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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Auldheid
It seems to me…that people who receive large salaries at Celtic…are not responsible for failure. ..its everybody and everything else to blame…but not the plc.
its the economy…we cant compete…we tried…whatever.
Its like a runaway gravy train…and those in control..dont want to brake.
Ive heard enough nonsense spouted.
What is say is this…if you dont do right by the supporters, you will feel the anger.
And do you know what…its about time.
HH
Seems to be talk on here of player unrest. No idea if there is or isnt but there seemed to be a lot of players hiding and not putting it all in recently. In any business its an ununsual boss and probably a poor one if he is loved by all, As such a workforce will always to be prone to being a bit peed off now and again. However just as in retail for example you wouldnt expect said staff to take out their frustrations on customers and many of them will be on minimum wage. So why the hell should disengaged players take it out on fans many of whom will scrimp and scrape to see the team and deliver them monthly salaries that themselves can only dream of in a year. Ability is one thing but If any player cant be bothered or spits the dummy out and hides on the pitch, then its been nice knowing you.
the EPL and championship operates in an industry that is several billion pounds in debt, all but a handful of those clubs that make up the leagues are operated within reasonable wage to turnover ratio of say 65%. it is a disaster waiting to happen and the money on offer has done little to address the debt or the turnover to wages ratio, rather it is being used to fund the dream and is making very average players multi-millionaires.
these clubs will either voluntarily change their practice, will be forced to change their practice (banks) or they will go to the wall. and for all those that say it will never happen, now where have I heard that before?????????
Dunky….
Been to the two games at Murrayfield and Wednesday’s performance (by many) has left me wondering where the pride is!!
The jersey has definitely shrunk to fit several….
Delaneys Dunky .
I am not so sure . Part of me wants to go but another part of me is mightily conflicted re the circumstances which have led to Celtic playing that game .
Should I go or should I stay CSC ———-way down south .
Lunch over ———– time for a kip in 42 degree heat and then a 20 metre walk to a tepid sea .
Big up !
NegAnon2
I’ve read your posts and I’ve still to see any workable solutions you present to what you think is wrong at Celtic. Other than moaning, have you anything useful to contribute?
Ronny,
Get it right up our faithful supporters (ha) who are already denigrating you. They never learn.
This place is like a Daily Hun forum. People taking pleasure in sticking the boot in to the Bhoys.
We need investment. Obviously. However some are irrational in their hatred.
SOT,
If you don’t like UEFA’s rules then perhaps you should not go along.
Legia can do one.
• sipsini
12:56 on 10 August, 2014
Oh the great Waldo appears on the screen…thought he walked away…!
I think he RAN away……………………………………..
Good god……………………….. there talking of Boyd and Miller, like they were Ronaldo and Messie
cantwatchThisCRAP
The Glorious Balance Sheet
Did you read the Swiss Rambler Report on Ajax I linked to?
The date of that report in 2010 is perhaps of significance as well as the final paras in terms of how Ajax overcame the yo yo effect of the years prior to 2010 when they stabilised.
In 2010 they embarked on a policy of actually bringing through youngsters to replace departures rather than try and buy them in.
They were probably helped with that policy as Celtic now are by the reduced competition in the Dutch league, no more keeping up with Feyenoord or PSV . The absence of a competitor in our case whom the support hate or strongly dislike and who are prepared to cheat to win, creates an environment similar to Ajax and perhaps their decision in 2010 to bring through their own explains the RD appointment.
I’ve been a bit surprised by the selection of MacGregor but can see why he is selected. My surprise was his selection over other bought in players and that might be the shape of things to come.
If it heralds a more successful Celtic in CL qualifying and competing terms in the next 5 years the current birth pains will be forgotten.
In the mean time fortitude is required.
SOT
If you go there will be trouble.
And if you stay, it will be double. :))
Tonev to sign on loan for Celtic……..
Mass street parties will break out in Aston area of Brum.
Ye couldnae mark Lawell’s neck with a heat seeking missile.
Ffs. Wet Sundays don’t get anymore depressing than this.
Aff oot to watch the Diet Huns spank the Dead Huns, in the self proclaimed most competitive league in Europe.
Tonev is an absolute dud…..
Brother Walfrid Wept…….
James McClean. No thanks. Can do without the baggage as well.
If the plc continue to treat the supporters with contempt.
There will be a massive backlash.
There is only so much supporters will take, the point of no return is looming.
Why do people not get that?
We were trashed by Legia….ask big Tam Gemmill what he thinks of that.
HH
Auldheid
I believe that logic and reason are way down the list for some of the negative trumpets on here.
You can’t debate / discuss with aforementioned trumpets who are always right …… it’s either sad or funny depending on how you want to take it.
Personally, I would restructure the blog, so the trumpets could have there own Sack the Board thread ….
HH
Interesting to see a sell out at rangers despite their anti board demos and appealing mismanagement over 2 decades.
Meanwhile our financially robust team playing Europe and on the back of 3 leagues in a row are more interesting in abusing a CEO who has negotiated the necessary right sizing of a business to stay financially viable against a backdrop of economic recession and an imperfect football market which works against small countries.
Interesting. Maybe we would be better off just spending until we go bust and to hell with the consequence !!!
Faithful thro and thro ????
Desertbhoy
Wish I knew you were home fae the sand. Would have liked to meet you in Reekie.
Nothing like writing a player off before he has kicked a ball for us.I wonder why some on CQN bother to support the hoops as it makes there lives miserable. H.H.
I prefer to watch the Dutch matches rather than the zombie circus!
Ekbhoy
Oh…you are so wise.
Wheres the logic in getting humped 6-1 by Legia.
You know nothing…but youve got a big mouth.
HH
Captain Beefheart,
You think the performance against Legia is acceptable? I’ll get right behind the team when I’m sitting in a stadium and we are competing but it would be wrong not to question our failings… Or maybe you like failure?
To whoever is organising today’s Sevco pen/red card sweep, can I have a pen in 63 mins!
HH
End London rule, YES
Go get him Pistol Pete……What a guy you are…
Career
CLUB FROM TO FEE LEAGUE FA CUP LGE CUP OTHER
APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS APPS GLS
Aston Villa 07 Jun, 13 £2,500,000 6 (11) 0 1 (0) 0 1 (1) 0 0 (0) 0
Lech Poznan 01 Aug, 11 07 Jun, 13 Signed 39 (15) 7 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0
CSKA Sofia 01 Aug, 07 01 Aug, 11 26 (16) 4 0 (0) 0 0 (0) 0 4 (1) 0
Totals £2,500,000 71 (42) 11 1 (0) 0 1 (1) 0 4 (1) 0
Goals per Game 0.09 0 n/a 0
Games played by Aleksandar Tonev in 2014/2015
Joe,
Somebody wanted Tonev booted out. He hasn’t even signed. Get rid of that dud Hulk as well. Why did we sign him?
The Green Man
You may feel like you’re being treated with contempt, that doesn’t mean it’s actually happening though. During an eco down turn, the club reassessed, paid off debt and reduced season books price by a ton.. FFS what do you want; a stripper on your birthday courtesy of the board?
Bad results in the beginning of the new era with new manager, happen quite a lot, it’s mainly due to complete change within the club.. We’re not failing as a club at all. Yes some investment to suit managers style, of course is needed.
Do you want us to go into debt as Auldheid says to win the spfl?
Who would you sign, living within our means? Who would sign to get us into debt, bearing in mind there is immediate transfer fee but you then have to paying wages versus cash flow throughout the season?
You really sound like you have the sense of entitlement of a sevconian. There you go, I said it.
Best wee country in the world
A club can give its champions league place to another club.
Mr Mullet,
I am unhappy with lack of investment and have expressed it ad nauseum.
Some are irrational in their hatred of Celtic though.
Back in later.
I really worry about our reputation – domestic and global – following our reinstatement into the CL.
Only today, zillions of fans from all over the world….and zombies from the nether world… will be tuning into the Best League in the World to watch the first instalment of El Classico Hunnio derby.
My real fear is that at any moment fans from both of these wonderful new clumpanies may join together and sing songs and boo and hiss about Celtic’s devious Kafflik ways….. but only quietly mind cos we don’t want the lovely FOCUS boys to have their siestas interrupted.
If we were a better club we would forfeit our place in the next round and allow another team to beat Maribor….for the first time!
Roond yous!
TongueInCheekCSC!
HH jamesgang
joe filippis haircut
13:14 on 10 August, 2014
My reasons for not wanting Tonev are to do with his actions last season in using Celtic to manoeuvre a move to the EPL. He is perfectly within his right to do so but why would. Celtic want to deal with him and his agent again?
I also do not like loan deals. If you want someone buy them. Given Tonev’s previous what’s to say that if he comes to us on loan, with a deal to buy at the end of it, he won’t go punt himself around EPL/Championship clubs again?
In terms of his ability, he’s a winger and they are generally inconsistent. He had a poor time at Villa, he could have a good season with us. Who knows.
Dearie me,
Tonev is already on the same list as Pukki Boeriggter and Balde
The four Amidos
The Green Man
13:02 on
10 August, 2014
Your C.V.
In view of your continuing and ongoing trenchant criticism of Celtic F.C.,it would be reasonable,I feel, to pose to you the following questions:
What in your C.V. qualifies you to give advice to a multi million pound organisation;
to wit Celtic F.C.?
In view of your criticism, one would be forgiven for presuming that you have experience in this particular field.
It would be helpful if you could specify same.
Would you be kind enough to share those specifics,please?
Or,to put it in the vernacular………………..put up or shut up.
80,000 Dortmund fans turned up for training yesterday….yikes, what a bunch of fat bassas we are here on CQN by comparison!
Hutchybhoy – it was at least a hornet! would need to be to fill my lug!
Happened between Callander and Doune – skid marks(!) still on the road.
Promise I’d stopped greeting by the time I got home!
HH jamesgang
Do the zombies still get their own referees as I see they got their regular cup ref in the game v Hibs and the SFA had attached referees to them for their initial lower league seasons.
Martim1980
Please…will you stop attempting to rationalise failure.
We got severely humped by Legia, or did you miss that?
Give me a break
HH
The Green Man
So say by halving the salary paid to those working to run Celtic and spreading it over the players budget the problems will be solved?
It might help reduce your sense of grievance but if it fails to provide the improvement we all want to see, what’s Plan B?
Economics is not an excuse it’s a reason.
An excuse is when we can do something about an event like setting the alarm 30 minutes earlier to avoid being late for work.
A reason for being late is the bus broke down.
You can do something about the former and nothing about the latter.
Sometimes doing nothing is the answer, it allows time and space for factors to change.
One day you are out the CL and can do nothing about it. The next things change.
Dunky…
Leave in July was planned but didn’t expect it to run into August. Possible i might be here for the rest of the month also.
Pretty much scunnered after Wed’s exhibition of how not to play.
If that was an example of RD’s quick touch, fast flowing, attacking football then i see many more days of pain until the personnel who can perform it are brought in. Not to mention the first leg that i watched with embramike in Malones pub… could have been six and counting….
The old proverb of silk purse and sow’s ear comes to mind.
Btw was Hooper not championship top scorer before with lowly scunthorpe? 20/1 to do it again is worth snapping up before his hat trick later today
Not keen on to many loan signings. The season we had about 7 loan players there attitude was poor.
LG time is up at parkhead sadly cracking player. His attempt to attack the Celtic fan the other night his head is full of broken bottles.