Foster - "Desperate for a good start"
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
FOR A man forced to lower his expectations the second after stepping off the plane in Shannon in January, Galway United manager Ian Foster remains remarkably optimistic.
Wage bills at the Premier League club have been drastically slashed, a part-time system has been re-instigated and it would be reasonable to mistake most of the squad for an U20 side, such is its youthful flavour.
But with an unbeaten pre-season now in its wake and plenty of eye-catching individual performances throughout, Foster and his side have no reason to assume they will once again be battling for scraps at the wrong end of the table this season.
“I think we’ve got plenty of numbers right the way across – defence, midfield, attack – the balance is right,” Foster said, speaking after Galway’s final pre-season tussle, a 1-0 victory over cross-town First Division side Mervue United at Terryland Park on Friday night.
“It (the League) will be very competitive across the board; I think Bohs and Derry will be outstanding again looking at their squads from a distance. But when you come down the league, I am looking about where we’ll get points and you can pick up points off most of the other teams, particularly here if we’re at it.”
The new faces would almost out-number the old ones in the changing room this season. Former centre-half Alan Keane turned down a contract last month to head north to Sligo, and ex-captain John Fitzgerald’s departure to Australia sees a new defensive mix with new signings Shane Guthrie and Garry Breen likely to start in the centre half roles – an imposing sight for any opposition attack with both being well over six foot.
Promising right back Seamus Conneely remains on deck, while the left back spot still appears up for grabs, although Iarfhlaith Davoren has been ear-marked as custodian for now, while under-19 Irish representative Sean Kelly is on loan from Cork and another defensive option.
A direct swap has seen Barry Ryan installed as Galway ‘keeper, while Gary Rogers has departed for Ryan’s former St Patrick’s Athletic home.
The squad is ripe with midfielders, namely Irish under-23 representative and new captain Jay O’Shea, vice-captain John Russell, along with Derek O’Brien, who returns to Galway from St Pat’s, university student David Cooke, who was last with the club two seasons ago, Englishman Michael McGrath and a host of others.
Up front Vinny Faherty would appear the first choice striker, while Jason Molloy and 19-year-old Declan Edwards wait in the wings.
“I’m about where I want to be (with the squad),” Foster said.
“I’m not going to lie, the budget is very, very tight and it’s attracting Irish boys to come across to Galway, never mind from anywhere else. People have got to want to come to Galway to play because they’re not coming for anything else, there’s no big wage packet here for anybody.
“One thing we have got on our side is Premier League football, there’s only nine other clubs who can offer it. There’ll be no squads, like Drogheda last year had 30 players, no one will have that, so they’ve got to be realistic the boys about what sort of money they’re going to be getting.
“I’ve not had to beg anyone to come here, they can see what we’re trying to do and they can see the way we want to play, they can see the players that are already at the football club and that’s how I’ve sold it to them.”
Week one brings them face-to-face with what many could construe as a foe in former manager Jeff Kenna, who left the club on the brink of pre-season to join St Pats. Foster harbours no ill-feelings towards his former colleague though and insists they remain firm friends, believing the players would not be out to prove anything either.
“They’ve got nothing to prove to Jeff,” he said. “He knows what they’re all about and they all worked their socks off for us last year and I’m sure they’ll do it again this year.”
His satisfaction with the squad could not be curtailed either, praising their efforts in training and their dedication to a schedule which is as hectic as last season.
“Some of them have got jobs, some of them are at university,” he said.
“If they can’t do it for work commitments or university commitments, that’s fine. I’ve got to see them as much as I can, I’ve been very selfish asking them to come in and to be honest, they’ve been in and they’ve worked their socks off.”
He said he has not given the side a points target, but unsurprisingly is adamant not to repeat the mistakes of the past which have seen United notoriously struggle at the start of the season and at home.
“Yes I’m desperate to start well, yes I’m desperate to get the home form, I mean it was October last year before we won a home game, that can’t happen again,” he said.
“I am desperate to put those things right, I’m desperate for a good start.”
Wage bills at the Premier League club have been drastically slashed, a part-time system has been re-instigated and it would be reasonable to mistake most of the squad for an U20 side, such is its youthful flavour.
But with an unbeaten pre-season now in its wake and plenty of eye-catching individual performances throughout, Foster and his side have no reason to assume they will once again be battling for scraps at the wrong end of the table this season.
“I think we’ve got plenty of numbers right the way across – defence, midfield, attack – the balance is right,” Foster said, speaking after Galway’s final pre-season tussle, a 1-0 victory over cross-town First Division side Mervue United at Terryland Park on Friday night.
“It (the League) will be very competitive across the board; I think Bohs and Derry will be outstanding again looking at their squads from a distance. But when you come down the league, I am looking about where we’ll get points and you can pick up points off most of the other teams, particularly here if we’re at it.”
The new faces would almost out-number the old ones in the changing room this season. Former centre-half Alan Keane turned down a contract last month to head north to Sligo, and ex-captain John Fitzgerald’s departure to Australia sees a new defensive mix with new signings Shane Guthrie and Garry Breen likely to start in the centre half roles – an imposing sight for any opposition attack with both being well over six foot.
Promising right back Seamus Conneely remains on deck, while the left back spot still appears up for grabs, although Iarfhlaith Davoren has been ear-marked as custodian for now, while under-19 Irish representative Sean Kelly is on loan from Cork and another defensive option.
A direct swap has seen Barry Ryan installed as Galway ‘keeper, while Gary Rogers has departed for Ryan’s former St Patrick’s Athletic home.
The squad is ripe with midfielders, namely Irish under-23 representative and new captain Jay O’Shea, vice-captain John Russell, along with Derek O’Brien, who returns to Galway from St Pat’s, university student David Cooke, who was last with the club two seasons ago, Englishman Michael McGrath and a host of others.
Up front Vinny Faherty would appear the first choice striker, while Jason Molloy and 19-year-old Declan Edwards wait in the wings.
“I’m about where I want to be (with the squad),” Foster said.
“I’m not going to lie, the budget is very, very tight and it’s attracting Irish boys to come across to Galway, never mind from anywhere else. People have got to want to come to Galway to play because they’re not coming for anything else, there’s no big wage packet here for anybody.
“One thing we have got on our side is Premier League football, there’s only nine other clubs who can offer it. There’ll be no squads, like Drogheda last year had 30 players, no one will have that, so they’ve got to be realistic the boys about what sort of money they’re going to be getting.
“I’ve not had to beg anyone to come here, they can see what we’re trying to do and they can see the way we want to play, they can see the players that are already at the football club and that’s how I’ve sold it to them.”
Week one brings them face-to-face with what many could construe as a foe in former manager Jeff Kenna, who left the club on the brink of pre-season to join St Pats. Foster harbours no ill-feelings towards his former colleague though and insists they remain firm friends, believing the players would not be out to prove anything either.
“They’ve got nothing to prove to Jeff,” he said. “He knows what they’re all about and they all worked their socks off for us last year and I’m sure they’ll do it again this year.”
His satisfaction with the squad could not be curtailed either, praising their efforts in training and their dedication to a schedule which is as hectic as last season.
“Some of them have got jobs, some of them are at university,” he said.
“If they can’t do it for work commitments or university commitments, that’s fine. I’ve got to see them as much as I can, I’ve been very selfish asking them to come in and to be honest, they’ve been in and they’ve worked their socks off.”
He said he has not given the side a points target, but unsurprisingly is adamant not to repeat the mistakes of the past which have seen United notoriously struggle at the start of the season and at home.
“Yes I’m desperate to start well, yes I’m desperate to get the home form, I mean it was October last year before we won a home game, that can’t happen again,” he said.
“I am desperate to put those things right, I’m desperate for a good start.”
