Foster setting realistic targets
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Galway United are unbeaten on their travels to date, seven games into the new season. Indeed, were we to include the latter part of last season, Galway have only lost twice in 16 league games since a fateful night in Cobh last August. After their most recent successful road trip, which sees them now sit in third place, Ian Foster refuses to get carried away by their position and realises the need to stay focused on the task at hand; keeping the club in the Premier Division.
Foster expressed the thinking behind the introduction of goalscorer Declan Edwards before revealing that he has set his side specific points totals for each of the four nine-match series.
"It’s a game that I thought we could get something out of, so I thought I’d just chuck another body up front, match them up and see what we can get. Fortunately, Declan’s had one of those nights where he’s got hold of everything. His passes were crisp and he thoroughly deserved his goal at the end.
"It’s a massive result for us. It’s against a team that’s going to be in and around us all season so it’s great to have that 10-point cushion on them at the moment.
"It’s not about us being near the top. We’re being realistic and it’s about getting points on the board for us. We have certain targets for the nine games and we’ve reached the first one, so we can now go and enjoy the games against Shamrock Rovers and Cork City."
The youngest manager in the League also confirmed that full back Seamus Conneely's injury is not a serious one and that he was happy with how David Cooke had performed on his first start for the club this season.
"Seamus just had a slight groin injury from Tuesday’s game. To be fair to Seamus, he wanted to play tonight, but I just can’t risk injuries at this moment in time, for the sake of one game. We’ve left him out and he’ll have a week’s rest and be available for selection against Shamrock Rovers.
"Sean(Kelly) went back and did a job for me the other night and did well. It was an opportunity to bring David Cooke into the team as well. He’s been unfortunate not to start any games for us till now. He struggled in the first 10 minutes just to get his legs and that happens when you haven’t started. He’s got into the game, though, and played a massive part in the victory tonight."
Foster expressed the thinking behind the introduction of goalscorer Declan Edwards before revealing that he has set his side specific points totals for each of the four nine-match series.
"It’s a game that I thought we could get something out of, so I thought I’d just chuck another body up front, match them up and see what we can get. Fortunately, Declan’s had one of those nights where he’s got hold of everything. His passes were crisp and he thoroughly deserved his goal at the end.
"It’s a massive result for us. It’s against a team that’s going to be in and around us all season so it’s great to have that 10-point cushion on them at the moment.
"It’s not about us being near the top. We’re being realistic and it’s about getting points on the board for us. We have certain targets for the nine games and we’ve reached the first one, so we can now go and enjoy the games against Shamrock Rovers and Cork City."
The youngest manager in the League also confirmed that full back Seamus Conneely's injury is not a serious one and that he was happy with how David Cooke had performed on his first start for the club this season.
"Seamus just had a slight groin injury from Tuesday’s game. To be fair to Seamus, he wanted to play tonight, but I just can’t risk injuries at this moment in time, for the sake of one game. We’ve left him out and he’ll have a week’s rest and be available for selection against Shamrock Rovers.
"Sean(Kelly) went back and did a job for me the other night and did well. It was an opportunity to bring David Cooke into the team as well. He’s been unfortunate not to start any games for us till now. He struggled in the first 10 minutes just to get his legs and that happens when you haven’t started. He’s got into the game, though, and played a massive part in the victory tonight."
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile