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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Still cant believe footballers are allowed home so early to sit on their arse .. Anymore player that we sign should be told to be in by 7am at latest and not home until at least 3.
gift horse even :)
You’d rather have a gift house than a horse
the glorious balance sheet. At last someone who can see
Agree with all your saying
The one thing that we have had over all the downsizing is a goalie
Now we seem to be applying our striker policy to our goalie
Don’t allow transfer to go through unless boruc is added
We can’t afford Zaluska in CL qualifier
Celtic don’t decide who goes through, that’s up to UEFA.
What would be UEFA’s reaction if we forfeited?
Heavy fine?
Banned from Europe for a lengthy spell?
We can all sympathise with Legia but we abide by their rules.
sydneytim
13:07 on 9 August, 2014
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True, boruc should be part of deal.. 34 but in great shape so easily 2 good seasons in him.
Sadly celtic arent that attractive at the minute i wouldnt think.
Anyway, craig gordon will be keeper . No way we going to sign another stopper to replace fraser.
Just listening to BBC Radio “Off the Ball”.
Richard Gordon confirmed that a 3-0 victory was UEFA’s standard punishment for Legia’s offence.
Tam Cowan said, “Does that mean if Legia had scored one of those 2 penalties Celtic would still have been out?”
Richard Gordon replied, “Aw don’t rub it in.”
He quickly added on, “For all our Polish listeners of course.” By which time it was too late.
Unbelievable slip up.
Only in Scotland.
‘drove to Lennoxtown (while eating six pancakes, as it happens)’
#####
Is that six all at one go, or six one after the other?
The away game to Warsaw will remain a blot on Celtic’s history, UEFA enforcing their own rules takes no account of Celtic’s present playing predicament, and that includes the Europa League, which may be only a fraction less realistic.
I hope we’re not burning the midnight candle at both ends, trying to sign A.Newman and rushing for the sake of a deadline.
Compounding our problems is the last thing we need, RD needs to sort out the players we have, with baby steps, first forget Maribor, and think St.Johnstone.
nothtebus
There’s a long running debate between the Absolutists and the Relativists. It’s been going since the first camp fire.
From the Absolutist perspective, you are bang on. Legia infringed the rules and the sanction applies in turn. B follows A.
Our Relativist friends prefer to consider the context of the offending behaviour. B might follow A, but is A such a bad in the circumstances?
If you exceed the speed limit you’ll get a £60 fine and 3 points.
If you exceed the speed limit and thus cause an accident you’ll be charged with careless driving, lose your licence for a year and be fined £300.
If you exceed the speed limit, thus cause an accident, and a child in its pram is killed by your car as it mounts the kerb and mows down a young family on their way to church, you’ll probably go to jail for causing death by dangerous driving.
Even to the Absolutists, a £60 fixed penalty is disproportionate to the consequences in the latter case.
In this case, I agree with the Legia spokesman who considered that the forfeiting of the tie was disproportionate to the offence committed.
We are allowed to disagree with each other though. Absolutely.
Many thanks for all of you who offered their condolences and prayers for Martin Livingstone this morning. There was a large turnout at St. Bridget’s, Baillieston and we were blessed with a very good singer to lead the hymns.
RIP Martin.
Our next game of 5s will have a major piece missing.
Insightful article, Paul.
Aye, it’s hard to think of any profession where (assuming the guy has the raw material) hard work doesn’t pay off.
Hope your wee fella gets a new hero we can all share soon.
I like the intent behind the McManaman bid – for some reason I though of Stubbs, Ledley when I read it – British player, who wants success at a bigger club, hard worker, wee bit of dig….seems appropriate given where we are at just now.
HH
The Battered Bunnet
13:15 on 9 August, 2014
‘If you exceed the speed limit you’ll get a £60 fine and 3 points.’
###
What do you get for eating pancakes while you’re driving?
All the best to big Fraser. We`ll all be watching out for him.
bournesouprecipe 13:15 on 9 August, 2014
Careful. Someone may accuse you of lacking ambition…
I would prefer we went out to Maribor ( not get beaten by them, just on away goals) and take up our place in EL along with Legia ( hopefully if they qualify). I think this would be the fairest result after what has happened. No point getting to the CL and bringing on a pumpfest. Let’s face it, the team ain’t gonna reap any benefit of CL money. It might reduce the pressure of our inept coaching staff trying to build a decent run home and abroad.
Tom
I imagine you didn’t get to listen to Richard Gordon terribly often down Gold Coast way.
He’s a cracking broadcaster, hugely enthusiastic for the Game in Scotland, insightful and humourous.
Give the fellow a chance.
If you require evidence, try finding his commentary on Celtic v Man Utd from a few years ago. He’s completely absorbed in the moment. Not quite a Bjørge Lillelien performance, but bursting with energy and pride.
Ernie
I decided not to highlight that…
Proud bhoy think boruc would prefer 1st team football than the bench
Zuluska has played more pre season than Gordon Gordon has not played a competitive game in 3 years
CL play off 2nd chance does the plc not learn
And Paul67 said Gordon was not replacement for FF
bournesouprecipe:-
Given that we always aim to come out of a transfer window stronger than when we went into it, and given also the way in which we are so well managed, I have no doubt that we are already at an advanced stage in signing a fit, talented and reliable goalkeeper to replace Fraser Forster, who we have known was for the off for some months.
I am sure it is not beyond our well run club to have had a short list of goalkeepers drawn up who fit the bill and who have played at least 10 games in the last year. I would expect that our well run club would have been in tentative discussions with such goalkeepers and are now primed and ready to make a move to finalise a deal.
Therefore such a signing would not be a panic last minute signing deal simply to meet a transfer deadline. It would have been planned months in advance as everyone knew Forster would be sold this summer.
This is what would happen at a well run club so it is what we will do. Isn`t it?
Personally think players don’t train nearly enough hours but I’m not a sports scientist. However, even if they aren’t training how many clubs actually use classroom type education on the game? Using video examples to show players what they should and shouldn’t do in terms of positioning and why, does this happen at our club? Some people are naturally ‘football smart’ and will learn themselves but I’m sure there are many, I’d guess more, who need to be shown.
Battered good evening Got to pick u up on ur comment the other night when you said we has 10m in bank. So now we have 20m?
The Battered Bunnet
A system of rules, whether it be law of the land or football must be adhered to.
Of course you have to feel sorry for Legia, nonetheless, they got what their actions deserved, however harsh the circumstances.
bluegrass celt
13:20 on 9 August, 2014
Clown
Errr how is Paul’s article in any way insightful.
We have a great professional player and we are selling him! Where own earth is that good news for a football club?
I did like the line though abut budgets. What budget is that Paul? The one for PLs bonus, the dividend budget or the bank budgets cos it certainly won’t be the transfer budget.
And the very fact that we admit Maribor would (or indeed will) put us our is said without the hint of admitting that our much vaunted Moneyball strategy is crashing and burning before our very eyes.
Shall we talk about training regimes or summer football for a while? It might distract us from the unmitigated disaster we seem to be intent to sleep walk our way into?
Craig Gordon will be No1
No doubt about that.
LB
ernie lynch
13:14 on 9 August, 2014
‘drove to Lennoxtown (while eating six pancakes, as it happens)’
#####
Is that six all at one go, or six one after the other?
He wouldn’t have ate 6 of my granny’s pancakes in a week never on the way to training.
Pancakes the size of a frying pan CSC
I am content that if Craig Gordon is fit he will be a fine replacement for big Fraser.I dont believe we will be looking for another keeper unless Zaluska moves on. H.J.
Syd
yip, more cash than sense at face value.
Although mind NUFC take a slice of the Forster fee.
As I said earlier in the week, we seem to have adopted the behaviour of a Footballer Wholesaler than a football club.
Change overdue.
TBB
SFTB
My condolences on Martin’s tragic accident and the loss of a friend.
Thoughts and prayers are with all those who’ll miss him.
Afternoon all.
I hope our manager instills the mindset of Fraser Foster in the whole squad.
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
13:29 on 9 August, 2014
See, that’s what I was thinking.
Maybe it’s those wee pancakes you get in bakers shops, kind of like crumpets.
Battered. Xxx
Negon. Same as above. Great news our team is weaker and PL has hit his bonus targets
Oh and incidentally for balance sheet and share fans. DD owns 40% of shares in celtic. You may remember this was the maximum he could own without bidding for everyone else’s shares. He took that shareholding to 40% at the last share issue, denying others in buying shares at the time. We also delisted from the main stock exchange to allow that to happen. He also has indirect control of a number of other shareholdings (one of which was mentioned earlier) and therefore has de facto majority control of celtic.
He is an absentee billionaire landlord who has denigrated the support on several occasions and some of his admiration for the Hun.
We remained silent through the open and wanton corruption as the Huns collapsed. We knew and accepted the 5 way agreement.
We victimise our own support on a very regular basis.
We joined in with the group that went on to form the OB act.
We have said we don’t really like the act but haven’t done anything whatsoever about it.
The club lied to us about passing our details to the police.
They lied to us about safety certificate concerns
They have banned supporters for no reason.
The board have presided over a disastrous and needless decline while saying zip to us as a support except when they want us to put our hand in our pocket.
They are now waiting for dermost Huns to come back
Where’s we seem desperate to get worse and worse, perhaps to give the ole Hun a wee hand up when they come back.
We have a disastrous CL exit against legia, get a second chance and the first thing we do is sell our best player.
But hey guys, what’s not to like.
And as I said earlier I am just as stupid as all of you cos I bought a season ticket Gain out of some stupid misguided loyalty to a club which in all true sense of the meaning doesn’t really exist anymore.
As with putting our faith in a loanee so is putting our faith on an ex-9m goalie.
Comes off and it’s a master stroke. Doesn’t and those who live comfortably behind their PC here with 100% records can say I told ye so….
sydneytim
13:23 on 9 August, 2014
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I agree but boruc will have more options than just celtic. Plus he’ll be expected to take a pay cut.
Dont think paul67 knows for sure who is moving months in advance but i said myself he will be away this year, after england squad etc we are selling at his peak value probably .. Chances are he wouldnt sign new deal with us.
Iv no problem with him moving on, frustrated that this is the world we live and also frustrated that ronny wont be given the 10m on top of another 5 or so for staying in europe.
No excuse for that.
4.45am comes early so bedtime in WA .
Parkheadcumsalford
13:31 on 9 August, 2014
It sounds more like a personality trait (conscientiousness) rather than anything else, and as such can’t be imposed. It’s largely innate, innit.
Celtic FC – Phil Neville Maestrio Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYZgPWMmzRU#t=148