Since former Newcastle goalkeeper and local lad Fraser Forster returned to the Southampton first team after recovering form a serious knee injury he is the first Saints goalkeeper ever to keep six clean sheets in a row and Southampton have won five and drawn one of those games and have shot up to 6th top with 40 points form 26 games and just one point behind the slumping Manchester United.
If only Newcastle could keep some clean sheets we may have had a lot more points than we have at the moment with 24 – and in 3rd bottom place.
Fraser Forster – former Newcastle goalkeeper
The Hexham born 27 year-old goalkeeper has been in great form since being out since late March last year after suffering the knee injury in the game against Burnley when he badly damaged his left patellar tendon.
Fraser was out almost 10 months with that injury but he has come roaring back into the Saints team, who are surging at the moment with 16 points from their last 6 games.
Forster joined Newcastle as a youngster and was sent out on loan to Stockport County, Bristol Rovers, Norwich City and Celtic where he played a total of 117 first team games before signing on at Celtic for £2M in the summer of 2012.
It was in that summer that Alan Pardew had to make a decision between Tim Krul and Fraser as to who would be the number one goalkeeper at Newcastle – and the 6ft 7ins goalkeeper didn’t want to sit on the bench at Newcastle.
Alan Pardew chose Tim Krul and Fraser was allowed to leave the club permanently and after two successful years at Celtic he moved to Southampton in the summer of 2014 for a whopping £10M.
And Fraser has gone from strength to strength and has gained 3 caps for England and in his current form he could be the third goalkeeper chosen by England manager Roy Hodgson for the Euro 2016 finals in France in the summer.
One question to ask is did Newcastle make the right decision in letting the giant goalkeeper leave the club?
We remember writing at the time that Tim Krul looked the better goalkeeper in pre-season at the time and with Fraser not willing to sit on the bench at his home town club, there was little choice but to let him go.
But he has since become one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and with his maniacal work in training and his real determination to succeed, even better things may be in the future for the lad who attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.
And he seems to specialize in clean sheets – which is not a bad thing to specialize in if you are a goalkeeper – and in 293 first team games so far in his career he has kept 149 clean sheets.
However, 102 of those were in 197 games for Celtic north of the border.
He kept 16 clean sheets in 39 appearances last season for the Saints and this season has 6 in 6 appearances.
Wonder if Newcastle can get a goal at St. Mary’s when we visit there on 9th April?
It’s nice to see local lads have great success – but it’s a pity it wasn’t at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
73 comments so far
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 1:57 PM
Comment #41Essex Geordie Bill
They had only been married for two years mate, and have a three year old daughter, he went to his mums after an argument with his wife, but phoned her to arrange a meeting to try and reconcile the situation.
The meeting took place at Asda, he gave her a rose as it was valentines day, when she told him she was seeing someone else. He asked who but she didn’t want to tell him, when he persisted she told him it was Defoe, and his response……..”Are you taking the piss?”
Poor bloke!
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 1:59 PM
Comment #42Oh and he took the rose back off her too. 😀
bettyswallocks
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:03 PM
Comment #43Jesper……… Good afternoon . I hope you have decided to take the banter for what it is and not allow it to upset you.
I see the young lad Jamie Sterry had a good game yesterday, looking like becoming a first team regular. That’s why I was annoyed that you were writing him off before he’d had a chance to play.
Transfer Sage
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #44I had no idea at the time how good Forster would become but the fact he was let go and only Celtic put in a bid suggests he wasn’t that highly regarded by others at the time as well. Granted I believe it was part of their loan deal but surely if his ability was that clear he would have been subject to more interest.
I think Krul has gone from one of the top 4/5 keepers in the league to the bottom 4/5 (out of regular starting goal keepers, not back ups). He doesn’t command his area too well, not overly vocal and his distribution is appalling.
We need to seriously look at the defence and goal keeping positions in the summer if we manage to survive this season.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #45Hibbitt
You could be describing Carver comment 24.
Seems to be a theme that runs through the club.
Transfer Sage
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #46I think we should look to try and bring Forster back this summer.
Yes it will be difficult as Southampton are strong than us currently but neither of us look like winning anything or playing champions league football so maybe the pull of coming home might work.
Maybe a long shot but surely worth enquiring
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:12 PM
Comment #47Firebug
I assume he was a Toon fan so that was a real kick in the teeth for him.
I’m sure the terraces can prepare a suitable welcome for Defoe when we play them.
I would never wish something nasty for anyone but there could be exceptions!!
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:15 PM
Comment #48Sage
I agree with you, bringing Forster home would be great, we could sell Krul to Manure (if they still want him) keep Elliot as he has been steady this season for us, if not the best he has produced some magnificent saves.
Forster, Elliot and Darlow would be decent although Darlow still has some work to do before he will be ready for the premiership.
Transfer Sage
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Comment #49Firebug
Long shot but could be worth it. Could see man Utd or Liverpool moving for him though. Especially if De he’s finally gets his move to Madrid.
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Comment #50Essex Geordie Bill
Aye the lad is a life long Toon fan mate.
Thing is Defoe will not keep her long, he changes woman faster than his shirts.
He may get something special from the terraces, wonder if he brings his new girlfriend to the game?
AncientC
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #51Transfer Sage – Krul only has 1 year left on his contract in the summer.
Forster would have 2 years remaining on his, which would be around the time Southampton would be looking at giving him a new deal.
If the club really wanted Forster back, there may be an opportunity.
beermonkey
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #52sage
i think both those clubs are more likely to go for forster than krul
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #53Sage you may be right, but coming home could have the same drag as it did with Shearer, he turn the Mancs down to come home.
I wouldn’t mind Butland either, but he would be a more difficult challenge.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:22 PM
Comment #54Sage,
Forster will move to bigger and better things if Saints let him leave. I think Man U is probably a pretty good shout if De Gea goes.
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:23 PM
Comment #55firebug,
Very different circumstances though for Shearer. Newcastle were there or thereabouts when he turned Man U down. Nowadays……
firebug666
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:29 PM
Comment #56Lil
But we are still there or thereabouts mate, all be it at the other end of the table.
Anyway it’s all just wishful thinking as the club will have their targets for if we stay up, and I will guarantee that the players we want will not be amongst them.
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Comment #57Krul seems to have been infected with the club injury virus and we aren’t getting a full season anymore from him so if big(ish) money could be got then selling is probably a good move.
Elliot is our No.1 at present with Darlow and Woodman as back-ups so we aren’t to bad in that respect. At the risk of flogging a dead horse and repeating what has been said millions of times on this (and other) blogs already, our GKs need a better defence protecting them, not more GKs although I would like to see Forster back with us.
Munster Mag
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:34 PM
Comment #58Keeping both wasnt really an option. Catchy probably blamed pardew though 🙂
WWSBRD
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:35 PM
Comment #59Would Forster be the keep he is today if we had kept him? Our player development is awful
I have heard Pedro struggles with our under 21s because how they see football compared to him and that football isn’t as easy to them as it is to him (mainly hearsay I admit but it wouldn’t shock me). Plus the under funded nature of our reserves and training facilities it’s no real surprise it is what it is. We haven’t kept up with grass roots scouting developments and neglect their training if we do bring lads in so hard to expect better
I believe it was Rob Lee who said he wouldn’t let his kids come to NUFC because of how bad we are it would ruin them
21st Century Schizoid Man
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:36 PM
Comment #60Ancient
“England quality” was meant to be ironic as England’s internationals are not always world class…. and neither are their coaches. I’m Welsh so I quite enjoy the fact that for the first time in my life our international side closely ranks the English side.
Lilo
Yes, agreed. I’d been following his career with interest as I live in Scotland. But playing two blinders against a top ranked world class side like Barca attracts more media and pundit attention as it shows a higher level of performance than playing against Partick Thistle.
Jeff
When exactly could Forster have played European football at the level of the group stages of the Champions League with us ?
He was more appreciated at Celtic, matured as a player, and got game chances he would never have at the Toon. He wanted to go. It was the right decision for him too.
WWSBRD
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:37 PM
Comment #61If we go into next season with Elliott as number 1 we best be in the Championship
Essex Geordie Bill
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:40 PM
Comment #62Of no interest to anyone else, but I am sitting watching the (quite long) war gaming period of my life being sold off on Ebay. It’s all a bit sad and depressing even if it is necessary.
My Battle Mechs are next up if anyone is interested. They are going on later today.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:40 PM
Comment #63Good afternoon Betty…I take the banter for what it is mate…and sometimes it’s not just banter but wumming. And then I take it as that. I do think one can tell the difference 😉
I asked about Gibson and Sterry earlier – I don’t know if you read that? I am not writing anyone of, maybe that is how you read my post back then? I just don’t have that much faith in the description a diehard Newcastle fan gives if our youth players. Been hearing some many flattering description over the years just to feel like being taken as a fool!
So how did Gibson and Sterry do?
Lilongwe Geordie
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:42 PM
Comment #6421st,
I wrote a number of scouting reports on Forster when he was playing for our U18’s. Followed him closely at Norwich (thanks to a good friend who is a Norwich fan) and at Celtic. The Barca game raised his profile, but it didn’t make him a better keeper. He was always very good.
WWSBRD,
Yeah, I think the coaching set up under Woodman definitely hindered Krul, and would have likely done the same to Forster. I was at Celtic last week meeting with the International Academy Manager, and they have an incredible setup. Far more impressive then I had realised. I’m sure that will have benefitted Forster, and certainly helped him continue to progress.
Anyway, off out to watch the rest of the days footy, so catch up later.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:44 PM
Comment #65I wouldn’t mind us going for Schmeichel.
AncientC
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:48 PM
Comment #6621st Century Schizoid Man, Okay, I see what you mean. That said, England are not looking too bad at the moment.
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:49 PM
Comment #67forster was always improving. but even at Norwich in league 1 he broke clean sheet records, he then broke the record in Scotland before the barca game. We should have bought him. Southamptons defence is so so when he’s not playing. he’s been making their defenders look better than they are for years.
bettyswallocks
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:50 PM
Comment #68Sterry and Gibson both played well and Sterry had a hand in our second goal. I had heard some very positive reports about Sterry already but apparently he’s a bit of a hot head.
Mister Tuff
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:51 PM
Comment #69Hahahaha.
Jib – is there not something like a Google School you can get enrolled in -you might not make as many gaffes.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:53 PM
Comment #70I don’t know how old those two are but have either of then been out on loan for a long period of time?
…the PL is something entirely different than the youth team!
The next Mike Williamson
Feb 21, 2016 at 2:56 PM
Comment #71pardew gave him 45 minutes in a friendly and he made a mistake for which he was hauled off and criticised after the match and sold just afterwards.
Jib
Feb 21, 2016 at 3:03 PM
Comment #72I think we’ll end up on 40 points with 2 games to go , those being home to Spurs and Man City.
They should be vying for the title , could be an opportunity for some payback time.
No Defence
Feb 21, 2016 at 3:19 PM
Comment #73Firebug
I must admit I did find that story canny funny, until the last bit where it says he lives in pont, is there no where nice in Makam land you know like pennywell. ?