A crucial aspect of the season just past was the form of goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. Fraser has been Celtic’s first choice goalkeeper since joining on loan from Newcastle United as a 22-year-old but his deal was only made permanent 11 months ago, when he was secured for a fee reported as £2m.
Now 25, the keeper has enjoyed a dream campaign. Celtic’s major achievements this season were winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League group stage, but for Fraser more than anyone else at the club, that night against Barcelona produced an outstanding personal performance. La Gran Muralla had arrived.
Now a regular member of the England international squad, Fraser is the identikit of what Celtic are about right now. Scout players with potential and provide them with the opportunity to mature to Champions League standard. The added bonus of picking Rangers International’s partner-investor, Sports Direct’s pocket makes the deal sweeter.
Fraser has it all: presence, fast reflexes and an instinct for angles, but the most important item in a keeper’s armoury is a relationship with a rock solid defence. Celtic demonstrated they could deliver on this front on Champions League duty, until they faced Juventus, but the picture has been far less convincing in the SPL.
The most striking aspect of Fraser is his sheer physical size. His 6’7” he fills the goal frame, considerably reducing the space between keeper and post at penalty kicks, which his stats are well above average for.
Fraser was disappointed not to be included in the England squad for friendly games against Ireland and Brazil over the next week but Roy Hodgson will be mindful that Celtic have a shorter summer break than any other club he will be following, and Fraser will need some break-time before preseason starts in around three weeks. This is good squad management. The keeper is likely to make his full England debut as his country prepare for the 2014 World Cup, leading to a whole raft of revised comments on the Scottish game.
Have you bought a raffle ticket for the framed Celtic top signed by the Seville squad? It costs you £1, or £10 for 10!! All to benefit the 125415 campaign, aligning Celtic with our 125-year-old heritage.
Not only that, but………….
We have a framed Messi top signed by the great player who was able to breach La Gran Muralla after 183 minutes trying, available for auction. It’s not often you can buy such a memento of the world’s greatest footballer, and help Celtic charities too.
The Seville strip raffle closes on Friday but you have until Monday to bid on the Messi auction.
Willie Wallace, Heart of a Lion, available below.
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Auldheid,
You are assuming that any 5way agreement was ratified, from the draft document posted last year there were some major hurdles to be overcome which no one outside hampdump can verify.
As soon as the SFA allowed Tinkerbell FC to play without a license they were complicit in fraud and they was the point of no return for them.
Why are SOCI not investigating this, it is serious organised crime and I thought that was their job ?
I am a rock, I am an Islam
simonandgarfunkleCSC
bournesouprecipe-Good news,this Season been very strange,poorest so far for me.HH
….PFayr + Lennybhoy
1. Agree can’t see where Maclean would substitute 88’s goals (position).
2. Think 88 wants a top 8 to 4th place type transfer (another season scoring in CL and/or qualifiers might get him that deal).
If players have signed contracts with SevCo, they can’t be played as ‘trialists’.
None of those players signed will be able to play until Sep 1st.
No chance SevCo being in an ‘SPL2’. That ship passed a long time ago.
what makes anyone think Regan will have a say where Sevco end up ? Not me,he is a weak patsy and will do as he is told.
Fourgreenfields
They always do what they like ….
We never seem to challenge them
As was said above .the SFA will do SFA
IMO their ban should mean they shouldnt be able to enter into any negotiations re the signing of players for the duration of it …never mind signing players up
19LisbonBhoy67 20:43:
Regan and his cohorts sought assurances from CG that CW had no connections to newco…a feeble man leading a feeble, corrupt, rotten to the core organisation. No credibility …
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
MacLean won’t be an option if Tonev signs,he looks a one trick pony to me.
Lennybhoy
If CF stuff is accurate I can’t see any reason why it won’t be used in evidence
ten men won the league
Thanks for reply , that would be my take on it too .
They do have previous for ignoring / bending or making up new rules as they go along though.
HH
….pfayr
I know mate , there must come a point when either our Club or a group of clubs challenge this cheating .
HH
FGF
A ‘trialist’ can’t be one if he has signed a 2, 3 or 4 year deal two months previously.
By definition if they have signed any sort of contract they can’t be termed a trialist can they?
Ten Men Won The League
20:56 on
28 May, 2013
FGF
A ‘trialist’ can’t be one if he has signed a 2, 3 or 4 year deal two months previously.
Yip, and Sandy and the other guys at the SFA will be all over this charade.
The “trialist” story is just another Sevco p**s take, how can you sign a pro from an SPl club then play him as a francin’ trialist unless of course the national association allows you..
If they have been signed, Sandy will find a way to allow them to be played as trialists.
That’s what he’s there for after all.
Paul67 et al
Both Big Fraser and Gary Hooper have came close to being in the England squad, but for various reasons, injuries I think, they have both missed out. Both fit and strong at the end of the season and Hodgson ignores them. It is disappointing because with Fraser at least, if he could become part of the England set-up while at Celtic I am pretty sure he would be happy to stay. Would have helped Neil Lennon too if Hoops had got a game against Ireland, for the same reason.
Che
In the real world yes…wait and see with sevco
James MacMillan piece Cantos Sagrados coming up on Radio 3.
Mon the Hoops.
Che
Correct. They will all start receiving wages from the 1st July from SevCo.
There is no doubt they will try and bend the rules to play them, but any SFL2 club should be stopping that right in their tracks.
Books update – Willie Wallace back at the kitchen table 10am tomorrow to complete signing the CQN copies which will go in the post tomorrow evening. If anyone still wants a signed copy tonight is last chance. Anyone who has ordered and wants a particular message please email us and will sort – celticquicknews@gmail.com and say forward to Winning Captains.
Will also pop on here in morning for another wee Question and Answer session. He’s full of great stories – ask him about his scoring record against Oldco –
Trials, trialists and paper trails, with the possibility of more trials and trialists.
Could be an interesting summer.
What’s interesting is that Sevco seems to have inherited the Rangers attitude of the rules being there to weave a crafty path through if you’re ‘clever’ enough.
Triallah
TMWTL
How can you pay players that you haven’t signed .cannae be right
Has there ever been an episode of The Sweeney where Dennis Waterman didn’t run after someone?
Celtic First
think youll find they never inherited it, they transferred that along with the history.
Che
Aye, they must have thought it was an asset.
SPF 15.35pm
The point I’m trying to making abt them leaving so close to St Marys chapel is that it should NOT be allowed. They have left from Calder park and Rosehall for years now they are leaving and returning to that car park when 6 o clock mass is coming out. They have never ever done that. And this murder should put a stop to them returning or leaving from that car park. And they will know he was a Celtic fan and they will be dancing with joy!! I phoned Jim Brooks but he hasnt returned my call.
The rules are for mugs. We are the peepil.
Just catching up with the world of Celtic today. Tears in my eyes seeing all the pictures of the graves of the first ever Celtic team being attended to.
Being part of the Celtic Family, can you ever imagine waking up and not being a part of it?
Hail! Hail!
Pf
does the signing embargo only apply to “paid” players or all signings?
hypothetically cos this may look like rule bending and we know the sfa would pick up on it.
July – Sept with no “wage” …a payment in lieu of expenses incurred.
Sept – Oct wages kick in with some level of err bonus ala EBT?
winning captains @ 9:02 –
glad to see it’s not yet too late for a signed copy. Just ordered using the link above.
email on its way shortly once I think of an appropriate message ;-)
Jobo
I’ve banged my gums and keyboard a bit about Gary Hooper and my view of his attitude etc but it was borne out of frustration as I genuinely rate him.
I don’t however believe that he’s good enough to be a regular fixture in a top 4 EPL side.
PF
I was always sus of the ” registration” ban.
Thought they could sign free agents but not register them to play until 1/9
(My) logic said they couldnt be paid until that date either but I guess they can pay them a signing bonus to cover lost earnings. Probably get the bonus officially on 1/9
As far as playing them as trialists go… again would not think its legally correct .. defo not morally correct.
But as has been pointed out … they have no morals.. no dignity… and rules are there to be bent and broken
….PFayr 20:52:
Cheers mate, I thought that tapes especially, as well as anything that has been put out there would be inadmissible.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I think I’ve got it. Sevco will be allowed to players they have signed as trialists, because they’ve been punished enough already!
It makes sense to Sandy.