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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Syd Negakev
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.
———-
To be honest I thought we were pretty ropey last season so expected us to struggle in the CL qualifiers even if Lenny was still boss.
Even though “we should beat teams like Legia” I don’t see why, on the one hand fans go can’t sell Matthews for less than £4mill then you watch him perform like that on Wednesday and you tried to think when was his last good game.
I think we massively overpay our players and overate them.
” I self financed some visits to English training facilities .I was stunned . I did more work in a typical week than those guys did in a month. ”
Antonio Conte
Neg … 2
Give them enough rope and …
Happy to see FF go, he had reached our limits.
We realisticallt cannot hold GBP 10mill at GK when we have the gaps in the team that we have.
Looking at a real No .9, bruiser in the MF, a new SN to add creativity plus some experience and nous.
Unfortunately we will have re-run of last season and PL will act like a wee boy in a sweet shop.
A sweetshop run by his pet agents stocked with all their remnant rack stiffs.
As always interesting times ahead.
Currently watching the Red Brigade on the TV.
Sino Ultras giving it …
Fairly large.
One level above the rustling of sweetie wrappers.
However from small acorns …
So bhoys. Spend what you earn
Twenty million there bhoys
Simple question, when have our custodians built on success, we don’t improve the squad we simply replace with cheap alternatives.
Why is selling your best player before the 2 most important games in the calendar viewed as being an excellent piece of business. You couldn’t make it up, enjoying the prawn sandwiches?
Mea culpa 10.23
Enjoyed that. In fact I splattered a mouthful of tea and roll n sausage over the mobile.
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream
danke
Cheers Hunskelper…….Honk! Honk! :)
A change of subject, the return of coach Lasso
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iRqypM7jb5Y
the_huddle
Yes, admittedly, we did scrape through the qualifiers but I think Lenny was getting the best out of the team at the end of the season and I don’t think Legia, at least, would have held any fears for us.
However, the clock can’t be turned back so on we go.
Who eats 6 pies on the way to Murray park? I’m sure Boruc could handle at least 7 pancakes
I’m at a loss, we have cash reserves which are soon to be increased with the sale of our best player, a common occurrence, yet we watch a piss poor team week in week out and this translates as doing a good job. Pure unadulterated sycophantic accountants nonsense
Neganon. Are you for real ? Would you not be better off with a picket sign standing in front of CP. I understand that you hate the Board and PL but must you remind us of it every 20 minutes? Hell if something irritated me as much as our Board does you, I would do something other than blogging about it.
As for the moneyball policy blowing up in front of our eyes, we just sold FF for 8 million more than we bought him. He wasnt one for staying. Evidence that the policy that you deride, sometimes works. I want investment in the club as well, but man you wear me out.
As for the poster with the “Liewell” comment. You are a scumbag hun.
Hail Hail Paul67
Dug this up from the archive;
Wednesday, July 28, 2004 -Paul67:
“So how much will this allow Celtic to spend next year? A lot is the answer. My estimate is that the club can afford a Profit and Loss charge of around £7m per annum. If they sign players on 4-year contracts, this will give them £28m to spend in the long hot summer of 2005. Until then we need Martin to produce yet another European miracle, we need the players to produce to their usual high standard at home, and we can all relax in the knowledge that the bean counters from Govan have no idea how to fight back.”
Care to hazard a guess on net spend this year?
I say $1M….
Just for fun of course
To Neganon/sydneykev
How much debt do you think Celtic should go in to cover your dreams?
Would you prefer a sugar daddy or oligarch to fund a spending spree?
The Battered Bunnet
What is to stop a team deliberately playing a player and paying the fine?
MB @ 14.03
YOU are right.
Treat the GK position as s test case for squad and asset management.
If CG is the new guy then fine.
But remember he is made of chocolate.
Next issue is LZ then up to the job?
Any better alternatives out there?
How are we doing one level down?
And then the various youths?
We must be carrying 6 or 7 GK on contract.at the moment — how are we for world beaters in 5 years time?
That should be our plan.
Not beating the TFOD2 tribute act in the U 17 and a half LC quarter final.
the_huddle
Glad someone read it!
;-)
Aff oot!
Bike time to work off 2 rolls n skwer! Consumate CQN pro that I am!!!
HH jamesgang
Lol, I notice the Huns are back in today, after they crawled back under there rocks from here yesterday, I called it yesterday they would not be in, just in case they blew there cover, oh and some did with their absence, lol, they where absolutely spewing yesterday from every corner of the world hahaha, feel the pain and hurt bad, I can only imagine how cold it must be in our shadow, GIRFUYs, squirm ya rats b@&<€$¥s
PS……If I wanted shares in a supermarket it would say TESCO on the issue certificate…….the one with original Celtic team on it….but you already knew that…..
Right?
greendreamz- there are kids use this blog- please edit
Liewell is a commonly used term from those who follow the dark side
https://twitter.com/67_heaven/status/498098603643383808
bournesouprecipe 13:40 on 9 August, 2014
I’m a season-ticket holder for the ole pragmatic club myself.
The point I was trying to make to someone this morning is I want to see Celtic compete in the CL. I do not want to see Celtic get humiliated in the CL.
That would be soul destroying and not worth £15m.
Greendreamz, why don’t you temper your language mate, you might have some points worth making but nobody’s going to pay any attention if you simply descend to personal abuse…you hun.
Curiouser and curiouser……..the number of split personalities appearing (almost) daily on CQN.
Mmmm…….
Neganon2
Please do not worry about me. My company (a trading house) have had record year in 4 of the last 5 years. Our turnover is over $2 billion, with just 40 staff. That’s probably not good enough for you…..
I know nothing about business apparently, but what I do know is several members of our board are well sought after. I know this as a fact. And the reason for this? What do you think? Sharp dressers?
We continue to work in a market of very limited resources, and without that other mob, the commercial attraction has dwindled even more. It’s a bitter pill for me and my Celtic peers to swallow, but it’s true.
The club must be run as a sustainable and stand-alone business. We have lost millions upon millions in the previous decade, up until the last couple of years. We can’t just blow those profits. Sure, if we continue to remain in profit, then we will be in a position to invest more. The club have in fact spent decent money on player, just perhaps wasn’t spent well. Having said that, we have of course unearthed some gems that we have made a good profit on.
We are where we are. Attracting top players to Scotland is almost impossible. We have to find rough diamonds, and unfortunately, we’re not the only club in said market.
Unlike another former club, our club has and will survive. We pay our bills, and we act prudently, not irresponsibly. Society is all about now now now. We are in a transition state with a new manager, new training methods and a new strategy. Deal with it. Transitional phases are rarely without hazards. Yes, we need to improve, but less the now now now mentality, or we will never put a plan in place for future success and sustainability.
HH
(And please leave personal crap out of this…..it’s below us…..)
Greendreamz there is a language protocol on this blog and your use of the F-word has breached it. Also it is well recognised that the huns refer to PL as Liewell so I can see where whinhallkev is coming from.
tonydonnelly67
14:28 on 9 August, 2014
Could you be more specific, please ……hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Darwinsbeautifulidea
Just a thought but have you EVER said anything positive about OUR club????
Makes you wonder WHY you support Celtic (I think). Go on give it a try it might put a smile on your face.
Greendreamz. I saw my first Celtic game in 1971. I am a season ticketholder – overeseas variety. You have referred to our CEO by a term that was coined by the huns. If you have reason to believe that the CEO of CFC PLC is a liar, you – as a shareholder – have legal redress. Avail yourself of it if you will, but for you to post that hun garbage calling the man a liar says more about you than him. It also makes you a hun in my book. Have a nice day! Prick.
67 heaven
Children here, or I would ;)
fieldofdrams
14:31 on
9 August, 2014
Greendreamz, why don’t you temper your language mate, you might have some points worth making but nobody’s going to pay any attention if you simply descend to personal abuse…you hun.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Theres no edit facility………theres no post retrieval facility……there no function to check the history of name changes on a given e-mail……..
Mmmmm…….
tbj says wee oscar knox is in heaven with the angels
14:31 on 9 August, 2014
Watching the rugby league challenge cup semi final
Warrington v Leeds
On the pre match build up it shows an incident where one boy gives the other a full blown head butt .. Other guy turns his head and takes it full on the cheek .
He doesn’t even hold his face … Never mind hit the deck .. Argues with the guy had his team mates instead
Then they show us Jamie peacock of Leeds training … Weights like the Olympics . Training until you spew ( his words) smashing a sledge hammer into a massive tyre
Total respect to these guys … Maybe I’m following the wrong sport .. Wish our bhoys gave 75% of the effort and application ( for 10 times the cash )
Kev,
A wee break from the huns. Is that Whinhall, Airdrie?
HH
Big mate of mine works on the trains. Just called to say a family got on at Kilwinning, granny maw paw and three weans. The granny says ‘let’s play spot the colour’. Quick as a flash one of the weans shouts ‘a green ambulance granny,’…..’that disnae coont’ granny replies…’and I’ve telt yeez before don’t mention that f&&!?n colour!’ Whole carriage shaking their heads in disbelief.
Sad but true. He could write a book about them.
My … 14.32
Superb you trade stuff.
That is you do not build stuff.
You do not design stuff.
You do not produce anything of note.
When FF arrived on loan I was less than happy.
His first season performances were not convincing, great shot stopper , stayed on line.
When he came back as a ‘signed’ player I was vocal in my frustration that we had spent money on a position that we did not really need…..
History proved that the club made the correct move
FF became a class act at Celtic , but he did arrive as one.
The attitude of the individual and the expertise of Stevie Woods plus the exposure in BIG games made Fraser into a £10m player.
I wish him all the best in Southampton he may need it in that team.
I am happy to see the club continue with Moneyball projects , if we can not convince quality finished articles to come.
The knee jerk’spend money now’ is an understandable response to our current dilemma ..
However I do not think the board are the only ones who ‘wait until we know if we are in the Champions League’
… it is likely to be the mantra for the targeted players and their agents
. however we have to appreciate that any player ( and agent) will wait for at least 2 more weeks before deciding to come to us.as a stepping stone to a top Euro Club.. or to opt for big bucks in middle ranked clubs in EPL.
Its the market we are in ……………. PL can not change that reality…………..
The Onlooker
ST wish I inhabited your little Utopia where all your money is banked and nothing spent on daily/weekly /monthly costs, no supermarket bills,gas,electricity,insurance,rent/mortgage, medical,motor,fuel,entertainment,nada and I,m sure you keep a few dollars in the bank as “rainy day” back up. What about the sell on fee due to NUFC? where does that figure in your calculations? If you present a serious coherent set of figures I for one might take you more seriously at the moment it is “Loony Tunes Hail Hail Hebcelt
gearoid1998 14:35 on 9 August, 2014
I think ole Darwins had a stinking week.