James Forrest

Best player on the park today without a doubt.

 

Great seeing Bobby there. * bless him..

 

Could see him stay another two seasons at least, clearly happy being rotation and he still has a lot to offer.

Needs to start next week, I think the team that started was originally going to be who starts in the cup final, but with the performance he put on (and Kuhn being really poor) it's a no brainer.

 

Feel quite emotional to have witnessed his career from that first game to now. Never would have thought shooders would become our most decorated player.
He’s the epitome of resilience, hard work and determination and I hope all young kids look at him and see the path to success if you are committed to developing your craft. The boy is a club legend. The fans didn’t make him one, he did that all on his own.
Couldn’t be more pleased for him.

 

What an absolute credit to himself. As humble as they come, no fuss, no bullshit, just gets on with it and gets results. Absolutely delighted for him today

 

His face when he walked away from the interview, finally, * finally 16 years in 60k odd fans singing his name out in song around the stadium, Jinky * Johnstones one at that. Having scored that goal to nail the 16 seasons in a row, one of biggest outpourings of celebrations you’ll ever see at Parkhead just for him.

And you seen it all in his face man. Gave me goosebumps. The relationship out fans have always had with Forrest has always made me uneasy, but that today, that was special, that was a * real connection and lifting the title was almost secondary to celebrating James Forrest. That was an absolute script for him today, long overdue for him that and he deserves it.

he’s an incredible example and a credit to us as a club and himself. Love him man

 

Probably already been said, but for me what makes the 16 consecutive seasons all the more impressive for him... is how he practically became a ghost under Ange.

I would be tempted to be in his ear, assuming of course Celtic would even be willing to doll out contracts but I'd try and keep him until he's around 37/38. Challenging him to remain useful to squad and set a target of getting to 20 consecutive seasons for goals

 

Written in the stars that goal was.

Felt like it counted for 2. He's an absolute hero of a man

 

Celtic defender Alistair Johnston has predicted that James Forrest will continue to set the standard for emerging talents at Lennoxtown after his historic goal spared the champions’ blushes on trophy day.

Having climbed off the bench, the 33-year-old scored in the 94th minute against St Mirren to ensure he maintained the record of netting in each of his 16 seasons as a professional

Now the club’s most decorated player with 26 honours, he’s played his way into contention to start the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen after a cameo role which will go down in Celtic folklore.

Team-mate Johnston feels Forrest — who still has another year to run on his contract — remains a shining example to all young players of the dedication that’s required to carve out a successful career at the club.

‘James is not here as a token player just because of the status he has,’ said the Canadian. ‘He still provides something to this team and gives us such a different profile on the wing.

‘We have a lot of young players in that position who are direct but maybe lack consistency, which is what happens at that age at a big club


But James shows them how to last at a place like Celtic.

‘It’s about consistency and he takes the ball, protects it and makes the right decisions every time. That’s why the gaffer trusts him to come in on big occasions when things are maybe not going our way.

‘You think back towards the end of last season when that was the case. James was probably the first name on the team sheet at that point

He still has a lot to offer and hopefully he will go for 17 in a row next season.’



Forrest, who opened his professional account as a youngster against Motherwell in May 2010, had last scored at Kilmarnock in the same month a year ago.

Having waited until 60 seconds from the end of his 32nd appearance of this season to keep up the remarkable sequence, his goal was met by thunderous acclaim from home supporters.

‘It’s a fairytale for James,’ added Johnston. ‘Grown men were nearly in tears and that sums up how much James means to this club.

‘I am really happy for him. It’s a bummer that we only drew but to keep that streak going for 16 seasons is unbelievable.

It shows how much he has taken care of himself for over a decade.

‘James is a shy guy, but we got him out there and got him talking and lifting the trophy.’

Johnston provided the assist which allowed Forrest to net his first goal of the campaign.

Adamant that he didn’t decide against shooting purely because it would deprive Forrest of the chance, he added: ‘It could have been anyone standing there, I would still have passed the ball. I knew it was James and, yeah, we have been on him all week — you have to get one.


We were telling him to be selfish and, even when he came on, I was telling him to hit shots.

‘He took a couple on and you could tell he was feeling it.

‘You could see in midweek against Aberdeen that he’s had that little bit about him. He had his full-back on toast there.

‘When Luke (McCowan) made the right decision and played the ball to me, it was always going to be a pass.

I wanted to give him something to walk onto, but he still had a lot of work to do.

‘He hit a sweet little two iron with some fade on it


He kept it low and out of the wind and it was amazing to see the net ripple.

‘James kissing the badge and running into the corner was genius. It’s a moment nobody will forget anytime soon


‘I have never seen an equaliser celebrated like that in my life. It’s amazing for him and the club. He just continues to make history and break records.’

Having turned on the style last midweek at Pittodrie, Celtic were not at their best and were poised to fall to their fifth league defeat of the season until Forrest stepped up.

 

Looks as quick over 5-10 yards as he ever has. Deserves to start the cup final, been dynamite last few appearances.

 

What price was he to score ‘anytime’, anyone know?

 

He's still rapid. So clever on the ball as well. HAS to start for me in the cup final.