The Foster Paradox

[Big Vinny K]

Imagine judging people as not ‘proper fans” for simply choosing to leave the game when they want to.
Are the “proper fans” those that stop to the end and then boo the players off after we have lost ?
Where is this definition of a proper fan ?…..just so we can all know what time we need to get to the game, leave the game, and how we act during the game.

[GetIntoEm]

Imagine judging people as not ‘proper fans” for simply choosing to leave the game when they want to.
Are the “proper fans” those that stop to the end and then boo the players off after we have lost ?
Where is this definition of a proper fan ?…..just so we can all know what time we need to get to the game, leave the game, and how we act during the game.

Start by watching a full match, then you can have an opinion

[Cleveleys_claret]

He is very poor, given him enough time. He is not really amazing at anything, nothing stands out. Very poor finisher, rarely in the right place, when ball is played into him it looks like he is allergic to the ball and going to trip over it. It's sad because I like him...just not as a forward for us

[Big Vinny K]

Start by watching a full match, then you can have an opinion

I watch every match right to the end.
But unlike pr-icks like you I don’t judge what other fans choose to do with their own lives because it’s f all to do with me.

[Burnley1989]

I left after 85 yesterday, was going straight to Blackpool for the illuminations with my daughters and wanted to beat any traffic, made a great call as I was there 40 minutes after full time.

[Big Vinny K]

I left after 85 yesterday, was going straight to Blackpool for the illuminations with my daughters and wanted to beat any traffic, made a great call as I was there 40 minutes after full time.

You mean you put your kids before Burnley FC ?
Absolute disgrace of a human being

You don’t deserve an opinion.
Please post your season ticket immediately to the ‘proper fan” GetintoEm.

[boatshed bill]

Sorry, but we're not a charity team helping someone's rehabilitation. If he's not up to it he shouldn't play until he is. How would you feel if it were the pilot of your aeroplane - happy to give him a while to see whether he could land the machine OK?

I choose not to fly. Not that your comment has any relevance in respect of the rehabilitation of a professional footballer.

[BurnleyFC]

Three full pages for someone who wasn’t even our worst player yesterday.

Edit: just seen this thread was started in November 2023…

[JR1882]

No idea why he was constantly dropping deep when we had 3 in centre mid anyway and no one was running beyond him.

He needs to play on the shoulder of the last defender, run the channels & be an outlet to get quickly up field.

Lots of times where we had the ball out wide & no one to aim for.

[boatshed bill]

No idea why he was constantly dropping deep when we had 3 in centre mid anyway and no one was running beyond him.

He needs to play on the shoulder of the last defender, run the channels & be an outlet to get quickly up field.

Lots of times where we had the ball out wide & no one to aim for.

If you have no idea why, then why are you suggesting a tactical option?
As regards playing off the shoulder why not ask the manager about that ?

[KRBFC]

Absolutely awful, the best striker in the division according to some, the bias for this guy is unbelievable. The least threatening striker I have ever seen, has no idea how to trouble a defence.

[Shaggy]

He is not a goal scorer that is for certain. Unfortunately we don’t really have any other options apart from Flemming who isn’t an out and out striker.

The way Parker plays we need a lethal striker otherwise we are just not going to score enough to win enough games.

[GetIntoEm]

Absolutely awful, the best striker in the division according to some, the bias for this guy is unbelievable. The least threatening striker I have ever seen, has no idea how to trouble a defence.

Tell me you've only been watching Burnley for 10 years without telling me you've only been watching Burnley for 10 years

[Bowclaret]

That’s it for me now with Foster. Don’t want to see him in a Burnley shirt again. He’s had more than enough chances.

Sell sell sell in Jan please !

[agreenwood]

I wouldn’t wish the service Foster had today on Blackburn’s centre forward.

Hard to play up front for a team who dominate the ball, but almost exclusively in their own defensive third.

[Sheedyclaret]

14 shots 1 on target is pretty poor as a whole

[GodIsADeeJay81]

He wasn’t getting much service today and what was there, he was up against big defenders who cleaned up the crosses

He’ll have better games

[Claretitus]

He wasn’t getting much service today and what was there, he was up against big defenders who cleaned up the crosses

He’ll have better games

It’s to be hoped so, coz he won’t have many worse!

[agreenwood]

It’s to be hoped so, coz he won’t have many worse!

With the exception of Koleosho, he was a good/bad as everyone else on the team charged with creating chances.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

It’s to be hoped so, coz he won’t have many worse!

Nearly the whole team was meh today against a well drilled and defensively set up Oxford team

It happens

To single out one lad when he wasn’t getting much help is harsh

[Colburn_Claret]

These types of matches don't suit his attributes.
Pointless having a go at him, blame the manager.
I think if Flemming was available, he would have started today, maybe even in a 442, but Lyle on his own, against 3 big CBs, was a no hoper.

So many of our goals this season have been scored from outside the box, we are crying out for a goal poacher, yet even if we had one we still need to get the ball in the box.

[ecc]

"I think if Flemming was available, he would have started today, maybe even in a 442, but Lyle on his own, against 3 big CBs, was a no hoper."
I'm afraid I have to agree with you. Flemming is more mobile, more technical and reads the game better.

Unless, one day we rediscover the Lyle of the start of last season.

[KRBFC]

Tell me you've only been watching Burnley for 10 years without telling me you've only been watching Burnley for 10 years

Gifton who played with injections I believe was more of a threat than Foster. At least he was aware of his limitations so used his big frame, got his arse in, backed in and held it up.

Foster wishes he had the goal return of Iwelumo.

Ian Moore was a very limited footballer but at least used his strengths to run around same with Paterson.

Adebola and Ricketts but they were over the hill panic cheap loan signings and I think both scored on debut.

[fanzone]

Absolutely stealing a living off us

[ksrclaret]

We’ve got absolutely nothing up front without Flemming.

[matttheclaret]

I'd like an extended run with Flemming in the number 10 behind Foster.

Think Flemming could be the important player this season and might be the key to unlocking these tight defences

[getbennyon]

He isn't good enough, deep down most fans think it but there's always a section who believe their mission in life is to defend the indefensible.

[JohnDearyMe]

Still struggling to see what he offers after 18 months

[Rileybobs]

The lack of service is a fair point, but he has to do so much more to contribute. He’s pretty static centrally which means he’s very easy to defend against, his lack of movement also means that defenders aren’t pulled out of position to create openings for runners in behind. He doesn’t link the play and bring others into the game (I can recall one instance where he did well to chest the ball to a team mate and it created a chance down our right wing). He very rarely gets on the end of crosses or pull backs into the box - sometimes that is due to poor deliveries, sometimes it’s down to his poor movement and timing.

Similarly to Kompany’s system, the number 9 is almost a sacrificial role in the way we set up. But he’s got to do so much more - we need someone who is going to be an absolute handful for defenders and that’s something I’ve only seen him be on less than a handful of occasions in over 18 months.

[ksrclaret]

At Leeds, where our service to the forward line was far worse than any other league game this season, Flemming did more hold-up play and linking up with the midfield in his 70 mins than Foster has shown in his entire career with us so far. And Flemming wasn't even fit and isn't even a striker.

I'd give Foster a few games with Flemming when they're both available together, and if he's still as shite, that's got to be it. Play 433 with Flemming as the centre forward/ false 9.

[KRBFC]

Now it’s all Flemmings fault Foster has been awful for the majority of his 18 months here.

[ksrclaret]

Now it’s all Flemmings fault Foster has been awful for the majority of his 18 months here.

What on earth are you on about now, then?

[Goliath]

At Leeds, where our service to the forward line was far worse than any other league game this season, Flemming did more hold-up play and linking up with the midfield in his 70 mins than Foster has shown in his entire career with us so far. And Flemming wasn't even fit and isn't even a striker.

I'd give Foster a few games with Flemming when they're both available together, and if he's still as shite, that's got to be it. Play 433 with Flemming as the centre forward/ false 9.

This is true but also ignores the fact that they are totally different players. Foster is your off the shoulder type and should be played as such, he's an Andre Gray/Ollie Watkins but we aren't really playing him like that. I think part of that is tactically but also a part of him thinking he is a better footballer than he is. Stop coming deep, you're crap at it, just make life hell for defenders with pace and power and you'll score goals.

It reminds me of something Shearer said about Bobby Robson getting him back in form all those years ago, simply get back to facing the goal.

[matttheclaret]

Now it’s all Flemmings fault Foster has been awful for the majority of his 18 months here.

Who's said that?

If anything, I think Flemming could be key to getting the best out of Foster

[ksrclaret]

This is true but also ignores the fact that they are totally different players. Foster is your off the shoulder type and should be played as such, he's an Andre Gray/Ollie Watkins but we aren't really playing him like that. I think part of that is tactically but also a part of him thinking he is a better footballer than he is. Stop coming deep, you're crap at it, just make life hell for defenders with pace and power and you'll score goals.

It reminds me of something Shearer said about Bobby Robson getting him back in form all those years ago, simply get back to facing the goal.

He won't get to play like that in many games this season, though. The space for him will be in front of the central defenders or to the sides of them. His work in these areas has been mostly shocking. I accept that battling with his back to goal in front of defenders like Barnes isn't his game, but he could do an awful lot more to work the channels, and he would get to face the goal more if he did. I can't think of many occasions where he's been willing to do that, but whether that's down to his own reluctance or his instructions I don't know.

[Boss Hogg]

Doesn’t offer anywhere near enough for me. We were crying out for a proper striker in the last window. Rodriguez should have gone and Hountjonti was always a bit of a gamble that’s not looking promising so far.

[Big Vinny K]

He’s having an awful awful season.
And worryingly he’s getting worse every game at the moment.

Last weeks performance against Portsmouth was so bad that I was expecting him to be on the bench today. Unfortunately Flemming not playing means we have no other viable options.

I thought our failure to sign another striker was going to leave us short and we definitely look it right now. Hopefully we can stick around the top 6 until January and then go into the market. I can’t see any one team pulling away from what I have seen so far. We certainly don’t look like doing.

[Tricky Trevor]

Foster is an 8goals/season at max. striker. He doesn’t make striker runs in the box. When he receives the ball his body shape is wrong for that first touch strike that Shearer and Kane perfected. He needs to sit and watch videos of them two for hours to learn how it’s done but that maybe won’t help him as finishing comes naturally and he hasn’t got it.

[aggi]

Foster is probably the best striker in the league. Up to Parker and himself to really prove that now.

This kind of hyperbole is as bad as the "he's a pub player" stuff. There are players who have scored as many this season as he's scored in his whole Burnley career.

[RVclaret]

This kind of hyperbole is as bad as the "he's a pub player" stuff. There are players who have scored as many this season as he's scored in his whole Burnley career.

Irrelevant. Josh Maja is on a hot streak but he’s failed in pretty every other season. Foster was (close to, and sometimes actually) dominating PL cb’s 12 months ago so I’ll judge on who’s impressed at a far, far higher level.

[Vegas Claret]

His off the ball work is disappointing me in most games this season, not sure if it's under instruction from the manager or not.

[taio]

Irrelevant. Josh Maja is on a hot streak but he’s failed in pretty every other season. Foster was (close to, and sometimes actually) dominating PL cb’s 12 months ago so I’ll judge on who’s impressed at a far, far higher level.

No he didn't

[RVclaret]

No he didn't

He had something like 4 or 5 goals and 3 assists in his first 8 games, so I think you’ll find he did

[taio]

He had something like 4 or 5 goals and 3 assists in his first 8 games, so I think you’ll find he did

He didn't dominate PL centre backs.

[Rileybobs]

The best striker in the Championship has scored 2 goals in 17 appearances at that level.

[quoonbeatz]

Foster had some very decent games in the premier league. He isn’t the best striker in this division at the moment and has a lot to do if he wants to be on recent form.

[aggi]

Irrelevant. Josh Maja is on a hot streak but he’s failed in pretty every other season. Foster was (close to, and sometimes actually) dominating PL cb’s 12 months ago so I’ll judge on who’s impressed at a far, far higher level.

Foster played in two thirds of our games last season. If he'd been dominating centre backs we would probably have stayed up.

He had something like 4 or 5 goals and 3 assists in his first 8 games, so I think you’ll find he did

That sounds like a hot streak.

[Big Vinny K]

Irrelevant. Josh Maja is on a hot streak but he’s failed in pretty every other season. Foster was (close to, and sometimes actually) dominating PL cb’s 12 months ago so I’ll judge on who’s impressed at a far, far higher level.

‘Close to dominating’…….that makes no sense at all. Sounds a bit like those people who say “very average’ !!

Seriously though whilst I accept Foster played well for the first half a dozen or so games last season to say he dominated centre backs is just crazy. But irrespective of how he played for a few games a year ago he’s been nowhere near good enough this season. I think a lot of fans (me included) were prepared to give him some leeway after returning from his illness for his poor performances and form. In the same way when he first arrived in the January transfer window he was given leeway for joining a new team, new country, new league etc.

I’m not writing him off yet (little point given our options) but it’s now more hope than expectation. If you take a step back and look at his time at Burnley he’s basically played well in half a dozen or so games in nearly 20 months. And even more concerning this season Foster is playing poorly every single game and against teams that were in division one last season. That’s a hell of a long way from “dominating” some of the best centre backs in the world !!

[taio]

We obviously all want Foster to improve, but there is simply no sensible justifation to suppot a view that he's the best striker in the Championship and, even more so, that he dominated PL centre halves.

[kentonclaret]

Adebayo was far more impressive for Luton last season than Foster was at any stage for Burnley, netting 10 times from just 27 matches. This season he has played 7 matches and simply can’t buy a goal.
If Foster was dominating PL centre halves last season and finding the back of the net regularly he wouldn’t be playing for Burnley in the Championship.