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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I’m looking forward to the golf at Aberdour – I used to play the Fife courses with Jim Baxter and we’d often play at Aberdour – also Burtisland and Kirkcaldy. Hopefully see you there.
Mr Wallace
If hearts had won the League in 1965,do you think you would have still have ended up at Celtic?
willie
your visit takes me back to great days when visiting mates in
kirkie we would have to go to lenzie ,the pheasant if i remember
right as kirkie was a dry area
would see you there with your mates
enjoy your visit
Just sent this to Sandy The Fixer
I was wondering if you could explain to me how a player who signs a 3 year contract with a club can be considered a trialist . The non registration of that player doesn’t cancel the fact that he has signed a 3 year deal with that club and is now their player ie – not on trial .
I look forward to your response ,
Can’t wait for the response , if I get one .
On James Forrest – he is still learning, in the coaching alley he should be working on using his pace to better effect. Neil knows this and everyone’s job is easier if the fans don’t get on his back. No-one is on here reminding me of my bad days – this is the time when he needs support and he could be a right good Celtic player. Boy will mature and if he gets stick he might not make it here so please get behind the boy.
a wee classic , 12 mins long though so maybe watch later
Hearts 3 Celtic 3 , 1966 Scottish Cup.
doh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXH3fAxnsk
Mr Wallace given the financial inequalities in the modern game do you think it is possible for Celtic to win the Champions League again in the foreseeable future?
Willie
Marco Rojas,(New Zealand) Celtic were in for him, don’t know what happened. For me he is a much better player than Rogic. I think he went to Stuggart.
I have since sent another two emails to our friend, see below.
Mort thanks for the info which as you can see I utilised.
1st email
Mr Bryson,
It would be very kind of you if you could advised me on a piece of information that seems like an anomaly to me.
Can you please explain to me how someone that has allegedly signed a 3 year contract with a company/football club can then be deemed to be a trialist.
This smacks to me of favouritism and a clear allowance of borderline cheating in order to breach the rules, if not technically then certainly morally.
I look forward in anticipation of your response.
Regards
His reply.
Thank you for your comments which have been noted.
My 2nd and 3rd combined
Mr Bryson,
Further to the email below, may I remind you what the definition of a trialist is, according to the SPL.
• “Trialist means a player who is under assessment and evaluation by a Club as to his ability, fitness or the like to play association football for that Club in Official Matches and who is not Registered to that Club”
It is unlikely you could argue that a player who you have signed to a contract for x number of years is “under assessment and evaluation by a Club as to his ability, fitness or the like to play association football for that Club” but I presume the SFL/SFA have no such definition or if they did, it will probably have been removed once Rangers were admitted to the league.
Please advise on this also.
Mcgrory1888
MrBryson,
Good of you to come back to me so soon, however your reply does not address the gist of my email to you which asked for an explanation of the clear rule bending to allow a favoured team to circumvent the punishment (the only punishment I might add) that they deservedly received.
I also noted your comments regarding the improper registration debacle within the farce that was the Nimmo Smith “investigation” more made up rule bending at its best.
It would be nice and refreshing for some honesty and integrity to break out within ‘planet fitba’ but I really don’t expect that to ever happen within this the greatest wee country in the world……aye right.
Mcgrory1888
I don’t expect to receive a detailed reply.
Hx2
Hearts won the League – I would still have ended at Celtic, yes. We lost league on .04 of a goal average – had it been goal difference we would have won it by 27 goals with today’s rules. But those were the rules at that time.
Yes it is possible. Money is not the answer. The answer is players. You have got to be in it to win it and this Celtic team have a chance if Neil gets to develop what he has.
Do you think fans are less forgiving due to the vast sums of money players are making now.
I understand players now rule the roost rather than the club.
Do you think it has gone too far?
Willie Wallace
Thanks Willie, that was the answer I was hoping for, it’s hard not to become disillusioned watching average teams trying to buy success..
Mon the Young Lions..
Sandy got back to me he said ,”thank you regards”
Hello willie
Im also a tim in oz, perth.
Never saw you or the lions play as too young but thanks for everything.
Do you ever see celtic playing outside scotland ?
You said if Neil gets to develop what he has. Do you believe that Neil will be the manager for quite some time to come, as it would appear that the msm would like to see him gone.
What about Hooper, Wanyama and Forster do you think they would be better off staying a bit longer or not.
Thanks for backing wee James and giving a real expert opinion.
HH
Hi Willie,
To follow on from Proudbhoys question, do you think the current Celtic team would be able to compete effectively in the English Premier League?
Mr Wallace, honour to have you on the blog (again). Does diving to gain an advantage hack you off or are you in the Andy Walker (2nd rate Celtic striker) camp and say it is part and parcel of the game?
Lastly, would the huns have benefitted against us more in the great 9-in-a-row era if they had 2 more assistants behind the goals?
HH Willie
WILLIE WALLACE
Morning,sir.
Watching them develop,which of The Quality Street Kids did YOU think would be the greatest?
My thanks for many memories….
willie your flick? header in Lisbon when sarti saved it one handed . did you think it was in, like me and my old man.
if sarti wasn’t on his game we would have won by 3/4 goals imho as an11 year old at the time.
cant wait for the book
Wispy
As we sang at the time,walking to Ibrox:
Wallace is the best buy,the best buy in years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NrwFz9wm8I
Cheers
Grew up with my da always telling me what a player you were. Nice to know that would have happened no matter what.
Mr Wallace now that you are a fully fledged CQN’r does that mean that you will keep coming on the odd now and again when you go back to Oz.
Pretty sure we could organise a wee night out with some fine CQN’rs before you go home.
BT, HT CRC take note. What a night that would be.
HH
Neil will be here for quite some time – on the players, it is up to them, I don’t know what they feel about the club. they are good assets for the club and that is important. How many players leave Celtic for a better club or a better career? Dalglish did but not many others. They are playing for a team that beat Barcelona.
Whoever bought Henrik had great foresight – he wasn’t doing that well in Holland but Celtic suited him and he had a great career here and afterwards because he played here. I think the same about big Victor – he will be better suited to Celtic and could have the best career here rather than elsewhere – just like Henrik.
Say what you like about Sandy Bryson, but you can’t deny he writes a polite email.
Hi Willie. First game I ever attended (when I was 10) was the Scottish Cup Final in 1967. I’ll never forget that day or your two goals. Thanks for takinng the time to “speak” with us today.
You really have to hand it to the “journalists” in Scotland.
Richard Wilson in the Herald today claimed that the 5 way agreement wasn’t public knowledge. As any internet bampot will tell you, a quick search will bring it up in all it’s glory.
“@celticfcnews: Season Ticket Relocations this weekend http://bit.ly/ZsFISt #OfficialCeltic #Celtic”
For anyone looking to move seats .
Richard Wilson,
he’s a fan,
eh!?
BRTH is trying to organise a CQN gathering for Greenock on Thursday 13th June – so would like to meet you bhoys there. I now have my CQN access from Paul so will certainly post from Australia. CQN is a great community and I already know it well. the supporters over there use it all the time.
Mr Wallace, how do you feel about Celtic leaving Scotland to play in the English Premier League or elsewhere?
petec
11:05 on 29 May, 2013
__________________
So sorry about delay in response M8 :(
Phone-calls – neighbors – folk at the door…
You know what – that crystal-ball thingy of yours is never far wrong and – even my tentacles are detecting that sumthing is about to go – BoooommMMMM !!!!
Hail Hail
Mr Wallace
Thanks for being on THAT pitch at THAT time
canny believe the brass arse that Bryson dude has….I have my own story on him concerning my son…laughable ..
Mr Wallace
When did you first clap eyes on that horrendous Crystal Palace strip. Before or after you signed for them? :)
I would like to see us move to the English Premier league – it would be good for the club. I don’t see it happening though.