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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BobbyRussell
22:49 on
28 May, 2013
Islamabad choice? Should I go for the chicken?
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Chicken is best but if you are on a diet, give the Thousand Islam Dressing a miss ;-)
HT
Incidentally, I’ll leave some for you also if I make it over. :))
Weefra HH
Sipsini
the big one up the hill m8 clarkston rd/netherlee rd. H.h
Johan jihad
Sticking his tongue out like a big wean every time he scored one of his hundreds of goals. .. poor show ;)
James Forrest has pace to burn when fit – has reasonable ball control and occasional shooting ability. Unfortunately he is tactically naive.
He reminds me of an aggressive chess opponent’s ‘bishop’ – who uses him to threaten (because the piece can move great distance on the board) but then ends up isolated amongst the ‘pawns’ when the move doesn’t come off – trapped in no-man’s land and unable to contribute to the long game or a counter-attack.
Too often he fails to contribute to the defensive team element. He gets away with it in the SPL – in Europe (and big games) he’s often a man short.
Will he mature this season? Who knows? He’s reached an age where he has to deliver more than 3 or 4 blistering runs and the odd on-a-plate cross for our strikers.
Jury still out for me!
TBJ
Many on here would have had him punted after his first couple of games.
Paul Elliot was another, no the best first season, but another who grew into the jersey.
Funny thing about Henke, amazing how the english media never rated him till he left us, feckin eejits the lot of them.
TBJ
Nuthin wrang wi a wee tongue here and there ye know. :)
Weefra HH
TET
Correct, his pass back in his first game against the hibees cost us a goal. £650000 a waste of money. Oh how wrong all us experts are, thankfully. :))
Weefra HH
Jings….!
Is It Jist Me…..
Or Do Ither Folk Think….
That Many Of The Posts On The Blog Today……
Do Not Reflect The General Mood In These Sceptred Isles……
Ootwith “The People’s Republic Of Blantyre”…..?
Still….Laughin’
~~~~~~
Worth Recording….
BBC6 ….4am-5am Tonight…..
“Jimmy Page And The BBC Sessions” 2/2*….
Sean Keavney Talks To Jimmy Page About The Sessions Led Zep Recorded For The BBC.
Page Recalls Playing Stairway To Heaven For The First Time….
* Part 1….Broadcast Last Night…..
Had A Stunning Version Of “Communication Breakdown”…Which Wiz Not Hitherto One Of Ma Favourites…
And The Majestic “Rambling Riverside Blues”…
( Still Available Oan BBC i-Player…).
TET
I was always a fan of big paul
The smsm didnt deploy the ” hes too good for this league” tactic with henke.
English thought medium fish in tiny pond
I was in manchester when utd signed louis saha… advised mates that they should have went for henke .. years later they accepted I was right
. I was glad they didnt listen
I think James Forrest would thrive as a striker playing off a target man. I don’t see him as a winger, though he can play the position. He’s got pace to burn & can hit the ball with both feet. Bit more composure, could be another Michael Owen type.
And..and..couldnae tackle a fish supper !!
Bcw.
It’s the first present he’s brought home, I’m sure there will be a lot more.
Sadly, he is no pacifist,as jonny the tims cat has the lack of fur to prove.
Bedtime beckons.HH
Wee fra
Tongue… firmly .. in cheek
Top or bottom . though .. thats the million lira question
johann murdoch
23:01 on
28 May, 2013
Tbj and corky – after his initial wonder goals – opposition teams doubled men up on him – slat to what often happened to Aiden
———-
i was rubbish so its no comparison,
as a wee left winger myself, when the tricks dont work, when you cant get past two
hit it off someone for a shy or corner
or go for the big switch hit it as far as you can to the other side of the park
or go as far in the corner as you can and let them kick you.
as long as you control the ball, its your ball,
i dont know why they find it so difficult
WeefratheTim
Aye, 650K, the bargin of the centuary imo.
I remember watching him before he signed for us, and in all honesty I though he could do a job for us, but never in my wildest dreams, did I think he would go on to do what he did.
One in a million….or 650K…..>}
HH
WeeFra
I’m still unconvinced as to where Forrest is best suited. I was at his debut in Inverness when he came on as a sub on the left, cut inside twice onto his right foot and cracked in two beauties. One which hit the bar and the other which brought out a wonder save from the keeper.
TBJ
Should that not be “the million dollar rupee question” :))
Weefra HH
Ah am A FAN .
Ah happen tae also be..
A Celtic Fan..or. a FAN of the Celtic.
No matter..
Howevah..
It is the Sacred Prerogative of any Fan ..
Tae
Bitch.. Moan.. Complain..and Criticize ..
Any and All..of the Players of the the Team of which He/She.. is A Fan.
Noo..
Some Folk are .. whit is Known as
Fitba’ SUPPORTERS..
Aha..
Noo.. A Supporter… well…according tae the Code of Supporters..
Simply
SUPPORTS.
And that means that the Celtic Supporter.. is a Man / Gal
Who
Supports the Celtic..
And ..the Very word.. Supports.. says it Awe..
Any Celtic Supporter therefore..
Supports.. Blindly.. in True Tunnel Vision..
Every Man Jack and Harry… who wears a Celtic Joisy..
and Kin ..
See No Wrong in Every Man who Happens tae wear a Celtic Joisey..
The Celtic Supporter..therefore is
NEVER A CRITIC of any Member of the Team He ..well.. Supports
fur.. Like Ah hiv said..
He is A Supporter…And
That’s Whit.. Supporters dae..
THEY SUPPORT.
Noo Ye know..
Why…
I Kojo..
Could Nevah EvAh be … Simply..
A Supporter..
I Kojo .
is A FAN..and .. Proud tae be wan,tae… of the Amazing and Magical Team
Known as.. The Celtic.
Kojo
Still.. Laughin’
TBJ
It’s no as if he left us and went to a no mark team.
The game agin the arsenal topped it off, as Tell Henry said after the game, I didn’t see Eto, I didn’t see Rhonaldino…….I only saw Henrik Larsson.
Check out “alzipratu”. Is ally up s##t creek without a padle??
Sorry cant link it with my phone..hope some one else can…youl piss yersrlf to death if this is true
what a fantastic day by the Celtic graves society and the amazing job they’ve done today and every other day..its what makes us proud to be part of this Magical Proud Club..nite h.h
THE EXILED TIM
When we signed Henrik, my only recollection of him was from the World-cup in the USA . He looked like a gir’s blouse !
How wrong can first impressions be. The most remarkable things about Larsson was his workrate and bravery. Recovering from the Bordeaux leg break was remarkable but to win the G
HT
I’ve only seen him live at CP as I don’t go to away fixtures, but I always feel he is more productive on the right wing, especially when Matthews is playing. Fair comment, he does not do so well when Lustig is at RB. Just MO
Weefra HH
Kojo….
By Jings….It’s Bitter In Airdrie The Night!
Snow Oan The Cairds….?
TET
As you say, the signing of the century, or the millennium. (Is that the same thing) (ignoramuscsc)
Weefra HH
Think Forrest frustrates, but when he is out we miss him. Don’t like his lack of tracking back but when he sparks he makes a difference.
His cup final performance disappointed me, but we always like a fall guy. James Forrest is our current fall guy. Hope he is not a lurker. :-)
HH
CRC
Hi,
First saw James Forrest play for U20’s or U19’s. From memory he was a centre forward who possessed great pace and strength. He was very direct and positive.
If only he could recapture those traits he could become an immense player. I live in hope that he can!
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
I thought it was against Lyon, stand to be corrected.
Saw him playing for Feyenoord, thought he could do a job.
It turned out ok at the end of the day >}}}
Awwy Wamont – hurtin’ horribly……..
GIRUY! CSC
THE EXILED TIM
When we signed Henrik, my only recollection of him was from the World-cup in the USA . He looked like a gir’s blouse !
How wrong can first impressions be. The most remarkable things about Larsson’s game for me were his 1) work-rate. He was so fit and strong and was always prepared to dash 20 or 30 yards towards a defender, just to add a wee bit of pressure. He never stopped trying either, most of you will recall his blind-side tactic with goalies. You know hen he stood behind the goalie in the hope that, once a keeper wouldn’t notice his position and roll the ball out. Never worked but Larsson still tried it in the Legends game !
2) Bravery. If you’ve ever broken a limb, you’ll know the pain and resultant psychological questions you are asked. Recovering from the Bordeaux leg break was remarkable but to win the Golden boot was truly the stuff of legend.
Weefra
I viewed an apartment in goa… Two million rupees… £25, 000
Kayal33
21:17 on
28 May, 2013
Gary Hooper isn’t good enough to get a game for any of the top 5 teams in the EPL. At a push he’d get a Liverpool or Everton but more realistically he’ll end up at a Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham mid table/wannabe mid table club. Whoever takes over at Stoke may want a Hooper type player to try to get away from the Pulis style football of the last 7 years.
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Hooper isnt yet the complete striker,
but i honestly think he could be,
playing in a top level, top 4 team , in position, not dropped, my opinion , he will put the goals away.
far more clever a striker than people give him credit for, movement off the defenders is excellent, if the ball comes he is 50/50 to put it in.
i will make a prediction now
Hooper will play, and will score, for Engerland,
Kojo.
Ah am A FAN..
________________
Just for one second I thought we were about to hear a confession.
TET: No, you are correct , it was Lyon.
SFL Clubs are meeting on the 12th June to vote on restructuring proposals. No indication yet whether sufficient number have changed their minds and that they will get sufficient votes to pass it. One would imagine if they had the numbers it would happen sooner, so chances are it will be voted down IMO. We will then have scenario of 10 1st Div Clubs trying to break away and join the SPL. Will SPL accept them?
KK
Hee hee!!!
Tommysbhoy.cheers for getting back to me about the cemetery. HH
http://alzipratu.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/is-ally-up-st-creek-without-a-paddle/
Kilbowie Kelt
23:33 on
28 May, 2013
Kojo.
Ah am A FAN..
________________
Just for one second I thought we were about to hear a confession.
———————-
Belter