Foster defends "negative" tactics
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Galway United remain in the top half of the table following Friday night's loss at Terryland Park, a position far higher than was initially expected. Still, there was a distinct measure of disappointment in the nature of Friday's reversal, as defensive frailities, seemingly banished to the closet this season, hauntingly reappeared and put Ian Foster's side on the back foot early on.
Rovers, in boxing parlance, had caught United cold and knocked them to the canvass with a swift Baker-Twigg combination that has become an integral part of Michael O'Neill's improving side's armoury. The second punch was subsequently shown to be a low blow which the referee and his assistant failed to spot, but still, with 75 minutes left in the contest there was sufficient time for Galway to drag themselves off the floor.
They did so, but not until changes were made at half time, changes which many felt could have been made far earlier. Ian Foster was adamant that he was correct in keeping things as they were for the remainder of the half and refused to blame the 4-5-1 formation that had seen his side grab 12 points from their first seven games.
"It's a disappointing start to the game," Foster agreed afterwards. "Both goals are obviously avoidable. In those situations I think you need to get to half time, you know, and I didn’t want to make any rash decisions and change systems. It’s difficult to change a system from the dug-out and get your messages on to players and make sure that they know their jobs and responsibilities. That’s why we waited till half time. I was confident that we could nick a goal first half actually.
"Unfortunately we didn’t do that. Derek O’Brien should have scored from a Seamus Conneely cross and that would have brought us right into the game but he’s just headed that wide. You know, you can point a finger at the system, I’ll take full responsibility for it, but I believe that in that system we can get at teams and we are a threat and we have been."
United's tactic generally utilises Sean Kelly as a deep lying shield for the back four, with two marking centre midfielders and the pace of Derek O'Brien and Jay O'Shea on the flanks. It is obviously working on the road as Galway remain unbeaten away, but in front of home fans it maybe lacks the attacking urgency that is sometimes demanded from a home side. Foster, however, is keen to defend his formation.
"The system’s working, you know, the system isn’t to blame for me. When we play attacking football we can play it in that system as was proved here against Dundalk. We played that system for 90 minutes and that was good enough against a good team. We’ve played it in the Brandywell and got goals. There’s not many teams that have got more goals than us in this division. I would hasten to say it’s not down to that ultimately.
"We got Declan on because Declan’s been excellent and was unfortunate not to play. I wouldn’t put it all down to the system. People keep talking to me about negative systems, but I think going into tonight’s game there’s only two teams who have scored more goals than us."
When it was suggested that support for lone striker Vinny Faherty had been lacking in the first half, Foster outlined his reasoning behind not starting with a more gung-ho 4-4-2 style.
"That’s what happens when good teams put you under pressure and it’s difficult to get out. You’re gonna get that at times against the better teams in the division and people have got to appreciate that we are not one of the better teams in this division. We’re working hard to get there but it’s going to take time.
"I think you’ve got to appreciate that if we go hell for leather from the very first minute with 4-4-2, we’re very, very get-at-able. We have two very attacking wingers. At times we look 4-2-4. You’ve got to be in the game initially. At times when we have played 4-4-2, if you go back to pre-season and have a look, we are very get-at-able in a 4-4-2 formation."
The issue of referee Anthony Buttimer's performance, or lack of, drew a measured response from the 32-year-old as he outlined his beliefs on the influence of officials. It wasn't hard to see, though, that he had been disgusted by some of the decisions that went against his side on Friday night.
"I don’t want to stand here and have a pop at referees, I really don’t. They don’t hear anything from me on the pitch. I don’t get at them and I don’t let my players get at them. They’re fined heavily for dissent. Referees shouldn’t cost you games. It doesn’t help, though, when you get a performance like that from the referee. You can’t talk to them so there’s no point in trying. The third goal, which is the killer, is a simple decision to make between the linesman and the referee on the halfway line where the Shamrock Rovers player knocked it out, they get the throw in, it goes down the pitch, and they get a corner and score. The throw-in has not cost a goal but it’s led to it. It’s just silly individual errors from the referee and I don’t really want to say any more about it."
Rovers, in boxing parlance, had caught United cold and knocked them to the canvass with a swift Baker-Twigg combination that has become an integral part of Michael O'Neill's improving side's armoury. The second punch was subsequently shown to be a low blow which the referee and his assistant failed to spot, but still, with 75 minutes left in the contest there was sufficient time for Galway to drag themselves off the floor.
They did so, but not until changes were made at half time, changes which many felt could have been made far earlier. Ian Foster was adamant that he was correct in keeping things as they were for the remainder of the half and refused to blame the 4-5-1 formation that had seen his side grab 12 points from their first seven games.
"It's a disappointing start to the game," Foster agreed afterwards. "Both goals are obviously avoidable. In those situations I think you need to get to half time, you know, and I didn’t want to make any rash decisions and change systems. It’s difficult to change a system from the dug-out and get your messages on to players and make sure that they know their jobs and responsibilities. That’s why we waited till half time. I was confident that we could nick a goal first half actually.
"Unfortunately we didn’t do that. Derek O’Brien should have scored from a Seamus Conneely cross and that would have brought us right into the game but he’s just headed that wide. You know, you can point a finger at the system, I’ll take full responsibility for it, but I believe that in that system we can get at teams and we are a threat and we have been."
United's tactic generally utilises Sean Kelly as a deep lying shield for the back four, with two marking centre midfielders and the pace of Derek O'Brien and Jay O'Shea on the flanks. It is obviously working on the road as Galway remain unbeaten away, but in front of home fans it maybe lacks the attacking urgency that is sometimes demanded from a home side. Foster, however, is keen to defend his formation.
"The system’s working, you know, the system isn’t to blame for me. When we play attacking football we can play it in that system as was proved here against Dundalk. We played that system for 90 minutes and that was good enough against a good team. We’ve played it in the Brandywell and got goals. There’s not many teams that have got more goals than us in this division. I would hasten to say it’s not down to that ultimately.
"We got Declan on because Declan’s been excellent and was unfortunate not to play. I wouldn’t put it all down to the system. People keep talking to me about negative systems, but I think going into tonight’s game there’s only two teams who have scored more goals than us."
When it was suggested that support for lone striker Vinny Faherty had been lacking in the first half, Foster outlined his reasoning behind not starting with a more gung-ho 4-4-2 style.
"That’s what happens when good teams put you under pressure and it’s difficult to get out. You’re gonna get that at times against the better teams in the division and people have got to appreciate that we are not one of the better teams in this division. We’re working hard to get there but it’s going to take time.
"I think you’ve got to appreciate that if we go hell for leather from the very first minute with 4-4-2, we’re very, very get-at-able. We have two very attacking wingers. At times we look 4-2-4. You’ve got to be in the game initially. At times when we have played 4-4-2, if you go back to pre-season and have a look, we are very get-at-able in a 4-4-2 formation."
The issue of referee Anthony Buttimer's performance, or lack of, drew a measured response from the 32-year-old as he outlined his beliefs on the influence of officials. It wasn't hard to see, though, that he had been disgusted by some of the decisions that went against his side on Friday night.
"I don’t want to stand here and have a pop at referees, I really don’t. They don’t hear anything from me on the pitch. I don’t get at them and I don’t let my players get at them. They’re fined heavily for dissent. Referees shouldn’t cost you games. It doesn’t help, though, when you get a performance like that from the referee. You can’t talk to them so there’s no point in trying. The third goal, which is the killer, is a simple decision to make between the linesman and the referee on the halfway line where the Shamrock Rovers player knocked it out, they get the throw in, it goes down the pitch, and they get a corner and score. The throw-in has not cost a goal but it’s led to it. It’s just silly individual errors from the referee and I don’t really want to say any more about it."
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