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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bhoys own – great question – there’s now way legia helped us, we have to just move on. I’m hoping that the board knew FF was on his way (it looks like they did) and had their eye on quality 1 to 2 million prospects- trouble is the last few, as Paul pointed out have been odd. Also hope that there’s a MON style 4-5 million player they’ve had their eye on – that’s just me dreaming, there’s no evidence for that. We must be able to pull off a hartson every now and then !
Hibs keeper scores 2-0
Kevinbhoy
May your Aunty Mary rest in peace.
KevinBhoy
15:17 on
9 August, 2014
Thanks for sharing your Auntie Mary with your friends on C.Q.N.
CFC 1888 @junglebhoy60 8m
@Bugsymaloned http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/single/?p=13093482&t=9070302 …
tonydonnelly67 15:14 on 9 August, 2014
I’d be lost without them because of the unintentional laughter they provide us with. After Wednesday I thought I’d be scunnered for at least a week.
Suddenly, Celtic are reinstated, the Zombies implode … and Chico pipes up before the Brains Trust release another priceless statement.
By last night I floating about like Celtic had won 6-1 on aggregate.
Kevin bhoy. RIP to your Aunt Mary.
GCC Tim. I think I know you. Ever live in Baltimore? HH
Paul
I seen some bad bhoys mentioning r@ngers earlier …
And apologies if me commending the hard men of rugger league caused offence ;)
6 pancakes whilst driving!!??
No place at my club for these law breakers. ;)
All the best big man. Good luck in your career.
Td67
They ain’t lurking so much these days….they’re posting!!
BIG WAVY 1232
You mention posters complaining about Fraser leaving,and using it to have a go at the club.
Care to name a few?
Most of us accepted he was for the off,if not all.
We knew he wanted to leave,pursue his career down south.
I would love to have kept him,most of us would.
So who criticised the club for letting him leave (most of whom are on here today)apparently?
gearoid1998 15:22 on 9 August, 2014
“By the way TD noticed you said The Rangers in liquidation this WEEK. Liquidation is not just for Christmas, it’s for EVER.”
Was that on that daft twitter thing?
My mums cousin. Errr I wasn’t worried about you. Very nice to hear you are doing so well. You must be pleased.
Pity celtic aren’t doing so well eh?
Pity we aren’t trying hard.
Pity the club lie to us? Does that make you proud of celtic. The lies they have told us?
Kevinbhoy, God Rest your Auntie Mary. I enjoyed your post.
Aye, WhinhallKev. I was the best and loudest singer in The DC CSC and know you fine. Hope you are well, mate. Good to be re-acquainted. Hail Hail.
Reading that the Hibs keeper launched a huge kick up the pitch which sailed into the net!
On his debut…
Fraser bereds to practice that now.
Lubo.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS……….
Trying to catch you……… Our Gabrial just won at 8/1……………grrrrrrrr
TBM
Bereds = needs
Geordie
The maple syrup could have made his hands slip on the wheel while driving
Mcmanamanaman just put a couply boab on his fee.
Tbj,
Wash yer mouth out.
Butter and strawberry jam please ;)
Prefix Texas is very annoying … apparently…
GCC TIM. Happy to hear from you. Thanks for helping me all those years ago. Also the boys still ask about you. Brendan came in from Baltimore a week ago. Was good to see him. Will tell them you’re hale and hearty. Maybe see you at a European Game this year! God Bless. HH. — KF.
A friend of mine from uni has started a Jelly company, Jellicatesin. He’s not really into football but would be more inclined to support the horrors from poundland. He’s looking for creative ideas for new flavours – any jelly and ice cream inspired ideas?
Good luck to BIG (did you see what I did there).
Frazer Forster).
Thanks for the memories, and thanks for the money.
Hope Ronny gets to spend it wisely.
Oh and it’s my birthday today.
Malone buoy
Can he build a round jelly in layers of green white green white.
Try to replicate the hoops. Luvvly jubbly.
Sorry should have been Malone bhoy.
Three in a row?
I know it’s my birthday, but.
malone bhoy
Tell him to bottle it and sell it as Liquid ( ation ) Jelly
My @ 15.03
I can nearly agree with you apsrt from the basic fact that goods do not flow from suplus to need they flow from cheap to dear.
The ability to pay trumps the level of need.
See the Irish Famine for the details.
Starving Irish peasants couldn`t price hungry English industrial serfs out the game.
Difficult issue to take forward.
Money talks.
Establishment worries that democracy was on its way didn`t help.
The Battered Bunnet
I had second thoughts myself earlier today and thought also that we should withdraw but my indecision passed, especially after I thought it through. Legia were at fault and contravened EUFA’s rules no matter what approach Celtic adopt even withdrawal. Legia are in the Europa League and will remain there no matter what Celtic do. They will not be reinstated to CL. EUFA, in my opinion, would reinstate St. Pat’s to Champions League and let Celtic stew in their own juice out of all Euro competition for their ingratitude and for having embarrassed EUFA.
KevinBhoy; thanks for sharing the stories about your auntie Mary, R.I.P. Will say one for her at Mass tonight. You will miss her but you. have the good moments with her to lighten the loss.
TBB 12,50
I agree with your post, and the absolutist/ relativists observation after.
It would be interesting if we meet in EL which after wed performance may happen lol
Thanks for the breakdown of Dermots shareholding.
What would he have to pay to launch a full takeover? ie glazer style.
interested,.ta in advance
HH
Your article simply prompts me to ask in a slightly altered form, a question I posed a few days ago.
Given that FF’s ability achieved for him the near impossible of playing in Scotland and getting a place in England’s squad in Rio, how then can the sharp suited fellow only get £10,000,000 from a team playing in a league awash with money, where fairly average players command much higher transfer fees?
SRS
No on here @15.14
HH
Paul67
Well said re Fraser, the guy was top class and good character as well.
On the subject of character, none of us really know the character of the majority of our players. Sure, rumours abound but do we REALLY know their types.Based on gut feeling and instinct I reckon we have a few, lets be nice, unsavoury chappies on the good ship Celtic. Remember Riordan, well I feel we may have a few like him and I personally would get shot. They may be good players but Celtic are bigger and certainly better than that. If only we had 20 FF’s or Henke’s eh.
Idealistic I know but I and all of you out there want what’s best for Celtic.
Rant over
KINGLuBO
Quonno
Cos they see the SPL as the barras and want a bargain!
quonno
Your article simply prompts me to ask in a slightly altered form, a question I posed a few days ago.
Given that FF’s ability achieved for him the near impossible of playing in Scotland and getting a place in England’s squad in Rio, how then can the sharp suited fellow only get £10,000,000 from a team playing in a league awash with money, where fairly average players command much higher transfer fees?
———–
Or you could equally say he’s done amazing to get £10mill for a player that plays in Scotland.
Good to hear about FF’s work ethic. Wish that there were more like him.
I believe that the last such dedicated player we had was Nakamura and he was regarded as a bit of a nuisance by some of his fellow so called pros.