Ben Foster Beware …
Are these the last days of Edwin Van Der Sar’s automatic right to be regarded as United’s number one goalkeeper?
The 37 year old is currently recovering from injury and his convalescence will have been punctured by regular news stories hailing the emergence of Ben Foster, who has performed well on loan at Watford and is regarded as a United star of the future.
The News of the World reports today that United will underline 23 year old Foster’s importance to the club by improving his contract.
“I understand the club are ready to reward me for the progress I have made,” Foster revealed. “I’ll be sorry to leave Watford but United is my club and I’m ready to go back. I’m looking forward to it and my sole focus is in getting the first-team job - that’s what the last couple of years out on loan have been all about.”
Foster, though sheepish after conceding that goal against Spurs, is not lacking in confidence. He has made it clear that if he is to head back to Old Trafford, it is not to play second fiddle to the ageing EVDS, who he plans to relegate to the United’s substitutes bench.
“I think Edwin has been awesome this season,” he said. “It’s going to be a difficult time next season getting him out of the way. Getting into the United team and getting past Van der Sar would be a massive achievement. Being Manchester United’s No 1, everyone would expect you to be England’s first choice as well.”
Foster has won the backing of former England great Peter Shilton, who urged Sir Alex to make the youngster United’s number one, so as not to derail his progress.
“After getting a boost of playing well at Watford, I wouldn’t like to see him go back to United and be stuck in the reserves, “ said Shilton, who won 125 caps with England. “Ben Foster has been the form keeper of the Premiership this season.”
Foster’s pedigree presents Sir Alex’s Ferguson with an opportunity to add yet more youthful promise to United’s rearguard next season but is bad news for Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. The ex-West Brom sticksman was recruited on loan during the close season, with a view to a near £3 million permanent signing this summer. In his few first team performances, Kuszczak has looked a competent shot-stopper. However, against Middlesbrough and Bolton, he seemed nervous in dealing with crosses and was grievously at fault in the Riverside game. The Pole would need a run in the first team to gauge whether he has the confidence, the authority and the reliability to compete with Foster but his recent mistakes could not have been more ill-timed.
All the available evidence suggests that United’s future between the sticks belongs to Ben Foster. But amid the new contract celebrations, the loan star would do well to consider the examples of Tim Howard, Fabien Barthez and Mark Bosnich and remember Sir Alex’s ruthlessness with keepers who fail to measure up to Peter Schmeichel’s imposing legacy. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2007
