Huddersfield Town (A) Foster's Preview
Ian Foster sat down to face the press on Thursday lunchtime. At one point, he referenced the day in question, and had to take stock of exactly how long he had been at the helm.
The truth was it was some 30 hours short of the full-week mark, but such has been the busy start to life in the Home Park hot-seat, Foster could be forgiven for losing a little track of time.
From Friday evening, when his appointment became official, Foster had overseen a (winning) Emirates FA Cup tie against Sutton United, taken his first training sessions, officially met the world in his opening press conference, signed two players, not to mention getting his new squad prepared for an important trip to Huddersfield Town in the Sky Bet Championship.
“It's been exciting,” Foster told Argyle TV. “It's been a real pleasure to get to know the players on a personal level. We've had a lot of meetings, figuring out what we do well and how we can improve; a lot of meetings on how we want the team to play going forward, then taking that onto the grass, trying to implement our ideas ahead of Saturday's game.
“Alongside that, you've got the transfer window bubbling away in the background, and obviously we're pleased to get some boys over the line. I'm sure there'll be more comings and goings throughout the window.
“It’s a lot of plates spinning at the minute, but it's been it's been a really exciting week. Nothing like easing yourself into the job.. Thankfully, I've got no hair - otherwise I would’ve lost it all!
“Neil [Dewsnip] and Kevin [Nancekivell] prepared the team, picked the team, delivered all the tactics and principles for [the Sutton] game in terms of the shape of the team.
“It was really interesting to see those boys on the grass, and the ones that got on. There's other players around that I haven't seen in a game, but I've seen this week. It's been really positive.
“I think it’s important that I get my eyes on all the players as soon as we possibly can, so we can really assess not only the players that started the game at the weekend, but the depth to the squad and to see how I can help them, either on the grass or by bringing additional players into the group to supplement the team.”
Argyle played Huddersfield in the opening game of the 2023/24 season, winning 3-1 at Home Park. Since then, Huddersfield have changed managers, with Neil Warnock standing down, replaced by former Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore.
The Terriers are 21st in the Sky Bet Championship, three places and four points inferior to Argyle. Should Foster lead the Greens to victory at the John Smith’s Stadium, it would be Argyle’s first away game of the season – at Foster’s first attempt.
He is certainly putting in the hours in readying for the weekend’s opponents, with analysts Sam Morcom and Harry Powell also putting in a hefty shift to help prepare for what Huddersfield have to offer.
“I've had my eyes on them since Sunday,” said Foster, of Huddersfield. “The guys here gave me all the background information. It's been quite a long and arduous process in terms of asking the analysts to work how I work - and they've been brilliant all week. Absolutely fantastic.
“We were in at seven this morning going through today's meeting to make sure that it's delivered in the terminology I want it to be, with the language that I'll use in front of the players. We're enjoying the challenges of that. Saturday, and Huddersfield, will be a challenge too.
“I've seen Darren's teams over the years and know how committed they are. He's had a really successful managerial career thus far. Saturday's game will be very difficult. We go into it on a really poor run of away form, but that's a new challenge for us now; it's a fresh start. Hopefully we can just address that as quickly as possible.
“We showed the players this morning, there's no hiding place at the moment. We’re 23rd out of 24 on away from - and that's not good enough, because it doesn't half put an awful lot of pressure on your home form.
“We have to address that, but we won't panic, we won't do anything rash. Hopefully we can get three points at the weekend. I know how difficult that's going to be, but we need to start somewhere and hopefully it's in Yorkshire.”
