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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MacJay
You’re doing a brilliant job on here today. I’m fed up listening to the same whingeing day after day.
Let’s get behind the team. If Peter Lawell and the Board (how I hate ‘the bored’) don’t start supporting the manager with some new players then he and they will experience the wrath of the support in the not too distant future. The anger of the support is not a pleasant sight to witness. It is up to the CEO, the Board and the fans to work together to ensure that never happens and that the team and the club prosper.
The green man
It’s a sport so good and bad things happen over time. On a good day we get the rub of the green and beat Barca 1-0 return game ,Neil fields bonkers team and we get trounced oh 6-1 , new broom , team in flux and we lose 6-1.
So at what point in the recent continuum do you wish to praise / sack the board …… It is a sport , stuff happens , get used to it.
Wind yer neck in buddy, stop bleating when we lose.
You are correct , I am wise.
Catchuplatercfc
Good luck to FF.
Unfortunately for him he will perhaps now find that where he was, was more impotant than who he is. Be interesting to see how his England career develops.
Macjay
There should be no rewards for failure.
Downsizing…yeah, lets start with plc salaries and perks.
Do you want to reward failure..surely not.
Anyway. .Hail Hail
Is that Celtic legend Alfie Conn I’m seeing on the
ibrokes pitch?
Feyenoord win with an injury time winner
Next up, Hearts ;-)
Some of those on this am and yesterday about Dun na ngall in the Gaelic.
Now play the Dubs. Similar predicament to ourselves happening in the GAA. Monied and therefore much better off cousins.
Dubs reputedly getting £4m for AIG contract and other Counties finding it difficult to compete given those resources. Playing field skewed.
Jamesgang…quess there were skid marks on the apparel as well!!
I raised this point yesterday but its worth mentioning again.
In relation to Paul67’s blog – I am curious for the reasoning behind most players going home after lunch, when big Fraser would have been a shining light to the rest of them.
If there is a chance to improve them physically or technically why dont we?
If there is a chance to educate them in front of specially made DVD’s focussing on different aspects of the game, defending as a unit, defending set pieces, attacking them, passing and moving etc, then why dont we?
If anyone saw any of the gaelic football on Sky Sports 3 yesterday they would have seen amateur sportsmen significantly fitter and stronger than our entire playing squad.
These ‘amateurs’ have full time jobs, yet put more training time (both on the pitch and in the gym) than professional footballers, many follow individual training regimes that involve them either playing, training or slugging it out in the gym 7 days a week, 2 of those can require them to do a ‘double’ by gyming it in the morning, and then going to training in the evening after a days work.
The training regimes are individual because depending on the position you play, you need to enhance different physical attributes – defenders pump more iron, wide men focus on agility, midfield on stamina etc.
Yet they never complain of fatigue, rarely go down with cramp.
I am perplexed about why professional footballers get it so easy.
Big Fraser is a model pro – and it told. His agility for his height and his physical condition is exemplary but hes had to work at it, he wasnt born with it
There must be a reason because Jim McGuiness would have called it by now
Ekbhoy
Ive nevrt conversed with you…and if you are a Celtic supporter…ive no wish to upset or argue with you.
You cannot reward failure..its as simple ss that.
HH
ekbhoy
13:12 on 10 August, 2014
Hahahaha ……. That would be one ‘depressing place’, like ipox
Jamesgang
El Classico Hunnio
Brilliant. Hahaha!
Rarely if ever agree with any Daily Record Headline, however the following one ” You know you’re in trouble when your players don’t have a song to their name” strikes me as one to think about. We always had songs on the go, about our heroes, whether twas Henrick, Sutton, McGeady or McCourt we even had one for Jan Venegoor of Hesselink. Who on the current squad merits a special song?.
Are Rangers playing?
CQN loyal, get the drinks in.
Anyway still great to be a Tim partic given the week thats in it.
Get ur finger out Peter
HH
Burnley 78,
Where do you think the club are heading though? What’s the future?
There are a few scenarios some good some bad.
I am a realist.
I see us playing in the Europa and bringing in a few loan signings and two maybe 3 players at 1 to 2 million. Our appointment of this man agent team and subsequent actions of that team have been nothing short of appalling. I’m beginning to think Celtic could appoint a chimp in a track suit and folk would still back it despite thrashings and hammerings.
Let me caveat that with the fact that I have no personal agenda with Ronny Deila. Why would I.
So it’s the Europa with these signings I imagine are on a par with what we have at the moment. I would say we will be out of Europe by Christmas and will make about £6m. We will still punt VVD and maybe a few others. We will make a further profit next year and everything is hunky dory in the garden.
However, next year we face the same qualification problem. I presume by that time that the management team will have a squad they are happy with and that we can deploy to at least give us a chance in the home legs. Either that or they will no longer be with the club and we will be looking at further managerial bets next season.
Who do we sell next season though? We better hope that someone comes good – maybe James Forrest will stay fit for a whole season or Adam Matthews will have a great Europa league? Maybe one of the players we bring in will hit the ground running and be off for the £10m we allegedly need to break even?
Our ambition and plan for this season should be to stabilise the club and pick up as many points as possible in the Europa. If we qualify for the latter stages that will keep the fans interested.
I am not confident our signings will make it based on recent examples and I think this management team are doomed to failure. So we don’t make Europe and we don’t sell the stars next season. What’s the contingency? Cash at the bank?
excathedra44
I agree, and Fraser Forster was made by Celtic. (especially by Stevie Woods)
There have been dozens of keepers in his category that have been the next
great EPL hope.
He could be tomorrow’s Joe Hart whose form is questionable, at best.
The green man
Celtic were not a PLC back in 1994.
The bank called them out not us.
Without Fergus the mess would have continued for years.
Dermot Desmond gave Fergus 4 million to pay the bank.
We protested but we were powerless without all of the above.
The then owners of Celtic did not sell because of the fans, rebels or otherwise.
HH
bournesouprecipe
13:21 on
10 August, 2014
Dearie me,
Tonev is already on the same list as Pukki Boeriggter and Balde
The four Amidos
======================================
I cant comment on Tonev but the others are dire.
If they were the recommendation of John Park,who appears not to have a list of potential signings in this present crisis,it begs the question why we need this guy.
desertbhoy
i always brown undies while engaging in extreme sports like cycling all the way to callander. why take the risk?
HH jamesgang
jonny the tim
13:16 on 10 August, 2014
To whoever is organising today’s Sevco pen/red card sweep, can I have a pen in 63 mins!
HH
End London rule, YES
__________________________________________________________________________
Ooops, Should have added that I dont want “thems” to get a pen,. I was merely predicting when I think they will!
Phew, glad I cleared that one up!
HH
Burnley
Do you believe that CFC operate to their potential on the field of play
I think that downsizing was necessary …but it has gone too far …we are obsessed with finance now
Lawwell is paid way too much
And scaremongering about overspending to the point of financial ruination …is utter nonsense …such a spend is not being advocated
Quonno 12.52.
See my post to The Glorious Balance Sheet.
If we bring players in we reduce first team development chances for youngsters.
I think the case for buying a bit of experience is a good one but it looks like the policy is to coach our way forward.
Rwe
Old board..new board.
Same old bs imo.
The high and mighty know whats best.
Same old story.
Shameless gravy train
Sell big..keep the money…replace with dross.
Yawn
HH
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy
13:24 on
10 August, 2014
Can`t begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you have said.
“the club prosper”…………………….the beginning the middle and the end.
“Let’s get behind the team”………….the beginning the middle and the end.
I used to spend my student days defending Celtic to the “educated ” hun.
Lots of experience….sadly in the wrong field.
:-)
Ernie Lynch @ 12:36 – I find that term “PR Bullshit” quite offensive – have you read Fraser Forster’s quote – I suppose you think he’s full of PR bullshit as well ?
He wanted to move on, and that’s it – nothing the club can do about it, and they are right to maximise the amount of money to be made out of it. Its not PR, its business – wake up !
Eyes wide open, laziness and the British attitude to football are the answers to your questions I think.
There’s folk banging on about over training if football players train for more than 2 hours a day. We have full time sportsmen training for 10 hours a week max plus playing time of just over 3 hours max.
Compare that to a full time professional athlete or even some amateurs in other sports. It doesn’t need to be chasing a ball or running for that training time. Of course that will result in injuries. It needs to be split between conditioning, practice, stretching etc.
Surely Skint Huns v Skinter Huns would be El Brassico
Auldheid
Most of our youngsters are not good enough….
Sadly another excuse for parsimony
Anyone any idea why an Internet feed would advertise the game thus:
Rangers FC Victoria Highlanders vs Hearts. ???
excath
I think there’s no question Celtic have been caught napping, since the parting and reasons for NFL’s departure. A parting that clearly involved recruitment. The signing policy has been intensified by the Warsaw fiasco, and then reintensified by Celtic’s reinstatement.
We sign players in every window, I hope they get it right.
I maintain St Johnstone are the number one priority, and we need to see if we have a manager.
Bournesouprecipe/excathedra
With respect to FF, life is what you make it. I’m sure there many fans questioning Ronaldo for leaving a perfectly cushy number at ManU to challenge himself still further at Royal Madrid. It is what separates the motivated from the unmotivated. Most British players settle for the cushy rather than become as good as they can be. Too many Celtic players are afflicted by this behaviour, and the virus affects our overseas players almost as much as it does our homebhoys. If FF was as diligent as mentioned, best of luck to him, the bhoy done good.
In the words of the immortal Billy Connolly: “I`ll ask you again…………….”
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.
ComeonyerrrrrrrrreeeedietHuns……………………….
Boniek shooting his mouth off reminds me of meeting him in 1990. It was in Italy after the world cup and he was dropping his kids off at a tennis camp . He came into the bar to great excitment of the locals. I tried to talk to him about Celtic and what he thought about having played at Paradise. His answer in good english “what do think of Italian women?” He had a 17year old dolly-bird on his arm. He signed my Celtic tee-shirt.
D D if ur there.
Did you get a piece of Fannings treble yesterday??
Bob O’ Baldy
I’ve no difficulty with La Gran Muralla returning south to an ordinary football club, and wish him nothing but the best.
Doesn’t look like much of a boycott at zombie world.