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Ian Foster says criticism from Plymouth fans and calls to get him sacked is ‘not fair’

Ian Foster says criticism from Plymouth fans and calls to get him sacked is ‘not fair’ after suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Preston.

The Pilgrims head coach expressed his disappointment at a certain section of the club’s fans with the weekend’s result being the four consecutive home defeat without managing to score a single goal.

In two of these defeats, against Preston and West Brom, Argyle failed to even have a shot on target, while they also only managed one shot on target in their loss to Leeds.

It’s worth saying that this is Foster’s first managerial role at a club side in England, after previously managing the England Under-19s, and was recently Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

He was appointed by Plymouth in January, following the departure of Steven Schumacher, and had a promising start with the Championship outfit, staying unbeaten in his first five games.

But since their defeat to Leeds in the FA Cup fourth round, the team has only managed one win and one draw in their last nine league matches. As a result, they are now just three points above the drop zone.

“I get the frustration, I get it, I do,” Foster said to BBC Radio Devon.

“If they want to turn their frustrations onto myself that’s fine. Does it help? Not really. It doesn’t help me, it doesn’t particularly help the players either because we’re all one team.”

“If you look back to January you’re in the running for manager of the month, you’re going to halfway though March and they want you sacked,” he added.

“Is that football? Perhaps it is. Is it fair? I’m not sure it is to be perfectly honest.

“The supporters pay their money and they have every right to voice their opinion, the only way we can turn things around is by winning games of football and I get that.

“One thing I can assure supporters is that we’re desperately trying hard to do that, and you can see that from the players in terms of their attitude and application through the game.

“I’m a football fan myself, I get fans’ frustrations, and there’s not a great deal I can do about it other than turn the results around.”

“We know what the job is, the job is to stay in the division, that’s never changed,” Foster added.

“Is it easy? Is it hell. Would it be nice to have the fans’ support? Of course it would, but I appreciate that perhaps the fans haven’t seen the best of my team at Home Park and I get their frustrations and it’s my responsibility to turn that around.

“We’ll be desperately trying our hardest to do that, it’s unfortunate the reaction we got today.

“Myself personally, my family are in the stadium as well so it’s not particularly nice for them to have to hear that, but that’s just the life of a football coach.”

“There are two big moments in the game. Their goal, we’re disappointed with in terms of the manner of how we defended it. Then, the ‘penalty’ at the other end; it’s a clear foul on Ryan Hardie. The referee’s right there and decided not to give it, which is a blow to us.

“We’re desperately trying to pick up points in this division; today was an opportunity for us to do that. It’s a game, possession-wise, that we’ve dominated, but unfortunately for us, we just haven’t created the chances that would have put us in a position to get points from the game.

“We didn’t deserve to go in behind. It wasn’t a game we were suffering in at any point. We were in control of the game without creating the obvious chances, so bitterly disappointed at half-time to go in behind.

“We just haven’t managed to create the chances that we ought to have in the second half. That’s my responsibility to do that. The players are trying; they’re working hard, they fought to the final whistle, and will continue to do that. I’m sure if we do, we’ll continue to pick up points.”

Foster switched Lino Sousa on for Mickel Miller at left wing-back, and then took off central defender Julio Pleguezuelo to bring on attacking midfielder Alfie Devine.

Explaining the switches, Foster said: “Mickel’s was an injury. He picked up a knock in the first half. During half-time, he thought he was well enough to continue, but he just felt it early in the second half, so we had to make that change with Lino.

“The shape change was to try to overload them in central areas and create chances. It was something that we did up at Blackburn that worked for us. Unfortunately for today, we’ve not managed to get that opportunity to get the equaliser.

“We’ll try and find a way of getting a result in the next game, which is the most important thing for us.

“We’re all desperately disappointed with today’s results. The buck stops with me. I take responsibility for that. The players continue to work as hard as they possibly can and are desperate as we all are to get results for the club. We know how important it is.”

This is the reaction on Twitter as Ian Foster says criticism from Plymouth fans and calls to get him sacked is ‘not fair’…

@kernowils: He knows the jig is up.

@sam_horswell: Feel a bit sorry for him, clearly out his depth. Do yourself and the club a favour and walk mate.

@Bunneydane1981: I don’t think it’s fair that we pay our hard earned money to watch his boring football – he’s turned one of the most attacking exciting teams in the championship into absolute dross. He can take his opinion back to Saudi

@Resurgam96: Why did we give a guy who’s never managed before , and knew his career was dead so went to Saudi Arabia, a 3-4 year contract? Madness from the club

@steveclegg70: He has to go and go now, if he’s allowed to stay any longer we will go down, it’s as simple as that, I can’t see Schumacher being at Stoke much longer so get him back at the club doing what he was doing before.

@leftinlanson: Results being matched by a near unwatchable playing style. I’m happy to back the players, but the manager is something else. #pafc

@ACosmicGrief: That section known as Blocks 1-20 😬

@GreenArmy46: Time to go!!

@RogGorst2: Why is he still in the job???….

@_jackolani7: That’s nice, Foster Out.

@ZER0INTENNIS: It’ll cost less to sack him than it will to be stuck in league one again.. Get it done.

@reecemoore613: Bit late to start taking ownership now, should have realised this after game 3, get out of our club

@loucey83: Sections? try 98% of the fan base

@Aaron_B05: I feel bad tbh, it’s not nice but we are not playing well at all. I wanted him to do well but it’s too late now, I fear this job is just not for him..

@crazybrit28: Get him out before we drop to league 1 mate of mine from pompey said hes cheap awful option so true he avoided Devonport end goes to Lyndhurst and they say same well done guys ATID #Fosterout

@CMpafc: ‘We are all one team’ the players don’t even like you 😴

@GrahamRees1982: Foster is why out of his depth. The football he’s playing is dire and boring. It’s just like watching England under Southgate in my opinion. No shots on target in 360 minutes that’s un heard of under previous manager’s.

@davies360401: According to some bloke who spoke to security, the Foster family left Home Park in tears tonight due to the chanting. He was chastising us for it but it just proves Foster’s lack of experience. This happens at every club in the country, get used to it.

@iamchungo: Of everything that he’s “declared”, “promised”, “assured” etc so far, he’s produced- nothing. He certainly shouldn’t need to say “he’s going to work hard”. Every employer expects every employee to work hard.

@davies360401: Simply switch back to attacking football and scrap this Southgate defensive 5-4-1 crap. It’s how the squad was set up and this drastic change has them all over the place. If he switches, we’ll get behind him.

@StansburyDarren: Applause for the players who can’t pass a fucking parcel. That’s not on the manager is it. What is, is continually picking players who offer absolutely nothing, sticking with said players after they’ve given the ball away continuously by not changing it at half time, insanity

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