Thoughts on Ian Foster

[Justin]

Not enough time to find the local butcher shop, as he said

But really don’t think he was the right fit, not a great start when the players already hate you and you tell them they’ve been playing the wrong way their whole careers.

Getting slightly off topic though…

Arguably, not as off-topic as it might appear though.

Simon H exercises patience in his decision making, which personally I love about him.

Similarly, when Cloughie went to Forest he was far from an overnight sensation.

He was unpopular there for a while too, and results were average at best.

It all came good though, eventually, right?

As we both know there are many examples of similar tales. Fergie at Man U, of course.

Whoever it is that moves Argyle forward, it‘ll surely require a tough personality making plenty of unpopular decisions, at risk being of made the fall guy along the way.

I want a guy that stands up for himself, for the players, and for the club and has the strength of personality to stick to his principles. I don‘t see anything in Foster to suggest he isn’t that guy.

 

[Balham Green]

BG there is no one more boring than yourself, but as for making it up, I dont believe I am and if the vast majority on here were in favour of him being the boss then the vote would reflect that.
The simple fact is, this vote has been available for a long time now and there has been a constant stream of messages on this and at the top of the page is the vote which people can change depending on the underwear they have on each day, but very few have changed their minds.
So unless there is a major upturn in results which there wont be then you are stuck with the realism that I am right and you are wrong

Bit school playground that. 'I am right and you are wrong'.
Whatever happens you WONT be right.
1. It isn't right to sack a manager after less than 3 months;
2. Even if we had sacked IF the results would be very unlikely to change unless we could get Gardiola in;
3. There was no obvious candidate anyway.
So we may well go down due to poor recruitment and changing a manager with little more than a month of the season left achieves nothing apart from finfing a scapegoat.
Whether he is the answer longer term remains to be seen.Reducing to your level you are not right and how about at the very least stick to the facts and not talk nonsense about the 'vast majority'.

 

[Frank the Phone]

As you've probably seen by now, Whittaker was on press conference duty. He handled some probing questions re Foster pretty well I think.

Certainly, the media has been asking some quite direct questions in last few weeks. Can't say it is something that has always been the case, but, then the results were generally better and when Lowe had a very poor run he benefitted by having no fans reaction at the final whistle due to COVID.

No I had not - thanks for the heads up, will give it a watch.

 

[Balham Green]

What about that makes you struggle to back him? On another day Morgan's hit against Preston goes in and we get a pen for Hardie being taken out. We win the game. At Blackburn we should have scored four times and would have done if Hardie and Mumba hadn't missed golden chances. Two more points dropped there.

He's right isn't he?

And Miller's stonewall Red card?

 

[lyndhurst]

I have watched every second of every press conference over that last 2 seasons but I couldn't get through today's. Foster is so uninspiring, so dull, so boring. How can that man inspire players, send them out with a clear message, a one line mission. I don't believe that he has it in him. Not his fault but he hasn't got what it takes, in my opinion.

 

[The Doctor]

if i was going to get a rookie in i would have gone for the bloke from brighton who was rumoured to be on the short list because of the way brighton play throught all their teams.

Was he actually on the short list though? Did he even apply or show any interest in the Argyle job?

 

[Balham Green]

Confused and dejected. From WBA on we have been woeful at home, where we traditionally pick up our wins.

You still haven't told us who these exciting players are that will turn us into a scintillating attacking force. I mean it is kind of relevant.

 

[The Doctor]

We have very good links with continental Europe- such a shame we have never properly embraced it after frio, larrieu, buszacky, timar and halmosi

Which links are those then? Do you mean the 6.5 hours ferry to Roscoff and/or the 24 hours ferry to Santander or the one hour drive to Exeter or Newquay airport for flights to a limited set of destinations or the 4+ hour journey to Heathrow? I’m struggling to think of another English football league club that has worse links to continental Europe than Argyle.
(I’m assuming that you were referring to transport links and not some other kind!)

 

[memory man]

Was he actually on the short list though? Did he even apply or show any interest in the Argyle job?

It seems, like you, that I missed Steve's post at the time of his appointment saying that Foster would be no good and the Brighton fellah was a better bet.

 

[Railway sleeper]

Which links are those then? Do you mean the 6.5 hours ferry to Roscoff and/or the 24 hours ferry to Santander or the one hour drive to Exeter or Newquay airport for flights to a limited set of destinations or the 4+ hour journey to Heathrow? I’m struggling to think of another English football league club that has worse links to continental Europe than Argyle.
(I’m assuming that you were referring to transport links and not some other kind!)

See previous answer to same question doc

 

[keithobro]

What did we actually achieve this season under Schumacher? Attractive football maybe but hopeless away from home.

But pretty useful at home, whatever the opposition.

 

[demportdave]

Arguably, not as off-topic as it might appear though.

Simon H exercises patience in his decision making, which personally I love about him.

Similarly, when Cloughie went to Forest he was far from an overnight sensation.

He was unpopular there for a while too, and results were average at best.

It all came good though, eventually, right?

As we both know there are many examples of similar tales. Fergie at Man U, of course.

So if we are patient, perhaps Foster will lead Argyle to Premier League success followed by becoming back to back European Champions.

Personally, I would be very happy if we could just become a solid mid-table Championship club, with the occasional tilt at the Play-offs and decent run in the Cup.

 

[Deacster]

Not enough time to find the local butcher shop, as he said

But really don’t think he was the right fit, not a great start when the players already hate you and you tell them they’ve been playing the wrong way their whole careers.

Getting slightly off topic though…

Think it is on topic, as the right fit is crucial for any appointment. The wrong fit doesn't mean someone isn't capable or a good person, just the wrong person in a role that doesn't suit them.
I suspect Foster is a throughly good coach and has the credentials for a good first team coach or assistant manager. He just doesn't look the right fit to be a head coach / manager as it stands.

 

[Balham Green]

Which links are those then? Do you mean the 6.5 hours ferry to Roscoff and/or the 24 hours ferry to Santander or the one hour drive to Exeter or Newquay airport for flights to a limited set of destinations or the 4+ hour journey to Heathrow? I’m struggling to think of another English football league club that has worse links to continental Europe than Argyle.
(I’m assuming that you were referring to transport links and not some other kind!)

Carlisle maybe?

 

[Dorset Green]

BG there is no one more boring than yourself, but as for making it up, I dont believe I am and if the vast majority on here were in favour of him being the boss then the vote would reflect that.
The simple fact is, this vote has been available for a long time now and there has been a constant stream of messages on this and at the top of the page is the vote which people can change depending on the underwear they have on each day, but very few have changed their minds.
So unless there is a major upturn in results which there wont be then you are stuck with the realism that I am right and you are wrong

Whatever my personal views about Ian Foster may or may not be. I don't think your many, repetetive observations in this thread have contributed anything positive for the Club, manager and players, as we battle to stay in the Championship.