In the current moment the Premier League can be held at the top of Europe’s domestic leagues with the amount of cash inflows. And with prestige comes quality, Premier League has seen many good goalkeepers make their name through the performances – be it Petr Cech, Van Der Sar, Jens Lehmann, Peter Schmeichel and more. While the regular top 6 goalkeepers – City’s Ederson, Liverpool’s Allison, United’s De Gea, Chelsea’s Kepa, Tottenham’s Lloris or Arsenal’s Bernd Leno – make their name highlighted, very rare is the limelight casted upon the rest of the league goalkeepers.

Lukasz Fabianski is often rated for the number of saves he makes for West Ham, gathering his name on the Polish National Team too. Coming from the ranks of Arsenal, Fabianski had his name known prior but did Ben Foster. Now 36-year-old, Ben Foster has shown no signs of aging playing for Watford. His performance in the 17-18 season for West Bromwich led him to be selected for the English World Cup squad, but to make an appearance. His performance couldn’t land West Bromwich to safety but he grabbed a move for Watford for the 18/19 season for a fee reported to be worth 2.8 MIL Euros.

In the 18/19 season Foster made a total of 127 saves with 7 clean sheets. The performance which saw the team finish 10^th that season and also end up in the final of FA cup only to lose miserably to Manchester City. Also winning the London Football Awards Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019. While 19/20 season hasn’t been good so far for Watford, sitting in the relegation zone on 19^th position, early injuries played a part most into the starting of the season. Ben Foster has made 81 saves with 8 clean sheets of which 5 are wins.

Foster was picked up by Alex Ferguson to be a secondary goalkeeper to then Van Der Sar going on to loan to Watford where he won the League Playoff to be promoted to Premier League only to get relegated again which was seen as the highest points finish in the relegation of Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic. Foster then moved to Birmingham City for a reported 7 MIL Euro deal which couldn’t save them from relegation, in another high points finish missing out by just one point. He made 170 saves with 9 clean sheets.

Foster’s move to West Brom kick started a new life in the players life. Impressive performance, sealed him a permanent deal which even saw him get selected for 2014 World Cup squad, being the first player from West Brom to be selected in the English squad after 1970’s Jeff Astle. He became West Brom’s Player of the Season in 2011/12 and 2013/14 which he also won for Watford and Birmingham City in his previous tenures. His brilliant performance was efficient to keep West Brom until 2017/18 season.

Ben Foster is a great team player. Easily fitting among the team’s leaders, his motivation for his teammates is very clear on the field. From picking up player’s morale after any own goal to keeping them boosted up even after an undesired result. Not only are his works known on field but also off-field. He saved an old fan who fell in a ditch later after the Crystal Palace match. He invited the man for his Christmas party and even paid for his season ticket.

Ben Foster is just one of those good soul players whose performance have gone unnoticed and underappreciated. We hope that he keeps Watford safe from relegation this season. That’s it for this article on Underappreciated Players, will come back with another one later.

Cheers