It’s the question that would have attracted the ‘you’re having a laugh’ answer a year ago.
Is Fraser Forster playing better than Artur Boruc?
For the best part of three seasons the Pole, or the Holy Goalie as he became known as, was an inspiration to Gordon Strachan’s side.
At home but more so in Europe Boruc was in his pomp with some incredible performances at odds with his erratic life off the pitch.
With Poland he starred at the World Cup and European Championships backing up claims that he was among the best in the business before his form plunged and a transfer to Fiorentina beckoned.
Forster was Neil Lennon’s first choice to replace Boruc with the giant Geordie far from convincing in a new look Celtic defence despite being highly rated by Alan Thompson and Paul Lambert who had him on loan at Norwich.
If Forster hadn’t returned to Celtic for a second loan spell at the start of the 2011./12 season no tears would have been shed amid speculation that Shay Given was Lennon’s first choice keeper.
Forster’s return was barely celebrated but midway through last season he started to impose himself on the side emerging as one of the key characters that turned around a 15 point deficit into a title party.
Crucial saves against Rangers and Hearts paved the way for important victories as Celtic swept to the title with a £1.5m deal completed in the summer to make the move from Newcastle permanent.
An English audience first took note of the keeper as he performed admirably away to Helsingborgs as Celtic moved towards the group stages of the Champions League.
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In the away match with Spartak Moscow the Russian side’s second goal looked a poor one to lose but after 180 minutes against Barcelona Forster was one of the most talked about keepers’ in the game being named in UEFA’s team of the week for both matches with a dozen inspired instinctive saves.
Being the Celtic keeper in the SPL isn’t the most demanding of jobs but last night’s point blank save from a Colin Nish header showed Forster at his best as he kept Celtic in front with Lennon quick to recognise the worth of his keeper.
“We have seen it times and time again,” the Celtic boss said. “He got a big hand to the ball, and we were able to clear it. That could have changed the game but thankfully we were a able to keep a clean sheet and we go on to win the game with a superb individual goal from Hooper. “
Have your say in the Forster v Boruc debate, vote below and add your comments. The most recent memories are obviously the strongest, Forster’s displays against Barcelona are fresher than Boruc against Manchester United and AC Milan, on reflection add your thoughts as to the debate.
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BIG FRASER
JUST GETS BETTER ALL THE TIME & CONTINUES TO SHINES ON THE BIG STAGE HE WAS ALSO CLASS IN EUROPE LAST YEAR.
HH????
boruc was easily the best keeper. At his prime he was probably the best in europe or world even. But big lurch is more consistant. No point in winning games on your own then giving away games the next week. Best keeper the holy goaly, best to have in goals lurch
They’re 2 different types of Goalies who deserve the respect they have earned while wearing the Hoops ;). Hail Hail.
For me it’s Forster . Younger ,more consistent and doesn’t bring the madness Boruc brought . A shining example of what it is to be a Celtic player……….true gent on and off the park .
+ 2
Dhougal says it all Hail Hail
Forster still has his best years ahead of him, hopefully all with Celtic. Never hear any stories of him off the park, so obviously got his head screwed on and working hard to improve his game.
All credit to him and the coaches, hope to see him continue to improve for years to come.
As an ex-junior goalie I liked what I saw with big Fraser from the beginning and was glad that Neil and his team showed the patience in securing his signature as he showed the potential back then that he could be a great keeper.
Boruc had a presence about him, an air of arrogance that inspired confidence but Forster is the real deal and will only get better and better.
On a one off game if both were at their best then Artur was the man however if I were to chose a keeper to play a crucial month of games or more then I’d pick big Fraser, also the big man is no where close to his peak years.
Fosters the better goalkeeper to have in your team, this is the difference put Artur Boric with Celtic he’s a superstar, take Artur Boric away from Celtic hes just a nobody. Was pleased to see him go when he finally left.
still early, but forster has already achieved a bit more than boruc had in his whole celtic career. long may it continue!
Big Fraser is now surpassing Boruc. Boruc at his best was good but he was prone to many errors. He was a good goalie but never was he the best in the world!
Some of the saves he pulled off i struggle to think of another keeper capable of making them, if he was just consistent he would have been up there
Forster is younger, more consistent, and still isn’t even in his prime for a keeper yet. All of that ontop of the fact he doesn’t bring the same madness and controversy Artur did. Artur’s time with us ranged from brilliance to disastrous. God knows, I loved the holy Goalie. But Big Fraser is proving to be much better thus far.
Can forster take a penalty lol
Boruc was a legend, he knew what he was doing playing up to the fans aswell, as long as i can remember we have struggled with keepers, paki aside so im glad we have big lurkio hes getting better and better, and i bet pardew is spewing, prick
Got to say, Forster has improved greatly over the past year, but still has work to do, especially re cross balls and his speed of footwork. Shot stopping has been outstanding but so was Boruc, but Boruc had a better all round game.
Hoping big Fraser continues to improve and dominate more.
Off the park, no comparison with ‘mad as a box of frogs’ Boruc.
Best way to describe Boruc… he went from the ridiculous to the sublime… phenomenal at his best, but howl’in at his worst….
For me, Big Forster is quality always…. very rarely poor.
Packie Bonner was by no means a great keeper. Any man who was over 6 foot tall and couldn’t catch a ball? Played in the middle of the park for Donegal GAA team? How he managed that i’ll never know. Also the Scillachi goal in Italy say’s all you need about him. Never rated him as a keeper. He stood out because he was the ‘best’ of a very bad bunch we had at the time.
Bonner was a great shot stopper. No good with crosses, pretty harsh judging the big man on one goal though wouldnt you say
On his day Boruc was a game changer, played to thee gallery and mad as a bog of badgers. I like those kind of characters.
Forster is a great keeper and will only get better.
I liked Artur though
For me Boruc was the better all round keeper – you must remember we won 3iar largely thanks to him & Naka.
I think big FF is a great keeper and I wouldn’t swap him for anyone but really it’s only the past 15/16 months he’s been at this level cutting out the silly mistakes – once he’s been at this level for 3 seasons then he will have surpassed the Holy Goalie but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the bigger teams from the EPL come hunting for him in the summer – hope not though!!