Lennon hopes for another record

Posted on August 17th, 2011 | 6 Comments |

Celtic reach an agreement to take Newcastle United keeper Fraser Forster.
Scotland bound
Celtic reach an agreement to take Newcastle United keeper Fraser Forster and Toon wannabe Maiga speaks up about his omission from Sochaux’s European squad.

Celtic claim to have reached an agreement to take Fraser Forster off our hands. Apparently it’s along the lines of a season-long loan with some sort of option to buy the player after that.

Celtic manager Niel Lennon said:

A deal has been agreed. There are a few little snags to overcome but we hope to have him registered in time for tomorrow night.

If that is the eventuality of things, we would be absolutely delighted. He has been the main target since the end of last season.

We did put a bid in but it was knocked back but we worked hard in the background to try to bring him in so I’m very, very pleased.

Forster was loaned to Celtic last season and broke the club’s clean sheets record while he was there and was also quite good in goal. Forster had previously expressed a desire to return to Celtic this season although Alan Pardew was keen to see how he measured up against Krul and Harper between the sticks during pre-season before letting him go.

Presumably the club feels that Harper and Krul – and possibly Soderberg – are better prospects for us in the long run and provide ample enough cover in goal between them. We do seem to have produced some good keepers at Newcastle in recent years and it looks like Tim Krul might be edging Steve Harper for the number one spot at the moment.

In other news, the Modibo Maiga situation rumbles on as the player comments about his exclusion from Sochaux’s Europa League game tomorrow night, which he received as punishment for refusing to play again Caen on the weekend. Maiga said:

I am sorry for the fans, my team-mates and the staff, but I am not in the best conditions to play.

It is better for the team to get focused well that I don’t play.

About Newcastle, it is very clear: they want me and I want to go there.

They want the transfer to be sorted out quickly, but it is not up to me. The worry is Sochaux.

Sochaux is indeed the worry as owner Alexandre Lacombe has insisted he will not sell Maiga to Newcastle.

Who knows how this one will turn out.

NUFCBlog Author: Hugh de Payen I'm a baby-boomer of the punk rock persuasion, currently exiled in Somerset for crimes committed in a previous life where locals keep trying to poison me with something called 'scrumpy'. Hates sprouts, coat-hangers, Cilla Black, ornaments, Steven Seagull movies and 50 Cent (he's not worth 10). Hugh de Payen has written 634 articles on this blog.

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6 Responses

  1. According to no-nothing, no it all Lee Ryder, tonight’s Chronicle will have details on cover for the goalkeeping position…The club are looking to cover the ‘keeper position…WTF??? I’m so very, very confused.

  2. what’s his problem?we’re a bigger club than sochaux any day.stinking frenchman needs to stop being stubborn.
    however i hope this maiga fella is decent

  3. Why have we bought another ‘keeper? We’ve just loaned one out and now we want a ‘keeper from Charlton in before the game at the weekend.

  4. Oh come on FFS, Rob Elliot.

    It’s obvious, anyone who voiced there opinion on Pardew’s appointment is gone, or not wanted.

    Now Harper will be off. Only served 18 years for the club. Loyalty Doesn’t matter though to Ashley and Vampire does it.

    But at least this Elliot will make the bench for Saturday, that’s the most important thing. It’s not like we need anyone else…