Craig Gordon

Smell the glove (after its been up Summer)

 

Wonder if this will improve his command of the box?

 

Bet it was Big Gaffa.

 

Can only go on what Big Gaffa was saying.

 

Cracking gif.

Reminds me of Grease.

 

Not sure why.

 

IT could be a special week for Craig Gordon as he looks set to win his 50th international cap this Thursday night against Slovakia at Hampden.

That achievement would elevate him into the Scotland Hall of Fame, a fitting honour for a player who has, over the years, not only shown his quality but also his character in getting back to the top level of football.

His form for Celtic in recent weeks, both domestically and in Europe, has further served to highlight his ability, not least his world-class save against Hibernian on Saturday, denying Steven Whittaker from close-range when the game was tied at 1-1.

The 34-year-old is clearly enjoying his football for club and country, and a big part of that comes from an appreciation of what he has in his career. That wasn’t always the case.

A talented young goalkeeper, Gordon came through the ranks at Hearts, and from the age of 21 was a regular in the starting XI, winning the Scottish Cup with the Edinburgh side in 2006. International recognition followed, as did interest from clubs down south, and in 2007 Sunderland paid a then British record fee of £9million for a goalkeeper when they took him to the Stadium of Light.

While he continued to impress, with his save in December 2010 to deny Zat Knight in a 1–0 win against Bolton Wanderers later being voted the best save in the first 20 years of the English Premier League, injury blighted his time in England, and he endured an absence from the game which lasted over two years.

His return to football with Celtic, and his contribution to the club’s success over the past three years, including last season’s treble-winning Invincibles success, has been remarkable, and is testament to his desire to be the very best he can be.

“It has been a bit of a journey,” admitted Craig Gordon in an exclusive interview with this week’s Celtic View. “It’s not been plain-sailing. There have been a lot of unfortunate things which have happened. I’ve been tested along the way and so far I’ve always managed to come up with answers.

“I think that’s just inevitable when you go through a career spanning 13-plus years that there will be ups and downs. There’s always going to be times that are difficult but all you can do is be resilient and look for ways to try and bounce back.

“Sometimes it would have been easier to give in and not strive for that. I wanted to get back to the very top, though, and I was prepared to make sacrifices to get there. Even when I came back and started playing again, to reach that level in itself was tough, but to strive to play around 55 games a season for Celtic and then around six or seven games for Scotland was a very difficult point to reach.

“It’s a lot of work and there are a lot of things that have to be sacrificed to enable that to happen. It’s not always easy but that’s how it has to be to play at this level. It won’t be for much longer, but I’ll keep making those sacrifices to make sure I can play at my best for as long as I have left.”

 

Your marriage falls apart but then you end up with a light drizzle everyday in summer.

Life could be worse

 

Love the big handsome *.

 

Think he had calls for offside on both, but I don't think thats a suitable excuse.

Why did he not move for either of the goals in the Slovenia game today? Whether he saves them or not is a different question, but he doesn't even budge on them and I think they are saveable.

 

The second he's completely blameless as he doesn't even see it coming through a heap of bodies on the deck..

The first would be ridiculously harsh as well. Terrific, low ball that if anyone should be criticised, it's Darren Fletcher for losing his man..

 

While it's harsh to put to much blame at his feet, you'd think that a GK would have a natural reflex to just reach out, whilst most outfield player probably have that reflex trained out of them, with a GK I'd think it was actively encouraged and worked on.

 

He can't be blamed for either goal.

 

One player at fault for the first goal - Darren Fletcher. Gives away a stupid foul, and it was a clear foul, then loses his man at the set piece who scores the goal. Abysmal from the captain of the team as well!

He needs to retire after that. His legs are gone and the game just passed him by mostly.