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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Ger57. Your post made me smile. The inherent contradiction between your claim that we shouldn’t be distracted by PL only doing what’s right for PL and your view that we should smile, and take our abuse from the board smiling is quite breathtaking.
As is your normal attempt to dehumanise those who would point out the utter mess that celtic are making of the club.
So what am I making up ger57?
Oh and by the way ger57 it is all our fault we are in such a mess.
CB
RH stuck up for JT well beyond what was required.
He then actrd as if he had lost his favourite engine from his train set.
So that is it. Madmitch confirms that Roy Hodgson is a racist. What spellbinding evidence. Lynch mobs were made for folk like you.
ryecatcher
16:40 on 9 August, 2014
Can’t get my head around big Lurch signing for Southampton.
Artur Boruc was,is,and will be a far better goalie than FF,and I would imagine will be Koeman’s first choice between the sticks.
10 million seems a lot of money for a back up keeper.
Unless the Holy a Goalie is moving on, it doesn’t make sense.
There was a comment on one of the radio channels during the week linking him to Bayern.
FF gets a 10 million move to Southampton……….
Artur Boruc was great for Southampton last season.
David Marshall was voted the best keeper in EPL last season…..some of his performances were truly world class.
Craig Gordon,currently at Celtic, was until recently the most expensive keeper ever signed in UK.
Why oh why do the Hun infested Scottish main stream media keep on about Celtic having a problem position at goalie…..’Never had a good one since Ronnie Simpson’ yada yada yada?
Feckin brown nosed,SMSM love in with alkies like Goram and McGregor…….
Two of the most over rated goalies I have ever seen.
ernie lynch……..what I should have said was
David Currie sounds like a horrible hurtin hun.
Love and kisses….
….Nye
3 points off the pace already – board the sack
TBJ
In 2011 at a wedding in Virginia USA, I met a Scottish lady from Perth, when she found out I was Celtic Mhan, casually opined that she didn’t like Neil Lennon.
When I asked her why this was she said
“He’s just so angry.”
Thanks to the wonderful Scottish media she seemed content that her feelings about NFL were correct and entirely justified.
HH
EL @ 16.59
Not sure of the exact specifics on that one but he eas always sailing close to the winf.
The JT stuff sickened me.
Done — himself — up like a kipper and yet some pine.
Neganon
Pal.. Ye never cease tae Amaze me..
How kin ye.. sit at that Keyboard..
N… Tap oot such Nonsense?
When Referring tae the Joab that Celtic’s Present.. C.E.O. is Daein’.
Celtic, are in the Rudest o’ FINANCIAL HEALTH.. that they Hiv Bin ..in ..well
Ever?
n.. diz THAT no Directly. Reflect..
How the Celtic Man In Charge is Performing,in Situ?
Look..
It is “Awe Aboot the Money.”
Ah keep tellin You this..but it never seems tae be absorbed.
Look at the Plight o the Rangers?
Hiv ye Looked?
Good..
Then..
Ah wull No Need tae say any Mair.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Paul67 must feel like Poor Phineus……….
from phineus and ferb?
Getting paid £thousands a week to train, play, look after yourself. What big Fraser does should be the standard.
A,player shouldn’t have the choice. Training, rehab/recovery and being instructed in tactics for the next game should be all in a days work.
greendreamz
16:45 on 9 August, 2014
—————————————–
Well done that Mhan for apologising.
If you don’t have sky
Spurs v Schalke
Itv 4
5-30
HH
CB
I have in the past put in a good wotd for RH.
Consequently all this non diverse stuff stood out for me.
No need for a lynch mob.
Just a.case he put SC ahead of FF.
Enough said.
Yeah, the modern British footballer will probably tell you he is overworked and underpaid. As I often say I love my football but at the end of the the day it’s about kicking a piece of leather up and down a field. Celtic on the other hand is a way of life.
Kojo. It is quiet amazing big Peter is by far the best CEO Celtic have ever had and is one of the best in the UK . However, there are still Celtic supporters who cant see the wood for the trees and want rid of him.It will be a sad day for us the day he walks away saying he has had enough. H.H.
madmitch are you ex-military because the only people I know who use abbreviations as much as you are the military ;-) ?
Iycfowtistmtyaabmtiagungadincsc
Joe Filippis Haircut/Kojo
I often wonder who these people are comparing PL too
Kevin Kelly perhaps?
They just haven’t a got a clue.
More proof that smoking can damage your health
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/man-dies-from-ecigarette-explosion-9658909.html
pog @ 17.27
Blame it on a bit of irony by some egg chasers.
Plus it is the third ID I have had on CQN.
Goodbye Fraser. A genuine ‘thank you’.
But now we must move on and quickly.
Unfortunately, all of this just glosses over the mess we’re in. The one thing I take from Paul’s article is that having witnessed an insipid and at times lethargic display on Wednesday, there are some players who pack it in after, at best, 3 hours training. There are runners, tirathletes, cyclists who as well as doing their full-time job, train harder than that. And some of them are a lot older than professional football players.
Each player, in addition to improving his own skill set, should set himself the target of being faster, fitter and stronger than his opponent. The 2 legs against Legia smacked of a team that didn’t tick any of those boxes but thought they were ‘better’ and that’s all that mattered. Back to basics please !
Joe fil, kojo et al,
I have no personal truck with Peter Lawell but what do you think will happen come next year when we have no more gems to sell and the champions league or Europa mean we are a fair bit short?
Presumably you think we will still break even or will we be relying on the money in the bank which we now have?
You have no evidence that RH is a closet racist Madmitch. Roy Hodgson is no racist.
Have a good evening.
malceye. Rony has been increasing both the length and intensity of the training sessions and will sort the wheat from the chaff. H.H.
Joe Fillipi is he the best CEO cause you say so? The last time I looked we got grubbed by a team with less than half our turnover. Twice. Denying us access to the I CL. What a master PL is.
kojo I did smile at you saying I tap out nonsense. It made me think of kettles and pots for some reason.
Anyhow.
We are in rude financial health are we? Well tell me why are we imploding on the pitch and why don’t we strengthen the team instead of saving up money. Isn’t the point of celtic to win football games??????
Celtic have thrown away a position of strength. That’s entirely down to our CEO. How can that be a good performance?
There was a physio on the Alan Brazil radio show about 3 months ago. Highly regarded in his field he was saying over training professional footballers caused a lot of injuries.
Donegal into all Ireland semi final
Notice sky have points total in the top left hand corner to help viewers add up lol
mullet and co 2. It is negative to say next season what will happen if we have nobody to sell why worry about 12 months from now we can tackle that when it happens if it happens.We need to get behind RD and let him build his team for this season.H.H.
Joe Philippi’s Haircut..’
at 17.43
Hiya, Old Friend..
Yes.. It is Rather Amazing( Ye seem tae like that.. Woid…ed)
Yes..Amazin’!
But..
It is…. NOT .. tae be UNEXPECTED!
Pal…Think back.. a Long way?
tae yer .. School Days..
O.K.??
Noo, when ye wur a Boy..
n…when ye were a Member of A Class o.. say… 52 Pupils..
Baith. .Sexes..
Well..
There wuz Always.. the Top Boy n the Top gal..
n..
There wuz a Strongly Structerered.. well.. Peckin Order. .fur want of a Bettah Term..
in Respect tae the Distribution .. o…The Intelligence Quotient.
There wiz the Top..n.. there wiz ..the Bottum..
n.. the So-So.. In Betweeners.
That is the Natural Order o things.
The Cream Floats tae the Top..n ..the Whey… taks up the rest of the Space.
Like Ah said..
That is the Natural Order of things..in General..
n..
This Place ,is Nae Different..
only..
Amongst the GENERAL CELTIC SUPPORT..
there Be..
A Hellava… Load of Whey… in THIS… Boattle!
n..oan Here…in Particular..
the
WHEYS Rule the Roost.( Albeit.. wi a Sprinklin’ ..o.. “In-Betweeners.)
Nice Chatting,pal.. as evah..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
CB
RH no racist.
Would you cate to hive dome context to some of his.more fruity comments?
I have my viewpoint.
Wherr is your evidrnce or counterpoint.
lennon’s passion
There was a physio on the Alan Brazil radio show about 3 months ago. Highly regarded in his field he was saying over training professional footballers caused a lot of injuries.
————
I don’t thin anyone is suggesting that Celtic players run for 8 hours a day, just that they work for 8 hours a day. running, shooting, gym work, thinking yes thinking about the game.
NegAnon2. Tell me a time in Celtics history when Celtic were more secure financialy than they are now ? If you know of a better Celtic CEO name him and tell us why.It is the manager who picks the team who selects the tactics and the coaches who organise the training not the CEO. H.H.
NegAnon2
I don’t know PL personally, and I don’t know if you do.
You make assumptions to fit in with your negative attitude and pass them off as received wisdom. De facto, anyone who doesn’t agree is somehow lacking.
I never see you post on a good day for Celtic. It’s as if it’s stupid to enjoy a great victory. You seem to wallow in our defeats like an IM Jolly type character, without the humour.
Still. there have always been the prophets of doom. Thank goodness, they are very rarely correct. You enjoy your half empty glass; I’ll enjoy my half full one.
HH
It is up to you to provide evidence that the man is a racist as you made the accusation. You have none. Such cretinous accusations only diminish actual racism.
the_huddle
Naw the Greek yin.