Confirmed Transfer Mark Schwarzer

[Nottingham Fox]

http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/leicester-city-sign-mark-schwarzer-2186274.aspx

Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on a contract to June 2016.
Mark, 42, joins the Foxes on a free transfer from Chelsea and brings a wealth of top-flight experience to the Foxes squad.

The Australian international stopper has made over 500 Barclays Premier League appearances for Middlesbrough, Fulham and the Blues over 18 years and is part of an elite goalkeepers’ club, alongside Petr Cech and David James, to have kept 150 Premier League clean sheets.

He has been capped over 100 times by the Socceroos. Schwarzer was recruited from Bradford City in 1997 by Middlesbrough, where he played alongside Leicester manager Nigel Pearson for the first two of his 11 seasons at the Riverside Stadium.

He featured in the initial 1-1 draw of his side’s 1997 League Cup Final against Leicester, but missed the replay due to injury as the Foxes triumphed at Hillsborough. Mark would go on to lift the trophy in 2004, though, as Boro overcame Bolton Wanderers in Cardiff.

Schwarzer joined Fulham in the summer of 2008, helping the west London club strengthen their position in the top flight and qualify for Europe during the 2008/09 campaign.

Operating regularly alongside City full back Paul Konchesky, he helped Fulham reach the 2010 Europa League Final – his second European showpiece, having helped Middlesbrough reach the UEFA Cup Final in 2006.

After five years at Craven Cottage, Mark left Fulham in the summer of 2013, making the short trip across west London to join Chelsea.

He deputised ably for the injured Petr Cech during the finale to the 2013/14 season and played in both legs of the Blues’ Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

His shutout in a 2-0 win at Liverpool was the one that took him into the 150-club. Mark won his first cap for Australia in 1994 and would go on to become a leading performer for the Socceroos for the next 19 years before his international retirement in 2013.

He represented his country with distinction at the FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany 2006 – having saved two penalties in the decisive qualification shootout against Uruguay – and again in South Africa in 2010.

Schwarzer joins Kasper Schmeichel, Ben Hamer and Adam Smith among the goalkeepers in City’s professional ranks and will be available for selection for the first time next Saturday (10 January) when the Foxes host Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League.

 

[londonfox]

Well, who saw that coming?

 

[Orifice]

Are there any more Chelsea players we can get for a few months?

I'm sure they don't need that John Terry bloke or that Seth Fiberglass chap.

 

[NYC Fox]

...are we playing him at left back?

 

[dpjfox]

Irate him but hope he doesnt jump straight in the team at Bens expense

 

[Blaarev]

Irate him but hope he doesnt jump straight in the team at Bens expense

Why so angry?

 

[tedfoxxx]

Welcome Mark.

Tiatto, Kalac, Kisnorbo, Henderson. You join a fine list of antipodean foxes.

 

[jas123]

straight in the team!

 

[M17TT C]

Welcome Mark.

Tiatto, Kalac, Kisnorbo, Henderson. You join a fine list of antipodean foxes.

Hopefully he'll be more like Steve Corica!

 

[tedfoxxx]

Hopefully he'll be more like Steve Corica!

Nice.

Wesolowski. I forgot Wesolowski.

 

[tedfoxxx]

straight in the team!

Yeah I hate how Hamer has been playing really well recently!

 

[jas123]

spurs goal cost us, ben out

 

[Nottingham Fox]

spurs goal cost us, ben out

Yeah because the wall in front of him did a great job.

Wall out!

 

[tedfoxxx]

spurs goal cost us, ben out

While I agree Schwarzer is a good signing, would you not be worried about him being thrown straight in after playing just 4 games in 18 months?

 

[Nottingham Fox]

Also, I make it we have taken 7 points in the 6 league games Hamer has played, the same amount of points with Kasper between the sticks in more than double the amount of games. Hamer has more clean sheets to his name. Hamer has to retain his place IMO.

 

[tedfoxxx]

Also, I make it we have taken 7 points in the 6 league games Hamer has played, the same amount of points with Kasper between the sticks in more than double the amount of games. Hamer has more clean sheets to his name. Hamer has to retain his place IMO.

And his performances have improved with each game. Looks confident too.

And he has a bloody big beard. Even Lev Yashin and Dino Zoff didn't have bloody big beards.

 

[fitz]

The beard is key. You can't command respect without a beard.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Put him on the bench.
If we are losing with 10 minutes to go, stick him up front and play hoofball to him.
He is 6 inches taller than Vardy or Nugent and probably 3 stone heavier.
No-one is going to muscle him off the ball!

 

[Mawsley]

The beard is key. You can't command respect without a beard.

Kramaric's lack of proper growth is the one thing making me think he'll be a flop.

 

[Cate Fox]

While I agree Schwarzer is a good signing, would you not be worried about him being thrown straight in after playing just 4 games in 18 months?

It's Jas ffs, why are you bothering? ?