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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The Bible is indeed God’s Word.
There is nae ambiguity about the Bible being Gods woRD.
Anyone who wants to deny, well, lets stop the nonsense that is developed later………..
British Royal Society huv a lot to answer for….. LOL
aff for a pee.
Morning Celts, ah well holidays finito! first day back at work since 9th May so its gonnae be a long day for Vmhan.
Need another holiday CSC
:>)
Overnight from Charlotte
@CharlotteFakes: The third member of the legal team is http://t.co/eBZODQUilt Richard Beresford has already been identified as number 4. #ThisIsntCheap
@CharlotteFakes: @tonybhoy610 Not a chance the top guys are working on a no win, no fee. This is very expensive action funded by the markets #HowMuchToDefend
Alex Thompson
@alextomo: Rangers Letter Before Action listing tape-recordings; text messages: emails as well as usual company agreements in 333 pages of evidence
@alextomo: Claims that Craig Whyte lost ” an opportunity to redeem his reputation by achieving a turnaround success at Rangers FC”…
Celtic News
@CelticNewsNow: #Celtic to move for £2.5m Amido Balde of Vitoria Guimaraes http://t.co/eTr3j5SPQW #DailyMail
Another Balde?
22 yr old forward 6 ft 4
@johnf2008: Celtic in for Johnny Russell. Daily Record tomorrow :) http://t.co/wmPoiLSAb6
Morning champions
Predicting 20 degrees in Glasgow today… might be a bit hotter in a boardroom over Govan way ;)
Ok caught up with most of the news and speculation overnight.
Good morning from a sunny Manchester.
the boy jinky
07:02 on 29 May, 2013
Morning champions
Predicting 20 degrees in Glasgow today… might be a bit hotter in a boardroom over Govan way ;)
…………………….
Can never be hot enough over that way. No doubt they will be trying to burn the 333 pages of evidence from wee Craigy.
Googy
A lot of fire and brimstone on edmiston drive when our hero drops another bomb into ibrokes
TBJ
He has also put together an expensive looking legal team according to Charlotte.
Still think he wants this settled out of court.
Looking back to last nights posts, lots of complaining and moaning about Hoops, Forest etc. Get a grip we have just won a League and Cup double. Lenny has brought a fortune into the club which can only be good for us. Buns a laughing stock.
I think some just like to moan for the sake of it. This has been a fantastic season. Mon the Hoops!
big mike
You will be getting called a Happy Clapper now.
Well said though.
a wee taster before the legend comes on
http://youtu.be/vbU6FUSK7Ow
HH to the wallace
TnT
If your out there , just picked up my mails , been travelling since Monday in CDG at the minute will be in touch soon.
HH
Slow start to the taxis in Manchester this morning. Ok I am off now.
Tom McLaughlin
03:28 on
29 May, 2013
Sid –
I too am shocked at some of the criticism aimed at James Forrest on CQN.
His biggest problem when it comes to a lot of people is that he is Scottish and not Irish.
You’ll never read such abuse being directed at Paddy McCourt.
Sad really.
——–
It is indeed Sad that a Celtic supporter would post such an idiotic comment “His biggest problem when it comes to a lot of people is that he is Scottish and not Irish”. That is absolute and utter BS of the highest order.
Perhaps it is simply a case that some people do not rate James Forrest just the same as some don’t rate Paddy McCourt. Personally i am undecided on JF and sad to see Paddy leave. Neither of these opinions is based on the players nationality but rather on my perception on what they can offer the team. To claim that ‘some’ Celtic supporters may be more biased in favour a player because they are of a particular nationality is, imo, something akin to what one would expect to find posted on Zombie media. So basically the premise of your argument is that some of us would have preferred Willo Flood playing rather than Shaun Maloney or Paul Byrne rather than Paul McStay simpy because they were Irish???
Morning,
Charlotte will just not let Sevco sweep their investigation under the carpet.
Saint Stivs 0.29
Brian McLair as a twenty year old scored 31 goals in a season.In another 41.
Charlie Nicholas was just twenty when he scored 50 goals.
Andy Walker scored 30 goals in his debut season aged 23.
Pierre Van Hooidonk scored 32 one season.
John Hartson scored 34 in one season.
Jorge Cadete 33 goals in 44 matches (without pens)
We have had regular goals voters who have hit over 30 goals.
And even more who have matched what Hoops is doing.
McInally, Sutton,McAvennie, Johnston,Coyne.
All fought for laces whilst we had 3 other strikers of decent quality at the club at the same time.
Hoops is doing well , but would get in my top ten Celtic strikers since 1980.
Not to forget Mark McGhee.
He was worth a million pound.
(:-)
TT
One Nation…
Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a man found in a car park. The body of Mark Donnelly, a Celtic fan, was discovered in Hozier Street, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on Sunday morning. The 27-year-old from Motherwell is thought to have spent Saturday in the town centre, wearing his team’s strip, and was seen in nearby Bellshill at 5pm. A 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the death and remain in custody, police said. A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal and they are expected to appear at Airdrie Sheriff Court later
Last post should say .
Would NOT make my top 10.
TT
Quick comment on James Forrest. :)
James Forrest is a young man who is very priviliged to wear the hoops and in doing so should be given respect by us supporters; He is not the finished article but our manager rates him very highly, enough said .
In Lenny we trust.
HH
Good morning friends from a dry and (whilst cloudy it’s looking) a bit brighter and milder than of late East Kilbride.
clumsysentencesCSC
Morning all.
Has there been a shift in the Earth’s axis, and no one has told me?!
Here in Italy we are witnessing the coolest wettest spring in living memory, and I have just heard that we could have the worst summer in two living memories!
HH!!
Off to Berlin for a couple of days in the office. James Forrest has all the attributes to be a Celtic great. Give the boy a break he was injured a lot this season.
His auld man fitted my soffits and gutters a few months ago. Lovely guy. He went to Lisbon at the invite of Celtic last season as all players families were invited to the game by the club. Wee James had to stay home as he was injured and went to Lennoxtown for treatment!
I am reliably informed he wisnae best pleased that he couldn’t visit the scene of our greatest triumph!!
RobinBhoy
I see Richard Wilson has done another Sevco propaganda piece in the Herald today.
ASonOfDan
07:56 on 29 May, 2013
One Nation…
Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a man found in a car park. The body of Mark Donnelly, a Celtic fan, was discovered in Hozier Street, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, on Sunday morning. The 27-year-old from Motherwell is thought to have spent Saturday in the town centre, wearing his team’s strip, and was seen in nearby Bellshill at 5pm. A 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman have been arrested in connection with the death and remain in custody, police said. A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal and they are expected to appear at Airdrie Sheriff Court later
___________________________________________________________
God rest the poor Donnelly lad! And hope the ones that did get theirs big style.
James Forrest is a very good player and one of Celtic’s most exciting prospects. This season has been a write off due to injury problems, but he’s still been effective in some games for us despite that.
Wasters like Donati or Annoni are praised in song – our young talent is criticised at every opportunity … by some folk anyway.
If a cheating, conniving zombie ever mentions the word ‘dignity’ to me ever again…
THE Scottish Football Association
and the Scottish Football League
have confirmed that Rangers’ new
signings will be able to play for
the club in league and cup ties in
August – even though the
transfer embargo placed on the
club means that they can’t be
registered until September 1.
Former Queen of the South
striker Nicky Clark yesterday
joined Dundee United forward
Jon Daly, Motherwell midfielder
Nicky Law and Kilmarnock
goalkeeper Cammy Bell in
signing a pre-contract deal at
Ibrox.
And the good news for manager
Ally McCoist is that all four can
take part in all of the club’s pre-
season friendlies.
“The players can’t be registered
with us until September, but
they can appear in as many
challenge matches as they like,”
said Sandy Bryson at the SFA’s
Registration Department.
However, Rangers will only be
able to use two of their new
boys at a time once the
competitive games start.
“Like everyone else, Rangers will
be able to use unregistered
players as trialists on three
occasions,” said the SFL’s Anton
Fagan. “Our season starts with
the first round of the Ramsdens
Cup and two trialists are allowed
in that tie. The clubs asked for
that to be introduced last year
because it’s so early in the
season.
“They will also be able to field
them in league fixtures,
although the cup tie would count
as one of those three
appearances.
“If they were a substitute that
would also count, even if they
didn’t come on.
“However, no trialists are
allowed in the League Cup, the
first round of which takes place
in August.”
Bryson also pointed out that any
foreign signings will be banned
from playing until September.
“As a result of the embargo, we
cannot request international
clearance for players from
elsewhere,” he said.
“The trialist rule only applies to
footballers who have already
been registered in this country.”
We all ,at least I hope we all do, would like young James to go on and be a Celtic great.
But for me he has shown no signs of this. I commented on another forum two years ago that I did not think the boy would succeed at CP. And unfortunately I have seen nothing to change my mind. He has had his moments but they are to few and far between.
Next season for him is a big one. He needs to make himself a first team regular and he will only do that if he produces. Then again maybe not given the favouritism he has been shown by NL. For me he did not merit a start against Hibernian on Sunday his place should have went to Samaras.
Been a wee while since I’ve seen a ‘Hmmmmmmmm….’ on here, but just saw th following on the ole Twitter –
alex thomson @alextomo 9m
Have copy of Rangers Letter Before Action – Tomoblog coming up
Hmmmmmmmmmmm…….
Morning CQN,
Good to see those chaps at the SFA doing what they do best and bending the rulebook all out of shape to enable the farcical ‘so we’re paying their wages now but not registering them until September…oh it’s okay Brysonman says we can play them as trialists’.
Gleeful quotes from the sophistry grand master telling us all about the relevant loopholes.
Brysonman, Executive Officer of the SFA’s Re-arrangers Department.
Morning all. Lovely day down here at the moment. Hope it stays that way.
Any developments over night with regard to Whyte’s wee billet doux?
ASonofDan @ 08.24
That Sandy Bryson is some expert on player registration! Where have I heard that name before ….
Richard Wilson
“The independent investigation into the level of collusion last summer between Green and Craig Whyte, the former owner – which was launched by Murray and carried out by Pinsent Masons and Deloitte – has been completed, but the results have not yet been seen by all of the directors. A detailed statement on the outcome is unlikely, but there seems little prospect of a return for Green. He remains popular with some fans, although the consensus view is that the club needs to draw a distinct line under the turbulence of the past 12 months.”
No questions asked by an investigative journalist as to why no detailed statement???
Thought not.
Seems like the Huns can “only” play their new Huns three times as trialists including sub appearances in August.
Hope they all get injured in their first games which keeps them out till January 2014!