David Forde

[geysir]

You are probably right with regards the Manchester clubs but lets not forget Forster is currently the challenger in waiting for Harts England number one spot. He could comfortably play for a Premiership side, outwith the top few sides perhaps. It just whether a vacancy arises.

Anyway, Fordes connection with Celtic is probably more to do with him being Irish than anything Lennon has seen in him that he likes.
Just 'cause he's from Lurgan that's no reason to regard him as an idiot :)

He's the manager of a profile football club, I doubt he'll go after a player that he doesn't think will do the required job he's been signed to do.
It's not the 7 a side in the school yard where the fat kid is picked last, ' go in goals fatso, and do your best'.
Or, is Celtic as ramshackle a club, led by a total idiot, as you would have us believe?

[ArdeeBhoy]

I think he'd fit in well there. Particularly if Celtic succeed in prising David Forde away, Forster will be surplus to requirements.

You are joking. Forster's not that good, but he's a Premiership keeper, whereas Forde is a Championship one and definitely the next level down, regardless of nationality. He's definitely SPL level, but Celtic have loftier ambitions (hopefully to return to the CL!) and whilst Junior is right about no like-for-like replacements, Forde just doesn't cut it for me on the basis of his club performances.

Incidentally, according to the BBC 'Gossip Column', Forster's even been linked with Barca, on the basis of his performance(s) v. them.
Personally don't think he's a top CL player, but definitely good enough to play in it or the EPL etc.

[Charlie Darwin]

You are joking. Forster's not that good, but he's a Premiership keeper, whereas Forde is a Championship one and definitely the next level down, regardless of nationality. He's definitely SPL level, but Celtic have loftier ambitions (hopefully to return to the CL!) and whilst Junior is right about no like-for-like replacements, Forde just doesn't cut it for me on the basis of his club performances.

Incidentally, according to the BBC 'Gossip Column', Forster's even been linked with Barca, on the basis of his performance(s) v. them.
Personally don't think he's a top CL player, but definitely good enough to play in it or the EPL etc.
http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/012/132/thatsthejoke.jpg

[ArdeeBhoy]

Ah, misread your post...
:rolleyes:

[Junior]

Just 'cause he's from Lurgan that's no reason to regard him as an idiot :)

He's the manager of a profile football club, I doubt he'll go after a player that he doesn't think will do the required job he's been signed to do.
It's not the 7 a side in the school yard where the fat kid is picked last, ' go in goals fatso, and do your best'.
Or, is Celtic as ramshackle a club, led by a total idiot, as you would have us believe?

Sorry Geysir, perhaps my post was misleading, what I meant was the Celtic link probably has no grounds. i.e. a tabloid has put 'Forster likely to leave' + 'A.N.Other Irish Goalkeeper' = Celtic Replacement. I'm not sure if Lennon has even had time to take a look at Forde - would he be in the top 5 likely replacements from Britain for example? No idea.....

Still - I do like to read your take on things - always raises a smile

[geysir]

You are joking. Forster's not that good, but he's a Premiership keeper, whereas Forde is a Championship one and definitely the next level down, regardless of nationality. He's definitely SPL level, but Celtic have loftier ambitions (hopefully to return to the CL!) and whilst Junior is right about no like-for-like replacements, Forde just doesn't cut it for me on the basis of his club performances.

Incidentally, according to the BBC 'Gossip Column', Forster's even been linked with Barca, on the basis of his performance(s) v. them.
Personally don't think he's a top CL player, but definitely good enough to play in it or the EPL etc.
You're implying that the BBC gossip column has some standing, it just repeats gossip from all other sources, unfiltered.

A top CL player means to be amongst the best in the world. No, Forster is not the amongst the best in the world.
Furthermore, there is no one EPL standard, probably there are some 6 or 8 of the best goalies in Europe there and the rest are of a very good standard. Pretty much a similar situation to the other top leagues in Europe. Forster is a very good goalie who still has to iron out a few issues. He is is definitely good enough to compete in the CL for any team, but if a top cl team needs a goalie they will have have a selection of the best goalkeepers to choose from. Barca will want a goalie who can also play football, that rules out Forster.
Offhand I'd say Forde is not in the age band and a Celtic standard goalie would be of the bottom 2/3 of the EPL goalies. I'd hazard a guess that Celtic would be looking for a replacement for Forster using a similar strategy that unearthed Forster, a good promising young goalie age 23 who is too good for the epl bench but not good enough yet to depose the nr.1.

[DannyInvincible]

Top save by Forde against Wigan at the weekend:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlvCtYqyy-Y

[ArdeeBhoy]

To geysir's last post, well yeah...
An average EPL team would be happy to have him, say Swansea or Villa maybe, but doubtful how much better he'll get.

Similarly with Forde who has improved, but whereas say FF is in the top 20 keepers in Britain, DF is in the top 40 or 50, which is very good, but not enough for Celtic's CL, erm, 'ambitions'.

[Charlie Darwin]

What are Celtic's ambitions?

[SkStu]

Ah ArdeeBhoy.

Look, he is easily good enough for Celtic and their CL ambitions which I presume is generally not to get hockeyed in every game, win the odd one and get past group stages every once in a while. If he can accomplish this against the likes of Germany, Sweden and Austria in an Irish jersey, then he can do similar as the Celtic #1. You say yourself he's very good. Indeed, you couldn't reasonably say the same about every current Celtic player.

[ArdeeBhoy]

These days, not much Chas. Well in the CL. Probably getting into the competition proper and then into the last 16 is as far as it goes.

Anything more will take a lot of cash and lot more football acumen than NL IMO.

That said, last year exceeded/raised expectations...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Look, he is easily good enough for Celtic and their CL ambitions which I presume is generally not to get hockeyed in every game, win the odd one and get past group stages every once in a while. If he can accomplish this against the likes of Germany, Sweden and Austria in an Irish jersey, then he can do similar as the Celtic #1. You say yourself he's very good. Indeed, you couldn't reasonably say the same about every current Celtic player.
Wrong and right. Seriously, he's no better than our reserve keeper, Zaluska.

And we do have some complete duds when it comes to the squad, who seemed to have been signed on the basis of reputation, nothing else.
Who are probably the next level down from Forde.

[Charlie Darwin]

These days, not much Chas. Well in the CL. Probably getting into the competition proper and then into the last 16 is as far as it goes.
Yeah, but top 20 in Britain? That means he'd be as good as the bottom goalkeeper in the Premier League or, realistically, when the top clubs have two quality keepers, closer to mid-table first choice. Surely that's unrealistic when Championship clubs can and have outbid you for players. Like, is Forster much better than Westwood? Or Myhill?

[ArdeeBhoy]

They would only outbid on wages and unless they had a phobia, even Celtic on a bad day is more prestigious than all the Championship. Not sure many could outbid on wages, maybe ex-EPL clubs with 'parachute' money.
And yeah Forster, probably based on the dubious criteria of now being Eng's 2nd.choice keeper, is better than Myhill and Westwood. Reckon he's good enough for the bottom half of the EPL. Know he's already also been linked with a return to Newcastle if Krul leaves, but even then there was doubt about being able to afford his potential wages.

Forde can aspire to this standard, but don't see him ever being linked with a EPL or CL club, well no-one who's serious, anyway.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well I'm sure they could outbid on wages but I'd have thought the carrot of being promoted to the Premier League was also a carrot. By contrast, Hooper and Wanywama aside, EPL teams don't seem to recruit much from Scotland.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Maybe, but part of the problem has been the SPL has not been producing many decent players in recent years, but Dundee Utd are about to change all that...

[tetsujin1979]

Celtic haven't really signed players coming into the end of their careers in recent years, their policy has been very much to sign promising young players from lower divisions, develop and then sell them on at a profit.

[geysir]

It's a big opportunity for Forde to leave Millwall on a free and negotiate a sweet contract to end out his playing days. He's earned it.


Available on a Bosman and signing the last pro contract of your career, what would you choose to do if your feet were big enough to fit in Forde's boots? Considering you have done reasonably well as a pro, maybe have had a £250k salary with Millwall, but there's a mortgage, 3 kids to raise, a missus who has ambitions to move house again and the fan belt just snapped on your nr 1 car. You can't trade in the missus for a cheaper version.

A 2 year £1.3m p/a contract with an epl club, with no guarantee of 1st team football,
or a 2 year contract with a championship club, but at a lower £600,000p/a, with an added perk of being Ireland's nr 1.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hmm, take the money...and hope for the best on the international front!

[geysir]

Hmm, take the money...and hope for the best on the international front!
And seriously reduce your chances of playing for Ireland to a mere hope.
Shame on you, I'm sure Lawro would have given up just about anything to stay in the game a little longer and be able to play for Ireland at Euro 88.
Lawro wouldn't have chosen a hope and a prayer over a first team spot.

Myself, I'd be tempted by the extra wealth but knowing that the extra would be spent before it was saved, I'd chose the team that needed me to play for the first team.

[ArdeeBhoy]

At this stage, even you've noticed we don't have the players...
:rolleyes:

[SwanVsDalton]

It's a big opportunity for Forde to leave Millwall on a free and negotiate a sweet contract to end out his playing days. He's earned it.


Available on a Bosman and signing the last pro contract of your career, what would you choose to do if your feet were big enough to fit in Forde's boots? Considering you have done reasonably well as a pro, maybe have had a £250k salary with Millwall, but there's a mortgage, 3 kids to raise, a missus who has ambitions to move house again and the fan belt just snapped on your nr 1 car. You can't trade in the missus for a cheaper version.

A 2 year £1.3m p/a contract with an epl club, with no guarantee of 1st team football,
or a 2 year contract with a championship club, but at a lower £600,000p/a, with an added perk of being Ireland's nr 1.

Don't have a link but I know a few weeks ago Forde said he and Millwall were chatting a new contract and he would be happy to stay. He sounded altogether chilled about the whole thing. Also mentioned he has no agent and will do all his own negotiating which endears him to me even more, but does suggest he'd take a decent offer with first team football.

He seems fairly settled, and I believe playing first team now he's (finally) at his peak and staying Ireland's number 1 would probably be his choice.

[tricky_colour]

He has come a long was has Forde, crossed many rivers so to speak!!

[geysir]

World class against Wigan the other day according to a Wiganeer or a Wiganite, a very dubious source. (http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-athletic/millwall-2-latics-1-1-6302514)


'But the Irish international McLean was determined not to let it get to him and produced a thunderous effort from 20 yards just before the 10-minute mark which could only be parried by David Forde' obviously Forde couldn't get down fast enough

'The goalkeeper pulled off one of two world-class saves from the resulting throw-in. Diving the other way, he did superbly to get his hand on a goal-bound Emmerson Boyce header to keep his side in the lead.'
Wigan reporter's hyperbole.

'Forde then produced another stunning save to deny a Barnett header after he had punched clear Watson’s corner.'
His catching weakness exposed again, no doubt.

[tetsujin1979]

World class against Wigan the other day according to a Wiganeer or a Wiganite, a very dubious source. (http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-athletic/millwall-2-latics-1-1-6302514)


'But the Irish international McLean was determined not to let it get to him and produced a thunderous effort from 20 yards just before the 10-minute mark which could only be parried by David Forde' obviously Forde couldn't get down fast enough

'The goalkeeper pulled off one of two world-class saves from the resulting throw-in. Diving the other way, he did superbly to get his hand on a goal-bound Emmerson Boyce header to keep his side in the lead.'
Wigan reporter's hyperbole.

'Forde then produced another stunning save to deny a Barnett header after he had punched clear Watson’s corner.'
His catching weakness exposed again, no doubt.
Didn't think it could be exposed until POS officially exposes it, before anyone else realises it's a weakness?

[Closed Account]

Interesting that he's being linked with a move to Sunderland. Would he take the gamble? Might not get a game there but could be a nice bump in his wages for final stages of his career.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/interest-from-sunderland-leaves-forde-with-ireland-dilemma-29921174.html

[Stuttgart88]

Westwood would truly hate him!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Forde taken off in the first half..

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/forde-left-in-dark-as-lions-stall-with-offer-29989413.html

Forde in the dark over new contract.

[BonnieShels]

Celtic a good move?

Champions League football beckons...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Celtic a good move?

Champions League football beckons...

Forde, Stokes, Gibson, McGeady, McCarthy and Coleman in the Champions League in one season.

Dare to dream.

[tetsujin1979]

Forster just broke the club record for consecutive clean sheets at Celtic, and is in the reckoning for the England squad at the World Cup. Forde would do well to replace him. On the other hand, he'd be on more money than Millwall could afford, and it would be hard to begrudge him that.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/qpr-eye-international-keeper-cesar-7202695

Scouted by Crystal Palace and QPR at Italy game.

He could be #1 at Palace if Speroni leaves. Then there is the Germany option.

[BonnieShels]

Palace would be a nice move. QPR is a madhouse.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.newsatden.co.uk/36685-time-running-out-for-forde-and-martin-to-sign-millwall-deals.html

So much for that then; looks like he'll stay in his comfort zone, and our paltry number of professionals playing across top tier leagues - compared to other countries - will continue.

[Charlie Darwin]

http://www.newsatden.co.uk/36685-time-running-out-for-forde-and-martin-to-sign-millwall-deals.html

So much for that then; looks like he'll stay in his comfort zone, and our paltry number of professionals playing across top tier leagues - compared to other countries - will continue.
There's no quote from Forde in there and Holloway sounds less than optimistic about him accepting. I don't know where you're drawing your conclusion from because it's certainly not the text of the article.

[SwanVsDalton]

http://www.newsatden.co.uk/36685-time-running-out-for-forde-and-martin-to-sign-millwall-deals.html

So much for that then; looks like he'll stay in his comfort zone, and our paltry number of professionals playing across top tier leagues - compared to other countries - will continue.

Harsh, since no one knows what offers he has or hasn't had. He could agitate more but what's the point of agitating to sit on the bench in the PL, for instance.

Forde can hardly be accused of cruising, he spent most of his career dragging boots around reserve matches and LOI grounds.

First-team football should rightly be his priority. After all, this ain't an improving player we're talking about, this is a guy at the tail end of his career looking to develop his international career. First team football is imperative to stay sharp.

That's all IF he stays at Millwall...

[Olé Olé]

Forde really is between a rock and a hard place. Millwall have managed to stay in the Championship, where they're most likely to consolidate rather than challenge next year. Forde could agitate for a move to a PL team or another Championship side. But Millwall are a decent bet for him.

Forde's decision is likely to be informed by a combination of contract length, remuneration and first-team guarantees or chances. The level of football is surely going to be consequential to the starting prospects. The Championship is a very good level and he's managed to become number 1 for Ireland whilst playing in the Championship.

That article states he was seeking a 4 year deal- that's a big contract for a Championship player, not to mind one that's going to be 35 in almost 6 months. Hope he gets it somewhere.

[paul_oshea]

He is dead right though, he needs financial security at his age also, and is probably looking at earning as much as he possibly can before he retires. Good luck to him.

[Olé Olé]

He is dead right though, he needs financial security at his age also, and is probably looking at earning as much as he possibly can before he retires. Good luck to him.

Money isn't everything though, I suppose. If he got an offer from one of the PL clubs he's been linked with like Sunderland or Hull then he's not guaranteed a start, but would surely be on more money than if he remained in the Championship. At that point, he'd have to find the balance between salary and first-team prospects. He'd definitely be right to lean towards salary, as you've pointed out. I'd hope that he wouldn't do so at the expense (to some degree) of his international career.

I've noticed the Celtic links have cooled since the papers stopped linking Fraser Forster with every side in the Premiership. Lennon and Keane not being manager there might have a bit to do with it too as the summer transfer window draws on. I know the SPL isn't much of a standard, but I'd love to see him play Champions League, particularly if Ireland didn't manage to qualify for Euro 2016 later down the line.

[Stuttgart88]

I think people forget that these guys are like the rest of us in many respects, with mortgages and families to pay for. He has one last contract left and he was late to the fully professional game. But yes, I'd hope that he also chooses regular game time as his priority.

[Charlie Darwin]

Celtic are close to singing Craig Gordon apparently: ​http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27725827

[DeLorean]

That's a blast from the past. Poor fella, absolutely class keeper when he was fit.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Signs up for another 3 years of the rat race with Millwall.

https://twitter.com/MillwallFC

[Olé Olé]

That contract tides him over until he's 37 and a half. Very tidy deal.

[Stuttgart88]

All those German clubs must have got cold feet.

[Charlie Darwin]

All those German clubs must have got cold feet.
Shame, would have gone perfectly with his wet hands.

[Charlie Darwin]

I can't believe we were ever worried about his kicking.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_5_nwWrOb4

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I, frankly, thought it was nonsensical to pass up a move to a German Bundesliga team in favor of staying at perennial Championship relegation fodder, but if anyone can get Millwall challenging for the Playoffs it is Ian Holloway.

Could work out well in the end.

[Charlie Darwin]

Which Bundesliga team offered him a contract?