Former England goalkeeper Ben Foster has praised West Bromwich Albion’s recruitment this season as being the cause behind the campaign we’ve had.
Sitting on 44 points and the magical 50 mark being in site, an eighth place finish has bouyed everyone, and speaking ahead of the tie against Leicester City at the weekend, Foster told the Birmingham Mail that for him the year we have had has been down to our ‘amazing recruitment’ in both windows and he feels head coach Tony Pulis should take the credit for that.
With it fair to say that some remain unconvinced with Pulis, despite the year we’ve had, many would point to his own words over the summer about not necessarily signing the players he actually wanted.
But you certainly can’t fault Foster for keeping the feel good spirits going when asked about what was the difference this season.
‘It`s got to be down to the players we have recruited. The manager in particular has done an amazing job in recruitment. You look at the players he has brought in this year – Matty Phillips, Jake Livermore. They have just added serious quality to the team – a real strong backbone.’
He wen on to say.
‘If you look at all the players in the team they are all of a similar sort of ilk. There is no real kind of flairy, out for themselves players that chuck their arms up if they don`t get the ball passed to them. Everybody knows their job, everybody gets on with it and that`s why I love coming into work every day.’
With Pulis being known over the years for getting the most out of more limited budgets, West Brom are on a run of three straight defeats and we are without a win in four but we continue to be well placed to finish the season strongly if we can get ourselves going again and Foster feels we have become easier on the eye as the season has drawn on, but clearly it’s about getting back to winning ways now.
‘I always say to people, if I was a chairman of a football team and I wanted them to get into the Premier League and stay there, I`d have Tony Pulis as my manager. He`s proven, he`s tried and tested and does exactly what he says on the tin. People sometimes might moan about it and say it`s a bit brash but it is what it is. This season particularly we`ve moved away from the lump-ball, get up and get behind it. The bit of flair we`ve added to the team, Matty Phillips for me has been absolutely amazing. He`s a joy to come and watch.’
Adding.
‘When he came back into the team against Watford he just lifted the place, he`s been absolutely fantastic. I think we`ve been playing some really good stuff this season.’
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