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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Just on the blog, not had a chance to read back, has Winning Captains told you Willie Wallace will be on the blog in person tomorrow from 10:00 to 12:00?
No? Willie Wallace will be on the blog in person tomorrow from 10:00 to 12:00?
If you can tease the chat I got out of him on Saturday you’ll have a ball.
TBJ
Was it on Homes Under The Hammer? Or should that be Hummer? :))
Weefra HH
I was disappointed with Forrest on Saturday as my expectation was he would be playing out wide and add pace to the attack.
Never really appreciated until I read comments after the game that he had been played in a more midfield role.
The consequence of this was acres of room for Lustig to move into and as it happens Lustig puts in a dangerous cross as Saturday demonstrated.
So looking back I can see why I was disappointed which was of course I was expecting JF to play a role different from what the manager asked of him.
The lad is a player but my worry is he is another Sean Malloney who is now showing us how good he is but not at CP.
Paul67
Talk in the mo. Woohoo
Weefra HH
corkcelt
23:34 on
28 May, 2013
SPL have already indicated they would accept 10 for SPL2. Actually makes more sense, 42 clubs is too many for a country of Scotland’s size.
My dear,dear,dear,friend… The Singing Detective
Hiya, Pally?
Nice tae Greet ye.
Ah know Ah shouldnae dae this… But. Ah wull.
Pal.. Ur ye familiar wi the woiks and ootlooks..
of wan..
Ms.Pamela Geller… Atlasshrugs.com???
If Ye ur..Congratulation tae you…if ye Urnae?
Then it is time that ye wur introduced tae Her site.
She is a Treasure.
See whit is Really going oan … IN SWEDEN…of Awe Places!
Kojo
Still..Laughin’
I posted earlier that I reckoned that Hooper was as good a striker england have presently, not a single reply, no that it bothers me, but, if there is a better english striker out there, I have yet to see him……tis all about opinions.
maybes the 35 million man Andy Carrol, maybes not, Defoe, maybes not, now I am struggling….seriously struggling, Shreck, is he a striker ? he likes the auld wans, that I know, but a striker…..Wellbeck….oh dear, if he was playing for say Hibs, he would still be a joke, never a footballer……..help me out here bhoys….who is a better striker than Hooper ???
Paul67
Will he be using a office computer?
Coffee.csc
hh
bjmac
A=an obv.
Paul
Will he be ” in the CQN studio”
Weefra
Homes under the hamas ;)
Off to give my pillow some head
Night night champions
Paul
Now I will have to set the alarm >}
Paul67
What will be Willie’s non de plum , Whispy ?
That will be no work done for a couple of hours tomorrow
Kayal33 Didn’t realise that, if thats the case then thats the most likely scenario. I reckon Longmuir is dragging this out as long as he can so there is minimum time to get things organised for next season which might allow the status quo to be maintained. Anyhow thats me for tonight. Good Night and may allah be with ye all HH
Paul67
Apologies for the typo. Should of course be Wispy
THE EXILED TIM
23:39 on
28 May, 2013
I posted earlier that I reckoned that Hooper was as good a striker england have presently, not a single reply, no that it bothers me, but, if there is a better english striker out there, I have yet to see him……tis all about opinions.
….who is a better striker than Hooper ???
———————————————
no one,
hoops is as close to a Linekar as they can get,
TET
Sturidge
TET
Rooney.
Burghbhoy
I thought you had a list there >}
TET
Hahaha.
Hands still shaking from the weekends festivities!
praecepta
No, sorry, not a footballer, nowhere near as good a striker as Hoops…imo.
HT
Rooney.
Same as above, don’t think he is a striker.
St.Stivs
Who is a bettah Striker .. Than, Hooper?
Tony Watt is a bettah Striker than Hooper..
But.. fur some reason known only tae the Celtic Non-Cognoscenti..
Tony Watt,canny get a Game.. fur Love or… his Beloved… Free Air Miles Collection.
Kojo
Still..Laughin’
Some sippin whisky music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TC7sZTTuRQ&list=PLB4700453ABB47F2D
Burghbhoy
I ment lisp
Saint Stivs
Someone who can see a footballer when he sees wan >}
Sipsini
no bother..thanks for doing the link for me. ahhh the gift that….oh ma sides! h.h
Our CSC out of the Barnyard was called the Wallace Celtic SC. 12 members only 4 left now.
Gotta Go , Mo
Seeya
Kojo
Still..Laughin’
offski,
keep it and her lit
TET
Only 2 teams in the EPL play ‘high up the park’ like CFC – Man Utd and City (on a good day Arsenal – maybe Spurs when they commit but Bale is the fulcrum).
An EPL striker either has to be exceptionally gifted (RVP) or a predator (breakaways).
Hooper is a striker – doesn’t do breakaways therefore needs to play for a team that presses ‘high up the park’ – they are few and far between!
TET
That’s a difficult one, as it’s difficult to gauge a player without seeing them in the flesh and over a few games. The wee guy Le Fondre is a better finisher than Hooper, but unsure of his pace.
Hooper could add workrate to his game and desire IMHO. Strikers usually love scoring, Gary scores one or two and seems satisfied.
Ok guys,there has been brilliant banter and great points on here tonight, which is as it should be. It is, after all, the best Celtic Site, nae, the best site on the planet. We should cherish it. I do. As farmers cannot tell the burds, a waant a lie in, we have to get up and attend to their well being. Night night and thanks for a great evening. :))
Weefra HH
My Dear. Friend,Kojo….
Ah’m Familiar Wi’ Pamela Geller….
And The Atlas Shrugs Blog…..
But Ah Find Her A Tad Too….Shrill….!
Catholic Theologian ,Robert Spencer, Is More Grounded..And Cerebral..
On frontpagemag.com ……And Associated Sites
And The Redoubtable Daniel Greenfield…
Whose Every Post Reads Like The Gettysberg Address….
Oan Hiz Ain Blog….
Sultanknish.blogspot.com
And Numerous Ither Blogs Who Take Hiz Submissions…
Such As Canada Free Press,National Review Online….
And American Thinker…..
Diana West Is Also ….A Very Sharp Cookie….
Oan dianawest.net….
Pinkety..?
TET
In my opinion Hooper wouldn’t get anywhere close to Rooney’s scoring record in the EPL.
Anyways must sleep ;-)
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
This time 2 years ago I was advocating we signed Le Fondre (think he had a year on his contract at Leeds) – opportunity missed.
Why would anyone leave Izzy out of our team?
The guy oozes class, a just don’t get it.
It’s a funny old game saint :O).
THE EXILED TIM
23:50 on
28 May, 2013
Saint Stivs
Someone who can see a footballer when he sees wan
—————————————————————————————–
without being a smartarse , i played a lot from maybe 11 to 38
at the sametime, maybe watched 1000 celtic matches.
in the last 6 years or so ive watched my nephews youth games,
which i have really enjoyed, but which have also reinforced my own understanding of
football,
if anyone cant recognise that Hooper is a great prospect for futire greatness, then they dont know what it is to be a player,
ps.
same applies to James Forrest, any of this shitebag nonsense is just nonsense.
he didnt get to where he is now without a lot of bravery and kickings.
might be struggling for form just now, but its now cowardice.
keep it lit.
i
praecepta
This is where we are comparing apples and pears.
Hooper imo, could walk into any team in england, I have to disagree with others tonight, given the service, he will stick them away, and that is what a good striker does, saturday was the perfect example, he missed a couple, but his strike rate was no bad.
………….
BCW
Aye, Le Fondre is no a bad wee player, but he is not a 90 min player according to his managers, a sub seem to be his limits, must admit, haven’t seen too much of him, so can’t really comment too much.
Only going on what is on show in engerland just now, and they are well short of strikers.
If the media doesn’t rate them, the are mince, a wee bit like scotland >}
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
23:55 on
28 May, 2013
. Strikers usually love scoring, Gary scores one or two and seems satisfied.
————
the striker who scored 5 in a single game against hearts on our title win last year ?
and has had 4 hat tricks in his celtic time ?