Foster has expressed his respect for Sky Blues manager Mark Robins and deputy Adi Viveash, who was the Pilgrims’ manager at Kidderminster Harriers.
Ian Foster, the head coach of Plymouth Argyle, has stated that his team must be merciless in front of goal if they are to defeat sixth-place Coventry City at Home Park tomorrow night in their Championship match.
Mark Robins, the long-serving Coventry manager, and his assistant Adi Viveash, who was Foster’s teammate at Kidderminster Harriers during their playing days, are both greatly admired by the manager.
In their last nine league games, Coventry has won six and drawn two. On Sunday, they overcame Millwall 2-1 at home thanks to strikes from American striker Haji Wright, who scored the opening goal from the penalty spot.
Continue reading: Jordan Houghton boosts Argyle’s fitness for their Coventry match.
Try Plymouth Live Premium now to enjoy engaging puzzles, no advertisements, and new features.
Foster stated: “They are playing excellently. I anticipate a really difficult game. When I was coaching the England under-20s, I watched Coventry a lot.”I spent some time at the training ground with Mark and Adi, who I know very well because we were team mates in the past. Callum Doyle and Brooke Norton-Cuffy were part of the Coventry squad who represented England.
“What they (Robins and Viveash) have accomplished over a period of years at the club has truly pleased me. They are incredibly sad not to be managing at the top level, and since they are some of the best players in football, I hope they do get the chance.”
Foster went on, “We’ve completed our game plan. We are aware of the places where they can harm us. Their front line is really strong.
“They just gained quality; Wright is playing really well right now, and (Ellis) Simms is a threat. O’Hare is very good at breaking lines both with and without the ball in the 4-2-3-1 configuration (Callum), so it will be difficult for us, but we have found weaknesses in their game that we believe we can take advantage of.
We are aware that opportunities may be scarce, so if we want to win all three points, we will need to play with extreme ruthlessness and seize them when they present themselves. We are eagerly anticipating it.”
Between 2012 and 2014, Foster coached with Coventry’s under-18 and under-21 teams in his first coaching position in this country. Callum Wilson and James Maddison, future England internationals, were present at the time.
“We had a season (playing home games) at Northampton, and it was funny times at Coventry,” he remarked. In a city with just one football team, I have had the good fortune to work for three different teams.
“I’ve held positions with Coventry, Portsmouth, and Argyle. When it comes to Argyle and their fanbase, they are really similar in that they are ardent supporters of the team and won’t back anyone else.
“I do remember my time at Coventry with fondness. While I was at the club, I discovered a great deal about coaching and myself, as well as what it’s like to be immersed in the Football League, the games programme, and all that goes along with it.
“I was quite fortunate there was a really healthy group of young players at the club at the time who have gone on to great things, the likes of Callum Wilson and James Maddison are two who have gone on to full international honours, which is great.”
Foster was Coventry’s manager for a brief period of time until Robins took over, and the former Manchester United striker eventually left to join Huddersfield Town in 2013.
Foster declared: “I truly have a great deal of respect for Mark. His career, in my opinion, has occasionally gone unnoticed. Upon examining his Coventry career during both stints, he has accomplished remarkable feats. so’s odd that he doesn’t often get connected to other clubs, although I’m sure the Coventry supporters won’t appreciate me saying so.”
Argyle will host three Championship games in seven days starting with this one against Coventry. On Saturday, Leeds United will visit, and on Tuesday, West Bromwich Albion will play at Home Park.
Following a home FA Cup replay against Leeds, the Pilgrims played back-to-back away league games against Swansea City and Sunderland. Foster commented, “I think it does help in terms of how hectic the schedule is,” in reference to the possibility of three straight home games coming up. Having just finished a physically and mentally taxing 120-minute game (against Leeds), your longest trip is probably the last thing you need.
“We prepared really well, we knew it was coming, and we took it all in stride. It is a bonus that we are playing three straight games for multiple reasons. The trip is undoubtedly one, as we are exhausted and have a full schedule, but there is also the huge Home Park audience for us.”
