United News
Foster's a wanted man
DARREN Patterson says he's delighted that player-of-the-year Luke Foster is attracting interest from other clubs.
And although he wants to keep the 22-year-old centre back, who has had an outstanding season, Oxford United's manager says he would not stand in the way of any player who is ambitious to further his career if an offer came in for him that was too good to turn down.
Championship clubs Cardiff City and Coventry City are reported to be keen on Foster, according to a national newspaper.
And this comes after Stoke City, a Championship outfit on the verge of promotion to the Premier League, cast their eye over the former Sheffield Wednesday trainee on Tuesday night, when the U's beat Rushden in their last home game of the cam- paign.
Patterson said: "I'm delighted that clubs out there are showing an interest in him.
"He's worth a few bob because he's been outstanding this season, and he's learning and improving all the time.
"He's highly valued by me and is a big part of my plans for next season, but you have to be realistic and if someone put in a bid - a substantial bid - that was too attractive to turn down, of course we'd have to consider it."
Patterson says the club's management are honest with all their players, and if a serious offer comes in, they inform the player.
But there's no suggestion that either Coventry or Cardiff have yet made an offer, or even intend to.
The fact that Foster is getting noticed is no bad thing though, Patterson believes.
And he wants people at Oxford who have the ambition to move on.
"I want players with the desire to get us out of this league and with the desire to kick on," he said.
"We've got players who are just happy to be here, and that's not the kind I want."
Foster seems certain to continue alongside Barry Quinn in what is expected to be a largely unchanged side at Ebbsfleet United tomorrow in United's final Blue Square Premier game of the season.
The U's are tenth, and they will leapfrog over ninth-placed Ebbsfleet by beating them.
Although it's been a good end-of-season run, currently four straight wins, Patterson admits the final league table will still make sorry reading.
"Tenth position is not good enough, we need to be in the play-offs at least," he stressed.
"It's important we finish on a high, and in good spirits, and we want to take that on into next season."
7:57am Friday 25th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Steve Barker, Aylesbury on 8:19am Fri 25 Apr 08
[italic]Patto - he would not stand in the way of any player who is ambitious to further his career if an offer came in for him that was too good to turn down[/italic] .
That is just typical....another player of the season looks like getting poached, why not keep him if we can. How many times have we had quality players leave us and we carry on bumbling along. Keep him and let him help us get out of this league.
Patto - he would not stand in the way of any player who is ambitious to further his career if an offer came in for him that was too good to turn down .
That is just typical....another player of the season looks like getting poached, why not keep him if we can. How many times have we had quality players leave us and we carry on bumbling along. Keep him and let him help us get out of this league.
Posted by: Jezza, Hertfordshire on 8:48am Fri 25 Apr 08
Stve, I think its actually your opinion which is more narrow-sighted.
We're non league and will be for at least one more season. Players want to play in the most competitive league they can. Foster has the opportuniy to go to the champioship if this happens it will alert other players to the fact that Oxford can help them to progress if they have the right attitude. If we stand in his way it will discourage talented players from joining us.
Stve, I think its actually your opinion which is more narrow-sighted.
We're non league and will be for at least one more season. Players want to play in the most competitive league they can. Foster has the opportuniy to go to the champioship if this happens it will alert other players to the fact that Oxford can help them to progress if they have the right attitude. If we stand in his way it will discourage talented players from joining us.
Posted by: crowey, rickmansworth is turning yellow on 9:08am Fri 25 Apr 08
i love this from DP:
"I want players with the desire to get us out of this league and with the desire to kick on," he said.
"We've got players who are just happy to be here, and that's not the kind I want."
How true is this? Spot on, in my opinion.
i love this from DP:
"I want players with the desire to get us out of this league and with the desire to kick on," he said.
"We've got players who are just happy to be here, and that's not the kind I want."
How true is this? Spot on, in my opinion.
Posted by: Andy, Cowley on 9:14am Fri 25 Apr 08
Looks like the Player of the Year Curse strikes again!!
I fully expect him to leave.
Looks like the Player of the Year Curse strikes again!!
I fully expect him to leave.
Posted by: Simon, Cheshire on 9:30am Fri 25 Apr 08
I wouldn't worry lads these are just rumours. He's a half decent player but to be honest its not been hard to look good playing for Oxford United this season has it! He could maybe go up into league 2 but he hasn't got a chance of playing in the Championship.
I wouldn't worry lads these are just rumours. He's a half decent player but to be honest its not been hard to look good playing for Oxford United this season has it! He could maybe go up into league 2 but he hasn't got a chance of playing in the Championship.
Posted by: rumbler on 9:57am Fri 25 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Steve Barker[/bold] wrote:
[italic]Patto - he would not stand in the way of any player who is ambitious to further his career if an offer came in for him that was too good to turn down[/italic] . That is just typical....another player of the season looks like getting poached, why not keep him if we can. How many times have we had quality players leave us and we carry on bumbling along. Keep him and let him help us get out of this league.[/quote] Yep, that's right - because any ambitious young player would REALLY want to help out a club which stood in the way of Premiership football.
"that is just typical"? You tool.
Steve Barker wrote:
Patto - he would not stand in the way of any player who is ambitious to further his career if an offer came in for him that was too good to turn down . That is just typical....another player of the season looks like getting poached, why not keep him if we can. How many times have we had quality players leave us and we carry on bumbling along. Keep him and let him help us get out of this league.
Yep, that's right - because any ambitious young player would REALLY want to help out a club which stood in the way of Premiership football.
"that is just typical"? You tool.
Posted by: The Daddy, Cowley on 10:25am Fri 25 Apr 08
Jim Smith has some serious egg on his face right now....
Jim Smith has some serious egg on his face right now....
Posted by: Ian on 11:59am Fri 25 Apr 08
The coaching staff at Oxford have turned a player fit only for non-league football into one that is seen as being good enough to play in the Championship. Well done to Jim Smith, Patterson and Lewis.
The anti-Jim Smith and Patterson brigade are probably incapable of managing their own lives... and really should concentrate on passing a GCSE.
The coaching staff at Oxford have turned a player fit only for non-league football into one that is seen as being good enough to play in the Championship. Well done to Jim Smith, Patterson and Lewis.
The anti-Jim Smith and Patterson brigade are probably incapable of managing their own lives... and really should concentrate on passing a GCSE.
Posted by: Ed Ruddick, London on 12:39pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Jim hasnt got any egg on his face! If he played him he most probably wouldnt be the role model professional that Darren now believes he has come.
If we get 500K for the fellow, its going to be very hard to turn down. Its just important that if we do sell, we get another 2-3 players to fill some more gaps
Jim hasnt got any egg on his face! If he played him he most probably wouldnt be the role model professional that Darren now believes he has come.
If we get 500K for the fellow, its going to be very hard to turn down. Its just important that if we do sell, we get another 2-3 players to fill some more gaps
Posted by: benox, Banbury on 12:59pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Unfortunately its just the situation we're in whereby we have to sell our best players if a big club comes along. Its only fair to Foster who has been so good since signing for us. To stand in the way of people bettering themselves is only going to have negative consequences for us signing other young players.
Unfortunately its just the situation we're in whereby we have to sell our best players if a big club comes along. Its only fair to Foster who has been so good since signing for us. To stand in the way of people bettering themselves is only going to have negative consequences for us signing other young players.
Posted by: The Daddy, Cowley on 1:40pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Jim Smith would have let him rot in the reserves (if we had any) and villified him in public if I recall, then played Arthur Gnohere ahead of him. Need I say more?
Jim Smith would have let him rot in the reserves (if we had any) and villified him in public if I recall, then played Arthur Gnohere ahead of him. Need I say more?
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:44pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:46pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Look at it from Foster's point of view,
An offer if any will come once the season is over, and by then he will know if he is being approached by a club playing in the UEFA cup next season and Championship football at the very least!!
decision made i think, and who would blame him??
Posted by: Steve, Witney on 2:48pm Fri 25 Apr 08
SORRY for the multi post, my computer is slower than me on a friday!
SORRY for the multi post, my computer is slower than me on a friday!
Posted by: OUFC, Oxford on 5:31pm Fri 25 Apr 08
STAY FOSTER NEED TO KEEP THE BEST PLAYERS WE HAVE AND IF WE DONT WE MIGHT AS WELL BE PLAYING IN CONFERENCE SOUTH. STAY STAY STAY.
good hopes for next season if we keep players like foster matt green adam murray and all the others that have come in with patto.
richards also looked a decent player.
STAY FOSTER NEED TO KEEP THE BEST PLAYERS WE HAVE AND IF WE DONT WE MIGHT AS WELL BE PLAYING IN CONFERENCE SOUTH. STAY STAY STAY.
good hopes for next season if we keep players like foster matt green adam murray and all the others that have come in with patto.
richards also looked a decent player.
Posted by: YM on 6:08pm Fri 25 Apr 08
Career wise I think Foster is better staying another season, he could struggle in a league side, Preimership bound Stoke City are said to be interested, can he seriously make that jump?
But in all honesty if someone bigger comes in, how can we stand in his way, he will get no thanks for staying, good luck to him I say, hope he stays, but wish him well if he moves on
Career wise I think Foster is better staying another season, he could struggle in a league side, Preimership bound Stoke City are said to be interested, can he seriously make that jump?
But in all honesty if someone bigger comes in, how can we stand in his way, he will get no thanks for staying, good luck to him I say, hope he stays, but wish him well if he moves on
Posted by: Mackrello, 880-136 on 10:53am Sat 26 Apr 08
Enjoyed reading the very healthy debate about this issue here and without starting to sound boring it is a joy here without the anti patto brigade. Luke Foster good season, and Oxford utd couldn't and shouldn't stand in his way if a bigger club comes in. However In the higher tiers of British Football today big money is very accessible. Luke foster may well excel in a higher league, the kind of football being played in the BSP is totally different from the championship for example, therefore if he was to go we should be asking for a six figure sum with add ons, he is still young after all and that would be good value for us i believe.
Enjoyed reading the very healthy debate about this issue here and without starting to sound boring it is a joy here without the anti patto brigade. Luke Foster good season, and Oxford utd couldn't and shouldn't stand in his way if a bigger club comes in. However In the higher tiers of British Football today big money is very accessible. Luke foster may well excel in a higher league, the kind of football being played in the BSP is totally different from the championship for example, therefore if he was to go we should be asking for a six figure sum with add ons, he is still young after all and that would be good value for us i believe.
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