Lyle Foster

[ksrclaret]

There’s generally a good reason why posts vanish.

Ain’t that the truth

[Papabendi]

Ain’t that the truth

Hopefully daveisaclaret has sobered up and seeks therapy first thing Monday morning.

[Jakubclaret]

Hopefully daveisaclaret has sobered up and seeks therapy first thing Monday morning.

That's incredibly helpful & constructive & sympathetic to whatever problems he's experiencing if any, no wonder some posters are frequently disappearing from the site & when reappearing seldom posting!

[CoolClaret]

That's incredibly helpful & constructive & sympathetic to whatever problems he's experiencing if any, no wonder some posters are frequently disappearing from the site & when reappearing seldom posting!

Think they’re disappearing from the site because they hate logging on and seeing misery guts like you shitting on every thread

[Jakubclaret]

Think they’re disappearing from the site because they hate logging on and seeing misery guts like you shitting on every thread

I think that's happening in your imagination I seldom post myself due to people churning same old predictable BS out, far better things to do in my life you should try it.

[Big Vinny K]

I think that's happening in your imagination I seldom post myself due to people churning same old predictable BS out, far better things to do in my life you should try it.

So nearly 150 posts since the start of April is your idea of ‘seldom’ posting ?
Thank feck for the rest of us you are busy with the rest of your life eh.

[DCWat]

Aside from being given the time to adapt and develop, the one trait that I’d really like to see Foster show quite quickly is some aggression.

He’s a big, powerful and pacy bloke. He needs to utilise that and start to bully defenders a bit more. That could in part be a confidence thing as Spice alluded to earlier.

If it’s not quite working for him, I want to see it frustrating him and using that to drive him on.

A few lessons from Barnes on this front wouldn’t go amiss.

[CoolClaret]

So nearly 150 posts since the start of April is your idea of ‘seldom’ posting ?
Thank feck for the rest of us you are busy with the rest of your life eh.

Thought it was ironic given the fact that Jakub averages 2.5 posts more than me a day.

Yet another example in the long list of things JakubClaret is wrong about

[Rileybobs]

Aside from being given the time to adapt and develop, the one trait that I’d really like to see Foster show quite quickly is some aggression.

He’s a big, powerful and pacy bloke. He needs to utilise that and start to bully defenders a bit more. That could in part be a confidence thing as Spice alluded to earlier.

If it’s not quite working for him, I want to see it frustrating him and using that to drive him on.

A few lessons from Barnes on this front wouldn’t go amiss.

I’ve seen a few people describe him as big and powerful, but is he? He strikes me as pretty average in height and bulk. I haven’t really seen any demonstration of his power either. This is not a criticism, just an observation.

[boatshed bill]

I’ve seen a few people describe him as big and powerful, but is he? He strikes me as pretty average in height and bulk. I haven’t really seen any demonstration of his power either. This is not a criticism, just an observation.

Not massive.And as i recall most of the clips of his goalscoring showed pace rather than aerial prowess or particular strength.

[Rileybobs]

Not massive.And as i recall most of the clips of his goalscoring showed pace rather than aerial prowess or particular strength.

Yes, fast and agile would be a much more accurate description than big and powerful from what I’ve seen.

[DCWat]

Yes, fast and agile would be a much more accurate description than big and powerful from what I’ve seen.

He’s six foot plus - he’s not a small bloke by any stretch of the imagination.

[boatshed bill]

He’s six foot plus - he’s not a small bloke by any stretch of the imagination.

Many are these days.

[Rileybobs]

He’s six foot plus - he’s not a small bloke by any stretch of the imagination.

I didn’t say he was small, just an average height and physique. A quick check suggests he’s a little shorter than Barnes and the same height as Rodriguez.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I didn’t say he was small, just an average height and physique. A quick check suggests he’s a little shorter than Barnes and the same height as Rodriguez.

He’s 6ft 1 that’s the same height as Barnes. I believe that puts him in top 20% of footballers in terms of height.

[boatshed bill]

He’s 6ft 1 that’s the same height as Barnes. I believe that puts him in top 20% of footballers in terms of height.

Any particular type/standard of footballer?

[Foshiznik]

Looking pretty good tonight fellas…

[CoolClaret]

I’ve seen a few people describe him as big and powerful, but is he? He strikes me as pretty average in height and bulk. I haven’t really seen any demonstration of his power either. This is not a criticism, just an observation.

[Rileybobs]

Is he big and powerful?

Had a good half though, much more positive from him.

[NewClaret]

Think he’s been fantastic tonight.

[jedi_master]

Much much better - just needs a chance on goal, doing all of his best work for others but I want him to notch.

[NewClaret]

Much much better - just needs a chance on goal, doing all of his best work for others but I want him to notch.

Needs to stay a bit more central and forward for me, sometimes comes looking for it unnecessarily. But his all round play has been top notch.

[tiger76]

One of the better contributors tonight, still plenty of room for improvement, but promising signs in my view.

[HistoricalClaret]

Needs to stay a bit more central and forward for me, sometimes comes looking for it unnecessarily. But his all round play has been top notch.

Thats what he gets asked to do though

[RVclaret]

Pace, power and skill. Looked the player I was anticipating tonight. He actually took up some good positions in the box too but the ball just never seemed to reach him.

Encouraging.

[Vino blanco]

Very good first half showing power, control and awareness. Our style of football doesn’t really suit his style of play, though I really do believe he will come good.

[NewClaret]

Thats what he gets asked to do though

Agree with that, I was more pointing out that if we want him to notch he’s going to have to be between the sticks more often.

[JimmyRobbo]

Definitely looked a better player tonight.
Still doesn't look much of a 10m player.
You've still got to trust VK. He's had a massive hit rate.

[groove]

Think he’s been fantastic tonight.

I agree, thought he was excellent tonight.

[Rileybobs]

The first half today was probably his best for us. Showed some very good touches and hold up play and a little unlucky in the box.

[NewClaret]

Definitely looked a better player tonight.
Still doesn't look much of a 10m player.
You've still got to trust VK. He's had a massive hit rate.

I’ll be very shocked if the fee reported wasn’t highly performance based.

[Papabendi]

Rightly hooked, but a bit brighter. We'd hope for 9 million quid, right? Not sure there is a goal threat. Roberts gets into better positions.

[claretspice]

Best player on the pitch in the first half, faded after the break - reflects that he's still getting up to the pace of the English game. Still the criticism is that when he had a chance to get on the end of a couple of crosses, he was slightly on his heels. Hopefully with confidence and hard work that will come.

[Papabendi]

He wasn't the best player on the pitch in the first half. He made one good run and there were two flick ons of note. Let's not over egg the pudding even though we are dying to do so.

[Vegas Claret]

the thing I'm seeing with both him and Twine is their movement is excellent but we aren't seeing it - this is why an improvement has to be made in midfield in the summer imho

[Nonayforever]

I'm still undecided.
One of the problems for Lyle is that he always seems to appear in a slightly unbalanced team.
I would like to see him in a straight swop for the Barnes role with Zaroury on one side , Tella or Benson on the other with a midfield of Cullen, JBG & Brownhill.
I think we would then see the best of him.
Playing alongside Twine doesn't do it for me.

[TsarBomba]

The first half today was probably his best for us. Showed some very good touches and hold up play and a little unlucky in the box.

What do you mean when you say he was ‘unlucky in the box’?

He didn’t have a shot, did he?

[boatshed bill]

Definitely looked a better player tonight.
Still doesn't look much of a 10m player.
You've still got to trust VK. He's had a massive hit rate.

£10 million striker, they are proportionately more expensive. £10m isn't really very much for a forward these days.

[CoolClaret]

He wasn't the best player on the pitch in the first half. He made one good run and there were two flick ons of note. Let's not over egg the pudding even though we are dying to do so.

He won the ball off their midfielders numerous times to start a counter attack

[Rileybobs]

What do you mean when you say he was ‘unlucky in the box’?

He didn’t have a shot, did he?

I meant a couple of times the ball came close to dropping for him but didn’t. The JBG pass across goal was inches away from being on a plate for him. He just didn’t really get the breaks in the box.

[Spiral]

Rotherham played a bit of a high line tonight, and he looks more useful in that kind of game than hovering around between the penalty spot and 18-yard line when teams are sitting really deep. Some really good drives forward at defenders that you don't get from Barnes, Weghorst, Wood, or many other of our strikers of late. Not a million miles off Jay in that respect, who also can make powerful runs at defenders. Looks very much like a face to goal player rather than back to goal type. He hasn't hit the ground running like you'd hope from a player his price, but if we can unlock what potential looks to be there he'll be good for us, I'm sure of it. His first goal a few games ago was vicious. Really good technique. Just needs more games to find his groove.

[claretspice]

He wasn't the best player on the pitch in the first half. He made one good run and there were two flick ons of note. Let's not over egg the pudding even though we are dying to do so.

If that's all you think he did in the first half, no problem, waste of time debating with you. As a matter of fact, that's tosh. He won a couple of free kicks to relieve pressure, made a number of sharp passes and lay offs, won headers, pressed well and as you say produced one really impressive run. He was very involved with our build up and looked purposeful.

Far from perfect, as I said. Still a bit diffident in the box.

[TsarBomba]

I meant a couple of times the ball came close to dropping for him but didn’t. The JBG pass across goal was inches away from being on a plate for him. He just didn’t really get the breaks in the box.

I wouldn’t say that’s down to luck, more lacking in a bit of instinct.

I think he’ll come good, and his all round play is positive, but he is lacking in the one area we need him most, which is in the box, and not outside.

[boatshed bill]

Far from perfect, as I said. Still a bit diffident in the box.

We haven't had strikers who have been particularly sharp in the box since JR (9 goals in 24 starts, I believe) got injured.
the microscope is certainly being used on Foster

[TsarBomba]

We haven't had strikers who have been particularly sharp in the box since JR (9 goals in 24 starts, I believe) got injured.
the microscope is certainly being used on Foster

The microscope is on Foster, probably, because he’s not getting into positions to even look like he’s going to score.

That’s the worry.

If he’s pinging shots off, hitting posts, keepers making good saves to deny him, then there’s perhaps more of an argument that he’s being a tad unlucky. And yeah granted, as a striker, you need a bit of luck.

For all his link up play, nice touches, it’s in the box where he really needs to be judged.

We’re now getting to the stage, taking into account he’s now made 10 appearances in the Championship, and 4 in the FA Cup, that we can start to formulate a reasonable opinion. Of course, in some of these games, Foster has literally been on the field for a matter of minutes. But he’s also been played in games with weaker opposition- Fleetwood, Reading, Ipswich..

Stats don’t tell the whole story but I think for Foster, there are a few that are particularly damning. Across all of his 10
games in the Championship so far, he has 8 shots. 8. And only 2 on target.

Bearing in mind that he is primarily on the pitch to put the ball in the net, that’s pretty dire.

[agreenwood]

The microscope is on Foster, probably, because he’s not getting into positions to even look like he’s going to score.

That’s the worry.

If he’s pinging shots off, hitting posts, keepers making good saves to deny him, then there’s perhaps more of an argument that he’s being a tad unlucky. And yeah granted, as a striker, you need a bit of luck.

For all his link up play, nice touches, it’s in the box where he really needs to be judged.

We’re now getting to the stage, taking into account he’s now made 10 appearances in the Championship, and 4 in the FA Cup, that we can start to formulate a reasonable opinion. Of course, in some of these games, Foster has literally been on the field for a matter of minutes. But he’s also been played in games with weaker opposition- Fleetwood, Reading, Ipswich..

Stats don’t tell the whole story but I think for Foster, there are a few that are particularly damning. Across all of his 10
games in the Championship so far, he has 8 shots. 8. And only 2 on target.

Bearing in mind that he is primarily on the pitch to put the ball in the net, that’s pretty dire.

Not convinced any striker bags a ton of goals in this system. Barnes has been widely acclaimed to have been fantastic since November. How many games has he scored in during that time? Three? Four?

We’re set up to score goals all over the pitch. The striker often plays more of pressing/link role.

[Spiral]

Anyone remember that old Windows screensaver where a black hole type thing moves around your screen distorting what's behind it? That's a striker in our system. Suck in defenders wherever needed, spew the ball out to the free man (whether that's the No.10 or a fullback it doesn't matter), or stick in into space for someone with legs to run onto (Tella, basically). The days of sticking a cross on Charlie Austin's head are long gone.

[Spiral]

*not to excuse poor finishing or slow reactions, mind.

[BigGaz]

Dane Richards 5 minute disaster class was damning
Kev McDonald nipping off to the pub after being subbed off was damning
Won’t Weghorst refusing to celebrate teammates scoring was damning.

A 22 year old lad with less than 8 full games under his belt in a new system, a complicated one, in a new environment, brought in midway through the season has not shown me any particular traits or stats I’d deem as damning just yet.

There’s been a definite improvement in his game and if he continues that trajectory of improvement he’ll be just fine.

In short, Get a grip.

[RicardoMontalban]

By the end of a full season most fans should have cottoned on to the fact the Manager has differing expectations of how some roles are performed. Overlapping fullbacks and goal hanging strikers being the most obvious examples, especially as Kompany has explicitly said as much.

Foster looked much better last night and noticeably had more opportunities to get into the game on the transition where he looked a threat. Reckon he’ll be a valuable part of how we play next season. Likewise Obafemi.