Lyle Foster

[Rileybobs]

He struggled last night, but was no worse than Flemming, Anthony, Brownhill, Laurent or Sarmiento when he came on.

It was a bad night for anyone in claret and blue charged with making us an attacking force in the game.

No worse than Anthony? I find it hard to believe that anyone watched that game and can come to that opinion.

[agreenwood]

No worse than Anthony? I find it hard to believe that anyone watched that game and can come to that opinion.

Well I can assure you I was sat there and watched him do virtually nothing in the second half. He had a decent 5-10 minute spell first half, but the game lasts 90 minutes unfortunately.

[Rileybobs]

Well I can assure you I was sat there and watched him do virtually nothing in the second half. He had a decent 5-10 minute spell first half, but the game lasts 90 minutes unfortunately.

Anthony was excellent off the ball all night.

[agreenwood]

Anthony was excellent off the ball all night.

Grand. We’ll agree to disagree.

[Alan Young]

He was nowhere near Bogle first half but his starting position combined with Parker not addressing it made me think he was following instructions to press their CB rather than keep tabs on Bogle. It was a disaster either way and could have cost us on a few occasions.

I think he’s struggling to get to grips with the role and should be seen as a centre forward or nothing. If we’re short of wingers then it’s time to sign one rather than shuffling the pack.

[beddie]

It was the opposition that made it difficult for us on that left hand side, they’re a strong outfit. He’s not comfortable to me anyway playing on the left. I’ve always thought of him as a 10. Last night was going to be a tough game for everyone of our players, we got through it with a clean sheet and a point, let’s not criticise them just move on to Portsmouth now.

[Ric_C]

Thought Anthony had a good game last night. He was our biggest attacking threat, which inherently is a worry in itself. Looking t the player ratings quite a few thought he was poor. But it is all about opinions.

As for Foster, he should've been hooked after 30 mins. We got away with it in the first half. The only way he will be of any use for us moving forward is as some kind of impact sub. I feel like we need to move him on in the summer. I thought he would kick on after some of the promise of last season, but he's gone backward. He's not a number 9 and doesn't have the fitness to play as a side striker.

[claretspice]

No-one should be basing hard and fast judgments on Foster on last night. He was playing out of position against a good side.

I think Foster can play from the left, provided he has licence to stay high up the pitch and to drift more centrally on occasion. That is how he was able to play against Plymouth and Reading to great effect, and to some extent against Sunderland, because we controlled the game and so had more than our fair share of territory and possession.

It wasn't like that last night, and our shape became more of a 4-4-2 for long periods with Foster playing as a left sided midfielder, sitting in front of the full back and defending for long periods. Quite obviously that isn't his strength and there was a 15 minute spell in the first half when he was slow to react to Bogle's forward runs. But thereafter he was diligent and the extent of his diligence was shown when Sarmiento came on and all of a sudden Bogle became a threat once again.

We could have brought on Hannibal on for Laurent personally and adjust our pressing set up so Foster rather than brownhill joined Flemming in the advanced "2", and Hannibal picked up Bogle in the first instance, but that clearly wasn't the system that Parker wanted.

[wadeswondergoal]

Foster looked like he was struggling a bit last night but the defensive side of his game was very good.

We definitely looked weaker once he went off and Sarmiento came on.

[jedi_master]

Didn't have a good game, to say the least - did against Plymouth. I think the setup of the team last night was limiting to the attacking players because we wanted the point, predominantly. He will be very effective against the lesser lights (i.e, everyone outside the top four - which makes up basically every remaining game bar Sheff Utd at home) for the rest of the season and I would certainly persevere with him there at Fratton Park.

[aggi]

He doesn't have the guile to play on the wing and he isn't enough of a goal threat to play through the middle.

Maybe he would have more impact if we set the team up around him but I don't think he's really shown enough to justify being the player the team is set up around.

[Silkyskills1]

He doesn't have the guile to play on the wing and he isn't enough of a goal threat to play through the middle.

A very neat, concise summing up of his contribution generally. Just not good enough I'm afraid. He's been here two years now and hasn't progressed in any way that I can see. Almost appears as though we're trying to find a position in the starting line-up for him and that helps neither him nor the team.

[123EasyasBFC]

Grand. We’ll agree to disagree.

If foster had of put the same effort in that Anthony did on and off the ball last night it would of been a different game.

I watched foster give the ball away wnd just jog back as boygle ran past him

[GetIntoEm]

Was frustrating last night, I think he's got it in him. I'd stick with him in that position for now.

Thought brownhill and Laurent were woeful last night.

Didn't think Antony did that bad

[warksclaret]

I am not going to criticise Foster as he has been working himself back to full fitness and into the starting eleven. However last night the stage was set for him to step up and give their back four a challenging night, but he seemed to spend the game, particularly second half, tracking back and watching Bogle. Maybe they were clear instructions.I would persist with him for Portsmouth as he is still more of a threat than Sarmiento who appears to be very lightweight. I dont think any other games now (apart for Sheff Utd) will see the opposing team with the same intensity as Leeds, so Fosters role will hopefully be one of making some strong runs rather than defending. Incidentally we criticise Foster but for me last night Fleming was off his game too

[claretspice]

I am not going to criticise Foster as he has been working himself back to full fitness and into the starting eleven. However last night the stage was set for him to step up and give their back four a challenging night, but he seemed to spend the game, particularly second half, tracking back and watching Bogle. Maybe they were clear instructions.I would persist with him for Portsmouth as he is still more of a threat than Sarmiento who appears to be very lightweight. I dont think any other games now (apart for Sheff Utd) will see the opposing team with the same intensity as Leeds, so Fosters role will hopefully be one of making some strong runs rather than defending. Incidentally we criticise Foster but for me last night Fleming was off his game too

They were quite obviously clear instructions.

[JohnMac]

The problem is if we change the system to allow players more freedom and start losing Parker will still get criticised as will the players.

Foster has never been a fit for the Club in his time here anyway.

[dougcollins]

Foster looked like he was struggling a bit last night but the defensive side of his game was very good.

We definitely looked weaker once he went off and Sarmiento came on.

And Sarmiento had the luxury of playing in the position that Foster wants to.

[ElectroClaret]

The problem is if we change the system to allow players more freedom and start losing Parker will still get criticised as will the players.

Parker and the players get criticised by some on here even when we win.
So that'll be no change....

[Papabendi]

I can't say I took to the Foster from the first few games I saw him. Then he stepped into the Premier League, and in a few games against teams where there was space to get in behind, he looked a threat. Then his problems started.

Last night was, as a few have said, not a defining game to judge him on - although if the stat the TV coverage threw up - that he barely had a touch with the ball in the opposition's half is true, that is quite damning.

Ultimately though, he's made 48 appearances for Burnley and I can count the truly good games on the fingers of one hand. That's not good enough relative to the investment I am afraid - and in the unlikely event we get any kind of half decent offer - we should get shut.

[Stayingup]

Anthony was excellent off the ball all night.

He was and he wasn't too bad on it. He is a dancer though when it comes to a tackle. Foster was playing out of position. We need a left winger. Oh for a Arfield or a George Boyd, both of whom cut it in the Premier League and who would suit the way we are currently playing. Oh and cost? Not much. Arfield was a free. A really good Dyche signng.

[RVclaret]

He was and he wasn't too bad on it. He is a dancer though when it comes to a tackle. Foster was playing out of position. We need a left winger. Oh for a Arfield or a George Boyd, both of whom cut it in the Premier League and who would suit the way we are currently playing. Oh and cost? Not much. Arfield was a free. A really good Dyche signng.

Hannibal was playing pretty similarly to the two mentioned off the left before his recent suspension.

[ClaretPete001]

I thought Anthony was decent again with limited help from anyone else.

Said for a while, I think Lyle Foster can only play as a second striker in a 4-4-2 alongside a Vogts or Wood type player. He isn't physically imposing and doesn't play well with his back to goal. He is an Andre Grey type player who can run onto knock downs etc.

I can't see much of a role for him in this team other than in a front two with Flemming. Shame we can;t get more out of Kolosheo down the Left.

We just do not have the quality up front to play as SP wants to play other than we we play lesser teams and our midfield can grind them into the dust and control the play higher up the pitch.

[boatshed bill]

I thought Anthony was decent again with limited help from anyone else.

Said for a while, I think Lyle Foster can only play as a second striker in a 4-4-2 alongside a Vogts or Wood type player. He isn't physically imposing and doesn't play well with his back to goal. He is an Andre Grey type player who can run onto knock downs etc.

I can't see much of a role for him in this team other than in a front two with Flemming. Shame we can;t get more out of Kolosheo down the Left.

We just do not have the quality up front to play as SP wants to play other than we we play lesser teams and our midfield can grind them into the dust and control the play higher up the pitch.

Do you mean Berti Vogts? Or did you mean "Vokes" which is much more likely?

[basil6345789]

Played him as a Left Half - did well, strong lad

[Lew200100]

Any one who defends his performance last night didn’t watch him closely.George Boyd who was never a great footballer gave 100% in this position every game and ran and ran for the cause. Foster is so lazy it’s incredible. I’m not doubting he could be a good footballer it’s his desire to win which is lacking and just watching things happening around him which he’s oblivious to.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

I thought Anthony was decent again with limited help from anyone else.

Said for a while, I think Lyle Foster can only play as a second striker in a 4-4-2 alongside a Vogts or Wood type player. He isn't physically imposing and doesn't play well with his back to goal. He is an Andre Grey type player who can run onto knock downs etc.

I can't see much of a role for him in this team other than in a front two with Flemming. Shame we can;t get more out of Kolosheo down the Left.

We just do not have the quality up front to play as SP wants to play other than we we play lesser teams and our midfield can grind them into the dust and control the play higher up the pitch.

The problem with Anthony is he is currently our only outlet at home and after a bright opening spell in the games against Sunderland and Leeds the opposition have quickly worked this out.
We desperately need an effective left winger by next Monday none of the ones we’ve tried Kolesho, Sarmiento and Foster are good enough.

[dougcollins]

Anthony's lack of body strength is alarming, and his tackling is feeble.

Pretty much always in the right place though.

[willsclarets]

Comparisons with Andre Gray are a bit wide of the mark for me. I think Gray had much more of a goal scorers instinct, and much better off the shoulder, and more outright pace. Couldn't trap a bag of cement but made up for it. He had an obvious profile.

Foster is a powerful runner, sometimes. He looks like a sriker, sometimes. He links play well sometimes. And that's just it, I can't put my finger on an outright strength he possesses that he consistently delivers on.

He's had his problems obviously, but he's also played quite a few games now and I'm beginning to wonder if he's up to it. It's telling I think that parker is unwilling to sacrifice flemming up top to put Foster in his position.

I'm not in the "he's absolute awful" camp, but in hindsight that deal to Ipswich going through might not have been the worst thing. That said I hope he proves me wrong. I just think compared to someone like Isidor he's not in the same ballpark.

[ClaretLoup]

So far this season he has had 11 starts and scored once. Not sure if he has had any assists maybe one at Luton (?)

So he is not even a five goal a season forward. Parker is now trying him out as a wide forward but as somebody pointed above he is not a patch on Georgie Boyd or Scotty Arfield in this area, two lads who worked their nuts off. Boyd served his time in non league and then with Peterborough & Hull where he honed his craft and developed as a player.

Foster has been parachuted in to a level he is not capable of playing at and it’s a concern that shows not much sign of any such progression.

[willsclarets]

Here's what is telling for me. We have a chance in the last minute, 10 yards out. Not a gimme but a very good chance. Who do you want on the end of it? For me:

1. Flemming
2. Brownhill
3. Rodriguez
4. Anthony
5. Barnes

He doesn't come in the top 5 for me. Maybe 6th.

[Stayingup]

The ball bounces off Foster. He's like a threepenny bit.

[Hibsclaret]

Do you mean Berti Vogts? Or did you mean "Vokes" which is much more likely?

Berti Bee could’ve created more last night tbh

[ClaretPete001]

Comparisons with Andre Gray are a bit wide of the mark for me. I think Gray had much more of a goal scorers instinct, and much better off the shoulder, and more outright pace. Couldn't trap a bag of cement but made up for it. He had an obvious profile.

Foster is a powerful runner, sometimes. He looks like a sriker, sometimes. He links play well sometimes. And that's just it, I can't put my finger on an outright strength he possesses that he consistently delivers on.

He's had his problems obviously, but he's also played quite a few games now and I'm beginning to wonder if he's up to it. It's telling I think that parker is unwilling to sacrifice flemming up top to put Foster in his position.

I'm not in the "he's absolute awful" camp, but in hindsight that deal to Ipswich going through might not have been the worst thing. That said I hope he proves me wrong. I just think compared to someone like Isidor he's not in the same ballpark.

If we had had Isidor and not Sunderland we would have won that game albeit not on penalties.

I don't think he can lead a line, which is why Flemming is there and he's not a natural number 10 who can thread a ball and create in the final third.

The only role available to him really is the Andre Gray one in a 4-4-2 but clearly he isn't Andre Gray.

Maybe he will prove us all wrong.

[ClaretPete001]

Do you mean Berti Vogts? Or did you mean "Vokes" which is much more likely?

You can zay what you zink Bootswerft Villy. Ich know what ich mean...!

[bobinho]

I’m unsure how many games foster gets out there before we look at plan B… clearly not his position, clearly failed to make an impact anywhere on the pitch.

I’m sure 4-4-2 isn’t in SP’s mind whatsoever, but I’m equally sure to get the best out of both foster and Flemming, that’s what is needed.

[dougcollins]

The only time Foster has looked anywhere near is the early part of the VK PL season.

I wouldn't miss him if he went.

[Dark Cloud]

I really don't like being overly negative about any of our players, but sometimes you just have to say what you see and I've seen plenty of Foster now and he really doesn't look good enough. VK rated him and chased him and got him on board and was probably, very quickly, secretly embarrassed, especially by how much we'd paid. He tried several times to big him up publicly. I think the fee is still an issue with the club and current manager trying everything they can to convince the other players, the fans, the current manager, other clubs and maybe even the guy himself, that he's worth at least some of it and can cut it at this level and possibly even above. He's definitely not rubbish and he's currently being played out of position, but control, vision, passing etc are inherent in good players and will show up wherever you're told to play. I would never write a player off after a few games and to my mind some of our best signings have had very poor debuts, but I think someone said he's played 48 times now and that's long enough to see he's been an expensive punt which unfortunately isn't up to it (imo)

[Stonehouse]

I really don't like being overly negative about any of our players, but sometimes you just have to say what you see and I've seen plenty of Foster now and he really doesn't look good enough. VK rated him and chased him and got him on board and was probably, very quickly, secretly embarrassed, especially by how much we'd paid. He tried several times to big him up publicly. I think the fee is still an issue with the club and current manager trying everything they can to convince the other players, the fans, the current manager, other clubs and maybe even the guy himself, that he's worth at least some of it and can cut it at this level and possibly even above. He's definitely not rubbish and he's currently being played out of position, but control, vision, passing etc are inherent in good players and will show up wherever you're told to play. I would never write a player off after a few games and to my mind some of our best signings have had very poor debuts, but I think someone said he's played 48 times now and that's long enough to see he's been an expensive punt which unfortunately isn't up to it (imo)

Thought his best game was against Reading where he attacked really well and had quite a few shots ,don’t know if that was the real Lyle Foster or because Reading weren’t very good.

[Dark Cloud]

Thought his best game was against Reading where he attacked really well and had quite a few shots ,don’t know if that was the real Lyle Foster or because Reading weren’t very good.

You're right and he was actually pretty decent against Plymouth too, but they're 2 pretty poor teams in respect of where we are currently and in a first half where we absolutely battered Plymouth and went on a goal spree a guy bought ostensibly to score goals didn't get one. I honestly think we're shoeing him into the line up currently to try to find the player VK believed he was buying. He might be in there and it could be a confidence thing (we know he's had issues) but I'm increasingly of the opinion it's more of a talent/ability thing unfortunately and in our position we can't afford to be picking passengers in the starting XI.

[clerkenwell.claret]

No-one should be basing hard and fast judgments on Foster on last night. He was playing out of position against a good side.

I think Foster can play from the left, provided he has licence to stay high up the pitch and to drift more centrally on occasion. That is how he was able to play against Plymouth and Reading to great effect, and to some extent against Sunderland, because we controlled the game and so had more than our fair share of territory and possession.

It wasn't like that last night, and our shape became more of a 4-4-2 for long periods with Foster playing as a left sided midfielder, sitting in front of the full back and defending for long periods. Quite obviously that isn't his strength and there was a 15 minute spell in the first half when he was slow to react to Bogle's forward runs. But thereafter he was diligent and the extent of his diligence was shown when Sarmiento came on and all of a sudden Bogle became a threat once again.

We could have brought on Hannibal on for Laurent personally and adjust our pressing set up so Foster rather than brownhill joined Flemming in the advanced "2", and Hannibal picked up Bogle in the first instance, but that clearly wasn't the system that Parker wanted.

A well considered and balanced view IMNSHO.

[ClaretPete001]

No-one should be basing hard and fast judgments on Foster on last night. He was playing out of position against a good side.

I think Foster can play from the left, provided he has licence to stay high up the pitch and to drift more centrally on occasion. That is how he was able to play against Plymouth and Reading to great effect, and to some extent against Sunderland, because we controlled the game and so had more than our fair share of territory and possession.

It wasn't like that last night, and our shape became more of a 4-4-2 for long periods with Foster playing as a left sided midfielder, sitting in front of the full back and defending for long periods. Quite obviously that isn't his strength and there was a 15 minute spell in the first half when he was slow to react to Bogle's forward runs. But thereafter he was diligent and the extent of his diligence was shown when Sarmiento came on and all of a sudden Bogle became a threat once again.

We could have brought on Hannibal on for Laurent personally and adjust our pressing set up so Foster rather than brownhill joined Flemming in the advanced "2", and Hannibal picked up Bogle in the first instance, but that clearly wasn't the system that Parker wanted.

He's scored 2 goals in 24 Championship games and he's being kept out of his preferred position by an attacking midfielder on loan from Millwall.

He cost Eur11 million but you are right he is being played out of position. I guess if he can cope with being played out of position then he can cope with whatever we say because I guess he isn't daft and knows he is a striker being played out of position in a team that doesn't score.

[Elizabeth]

The issue with Foster is not that he cannot be effective playing wide left but that on on Monday he either didn't know how to , or didn't want to play the defensive role that Parker wanted our wide left midfielder to play.
As a central striker Foster has shown consistently that he is ineffective.

[Papabendi]

I really don't like being overly negative about any of our players, but sometimes you just have to say what you see and I've seen plenty of Foster now and he really doesn't look good enough. VK rated him and chased him and got him on board and was probably, very quickly, secretly embarrassed, especially by how much we'd paid. He tried several times to big him up publicly. I think the fee is still an issue with the club and current manager trying everything they can to convince the other players, the fans, the current manager, other clubs and maybe even the guy himself, that he's worth at least some of it and can cut it at this level and possibly even above. He's definitely not rubbish and he's currently being played out of position, but control, vision, passing etc are inherent in good players and will show up wherever you're told to play. I would never write a player off after a few games and to my mind some of our best signings have had very poor debuts, but I think someone said he's played 48 times now and that's long enough to see he's been an expensive punt which unfortunately isn't up to it (imo)

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. There is a certain sunk cost mentality attached to this player.

[warksclaret]

Rather than messing around with Barnes in the Southampton cup game I would like to see Lyle play the No 9 central role and maybe rest or bench Fleming with maybe him coming on for the lat 20 minutes as the No 10

[Elizabeth]

Rather than messing around with Barnes in the Southampton cup game I would like to see Lyle play the No 9 central role and maybe rest or bench Fleming with maybe him coming on for the lat 20 minutes as the No 10

Barnes needs game time so it would hardly be messing about. You seem to be wavering on your long time conviction of the merits of playing Foster out wide. Is this based on one bad game against the best team in the league?

[warksclaret]

Playing the likes of Barnes and Jay as strikers will guarantee we don’t get auto promotion
If we bring no strikers in we need to persevere with Foster and Fleming as our main two.
Barnes may be great in the dressing room but as he showed at Reading which I was at he makes little or no contribution .
He could not get ina poor Norwich side and is 2-3 years past his best

[Elizabeth]

I envisage Barnes coming on in some of the remaining league games , towards the end. However to get the best of him he needs to get some proper match experience and that opportunity is starting in the FA Cup in my opinion.
The lack of a proper striker is our Achilles heel and I doubt many would disagree

[warksclaret]

I am not so convinced we will see much or any of Barnes in the remaining 17 games
The stage was set for him to come on against Leeds in the last 10 or so minutes, instead the ineffective Rodriguez came on.
I think Barnes has been brought in more as a mentor for the newer and younger players and maybe in time used like Cork in the coaching system

[beddie]

I am not so convinced we will see much or any of Barnes in the remaining 17 games
The stage was set for him to come on against Leeds in the last 10 or so minutes, instead the ineffective Rodriguez came on.
I think Barnes has been brought in more as a mentor for the newer and younger players and maybe in time used like Cork in the coaching system

“ ineffective Rodriguez”! You’re right there he probably was ineffective but that might have something to do with the fact that he never actually came on.