Ben: VDS stopper of the year

Stuart Brennan

April 18, 2007

FOSTER: In action for England

BEN Foster knows he has his work cut out next season, as he tries to oust the man he regards as the Premiership's best goalkeeper from Manchester United's line-up.

Foster will return to Old Trafford this summer after two seasons on loan at Watford which projected him into the England set-up and has kept him at the forefront of Sir Alex Ferguson's medium-term planning.

But the 24-year-old underlined the size of the task facing him by voting for Edwin van der Sar as the stopper in his PFA team of the year.

Foster has been a star for bottom club Watford in their desperate battle against relegation, but he knows it will be a different kind of struggle once he starts trying to pin down a place at United.

But he says he would not be content with being back-up to the first team at United and admits his England chances could suffer if he does not edge ahead of Dutchman Van der Sar.

"Obviously it would be massively frustrating as the last two years I have been first choice week-in week-out," he said. "But I don't think there are any more loans.

Horrible

"If I don't play it will be a case of grinding another season out, sitting on the bench and hoping to kick-on the season after.

"All of my career I have been second, third, fourth choice and I hate it. It's horrible. It's not what I am in football to be - a benchwarmer. I want to be out there playing to big crowds.

"You can't expect to get picked for England if you are not playing week in, week out."

Foster signed for United for £1m in 2005 but has spent most of the time since at Vicarage Road. His only appearance at Old Trafford was in his England debut against Spain in February.

Ferguson will inevitably be faced with the conundrum of having England's finest young goalkeeper in his squad, as well as a proven veteran who remains a vital component of his successful squad.

Foster reveals that van der Sar was not the only Red for whom he voted in the PFA team of the year.

He cast his vote for Footballer of the Year for Cristiano Ronaldo, saying: "He is untouchable, he's unplayable."

What do you think? Have you say.

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A Mancunian, Manchester (18/04/2007 at 09:43)

I hope I'm plainly misinterpreting the lad, but he seems to be having a whinge before he's got here. I think his attitude stinks, I really do.

Stop moaning about England, you have plenty of years in you to get opportunities at senior level. Enough with this defeatist attitude and make a name for yourself at United. What's more important, playing alongside Lumpard and Crouch with McClaren steering you on the HMS Titanic OR gunning for honours at United where he will ply his trade alongside Carrick, Rooney, Ronaldo, etc?

Furthermore, I feel he's being shortsighted and ungrateful after being plucked from obscurity by Sir Alex. Sort it out Foster. Concentrate on your United career.

george (18/04/2007 at 09:50)

Ronaldo best player.Cech best keeper.Van der Sar doesn't panick if the opposition score.Roy Carroll and Tim Howards' confidence visibly evaporated when they conceded a goal.Van der Sar has steadied the ship.Kuszcak is a good keeper too.Ben Foster might be number 3 at OT.We do seem to have finally solved the goalkeeping crisis.Even JOS did well!

chris, oxford (18/04/2007 at 09:52)

I think you are wrong A Mancunian - Foster wants to be number one and not backup which is the right attitude IMO because it will bring more competition to the GK position and keep everybody on their toes. The lad is obviously ambitious which is also pleasing because it shows he wants to do well with us.

Frank Old Trafford (18/04/2007 at 09:54)

Doesn't seem to be a very good judge of goalkeepers, or he's just a creep! Must be our No 1 next season!

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (18/04/2007 at 09:57)

I disagree Mancunian. I think Kitkat is second rate and happy to sit on the bench. With Foster I am glad he wants to play he is a class act and that sort of single mindedness is very important for a keeper. Can you imagine Peter Scmiechel sat on the bench for anyone ?? Also I think Foster is better than VDS now and will overtake him next season.

bobbydazzler (18/04/2007 at 10:12)

lee I agree on both points foster will be our goalie next season and kit kat 3rd choice which is all he is

Macca, Cornwall (18/04/2007 at 10:41)

i dont think his attitude stinks at all, he says that if he has to grind a season out on the bench then he will and also says that he will learn from VDS when he is here. i would like him to be number 1 next season, but i think Edwin will keep the shirt, although i do feel foster will play more than kitkat has. he has done more than enough to prove himself though this season and will hopefully get a chance pre season. i dont really care who is No 1 as long as they are doing the job.

george (18/04/2007 at 11:52)

Macca Cornwall; VDS and Kuszcak have performed competently for UNITED this season.Ben Foster has his admirers and rightly so for his good form at Watford.I agree.As long as whoever is between the sticks is doing a good job no complaints.Foster has been in the limelight and some seems to think he's far better than Kuszcak.
If the roles were reversed and Foster was UNITED's bench warmer and Kuszcak on loan at Watford;I think people would be raving about Kuszcak.I don't think there's much difference between the keepers except Foster and Van der Sar are playing regularly and Kuszcak isn't.If UNITED WERE 20 points clear Kuszcak would play more.SAF for the moment is rightly sticking with a calm experienced keeper.I personally think whether it's Kuszcak or Foster who takes the No1 jersey,either will do a good job.

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 11:56)

Foster will get his chance. Whoever starts between the sticks next season will probably get dropped at some point.

Fergie's never been a manager to stick by keepers when they have a dip in form. I think this is one of his very few flaws as a manager.

VdS is the best keeper in our squad and has bailed us out time and time again this season. He's had a dip in form over recent weeks but so has Wayne Rooney and SAF has allowed him to play his way back into form. But instead, after 3 or 4 dodgy games, VdS gets dropped like a hot potato.

So, we're stuck with the least competent keeper in nets and our number one struggling for confidence.

And I don't buy the argument that a goal-keeping error is more costly. Missing a good goal-scoring opportunity is EXACTLY as costly as letting in a soft goal but, outside the keeper's union, people never seem to accept this simple fact!

I think Fergie has been spoilt by Schmeics and thinks that all keeepers are capable of such unbelievable consistency.

Of course, I could be talking total nonsense and VdS is carrying an injury, or asked for a break. In which case I retract all of the above!

chris, oxford (18/04/2007 at 12:02)

Sorry George but nobody raved about Kitkat when he was at West Brom, in fact many of us cast doubts over his ability and while he has been competent he does flap a lot and Foster IMO looks the far better prospect.

saha rocks, work (18/04/2007 at 12:19)

VDS will start as No.1 next season but I've got a sneaking suspicion that Foster will be handed a chance at some stage and will then keep his place and VDS will back-up. After all it would be his last season with us so he won't complain. Furthermore, I'd love it if Kuszczak stays also next season so that we'll have three excellent keepers in the first-team squad. Chelsea were vindicated in bringing in Hilario last summer when Cech and Cudicini were injured at the same time.

Demo, Glossop (18/04/2007 at 12:31)

wouldnt have guessed you were a keeper mick! :)

i think foster has done well and is better than kitkat. definately believe he will get a good number of games next season and has the ability to make it as no.1.

as far as the comment on his stinking attitude goes i couldnt disagree more! whilst its good to have squad players who dont rock the boat it is vital that all players WANT to be first team, the difference is how they deal with it if they arent! i dont see a problem in his comments

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 12:32)

"nobody raved about Kitkat when he was at West Brom"

Yuo're kidding! He was awarded the "save of the season" after forcing his way into their team half-way through his debut season.

He has been one of the more highly-rated young keepers in the country for a while now and, for his age, is a very experienced international.

George is spot on. It's easy for keepers to shine, playing for a mid-table or relegation-threatened side. Loads of action and noone notices the odd slip-up. Warming the bench as reserve keeper for a title-chasing side is as tough as it gets.

You're under the microscope as it is, playing for a team that's expected to keep a clean sheet more often than not and that's intensified when you only play a few games here and there.

I think Foster has bags of potential and I actually like his attitude and his honesty in this interview. He wants to be the best he can be. But it's too early to say he should replace either of the keepers currently in our squad.

chris, oxford (18/04/2007 at 12:38)

We will have to disagree on this one Mick! I don't remember many people saying "what a great keeper" but I do remember a lot of people saying "What?" when we signed him, back then people expressed doubts over his suitability and they still remain IMO. Kitkat is not a great keeper, his compatriot at Celtic is a far better player.

Alias Smith, over the moon (18/04/2007 at 12:47)

Food for thought there george. Must admit that hadn't occurred to me and you may have a point.

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (18/04/2007 at 12:57)

Kitkat cant kick and doesnt command his area. Major problems for a keeper in todays game.

A Mancunian, Manchester (18/04/2007 at 13:17)

I agree entirely that Foster has what it takes to be no.1 at United.

My only concern is that whenever I read his quotes in the press, in my opinion, he seems to be overly obsessed with playing for England. It's great that someone so young is ambitious. However, I get the impression that he might not like the prospect of fighting for his place because it might jeopardise his England chances - as if he feels he should be no.1 automatically (a touch of Paul Ince's 'Guvnor' mentality). If that is what he really thinks, and I really hope I am mistaken, that attitude is wrong. As far as I'm concerned, if you don't relish fighting for your place, you're at the wrong club.

Playing for United is an absolute privilege. I'd like to hear him talk less about England and say much more about how he wants to put his international career on the backburner while he concentrates on landing and retaining the no.1 jersey at United.

Wis Brit, Wisconsin (18/04/2007 at 16:49)

I think Foster is ready for the bigger stage at OT and a season as understudy to VDS will assist with his development, 3rd choice may not be the best option for Kuszczak's career, Hey Aidy want him on a seasons loan....You may need a replacement soon???

Red Eyes, Manchester (18/04/2007 at 19:56)

All the 'raving' about Foster should wait until he has played several games at top level, being idle for 89 minutes and then needing to make the one important save or catch. That is the mark of a top keeper. Over the years the media have raved over keepers at clubs who are making great saves but still let in goals as their teams are not top notch and results are not so important. We remeber the saves but ignore the goals conceded. It is much easier to "shine" in such a situation. I am not having a pop at City but they have had so many marvellous keepers cos they had so much work to do!! The really good keepers are those who organise the defence properly and have little to do. But when needed, they come up with the goods. I have high hopes about Foster, but will wait until he has kept some clean sheets before passing a judgement.

george (19/04/2007 at 00:25)

Wrexham;Stoke;Watford...England...Foster has made progress and I don't dispute he's got talent.But if people are going to start saying Kusczak is not a good goalkeeper.The politest thing I can say is look again.
The people criticising Kuszcak are probably as wrong as those criticising Carrick earlier.Robinson of Spurs scored recently against Ben.Sometimes a keeper makes an error.Kusczak has missed a cross or two but no more than VDS or Foster.
If the situation arises where Kuszcak plays in the Champions League final;he won't let us down.
At West Brom and to a lesser extent at UNITED, Kuszcak has made some fantastic saves.
We're entering a crucial phase of the season and the players deserve far more credit than they sometimes get.
People slagged Phil Neville and now he's gone he looks to be one of Everton's best players.So really when people are criticising Jos or Fletcher be real.They have weaknesses but they're a long way off being bad players.Kuszcak is a top quality keeper and personally I've every confidence in him..

Duncan, London (19/04/2007 at 09:46)

Am sorry but I know Ben Foster has had some good performances but for flips sake he let Paul Robinson bounce one in over his head. If that is not the most calamitous of clangers I have no idea what is - he would have been crucified if that happened playing for us. Kuczak is fine - an outstanding shotstopper and superbly athletic. I remember him confounding us brilliantly 2 seasons ago. No idea what you're on about Chris regarding his status at West Brom - everyone I know thought he was outstanding. The other aspect of a keeper's job is as a 5th defender and here is where VDS comes out on top because his experience allows him to communicate better hence the defence operate better as a unit, something Barthez never managed as well as outstanding distribution. But this will come the more Kuczak or Foster have the chance to play. I like the way Foster looks - he looks like a very commanding keeper, big, strong and athletic, but then so does David James. By the way Tim Howard is doing excellent with Everton for those criticising our ex-keepers - check their goals against.

chris, oxford (19/04/2007 at 10:17)

Don't you think that Howard and Neville have found their level at Everton? Expectation and pressure is going to be a lot lower at Goodison so they are able to perform without fear, they don't play in so many high profile games so it's a completely different environment them - of course the same could be said about Foster because he has only played one massive game (for England) but he did well so we shall see.

Mick, Dublin (19/04/2007 at 11:14)

Hate to say it, Duncan, but Kuzczczak (that's wrong isn't it? I'm gonna have to stick with KitKat) let in an identical goal to Foster's howler against Spurs when he was playing for Poland. But, to be fair, they are once-in-a-lifetime mistakes.

Chris is spot on about the difference between playing for Everton and United. Some players thrive on the pressure and expectation of playing for a Premiership title contender, some just can't hack it.

This is particularly challenging for keepers, where mistakes are scrutinised like no other position, and it may take several games before you see anough action to redeem yourself.

It's far too early to tell whether Foster is up to this sort of pressure. Although he did do well for England so the signs are encouraging.

Duncan, London (19/04/2007 at 14:21)

Heh I wasn't aware of that Mick but importantly it didn't happen in the premiership. I guess what I am trying to say is that you only need to make a couple of howlers and the fans are on your back non stop. And at a club like United where every single point is crucial the pressure can be unbearable and that paid for both Carroll and Howard. I would say it is too soon for Foster but you never know - that arrogant streak in Foster is a promising sign that he will be a big success.

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