Loan ‘keeper Fraser Forster played as big a part in Celtic’s title success as anyone.
The jury has been out on the giant Geordie for much of his hoops career but that state of affairs turned around spectacularly in December.
A last minute penalty save against Hearts secured three precious points followed quickly by a spectacular save from Lee Wallace at the end of the month that allowed Celtic to go top of the table thanks to Joe Ledley’s second half header.
Whether Forster played his last game for the club yesterday remains to be seen but with 33 starts to his name in the SPL he played a massive part in Celtic’s success.
With 24 goals from 34 matches and 3 substitute appearances Gary Hooper was involved in more matches than any of his team-mates.
His five goal haul against Hearts yesterday was the first time any Celtic player had achieved that feat in 39 years when Dixie Deans put six past Partick Thistle in a 7-0 rout.
Strangely neither Forster or Hooper have featured in any of the Player of the Year awards although no-one would dispute Charlie Mulgrew’s well deserved honours.
Joining Mulgrew amongst the honours was Young Player of the Year James Forrest.
The Ayrshire bhoy’s season was cruelly ended by injury in the League Cup Final against Kilmarnock although his performance against the same side in a 3-3 draw in October was undoubtedly one of the turning points of the season.
Forrest scored nine goals over the season and looks certain to be a key figure at the club for years to come.
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Personally, dont like foster.Why wont he go for cross balls?.He is too stiff and for me not good enough by a long way.
He is only a young fella. Look how much he improved for last year to this year and he will improve some more with time and confidence. He already knows what is needed of him. Get him signed because we can depend on him.
Well yogi. I disagree. For me Big FoRster has proved he is a very good keeper. Arguably the best in the spl this year. For me Boruc at his best is unsurpassed as a Celtic keeper in the last 40 years but big Fraser will do for me.
Still a lot of work to do for me, doesn’t command his box nearly as well as he should. While some of the woeful goals we have conceded have been down to zone marking, I’d expect my keeper to have a big input…anything in the 6 yard box should be HIS.
Done well, wouldn’t pay more than £ 2m or I’d look elsewhere. I’m sure there are top quality keepers about not getting game time..Chelsea lad at At. Madrid is excellent. I saw CSKA Moscow in the UEFA final a few years back and they had an amazing keeper but sure he is way out of our reach now.
Find them young we have a couple of decent keepers in the youth System. Somehow Rangers seem to have the upper hand in this dept over the years while it has caused us many problems. Time it was fixed properly not short term patch up jobs.