Adin should definately start in 2006. Friedel or Keller could be around as a number 3 like Meola was this year, but Brown and Howard will be the top 2. Unless Rimando, Thornton, Jordan, or Countess develops, which won't happen. Brown is better than Howard not only because of his size and strength in the air, but he is actually quicker and a better shot-blocket than Howard also. he had to do a lot more this season, and only gave up one soft goal this year, unlike Sommer, who gave up about five a game.
Non-believers. He won't be better than either Keller or Friedel then, certainly not. But Adin brown is the future. Oh yes. *maniacal laugh*
No way will Brown be the 2006 keeper. Howard is much more advanced in terms of shot stopping, coming off his line, distribution, and just plain athletcism. That said, neither one of these will be anywhere near the form of Keller and Friedel. Lets face it, the MLS is no where near the quality of the EPL. The potential move for Howard to Fenerwood will be a positive.
Yup, unless the young guys get their butts over to Europe, I really doubt that they'll have any shot at unseating Keller or Friedel. Really, I can't imagine that we'll see another goalie getting WC playing time until Kasey and Brad call it quits, which won't be until after 2006. Stranger things have happened, but it would be a surprise.
The Brown/Howard debate should be interesting...similar to what has been going on with Kasey and Brad the past few years...... I do agree that neither one will get a sniff of time in 2006.....Kasey and Brad will be 35-36...plenty left in the tank at that age... On the other side.....I would take Brown over Howard.....apparently that is what the coaches thought at the Olympics too.....
First Freller will be our #1 and #2 keepers at 2006 barring a horrible drop in form, ala Seaman. I don't think it will happen to both of them, but it might just happen to one of them. Second, this thread should be who will be our starting keeper in 2010. Third the comparison between Freller and Broward couldn't be more off. I can't honestly think of two goal keepers who bring completely seperate assets to the table than Broward. Brown is huge, tall, good on crosses, etc. Howard is short, lightening quick, great shot stopper, very athletic. They are like apples and oranges. Whereas Keller and Friedel are like two apples, just depends on whether you like Washington or Granny Smith.
Howard is 6'3" Brown is 6'5" Keller is 6'2" Friedel is 6'4" One is considering better with crosses....One is considered a superior shot blocker.......Both are considered great keepers... sounds the same to me.....
Between Keller and Friedel, whos better at what? I think Keller's a better shot stopper (plus he doesnt give up near as many rebounds), and better at crosses.
Shabs, the point of the post was to show the SIMILARITIES between drawing comparisons between Howard/Brown and Friedel/Keller...Those were/are the most common takes on the attributes of the four players.. If you want my opinion...I go with Keller and Brown everytime.....but, that doesn't mean I don't think Friedel isn't great...Howard, I'm still not sold on.....don't know why either....just something about his game I don't like.
Kasey and Brad will be the keeper in 2006. And I agree with Todd about Howard. I believe we both see him often, and while I like him very much, there is still something a little shaky about him to be a WC keeper. Brown I really don't see enough of.
I'm not even going to worry about who's starting in goal in 2006.I know we are heads and shoulders above anybody when it comes to depth at the keeper spot.I'm more concerned with who's gonna be the defenders in front of him.
Either Keller or Friedel are going to WC 2006, not both, not if Arena is still coach. No way is Arena gonna take both of them. I'm betting either one, then Howard and Brown, both of whom won't get a sniff of time unless something happens. Only logical and fortunate way they see time is if we win the first two games and they split the third game. Brown and Howard will be brough in for exposure. They'll have to duke it out for 2010, but who knows, maybe Rimando is unbelieveably good or Countess forms into a wall by then.
Could anyone see Doug Warren as a possible dark horse here? More than likely he'll be part of the Olympic squad.
Is it a given that playing in a higher level league is necessarily going to make a keeper a better player than someone playing in a lesser flight league? After all, if you put a keeper behind a better organized defense and overall team it could be argued that they are likely to have to do less, and thus their skills are less tested in each game. Granted you could argue that someone in a better league would have to be a better keeper initially to even earn the position, but at the same time I wonder if keepers aren't actually in better situations development wise playing on teams where much more is demanded of them. I think the reason Howard looks so impressive to me is that he was constantly forced this season to play a critical role in keeping the Metros in almost all of their games. By contrast I have seen Keller and Friedel in a few matches this season where they have had to do very little. I'm not standing by this argument, just throwing it out there.
With regards to only one keeper of Keller/Friedel on the US team because of Arena's choice, I say that is crap. He will take the two best keepers and the third one will be taken for some other motive. (See Fat Tony and his experience). Arena won't risk an injury or a red card and being stuck with someone he doesn't even view as his best option. That being said, I see the argument about the better defense. There is truth to that, but obviously, there are better attacking players. I guess what I am saying, is the difference in my mind between the EPL and MLS is the quality of nearly every player on the pitch. Which is why, in my mind it is a better test for being a solid keeper on the international level, because in international matches, more often than not, every player is quality (at least in the good countries). This translates to a shot coming from 20 or 30 yards out and potentially going upper 90. This translates into better crosses on corners. This translates into better creative passing. As a result, a keeper who is Premiership level is more fundamentally sound than an MLS keeper in terms of international play. I am not saying that in pure shot stopping ability Howard isn't as good as Keller or Friedel, because he definitely is athletic enough. It is just being positioned on every cross well. Knowing (and being right alot of the time) when to come off your line, etc. This is why in my mind keepers are better when they are closer to 30. It is just the repitition of making the right decision all the time. As a point of comparison, how many Beckham quality free kicks or crosses has Howard faced? Mathis is on his team, so I am sure Tim gets some practice in training. It is just the repitition of going against the best day in and day out. If you make a mistake, you learn, and you stop that mistake otherwise the club gets a better keeper. This I think is the main reason why we are all a bit skeptical about Howard. He is flashy, he is brilliant. So was Jorge Campos. Its those instances when he comes out when he shouldn't, its those instances when he takes risks that he shouldn't. That is what we all fear. Personally, I think when he turns 30 he will be fine. i don't have his age, but I know that makes him ready in 2010 and not 2006. The same is true with Adin. With him though he has always had the physical tools. It was just great to see him put together a great season for the latter part of the season. He has been on crap teams for a while. I don't think that helped his confidence out. We will see where he goes from here. But his performance over the last 3 months is just a hot streak. Do it over a two year period or longer and then we should really start talking.
Oh yeah, throw in the fact that he was sprawled out on Ruiz's goal, and you see why the physical tools mean so much. He almost got to Ruiz's shot with his toes.
The question is: Is a keeper really worth worrying over? Take a look at Senegal. They make it all the way to the quarterfinals of the World Cup with a nineteen-year-old keeper. What does this say about a good defense and the essentiality of a keeper? Just some food for thought.
True, but the United States has good keepers, so why not use them. True Sengal made it to the Quarterfinals with a 19 year old, but with the system that they played that worked. The United States has good keepers to their advantage, which is why a keeper is worth worrying about. The US plays to their advantage like any team.
Why would he bring both, to screw one over the other again? Gauranteed that if he decides to bring both, one will not go by his own decision. Keller won't sit the bench again, Friedel(who many agree had a good WC) won't want to ride the pine either. Therefore Arena makes the choice of who is better and only brings him. Howard and Brown would be perfect replacements for any "what ifs..." They'll have gone through many more games than now, both could be playing day in day out in Europe, so Arena doesn't have to worry about a worst option when all three keepers are sound.
My view from across the pond My vote in these circumstances goes to Tim Howard every time. I saw a TV advertisement for the MetroStars during one of their half-time breaks, and the compilation of Howard saves was pretty awesome stuff. I choose Joe Cannon over Adin Brown also, but thats probably becasue Ive seen more of him. One thing Ive said in other threads is that I envy the US' goalkeeping situation a lot. While talk over here says Russell Hoult could be in line for an England call-up (off the top of my head I cant really remember who he plays for, but it used to be Derby), the USMNT seem to have so many options as to who guards the net. I like Zach Thornton also (in a non-sexual way), but he doesnt even seem to be in the running. Has he got caps? Did he blow his chance or something? I dont really know this. Howard to Feyenoord would be a positive step, IF he recieves playing time. Does the Bruce get Dutch reserve games through his satellite dish? *ianwanley*
