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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What time and where are you in Clydebank on Saturday sir.
HH
Willie,
Ye are very welcome into the moonhowler club. :D
I think you would refine it very well.
we’ve goy willie Wallace number 8, we’ve got willie Wallace number 8, we’ve got willie Wallace number 8, WE’VE GOT THE BEST TEAM IN THE LAND…..
Creditors getting shafted again.
What price DIGNITY, HONOUR and all that?
Willie Wallace
___________
Great Sir – Will you be making an appearance in – Brave Heart 2 ? :)
Hail Hail
WILLIE WALLACE
Change your log-in name-I canny wait for one of our more,erm,contentious posters to tell you that you know eff all,haha!
Been great having you on here and I look forward to reading the book.
Thanks.
I prefer the old strip – not so keen on the new Palace strip.
I have another ten minutes then need to go meet the journalist boy.
Mr Wallace – What aspect of the modern game most pleases/displeases you? Thank you for spending some time on here, Hail, Hail from Denia, Spain.
Mr Wallace
Legend taking time to answer questions superb.
Do you think you could shout Freedom better than Mel Gibson. :-))
Mr Wallace,
who was your toughest opponent in the domestic and European arenas?
is willie Wallace a hun .:)
Morning, Willie. I just want to thank you for some of my greatest memories of Celtic. You, like your teammates, were a joy to watch. I was lucky enough to be able watch you all in your prime and appreciate it. It’s the only period of my watching Celtic for the best part of 60 years that I have attended games fully expecting to win, whoever the opposition. You were that good.
Dear Willie,
Your book is a very good read – probable the most interesting since Ronnie Simpson’s due to all the stages of a career that you went through and how you found your way into Celtic and then the achievements that you attained.
I was showing it to my son on Sunday night and explaining to him that players like you, Joe McBride, Stevie Chalmers and Bobby Lennox was like having 4 Henrik Larssons in the team at the same time. All were excellent finishers as individuals but also great workers for the team. A truly golden era.
God bless and I hope that we see you back in Scotland much more often.
Thanks for taking the time out to be here with us and thank you for the memories.
I will be in Clydebank hopefully get an autograph and a couple of photies.
You sir are a LEGEND.
HH
Willie
Did clubs have too much power in your day and has it gone too far in the opposite direction now with clubs being powerless .
Willie
Paul Wade,ex captain of Australia, used to coach my daughter at Gladesville Ravens in Sydney.
He told me how impressed he was when you told him the extent of Celtic`s contributions to charity over the years.
Another convert to the cause.
Willie,
I am sure I read somewhere,after you signed for Celtic the following quote “when I played against Celtic I knew I could get away with a lot,but it was only when I played for Celtic I realised how much I could’ve got away with”could you elaborate to this paranoid supporter.HH
masty is neil lennon
11:45 on 29 May, 2013
is willie Wallace a hun .:)
—
Haha was gonna ask that but was afraid willie would take it wrong.
Willie Wallace
11:44 on 29 May, 2013
I prefer the old strip – not so keen on the new Palace strip.
I have another ten minutes then need to go meet the journalist boy.
___________________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ZKQfp7D6U
Spookily enough 10 minutes precisely. ;))
Bookmark it for later Willie.
Willie Wallace
___________
Yer nearly as guid on the Playstation as you were
in real life !!! :)
Hail Hail n Thanks for Everything – God Bless
Willie, true legend, who was the best player you played alongside ?
Mr Wallace
My name is Ramie, I am posting on behalf of KANO who used to frequent this blog
Unfortunately KANO is unable to post himself as he does not have the physical capacity to do so through illness
He asked me to say hello to you on his behalf and hopes you are enjoying your trip home to paradise
I myself also extend my good wishes to you
can you please just grant me one thing…..Can you please respond to this with a “HAIL HAIL KANO” post….
It really would make KANOS day….if not year….
my thanks again for you time
Ramie
proudbhoy
just said it before someone else did…..couldnay care less if yer skin is purple and yer blood was white….if your one of the celtic family your fine by me..
I have just shouted FREEDOM BETTER THAN MEL GIBSON just for you.
Toughest opponent – teams the Italian sides were hard to beat, always defensive. Both AC and Inter hard teams to break down.
In Scotland -obviously Rangers but I always did well against them.the pressure was always on but it never bothered me. My first goal against them was at Ibrox – I turned away to celebrate and saw my uncle in the crowd calling me a F*** B****** –
No not one of them – I supported Falkirk not them a a boy and I am a 100% Celtic supporter. This is my team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5KYud9PMg
Willie,
I just want to thank you and of course the rest of the bhoys for the greatest era in football ever.
You are, of course, a true LEGEND thanks.
Hx2
willie
please don’t take my question lierally…just a welcome post to newbies….sorry if I offended..
Paul
Great scoop getting whispy on cqn
Standard set… needs maintained though
Whos next up
Big bad john ?
Paul McStay?
The king of kings !!!!
Willie – thanks, just thanks.
literally.. even…
Hi willie hope your well sir
how well do you think Tom Rogic will do with Celtic? H.h
Classic!
My first goal against them was at Ibrox – I turned away to celebrate and saw my uncle in the crowd calling me a F*** B****** –
Thanks for this morning – will be grinning all day.
Hail Hail.
Hail Hail Willie Wallace and thank you for your insightful answers..
Mr Wallace
Thanks for answering our questions.
Hail! Hail!
Off oot – Ghood Luck Bampots
On this day in 1931 Celtic played their last game of the North American Tour, the Glasgow Herald reported briefly:-
CELTIC WIN LAST MATCH
BALTIMORE, Wednesday.
There may be better football teams than Celtic, but the people of Baltimore admit frankly that they have never seen them. Before more than 2,000 spectators and beneath scores of floodlights, Celtic, who sail today from New York to England, gave a splendid exhibition, and beat Baltimore by four goals to one. Baltimore were surprised at the skill of the Scotsmen, and were quite outplayed. McGhee (2), Hughes, and Whitelaw were the Scottish goal-scorers.
Celtic thus scored their 10th victory out of 13 games played in this country during the last five weeks.–Press Associates Special Telegram.
Swine – go off line and Willie Wallace comes on.
I look forward to reading your book Willie – a legend in the true sense of the word.
HAIL HAIL KANO