Fraser Forster

He was hard done by every time Joe Hart got picked above him. They have never really respected him.

Him taking a pay cut was always the test to us getting him. However he knows he can still get £2m a year with us and be with us for another 6 years or more as a keeper. He will still be making money.

 

Forster will never get back into the England team purely cause he's unfashionable.

Best English goalkeeper on the go at the moment, but he plays in Scotland and his kicking isn't the greatest which means he'd never get a look in with them.

I don't think that will bother him now, he's done all that. Played for England, been to a tournament, played EPL, made his money. He's not getting any younger and now it's more about enjoying his football again after being bombed out for 2 keepers nowhere near his level.

Celtic and Fraser Forster just works, spend the cash and make it happen. He's the difference between us doing anything in European football or just being there to make up the numbers.

 

This is so true and it's not just because he plays in what those arrogant * monkeys think is an easier league.

He's nigh unbeatable in our pressure matches, lazio, huns cup (best I've seen any GK at any level perform ever), the other night, it's mad he just fits us perfectly.

 

Whatever the outlay-wages, transfer fee, him between the sticks will almost guarantee champions league qualification and the money would be well spent.
Pedro will just see no sell on value.

 

No Forster, we riot.

 

It's a fair point, though. I'm personally in favour of spending the money to sign him in spite of that; but it's not mental of Lawwell to see it in terms of him not having resale value.

It's a genuine issue and would be a big departure from our model. Let's not pretend the board would have to be mental not to go for it: his quality's not in doubt; but it's a fee we will never recoup.

To be clear, I am in favour in spite of that. I love the big guy and really hope we make it happen; but I won't be spitting the dummy out if we don't.

 

And that's exactly the bigger picture that board need to look at. Get CL football and the investment returns 4 fold.

 

Not every outlay has to have a resale value; as nice as that is for the PLC.

As @Mr Shelby points out, he's made back his transfer fee and first years wages in his performances in the Europa alone. Add in the League Cup Final too.

If we head into the Champions League qualifiers with Forster between the sticks then our chances of getting the £40 million+ increase massively. It would be one of the wisest investments we could make.

 

I also hope we can keep him and if he is prepared to accept a pay cut of about 50% that will increase our chances, and hopefully Southampton don't want to try and get a hefty chunk of the transfer fee back. Fingers crossed that they accept 3/4 or 5 at most. Hopefully prior to the Cup final we get an announcement that we have signed him permanently but if we don't I'll be like you, realistic.

 

Well if all we're going to do is sit on the money, then it's a no-brainer. However, generally (Congerton's last season aside) we don't. For example 9 million not only got us a wonderful player in Eddy, who is every bit as much of a game changer as Forster, but we should also more than recoup that fee this summer.

If we don't have plans to invest the money elsewhere, then I have no doubt Forster would easily pay for his fee with big money saves in his first season. Such is his quality. However if we have good, young targets like Eddy lined up and Forster would come at the expense of one of them, it would probably not be the better investment.

It all depends. As I say, I am in favour; but I repeat that it's not mental if Lawwell decides the money is better invested on younger players of similar potential to Eddy.

 

But surely we can afford to do both?

 

Disappointed he didn't save the pen today.

 

It partly comes down to how much Eddy goes for and if someone else goes. If we can get £40m plus in transfers I can easily see us spending £20m plus in the summer, which could easily cover a decent keeper, a decent striker, a winger and a cb. We rebuilt our defence this season spending only around £15m, so we will get some good deals in.
I don't think our policy is always about selling players on. A keeper has such a long shelf life you would make your money back on him in Europe. It will partly be on Hammond and Lennon to explain why he is needed. With Forster they will know what they are getting.

 

So true, he should be subbed off immediately.

 

If we only sign 1 player this summer it has to be the big man!

we are due a sell on from Southampton just ask them to knock a few mil off the fee!

 

I would honestly be amazed and shocked if he's not here next year. Edouard was a no brainer at £9m and Forster is also a no brainer at £6-7m or whatever he will cost.

 

Are we, I totally overlooked that?