Five thoughts about the Foster era

On defence, attack and enjoying myself

Apologies for the lack of newsletter updates in recent weeks. It’s been a hectic start to the year for me – and what hope has there been of keeping up with the relentless schedule?

What’s more, I enjoyed writing some of the analytical and statistical deep dive pieces so much (and they were very well read and received – thank you) that doing post-game analysis has seemed less appealing.

I didn’t start One Team In Devon to do match reports; it was more to try and bring more creative writing and thoughts around Argyle. So bear with me while I try to increase the frequency of that.

What’s more, with Foster so new and the team in transition, I’ve held back from making and sharing too many opinions.

In fact, the draw against Coventry was my first in-person game under Foster and felt like a great time to put down some learnings. I was also at Leeds and had to slightly temper elements of this piece.

1. Organisation transformed

Out of possession organisation has been a huge focus for Foster – something he’s made clear in his communications. And the fruits of that are clear.

Pre-Foster it was easy to carve Argyle open at the back, playing balls between the CBs or down the sides. By and large, those gaps have been closed with precise positioning and operating as a defensive unit. Both Coventry and Leeds were largely nullified, and the latter were reduced to just two shots on target.

Communication seems to have increased noticeably, with more chatter, pointing and gesturing emanating from senior members of the team.

In our statistical breakdown of the Schumacher era, we talked about the huge numbers of penetrating through balls despite playing a low block.

It’s clearly a work in progress. Coventry were able to spring traps throughout the game, particularly the chance that led to Godden missing an open goal in the first half.

However, we seem to have temporarily reverted to being the architects of our own downfall once again. It was a huge problem under Schumacher – playing expansive football yet succumb to some howler in front of goal. While now we seem largely defensively resolute, it’s still happening. Nearly every goal conceded over the Sunderland, Coventry and Leeds games (7 in total) can be attributed to some kind of self-foot-shooting.

How that’s stamped out, I have no idea.

By introducing so many new players – and a rookie manager – are we pre-disposed to repeating early season mistakes all over again? The last minute Coventry equaliser certainly felt like that.

2. Attacking play is not as fluid…but for a reason

The good news about the Foster era is that we are still scoring goals. Foster’s Argyle have not yet blanked have blanked just once, and scored first the last three away games. They have also found ways to score from set pieces, perhaps mitigating a slight drop in open play creation.

At home, we have scored three against Cardiff and two against Coventry. So there’s no evidence that goals are drying up.

There seems to have been some online rankling about our attacking style under Foster. But it comes down to one word: Azaz.

The chasm left by Azaz is huge. Devine (by his own admission) has not yet stepped to the plate – and at this stage I’m not sure he’s even a natural fit in the #10 role whatever his personal ambitions are.

That said, Devine had a good game against Coventry, and I think there’s lots to come. Even against Leeds, I loved his close control in tight areas, but once he'd spread play to one of the wingbacks, he seemed to disappear.

Look at Azaz smashing in worldies for Boro (above), and you can see we’re not even close to replacing his quality.

Then add Bundu’s fitness and Gyabi finding his feet – and Callum Wright seems to be out of the picture entirely after the cup game for whatever reason.

Foster clearly likes Waine’s pressing capabilities for our out-of-possession work, but he’s not a huge threat. If only he could have got on the end of that cross against Leeds.

It’s a lot for Hardie and Whittaker to carry.

I’m not sure we’ll see the true attacking potential of Fozball until next season. This term will be about staying up, then building back from a solid foundation. I honestly believe that the ceiling under Foster is higher than under Schumacher.

3. Azeez was the missing piece

As Femi Azeez banged in two goals for Reading on the weekend we stuttered to defeat against Sunderland, it was a case of ‘what could have been’ for Argyle.

It was widely reported that Argyle planned to pry the youngster from Reading in January.

The recruitment team clearly felt that he was the right fit for investment and could have paid a fee that could easily have eclipsed Whittaker/Mumba.

It didn’t happen – and we should trust the recruitment team that they didn’t choose to throw money at a backup option. But with Bundu out – and limited attacking options – how much is that looking like the missing piece right now?

4. We’re going to be fine

We’re in an insanely tough run of games right now, and they come thick and fast. Not only that, we’re playing more than our rivals (because of the FA Cup replay and extra time) and our games seem to be falling to offer less recovery too.

The dropped points against Coventry couldn’t have been more annoying, given the (expected) blank against Leeds. Then we have West Brom, Boro and Ipswich.

However, we outplayed Coventry, and it shows we can give anyone a game at home. In fact, it’s important to remember that the Leeds game was the first game we’ve lost at home since 7 October.

March sees the pendulum swing back. Wednesday, Blackburn, Preston (H), Bristol City (H) all see the chance to accumulate points.

Three wins before the end of the season should be enough. We have seven home games and we’re better placed to pick up something away – and I think we will.

We’re (probably) going to be fine.

5. I’m having fun

Talking to a Leicester-supporting workmate, he intimated that I might not be enjoying this season, based on our league position.

It occurred to me that couldn’t be further from the truth.

While last season’s white-knuckle ride to the title is something I might not experience again in my lifetime, this has been a special season to support the club.

We’re treated to watching perhaps the best player ever to have pulled on the shirt – and Azaz (RIP) and Hardie won’t be far behind that conversation either. And we could reminisce about the likes of Devine and Phillips when they are playing for England in the future.

We’ve not only come up against quality opposition week-in-week-out at Home Park but also entertained. And we’ve played in the right spirit and done things the right way.

COYG