie Maley was his name
He brought some great names to the game
When he was the boss at Celtic Park
He taught them how to play football
He made the greatest of them all
Gallacher and Quinn have left their mark.
And they gave us James McGrory and Paul McStay
They gave us Johnstone, Tully, Murdoch, Auld and Hay
And most of the football greats
Have past through Parkheads gates
For to play football the Glasgow Celtic way.
In 38 there was a show Glasgow was the place to go
A model of the tower was footballs prize
England sent 4 of the best
They didn’t meet with much success
Cause the trophy ended up in paradise.
Coronation time was here 53 that was the year
Another 4 from England met there doom
They said we’ll have to try again
But like before it was in vain
Because the cup is in the Parkhead trophy room.
And then in 1957 we faced a guy called Gorgie Nevin
The game is etched on every Celtic fan
Wilson, Mochan and Mc Phail
And Willie Fernie scored as well
As Celtic beat the Rangers 7-1.
So 10 years they had gone and so
To Portugal we had to go, to play the team that Italy
Adore
Celtic went out to attack
They won the big cup and they brought it back
It’s the first time it had been on British shores.
And now a new Millennium we have a brand new stadium
We’re amongst the honours once again
The Celtic fans did proudly sing
Larsson is the King of Kings
And he joins the list of famous Celtic men!
Chorus ’til whenever!
Thanks sipsini!
No rain in dunblane yet Doc.
Keep it pal. Though I hear there’s to be plenty for us all.
Right. Def aff oot now.
HH jamesgang
Sick to death of supposed Celtic fans going on about Craig Gordons injury.The guy has been training playing now for months.Any reactions?.No.We let Pletikosa slip away because of the same mumpings.How has he turned out?.
People with very strange agendas on Gordon nearly salivating about him picking up an injury.For once Celtic actually looked ahead.Knew Forster was going and brought in a fantastic replacement for him for free.Just how were we supposed to find a like for like replacement.When we do a shrewd bit of business,still get the whingers.
If someone sanctions a return for Samaras, then whoever was responsible for his departure should immediately resign.
Can’t believe it’s even being mooted, let alone contemplated. We’d be signing a player with no pre-season and having made him miss 4 competitive games too.
It simply cannot be true.
Thorisbund
A warm fenian welcome then. :))
Hail Hail
thorismund – welcome onboard!
I think it’s easiest to look at what happened stage by stage.
Legia broke the rules by fielding the player.
As a consequence of that the score for the 2nd leg autmatically becomes a 3-0 defeat.
So the tie overall finishes 4-4 with Celtic going through having scored an away goal.
Why would Celtic – or any other team – say ‘thanks, but no thanks…’?
The important point is that the punishment for the error was not being thrown out of the tournament; the punishment is a 3-0 defeat. Had Legia won the first leg by 4 they’d still have been in the tournament.
One of the panelists on SSB last night – Ian McColl I think – was really getting his knickers in a twist, suggesting something along the lines of “the crazy thing is that if the ineligible substitute had actually scored Legia would have qualified…”. No they wouldn’t – regardless of the ‘actual’ 2nd leg score, the punishment for the error is a 3-0 defeat.
returning to your main point, I could understand the logic of someone thinking that Legia were a bit unfortunate and should still be in the competition. But Celtic have done nothing wrong here (plenty wrong on the park mind you) and if we refused to take our place in the next round this would not mean that Legia would be reinstated.
I think ;-)
Guys try and keep it quiet otherwise the Harpies will be stirred !
An Dun
10:16 on
10 August, 2014
I see the hurting huns in the Daily Mail are having ago this morning. We feel ur pain lads :))
————————————————————————————————————
Enough about the journalists, what are their fans saying???!!
Delaney’s – Go raibh mile maith agat!
Niallo83……
Anto scoring against Dead Huns
► 0:42► 0:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMOg0n_rVnA
19 Dec 2010 – Uploaded by SportingNation
Wonder Goal goal of the season. … Anthony Stokes vs Rangers. Just Football. SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe 4 …
We are apparently very rich ?!!……not many football cubs so far in the black…….BUT…..we are let’s be honest gash….though not sure we are as bad as some make out.
Certainly need players in tho ….
Mcmenamin would be a good start………when I heard his name mentioned. Chuffed…..when I heard Tonev instead. Downer…….it was ever thus !!!!