Foster's Wembley wish

February 27, 2009

WEMBLEY WISH: Ben Foster

BEN Foster wants the chance on Sunday at Wembley to jog a few memories.

Sir Alex Ferguson's first choice big-game goalkeeper Edwin Van Sar has not played in United's five-match Carling Cup campaign.

Keeper duties have been shared between Foster, Tomasz Kuszczak and young Ben Amos, who played in the opening round against Middlesbrough.

Foster has had the upper hand as Van der Sar's stand-in in the last three FA and League cup ties. And with his Polish rival having played in the Premiership last Saturday against Blackburn, it is the 25-year-old Englishman who is the favourite to be Fergie's selection to face Tottenham in the final.

And Foster's probable showpiece opportunity can be the ideal stage to put behind him his injury nightmare that has dogged his Old Trafford career since signing from Stoke City for £1m in 2005.

His impressive two season stint on loan at Watford from the Reds saw him rise to the England squad.

But a year-long absence after a cruciate knee ligament injury and a succession of niggling problems have conspired to force him out of the limelight.

"Sunday could be a bit of a stage for me to remind people of what I am about," said Foster.

"When I finished my loan spells at Watford and returned to United, I had a little bit of a reputation as a decent up and coming goalkeeper.

"But in the last couple of years, due to circumstances, I have faded away almost.

Roller-coaster

"The final is a good chance to get my name back out there and remind people I am still around and still a good goalkeeper."

Foster has had an amazing roller-coaster career route.

The one-time chef was in non-League with Racing Club Warwick and after one season moved to Stoke.

The Potters, however, shipped him out on loan five times to Bristol City, Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and then Wrexham where Sir Alex Ferguson spotted him n 2005 .

After bringing Foster to Old Trafford, Fergie then kept up his reputation as the `loan ranger' by sending him to Watford for two seasons. A promotion and a Premier League campaign at Vicarage Road further enhanced his reputation.

However, his colourful CV was equally matched by a debilitating injury list.

"It has been an absolute nightmare from the moment I came back to United from Watford. It just seemed to be injury after injury," Foster added.

"My two years at Watford were fantastic. I was playing day in, day out and making a name for myself. And I came back here with high hopes of pushing my way into the team.

"But then the injury comes along and it is one of those things. When I suffered my cruciate injury, I knew I was going to be out for a year so that was acceptable in some way.

"But when you get fit and then go over on your ankle and are out for six weeks and are back for a month and you break your thumb, it just seemed to be one thing after another.

"I don't want to be tarnished with the tag of being an injury-prone player. Nobody wants to be tarred with that. It has just been bad luck.

"I broke my thumb, for instance, last December in training and it was the last catch of the training session.

"It was the day before we went to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup so I missed out on that trip.

"The way my career has gone so far has been a bit dramatic and up and down from starting in non-League after being a chef then I went to Stoke, went out on loan to all these obscure teams, and battled my way through to sign for the biggest club in the world.

"It is all complete ups and downs. Sunday, though, could be a massive up for me if chosen. It would be an unbelievable bonus.

"If I do play, it will be absolutely fantastic. It would be a special day for me if I could play in it and win it."

Do you think Foster should play? Have your say.

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zunaid ally (27/02/2009 at 08:17)

Ben Foster is an outstanding keeper who is streets ahead of Kitkat.He is commanding and fills the back four with confidence,unlike the Polish misfit.PLEASE FERGIE,PLAY HIM ON SUNDAY!

Gilly, Belgium (27/02/2009 at 09:12)

Ben Forster is way better than kitkat he is too shaky ! a pity but there it is

Bradley (27/02/2009 at 09:16)

Really hope Foster starts. He's is a very good keeper, not sure why so many United fans don't rate him. Big, assured, excellent on crosses and great distribution, reminds me of Big Pete, same raw talents.

Tim1980 (27/02/2009 at 09:18)

Does he want to jog a few memories about how badly he deals with set pieces or how poor his kicking is?

Red-Brit-in-It (27/02/2009 at 09:21)

Of course he'll play and he'll be steadily taking over from VdS next season.

Redraw, Belfast (27/02/2009 at 09:29)

Lads anyone know were the United fans drink in Newcastle before the game next Wednesday, heading over from Belfast........??????????

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (27/02/2009 at 09:42)

Tim 1980, .....i guess you must still be stuck in the 80's instead of getting along to utd games!

The modern goalie, & it's a major reason why Tommy Kantkick will NEVER be our No.1, has to be able to not only kick well BUT play nearly as an 11th outfield player. He has to be comfortable receiving the ball & WANT it. VdS is fantastic in the department, Foster is also very good, KK is appalling. Foster's only problem, is that being left-footed the players sometime forget & give it him on his right foot (ala VdS).

If KK is in goal on sunday you may just see one empty seat in the united end, cos i can't bear the thought/nervousness that exudes when our polish 'shot-stopper' is between the sticks.

Tim1980 (27/02/2009 at 10:08)

Balder - don't get me wrong, I'm not in the Kuszczack camp, I think they are both terrible at those aspects of their games. But I do think Foster is worse at kicking, especially under pressure. His distribution when not under pressure is good, but he should be able to deal with a ball however it comes to him from his defenders, who usually only pass back when under pressure anyway. They shouldn't have to worry about him being totally useless with his right foot.

He is almost 26 and should have resolved that aspect of his game by now.

I'd love to see an English goalkeeper making that number 1 jersey his own, but I don't see it being Foster, not least because he's only slightly less injury prone than Gary Walsh was!

I just hope we don't end up replaying the Howard/Carroll saga for a couple of seasons before realizing that neither of them are good enough, when it was fairly obvious to begin with.

Roy (27/02/2009 at 10:14)

When KK plays, United's defenders take it upon themselves to run to the corners and boot upfield. It is only a matter of time before it leads to a goal. Foster is a cooler head and they pass back to him as they do VdS. Indeed Foster kicks further and throws out faster than the great Dutchman.

How long has KK been at OT? Two years? He doesnt look like he has advanced though clearly his match minutes have been limited.

I saw Duncan Edwards play, Walton Le Dale (27/02/2009 at 10:17)

Balders, I had started writing a little piece about Ben Foster, then realised it was of a very similar vein to your first two paragraphs. Rather than almost repeating the same remarks, I will simply endorse your comments, alas there is a 'but' ----

I disagree with your final paragraph. If, for any reason, we see Kitkat between the sticks on Sunday, wearing a UNITED shirt, I will do what I have always done. I will cheer, encourage, and support him and his Team mates with all my heart!!!

(Hopefully, though, Foster WILL be chosen)

Balders!, W3106, Tier2 (27/02/2009 at 10:33)

duncan Edwards play - don't always take literally everything i say, as alias will acknowledge, my tongue can be in my cheek at times. There's no way i won't be there on sunday, not after spending £38 on my ticket & £67 (ffs!) on a return train ticket!! I'll also support KKick if he plays, thats if i remember to breathe out!! lol.

Tim 1980 - we are all entitled to our opinion & often they differ. Yours appears to, on this matter, compared to everyone else but hey ho. See thread from ROY - if you ask/discuss with most match going reds they'd reiterate his comments.

Foster's right foot is still decent, just not as good as VdS (he's quality with both feet), but then VdS is up there with the best footballing goalies you're ever likely to see.....apart from Dean Windass !!!lol.

You get a feeling in the ground....the defence are comfortable with Foster....nervous with Kantkick & it effects the way they defend/play.....watch rio for evidence.

george evans (27/02/2009 at 10:41)

I saw a remark about VDS v Inter.Someone gave him a low mark because,"He had nothing to do." I thought VDS played very well because his communication with his back four in front of 81,000 in an Italian stadium was brilliant.The keeper helps the defence he's confident,they trust him clean sheet time after time.Foster should play.He's more confident than Kusczak.In rehearsals I'm sure Kuszczak makes unbelievable saves but on the big stage he doesn't believe in himself.

TMUF, Manchester (27/02/2009 at 10:46)

I think its fairly obvious Foster will start.

To make things fair, SAF played KitKat against Blackburn, where he helped end our clean sheet record.

And seeing as Foster and KitKat have been rotated pretty fairly, its Foster who will get the nod.

Redraw, Belfast (27/02/2009 at 10:53)

I have enough watching Tevez run about like a headless chicken scoring very little goals. Yes you done well last season and thanks for that you scored alot of important goals and helped win us the league but you lack the real quality needed to play for Manchester United.

Redraw, Belfast (27/02/2009 at 11:42)

Starting Line up

Foster

Defence Rafael Vidic Rio (cause Evans maybe Injuried) John

Midfield: Nani Scholes Anderson (to break his duck) Gibson

forward Tevez Welbeck

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (27/02/2009 at 12:09)

Foster and KK aren't good enough. Van der Sar must play. We are going to throw this cup final away if we intentionally weaken our team with a poor keeper, Nani, Wellbecck and Gibson. Spurs won't be playing a weakened team.

george evans (27/02/2009 at 13:03)

Khaled,I understand your concern but if Foster plays and does well he'll have gained experience and we'll have learned something.We want to win this for sure but it is still a good time to blood a few youngsters in a final.Spurs will be up for it and it'll be a test for some, but UNITED should still have the fire power to win.As long as the team isn't too weak we could be smiling and having dreams of the quintuple!!!!!

Solskjaer20Legend, Epsomville (27/02/2009 at 13:03)

I think he'll play Foster as VDS hasn't played in the CC to my knowledge this season, he cant possibly give Kit Kat the nod as he doesn't exactly breed confidence amongst his defence.

Fosters a good enough number 2 easily and hopefully he'll save us some time and money when the time comes for the evergreen VDS to hang up his gloves but only games such as these will tell us whether that'll prove to be true? Lets hope so and get behind the Lads this sunday whoever plays!!

george evans (27/02/2009 at 14:15)

Absolutely Solksjaer!

Michio, County Louth (28/02/2009 at 12:43)

Never really been convinced by Foster despite all the glowing recommendations he gets on these pages. Still, time will tell, and if he's going to get a chance then this seems an ideal opportunity for him to prove his worth. So long as Harry is the one complaining at the end of the day I'll be happy.

Tim1980 (02/03/2009 at 15:32)

If he consistantly played half as good as he did yesterday, you could say I'd well and truely been proven wrong!

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