Source: Daily_Mail
ASHWEDNESDAY: It's decision time for Foster - walk out of Old Trafford and into the England No 1 shi
When Gary Bailey replaced the great Alex Stepney as the Manchester United keeper, the first big test came in the 1979 FA Cup Final.
Flapping in the wind at Wembley in the final minute, Graham Rix's cross from the left sailed over his head, allowing Arsenal striker Alan Sunderland to score the winning goal at the far post.
It could be argued that he never fully recovered, rarely living up to the standards set by his illustrious predecessor - a European Cup winner with United in 1968 - and never quite making an impact at international level with England.
Bailey did fine at Old Trafford, but he was never United Class.
When he finished his playing career, he even admitted that he felt 'scared' when he ran out at Old Trafford, afraid of the consequences of another high-profile error at the world's biggest football club.
The future of English goalkeeping was flapping in the wind at the Stadium of Light last Saturday when Ben Foster, hero of the Carling Cup final shootout in March, made his first appearance of the season in the Barclays Premier League.
Keeping goal for the world champions is fairly straightforward these days, with the brief to catch a couple of routine crosses, smash a few goalkicks upfield and, in Foster's case, hurl the ball Schmeichel-style towards the feet of Carlos Tevez.
Concentration is key.
That was pretty much the way it was going on Saturday against Sunderland, palming over a vicious shot from that nice young man Djibril Cisse in the 37th minute just to be on the safe side.
So far, so good for Foster, between the posts for United for the first time in 41 days, given his chance because Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to give Edwin van der Sar the weekend off before this evening's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Porto.
That was until the second half, when he failed to read Teemu Tainio's cross from the left, pawing at the ball as it fell to the head of Kenwyne Jones, who did his level best to miss the chance to equalise for Sunderland.
The reaction of his team-mates tells any observer all they need to know about the standards which have been set at United by a succession of goalkeepers from Stepney to Schmeichel to the safe hands of Van der Sar.
To his credit, Foster admitted that it was his mistake, but it was an error that England's manager Fabio Capello will have been quickly been alerted to.
No one doubts Foster's potential, but playing for United is not an audition.
Although Ferguson is borrowing one of Arsene Wenger's philosophies, picking a team that will do 'just enough' to win in order to save the legs of others for more important matches in the future, Foster made a sizeable rick.
The United keeper had been on notice of his involvement with the first team, told early last week by The Boss of Bosses that he would be standing in for Van der Sar at the Stadium of Light.
He was pulled to one side, all this was revealed by Foster after their 2-1 victory, and told to study Sunderland's game in the build up, live the life of United's first team keeper and prepare just as Van der Sar would for such a crucial fixture.
Foster is highly-regarded, widely-recognised as a potential successor to David James in the national team, but he has made just seven appearances for United this season.
Last year, after recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, he made just one, in the gimme against Derby on March 15, 2008.
Irrespective of his talent, his performance at Sunderland last weekend will be enough for Ferguson to continue with Van der Sar, recently rewarded with a one-year contract extension, next season.
On that basis, Foster has a career decision to make.
Although he is to be offered a new contract this summer, along with young striker Federico Macheda, his chances of pushing Van der Sar for his place next season are remote.
Given his standing in the game - media, coaches and supporters are united in their admiration for his ability - there is also the possibility of playing in next summer's World Cup with England.
For that, he needs to be playing in the Premier League, just as he did when he spent a season picking the ball out of the net with Watford.
He emerged from that year at Vicarage Road with his reputation intact, despite the embarrassment of being beaten by Paul Robinson's goalkick at White Hart Lane, but at 26 he has some decisions to make this summer.
If he leaves Old Trafford, as he is entitled to do, the experience with another top Premier League club could yet force Capello's hand before the World Cup finals.
Given David James' current form, beaten too easily by Jonathan Greening and failing to pick out Chris Brunt's free-kick during the 2-2 draw with West Bromwich last Saturday, it is there for the taking.
Without the games, he cannot hope to add to the cap that he earned against Slovakia last month when he came on as a second half substitute for James at Wembley.
He could use Peter Shilton as his inspiration, a keeper who played 125 times for England and yet he spent his entire international career playing for unfashionable teams, Leicester, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Derby.
Walking away from Old Trafford is a big decision. It will also be the best one for his career.
