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 see that Nicky Clark that has signed for sevco is being given a new name by snyde, its”40 goal striker Nicky Clark”
RRC, I absolutely agree with Kojo why make a post like that if you are not seeking a debate. Nothing unusual about your baptism, 99% of Catholics are baptised as babies. You had no choice about your Nationality either or about your colour. A lot of us here had little choice as to what Football Club we’d follow we were just born to follow Celtic
. Re Religion obviously you made a decision to renounce the Catholic Faith, that is totally your prerogative, personally I made a decision to embrace the Catholic Faith. I don’t think my decision is any big deal neither do I think your decision is any big deal.
topkat
go look at the video, the pink suited one clearly says w###er…
BRTH no problem mate it would be an honour to do such an esteemed blogger as yourself a favour.Hope thats not OTT!! As Sister Sledge so eloquently said “We are Family” Hail Hail Hebcelt
Right medication and bed; just found myself agreeing with – whisper it – Kojo 16:00 on 28 May, 2013………… A bit like Halley’s Comet!
Last time was about (seventy) five years ago re Alexander Pope………..
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Nicky “Dream Chaser” Clark…………..
will be the new Fleckaldinho………..
FACT.
Up and coming young Glasgow Band – new single Oran Mor 31/05/13
I was thinking of a long post on some of the issues thrown up on todays blog. I’ve a lot of questions and am on a knife edge wondering how to change the world. The answer is not adequate but it’s the most adequate one I have whether it be changing a system which makes people starve to death, lose hope and despair or the bigotted behaviour of the Loyal Orders and their bands and hangers on. And it’s this:
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Can’t remember who said it, I’ve read it on here from others too but it’s worth reflecting on. I’ve seen it in action. I’ve seen the results. And it lets you sleep at night. It leads you to pity the hateful and the intolerant without losing your desire to tackle hatred and intolerance. Among other things……..
I say all that – I’m finding it hard to do today. My head is literally thumping as a result of some of the crap I’ve dealt with. The world is a hard place but there’s beauty in it too.
I think it was Oscar Wilde who said that we are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars. Not always easy when you are up to your neck in the sewage but a nice thought all the same.
HeavyStuffCSC
So sevco have signed a hairdresser.
Corkcelt
My family are Roman Catholics, I posted to say I disagreed with the post inferring that once a Catholic always a Catholic is all, I do not accept that, maybe the poster I was disagreeing with was looking for a debate, i don’t know, what do you think?
I think i was born to support Celtic, does being a Catholic make one a better supporter?
RRC
Pal..
Ah don’t buy yer Defense.
Fur..
Where Ah come frum
Everybudd, Who Evah…ADVERTISES.. Alwiz..
Wants tae SELL!
Maks Sense .. tae Me.
Kojo
Still..Laughin’
No man is an Islam
Kojo
My defence?
From what or who should I be defending my self against?
Of marginal interest possibly but following Tony Hamilton’s elevation to head the Celtic Foundation I’m hearing of consequent changes that will strengthen capacity on the social media/communications front.
It is an issue I’ve been harping on about for quite some time but with football operations now on a sound and successful footing the timing is right to strengthen “back office” capacity to further Celtic’s Vision of becoming ( or being depending on one’s view) a world class club.
The OSB that began last season and continues this, is an example of one small area where steps to fulfilling that vision can be made.
Hopefully when additional capacity takes up post, further inter action with the support as a whole will gather pace and that interaction will become the way of doing things in the not too distant future.
uly
Arab Douglas?
RRC: 16:23 on 28 May, 2013………….
Fine, and I’m sure that whatever your religious beliefs, you will be accepted in Timland because in the main, most Tims don’t give an underlying duck about that………
Why the pronouncement???
TBM
I’ve just had a second yum, yum…………
Islamabad?
RRC
Are you a …….?
only joking
The Onlooker
Free Thinking CSC
TBM
As I said, I posted in response to a statement made that “once a Catholic always a Catholic”
It is ok to disagree with that, yeah?
The Onlooker
Went to my first Celtic game with my dad in 1965, been a Celtic supporter ever since.
RRC, Despite the fact that you say you are not looking for a debate, you clearly are. At no stage did I infer that being a Catholic makes one a better Celtic Supporter. Had I done so I would be a fool and I can assure you I’m not.
I respect people of all religions and of none, however inherent in your original post is a disrespect for the Catholic Faith. i.e. The LAST thing I consider myself to be is a Roman Catholic, shanghaid as a baby, I consider myself a Christian, obviously implying that you don’t consider Catholics Christians. I have absolutely no issue with you being whatever you want to be but I do have an issue if you publicly disrespect my religion on this blog.
RRC
Good post.
Live and let live everyone. Aye kaflix tay
HH
RRC
So.. If that Shoe Disne Fit..
Well..
How aboot..
“EXCUSE” .. then?
And if that disnae Fit…
Heck.. Ah goat a Million ithers..
Ah could Use.
Kojo
Still… Laughin’
RRC
Tontine Tim was answering another poster. What he said was that we cannot unbaptise ourselves, and he is correct.
When you decided to join another branch of Christianity, no one there had any need to rebaptise you. Our baptism is “an indelible spiritual mark” of having been claimed for Christ. No sin we commit can ever erase this mark and baptism cannot be repeated, although we can, and are encouraged to, renew our baptismal vows.
I read Tontine Tim’s post as an attempt at giving encouragement to another poster, not an attempt to challenge anyone.
DU reject offer from Derby for Russell
This Lam is your Lam, this Lam is my Lam, from the Aran Islams to the Liffey water…
Islams in the stream, that is what we are…
Awe Naw
Wrang,pal.. Wrang.
RRC ‘s Post .
Wisnae a .. “Good Post”.. as ye hiv acclaimed.
Na..
It’s whit is Known in the Trade ..
as
An
INFLAMMATORY Post!
Heck.. Ah should Know…
Ah Know awe aboot THAT KIND!
Kojo
Still Laughin/
las islam Malvinas argentina
Corkcelt
Please accept my sincere apology
I accept that the “last thing” part was wrong.
I did not mean to offend you or your faith and I was wrong to express myself in that way
I hope on that issue you can accept my personal apology
auldheid-i suppose a TV Channel a la Liverpool would be too expensive to run?
Kojo, You had better stop making posts that I agree with.
Auldheid
You got the job?
“……..Sheikh Young reporting…”
Careful Now
Down with this sort of thing
Craggy Islam CSC
RRC 16.42
No problem at all pal. I apologise as well if I read something into the post that was not intended. Cyber handshake & huddle. Hope to see you in Heaven some day but not for a good few years yet.
Kojo, Corkcelt, RRC
But we agree on this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99OL2Z1nH2I
HH
RRC: 16:33 on 28 May, 2013
TBM
As I said, I posted in response to a statement made that “once a Catholic always a Catholic”
It is ok to disagree with that, yeah?……………
Don’t really want to get too involved in the semantics and linguistics of the initial post but must have missed the “once a Catholic always a Catholic” ………. your quotes……
Thought the start off point was a rather light hearted ‘you cannae unbaptise yourself’……….. (Tontine Tim 15:44 on 28 May, 2013)
Touch paper lit, achieved your objective???
So as Kojo said/says ‘Ah don’t buy yer Defense’………….Jeez, need to get off that Diclofenic Sodium; never read on the ‘occurrence of taking’ leaflet that Kojoism was a common side effect………..
TBM