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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Sydneytim I dunno about you but I am walking with a skip in my step at the news we got lots of money for big FF. Isn’t it fab?
Can’t you just feel how good those accounts will look..
Makes me giddy thinking about it.
ernie lynch
13:32 on 9 August, 2014
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.
My granny used gie me chips with my pancake for my lunch, then had to go and run cross country at school. Saying that was always there or thereabouts
Lard the food of athletesCSC
News just in:
Police Scotland have opened an investigation into a 26 year old man suspected of driving without due care and attention in the Lennoxtown area. He is described as very tall and dark haired with a Geordie accent.
6 pancakes on the way to work. Hopefully dry. Mind you the big man had hands like plates so he wouldn’t be messing up his Beamer or whatever with his chosen spread.
Home made pancakes with eggs oats and peanut butter I could believe but a plain old Greggs is more becoming of that guy who manages a deed team.
Maybe if all our sub £15k a week players stayed twice as long they would make twice the player.
Why is it we accept the part time player and give them a huge hourly rate?
Driving while under the influence of pancakes sets a bad example for young people.
I hope he wasn’t going flat out at the time.
is the England goalkeeping coach at Southampton ?
The Battered Bunnet
13:15 on
9 August, 2014
It`s only football.
Mitigating circumstances don`t apply.
Because it`s only football.Not the death of babies.
Please God, no more crepe puns.
Steinreigned
I could save them the bother and say, I do.
I’m very much a Celtic pragmatist, probably in a minority, and been known to give my Euro night tickets away to friends and relatives, that haven’t seen great Celtic sides, as many times as me.
I know the club is dysfunctional on a European level and transfers in, even if we move to the £4m and above grade, won’t fix, what seems to be wrong on the evidence of all of the games played this season, including bounce games.
I’m as fearful of the spend, than some Celtic fans are, of not spending.
I want a Manager and a football brain in charge of the presently very unproductive, playing personnel, where we need weeding.
If RD was selling all sorts, I’d have more confidence in him, we need to follow the rules of walk, before you can run.
Europe is fantasy football at this moment.
Lennybhoy…Supporting the DAM 5 and CFC until I die
12:10 on
9 August, 2014
First CQN Coupon of the Season if you fancy a punt:
Lennybhoy – Derby
PF – Preston
Pog – Dundee
Jobo – Hamilton
BT – Wigan
GL2: East Fife
AWATR: Leyton Orient
oldtim67 Millwall
.
TTT currently on holiday but assume he’ll be back soon.
lennybhoy added my name to the list.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Too much waffling on about pancakes on here.
Paul……went through a phase of lurking for a year or two there, but just wanted to comment on this post. Completely agree. FF is a role model, and an absolute professional, and we can only hope some of his attitude rubbed off on some of the other players.
As for Stevie Woods…..the man’s a gent and an excellent coach. I really hope we keep him for a sustained period. Coaches like him are worth their weight in gold……
Bizarre week would be the understatement of the century. Murrayfield was not enjoyable on Wednesday. We looked short in every department, and the worst thing of all was the attitude wasn’t there. I am normally chastised by my peers for being ridiculously optimistic, especially when it comes to the bhoys, but I felt almost wounded after Wednesday! We were bloody awful. It can only get better I supposed.
Having said that, no-one should be judging a new coach for at least 6 months, so I will not do so until then and see we have progressed.
I bought a season for the first time in 15 years last year…..because my team needed me more than ever. Same again this year. Our club needs us folks. Time to stand up. The good times will return.
And all this knocking of our board. They are guiding our ship very well through troubled waters. As the song goes, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone…..’ They are doing a very good job in my opinion.
Keep up the good work fellas – excellent journalism.
PM
When I was younger I used to have crumpet in my car but that’s another story.
lennybhoy by significant I mean not a million or 2 per player, we should have a budget of at least 20m at the moment inc wages players need to be bought in the 3 to 5 million bracket
Also I must point out this is investing money not just spending money.
All of what you write rings true Paul.
My keeper of choice in all my time watching Celtic and a Bhoy who seems to be both consummate professional and genuine nice lad.
Henke effectively ‘outgrew’ what we could do and though I cried like a baby when he left I appreciated it gave him the chance to win a CL winner’s medal.
In this instance the big wall had outgrown what playing in Scotland can offer him in terms of achieving his England ambitions.
Fair play big lhad. Now go and be a winner.
My son will miss him as he’s a big favourite in this house.
A fit(?) Craig Gordon will be a good replacement and at least gives us a target man if we’re putting crosses into the opposition box late in game!
Losing the less well rounded, less focussed(?) VVD would actually be a bigger hole to fill right now.
SFTB. Prayers for your Fhriend mhate.
HH jamesgang
My Mums Cousin. A good post fella with which I agree. H.H.
SFTB, my condolences on the passing away of your friend.
Fraser, all the best when you move. As others have said, that penallty save v Hearts was the turning point for him. He did have better performances in bigger games but that penalty save is the one that sticks out for me.
I hope he leaves us amicably with our team having a special place in his heart. Adios le gran muralla
His training & work ethic should be an example to all our players of what can be achieved with more dedication to your well rewarded occupation.
When Paul Sturrock was St Johnstone manager, he said his players were full time so should work full time not part time. He would not let them leave before five pm and if they weren’t training they were doing work for the club or doing work with fans in their work places.
che , hope you got the info through Lennybhoy . all details same as last season .
leftclicktic, cheers
Proudbhoy everyone knows that Paul67 spins for PL Never criticises
Similar to chicko young with David Murray
When Paul said that , I knew it was mince Before Gordon we could not sell FF for AGM balance sheet
The Kano Foundation Bucket Collection 2014
Folks as you may remember , we set out an ambition/hope to try to minimise the amount we imposed on the fans while maximising the return . For that reason , we try to only reach out with the begging bowl a couple of times a year – well next Saturday is one of those times .
For the 2nd year in a row , we’ve obtained the collecting licence for the environs around Celtic Park for the flag raising day . As a result , we need to ask for help for volunteers to help with the collection next Saturday 16/8.
Because of the early kick-off, we need to ask for volunteers/helpers from 10:00 am .. If you can help ,either with the collection or with the counting afterwards [after the game obv], please drop a line to bucketcollection@thekanofoundation.com including your name , address , dob and whether you can do before the game or help with the count afterwards.
As an added incentive , you’ll get a kano t-shirt and free entry into the Kano Karaoke we are holding in Arena from 7pm after the game.
Anyone else is welcome to attend (5gbp entry fee).
For anyone attending the game , please bring along your loose change – we averaged 10p per fan last year – a repeat of that would be great .
Hail Hail
Sanna
whitedoghunch
13:40 on 9 August, 2014
is the England goalkeeping coach at Southampton ?
Yeah, Dave Watson
NegAnon2
13:36 on
9 August, 2014
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your a man after my own heart……..makes you wonder when the PLC will just buy the blog from Paul and ban us LOL?
The point of the leader article was what Paul?……
That FF is a proper professional?
That by inference the rest are not?
The present CFC business paradigm is a busted flush……
There will be no major “splash” in the transfer market
Peter Liewell will get his end of year financial performance bonus
Maribor will dispose of us in the CL
The EL groups may or may not be doable with what we have at present
SPL?…….maybes aye/maybes naw (as they say)
Still waiting on (any) happy clapper posting the TRUE number of SB’s sold too……
As much as it pains me the truth is this……..keep turning up…..keep paying…….keep getting pumped in the game of money ball by the PLC.
It is what it is…….
My mums cousin,
Sigh
And all this knocking of our board. They are guiding our ship very well through troubled waters. As the song goes, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone…..’ They are doing a very good job in my opinion.
So let me get this right. Allowing corruption on a grand scale and getting absolutely horses by a team on half of your turnover is doing a good job is it?
Is lying to your supporters doing a good job too?
God I would hate to work where you work if that’s your definition of a good job.
I see the Doom Brothers are in tandem today.
Time to go.
For the guy going to Ayr races tonight I’ve got this info from a usually good source.
7.40 Ayr – Polski Max – 1pt win – 5/1
Down to a winnable mark and has conditions in his favour tonight. Trip and ground are ideal. cheekpieces for 1st time and the boy is good value for his 3lb claim
Also had some usually good info for,
Clon Brulee, 2.30 Newmarket 6/1.
I’ve done 2 e/w singles & an e/w double.
Best of luck.
good luck ff.
we could have the best keeper in the world playing for us, but until we get our defence,midfield and tactics right we will struggle in the spl.
• Steinreignedsupreme
13:00 on 9 August, 2014
Big Joe 12:55 on 9 August, 2014
“No WAR CHEST for the angry mob
“WhyareTHAYalwaysRagingAbootSomthing”
Some folk as just miserable, we have plenty on here.
Zombies are miserable and angry though – a deadly combination.
I love the different views on CQN…………….
Its what makes it so………………….. interesting….
ItwouldbeBoringIFweWereallThesame
Green dreamz I find it highly amusing that the board believe they can continually stiffen us.
I look forward to the reckoning.
By Gary. Do you always run away from trouble?
Paul67
A brilliant tribute to Fraser , a keeper who has served us well.
More telling however is your last statement in which you say that Maribor would beat us if we played them this week.
Surely this is a shocking indictment of the PLC and evidence of their mismanagement of the FOOTBALL club.
We are Celtic and should be able to negotiate Maribor with our second string.
Too much balancing of the books and hoarding cash has taken place.
Now is the time for our team to take priority
HH
BIG, FF,last min penalty save v Hearts lives long in the mind….
Good luck Fraser…
Notice the Herald today,promoting Berg EBT, all anti Celtic..Warsaw WILL appeal etc..
Interesting when RULES ARE applied themsco can’t accept…
The Heralds business editor too,Williams ,getting in on the act..
We were lucky.. But it’s RAPID payback..
HH
the glorious
You do irony well, just like your moniker.
I know you already know that from the moment Craig Gordon miraculously came back from injury oblivion, he was rubber stamped as FF’s natural replacement as a former £10M man for another £10m man.
Pretty smart club replacing people before they’ve left?
Much more likely we’d think about keepers again, somewhere down the line Keepers don’t get injured much do they?
I’m not convinced we are so clever, in the transfer market (anymore), and we’ve taken a battering, confidence in choice is low, from whoever it is that decides.
RD did say he could have had more players here at present, but he’s waited.
I do believe, that at the end of last season, the prospect of having to get past Legia and then Maribor would not have seemed as daunting as it’s turning out to be under the new regime.
A couple of good posts from My Mums Cousin and jamesgang, then the usual pile in posting the same stuff over and over and over.
That horse retirement plan won at 7/1. Think it was what is the stars that gave it last nite.
Cheers boss! Great start to the weekend!
Legia should show some dignity and drop their pointless appeal.
Craig Gordon will be Celtic’s number one. If fit I don’t see a problem with that. FF is a great keeper but he’s not irreplaceable.
We should be looking at getting a young upcoming keeper in who can be moulded into a world class player – that will no doubt mean allowing him to move out for first team football on loan at some point. But why would we go spending big money on someone to challenge an ex-£9m keeper?
We have bigger fish to fry.
The defense needs to be better organised and that is a massive issue. But the midfield also need to give support, and the forwards need to support the midfield… that doesn’t seem to be happening any more and is absolutely crucial for a pressing game.
We lack a quality all-round player in the team. We also lack a number 9. And nobody in our squad seems capable of running at the opposition with the ball… Commons is too slow, Forrest can knock it by a man and run but doesn’t (for me) have the skill to dribble out of tight situations, Stokes it too slow, Boerrigter has thus far been a disaster, I think Swackhammer has stolen his talent for Moron Mountain.
Only Commons, Stokes, Griffiths and now McGregor look like they can supply goals. People thought Samaras was ineffective but I’ve posted here before the actual figures and he was actually our second or third most effective player last season.
We need a top midfielder from somewhere, we can’t afford a known quantity so we’ll have our work cut out to find one. We need a striker who can boss a game and put the fear into defenses.