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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This just proves the point I raised last night..
They continue to do everything they can to assist one team.
Haven’t read back but it seems James Forrest is coming in for some stick. Very odd. Is this because he’s Scottish? He is our best home grown player already.
I see Bryson has contorted the rules to help his team once again. He is worse than Ogilvie in pandering to them.
Why can you be a trialist for 3 months and be on a wage?
Years ago I never even received expenses when turning out as a trialist..
blantyretim,
I saw on the blog that you have your first check up this week. Hope it goes well and you can get some weight on that leg.
Feels strange after six weeks non weight bearing I can assure you!
First steps will be nervous but you’ll get back into the routine quickly!!
Good Luck!
RobinBhoy
Tallybhoy
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!!
———————–
Was in Italy 8 years ago on honeymoon, Rome, Sorrento the Lake Como,,,,nth of Milan, pished it down until the last few days…Oooh what to do when it’s pishing it down on your honeymoon????
Today is our anniversary…Aaawww
Hail Hail
Cheers RobinBhoy.
Looking forward to it..
I have taken your advice and taken it easy..
After next week I’ll try to exercise some too..
BT
You were rubbish
Love
Dontpatmadug @ 8.25 – good post, agree with all of that.
Soal
Never had you made a truer statement. .
BT
Thanks and as RB says dont put to much weight on that dodgy leg
Take care
I think a concerted effort should be made to organise Supporters from every Club to bombard the SFA with e-mails asking a simple question. How can a Club who announce a player has signed a 3 year contract with them then claim the same player is a trialist. I will be sending one anyway.
Off to Golf now check in to the best site with the best people on the planet later.
Because the site is so good particularly stupid posts stand out like a sore thumb. I agree with Oglagh that Tom McLoughlin at 3.28 saying that James Forrest was being discriminated against because he was Scottish and not Irish is disgraceful. If he had said Ambrose was being discriminated against because he was Nigerian the entire blog would be up in arms. I have news for you Tom,Celts don’t distinguish between any Nationalities,colour or religous beliefs and that includes Irish & Scottish.
.
I Hope Eddie McGuire Never again compares Celtic Supporters to Magpie Fans..
Racist Idiot..
Summa
Parkheadcumsalford
08:39 on
29 May, 2013
Haven’t read back but it seems James Forrest is coming in for some stick. Very odd. Is this because he’s Scottish? He is our best home grown player already.
—
One could very well twist that argument and state – He is singled out as the next great player by some of the support as well as receiving preferential treatment from the management team only because he is Scottish! Well that makes about as much sense as implying sections of the support only question his value and contribution to the team because he isn’t Irish.
The vast majority of Celtic fans don’t care about such BS – neither race nor creed – most of us know enough about football to debate the merits and qualities an individual brings to a team without suggesting that our opinions are founded on a players Nationality. Such suggestions have the odious reek of hundom about them.
ASonOfDan
08:18 on
29 May, 2013
I see Richard Wilson has done another Sevco propaganda piece in the Herald today
——————————————————————————————————————-
Aye, but he had a piece on the sports front page about league reconstruction and didn’t mention Sevco once. I think THAT is a world record for him.
Hee Hee …
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/craig-whytes-lawyers-send-letter-action/4906
FF
Jobo Baldie
08:04 on 29 May, 2013
Good morning friends from a dry and (whilst cloudy it’s looking) a bit brighter and milder than of late East Kilbride.
clumsysentencesCSC
______________________________________________________________
A guid day for Athletics @ Saint Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School……
Best of luck to all the athletes. A really big day.
Steviebhoy66
Hoopy anniversary!
Don’t come over to Italy just now – the weather is s***e! Most disappointing!
Better next year hopefully!
HH!!
Summa of Sammi…,
Whatever he said he better not have been dissin’ ole Susan Stranks:)
Tallybhoy
Reading you and tet, my heart bleeds;-)
Hope your weather improves buddy…
KTF
Steviebhoy66
I was 19 years married yesterday.
Mrs BT deserves a gold medal…
Steviebhoy66
good to know you remembered you’re cribbage set. Not many do
HH
blantyretim
08:41 on 29 May, 2013
Why can you be a trialist for 3 months and be on a wage?
Years ago I never even received expenses when turning out as a trialist..
…..,……………………
Did you get bail though?
Youtube with all their misdirections and artificial assumptions.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way…….
A PC help request.
On the left of the Outlook Express page is a list of: Inbox,Outbox,Sent Items etc.
Mine has disappeared. How do I make it return?
Thanks,
JJ
bt
The sun has just come out, but there are some threatening looking clouds lurking!
Cool – 19 degrees.
HH!!
Morning fholks
I would just like to say a thing or two about – James Forrest.
JF excites me whenever he plays but, I do appreciate that
this season hisny been too kind to him – injury wise.
JF – GH – Vic67 – AM are about the only players who would
attract the admission money from my pocket – so to speak.
I think that JF will suffer from what happened to Aiden ie:
the opposition will put 2-3 fullbacks on him – knowing fine well
that if ye mark JF oot the game then, there isny too much else
to worry about. imo Especially from the midfield area.
Some folk will say that JF is shown favoritism by the manager ?
Does this then apply to – JL – Sammi – Izzy – Efe ?
Indeed – is including JF in the team – tantamount to bad management
by Neil ?
James Forrests name hardly rings round Celtic park to the echo of the
fans but – Paddy McCourt’s does ?
And yet, if I were a SB subscriber…I would be feeling cheated by PM.
I mean – he has started 20 games in 5 years ?
5 years and he is still not fit ?
5 years – 20 games – walk away with – £1.25 mill of Celtic fans money
in wages doon yer troosers ?
After just clinching the Double and getting to the last 16 in the CL
I have been asked if I’ll now be rushing oot to buy a SB ?
Why should I ?
The original driving factor for buying a SB – pedaled by Fegus n SDM
was that – “…if you don’t buy yer SB – ye’ll NOT be getting into the O##
F### games !!!”
That particular gun has been removed and as a result – I will predict here
and now that the – SB era – will bite the dust shortly…..
£500 for a SB – I’d rather buy a new – Cat-suit for the wife :)
Hail Hail
. “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.
Introduced last year. How convenient. Wonder who the clubs who requested this were.
MakingitupasyougoalongCSC
blantyretim
09:11 on 29 May, 2013
Steviebhoy66
I was 19 years married yesterday.
Mrs BT deserves a gold medal…
____________________________
Congrats, I hope you have at least another 40 years with your Wonderful Wife.
Familyisthemostimportantthinginsociety.csc
JJ
Is there a whyte triangle if so click on it
KevJungle – Murdo’s 4-2 winner = the BEST since Lisbon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s31HRrHWpw4
001
Eddie McGuire is a big Celtic Supporter.
blantyretim
09:11 on 29 May, 2013
__________________
I hope yer back playing soon M8 :)))
Congratulations to yer guidself
and yer lovely Mrs – Bless
Hail Hail
petec
09:23 on 29 May, 2013
__________________
Ha Ha Ha LOL M8
Superb stuff as usual sir.
I’m sorry I’m an auld fogie
that disny know how to play choons :(
Hail Hail
TSOAL
No white triangle apart from those to drop down menus.
JJ
How many more toys will I be able to chuck oot the pram
afore the Legend comes on ? :)
KevJungle
Wise Men from the East, and most are being from Dumbarton, always leave marks, although not quite indelible, profound none the less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGaoXAwl9kw
jj
Can you see any of your email address below the new email iption?
God is Almighty and very powerful……..
Czech this out……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LobCDYO78Us
Now we know what Broonie does in his spare time. ;))