Source: Daily_Mail
Ben Foster ready to party if Birmingham beat Arsenal
Ben Foster, Birmingham's England goalkeeper, not only wants to win the Carling Cupagain, this time he wants the post-match party to go with it.[LNB]Foster was Manchester United's cup final hero two years ago, famously saving a penalty from Jamie O'Hara after doing his research on Tottenham's penalty takerson an iPod seconds before the shoot-out at Wembley began.[LNB]It should have been the start of something special for him at United, but instead it marked the beginning of the end and he played only 11 more Premier League games before Sir Alex Ferguson sold him to Birmingham last summer.[LNB] Cup hero: Foster saves Jame O'Hara's penalty in United's Carling Cup final win over Spurs[LNB]Looking back, Foster accepts he was probably too laid-back to thrive in the win-at-all-costs mentality he says pervades Ferguson's United.[LNB]'You are expected to get to cup finals and big events every single season at United,' said Foster, 27. [LNB]'There was nothing in way of a celebration after winning the Carling Cup, absolutely nothing. It was straight on the train, go home, training the next day.[LNB]'All the other lads bought into how things were done. It was mad, a different world. I was the only one thinking, 'Jeez, this is worth celebrating'. It won't be the same here if we win. God, no. If we win the cup, we'll be celebrating!' [LNB]Foster's natural dislike of the intensity at United might indicate why Ferguson thought it right to let him leave in a ?6million deal last summer.[LNB]So far, the move has worked for both parties. Foster is a regular No1 inthe Premier League and pushing Joe Hart for the England spot, while Ferguson can scour Europe looking for obsessively driven keepers to succeed Edwin van der Sar.[LNB] Fresh start: Foster has no regrets about leaving United for Birmingham[LNB]'I didn't care about leaving United, to be honest,' said Foster. 'People said I wasleaving the biggest club in the world but I just wanted to enjoy my football.[LNB]'It was win at all costs. If you draw, it is the end of the world. Even if you win 1-0, people think you should be thumping teams 5-0. It was too much, ridiculous.[LNB]'Even training was intense. You'd see tackles flying in and scuffles all the time in practice matches. It would mean everything to players like Gary Neville. That's the way he was and why he has been so successful. [LNB]'Yeah, I'd like to look back at things I've won but in my life that's not the main thing. Myfamily and kids are. [LNB]'I switch off when I'm not playing or training. I love to win, but United is anotherstep up the ladder of mental toughness and the feeling that winning is everything.'[LNB] Let Cesc lift the trophy, say Arsenal team-mates ahead of Carling Cup finalBirmingham boss McLeish hails 'superb' Ferguson ahead of Wembley finalFrom his own album, the snapshots that reveal the real McLeishAll the latest Birmingham news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Joe Hart, Gary Neville, Edwin Van Der Sar, Ben Foster Places: Birmingham, United Kingdom, Europe
