Who Will Back Up Keller? FSC Article

[CyphaPSU]

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/3469690_44_1.jpg

Read Article (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/3469406)

An article by Sean Wheelock on who will back up Keller in the US goal now that Friedel has retired. There is also a poll on the site.

I feel Howard should be the back up, but that is as of right now. I love his pure athleticism and reaction-save ability, but I still am a bit weary of his control of crosses into the box.

Our goal keeping situation past Keller seems very dynamic of late. I also think Hahnemann really should get a chance, as well, since he's been doing a decent job between the posts for Reading this season.

What do you think and why?

[Indiana Jones]

http://msn.foxsports.com/id/3469690_44_1.jpg

Read Article (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/3469406)

An article by Sean Wheelock on who will back up Keller in the US goal now that Friedel has retired. There is also a poll on the site.

I feel Howard should be the back up, but that is as of right now. I love his pure athleticism and reaction-save ability, but I still am a bit weary of his control of crosses into the box.

Our goal keeping situation past Keller seems very dynamic of late. I also think Hahnemann really should get a chance, as well, since he's been doing a decent job between the posts for Reading this season.

What do you think and why?


There IS NO PROBLEM. There is great depth in USA goalkeepers so whoever the #2 or #3 is they will be strong no matter what.

[ur_land]

I don't think it's being presented as a problem. It's a tough choice b/c we have so much talent at teh position. And I would go with Cannon. Let the Euros stay with their club teams rather than come over to sit the bench.

[FWSCKEEPER]

I agree that Cannon is the suitable replacement for now , and maybe the future. He IS solid. Good decision making and very good shot stopper. He is also in MLS asd ponted out and playing with the Nats right now will not hurt his standing.
I don't know enough about Hanneman to form an opinion, other than he is doing a hell of a job @ Reading.
Timmy is interesting. I hope his confidence is back , it appears to be. He is definitley the most dynamic of the three , but he needs more time, he is only 26. He relies on his sheer athletic ability and not his head ( not a bad thing when you can do the things he does), I do think he has the best upside of the 3.

You can throw Walker on the short list also.
Never again speek of Rimando and the Nats in the same sentence again.

I think it has to stop there. I don't see the great Goalkeeper depth in our guys that most of you do. Our guys don't see the same kind of Competition at a younger age. we don't deal with the crosses as well as the euros . I could be of on this , thats just kinda what I see. However we are Extremely athletic and Great shot stoppers.

[Davids26]

Does anyone else cringe when they hear the name Sean Wheelock? I know he loves the game, but out of the visible soccer personalities in this country, I can't think of one positive thing to say about his TV work or his writing.

[appoo]

Howard, he's got the most talent. He might fumble a cross every so often but he gives us the best shot to stop goalsbehind Keller right now. And he might the #1 sooner rather than later if he continues to improve through the end of the Utd season

[swilso01]

Never again speek of Rimando and the Nats in the same sentence again.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Adam Zebrowski]

I agree howard is the guy...

he does have wcq experience, and the upside to his talent is a key...

as long as howard plays reasonably well, and frequently enough, I say, go with him...

by the time autumn hex rolls around, 2 or 3 hex matches, given usa has clinched would be my approach

[brianzappa]

Does anyone else cringe when they hear the name Sean Wheelock? I know he loves the game, but out of the visible soccer personalities in this country, I can't think of one positive thing to say about his TV work or his writing.

Yeah, I'm with you. When he's not sitting on the fence or being a blatant mls homer, he ends up changing where he stands later on anyway.

[FirstStar]

I agree that Cannon is the suitable replacement for now , and maybe the future.

You can throw Walker on the short list also.


Too much hair, both of them. Baldness is the secret of our success.

[Adam Zebrowski]

being bald at night is an especial advantage, as trhe glare off the reflecting lights is known to blind on-charging forwards...

[swedust]

I believe it is important to remember that the question is not "Who is the second-best USMNT keeper?" but "Who is the best candidate to be USMNT #2 keeper in Germany 2006?"

These questions don't necessarily provide the same answer.

If the quality of each candidate's play remained exactly the same in the next 12 months as in the last 12 months, I would say that Tim Howard is the answer to the first question (second-best), but that Hanneman (sp?) or Cannon is the answer to the second question (#2 in 2006).

Though it's a long, long way out, I agree that Howard sure seems like the heir to the #1 spot for 2010, but I think that the #2 keeper's role is not very compatible with how Howard has been playing in the last 12 months. I see the #2's qualities being reliability first and leading-edge skill second.

With that said, I agree that Howard has up-side in spades. If he can convert his flashes of brilliance into consistent excellence in the coming months (or really, turn his occassional blunders into rare lapses), then for sure he's #2.

Lastly, I don't care one way or the other, but are those DC Utd. fans that are bashing Rimando, or Metro fans?

[purojogo]

Sorry to interrupt, but as much as i hope Howard shines with ManU, i feel the whole time he's been back (what 3-4 games?) he has not yet been challenged enough the way he was earlier this season and late last season (when he made mistakes)... So as long as we don't seeHoward overcoming (with his play) the kind of opponents that will threaten his goal (i feel Newcastle in their present form or Arsenal -if they get there -could test him better than what he's faced so far), i'm just not sold yet... Only after about 5-10 more games can we know for sure if he's "gotten over the hump" and whether we can speak of him and the NT again with the same confidence IMO.... Let's not forget he has also looked shaky a couple of times with the USNT.... I just want to be sure he's gotten over things before even considering if he is worthy of the #2 spot....

[socks]

keller doesnt need backup. he never gets hurt. he is always on point. absolutely anyone would be fine as long as they're skinny and don't take up much bench space

[Ismitje]

Maybe it's time for Arena to get that second cap . . .

[Minnman]

Does anyone else cringe when they hear the name Sean Wheelock? I know he loves the game, but out of the visible soccer personalities in this country, I can't think of one positive thing to say about his TV work or his writing.

The last person I want opinions from re: US soccer is Sean "Deep Thinker" Wheelock.

[Haole]

I've seen more of Tiho on '60 Minutes' than Fox Sports.

Give us something to go on first.

[SeattleSupporter]

Hahnemann
Howard
Cannon

in that order....

[cleansheetbsc]

Never again speek of Rimando and the Nats in the same sentence again.




...and Zach Thorton? Sean probably has in his FSC contract that he needs to write 1,500 each week and Nick and Zach probably added 150 words to get him over the top.

In the same article that he talks that Tim Howard's spot as #2 is being challenged because of lack of regular playing time, he thows in the name Zach Thorton. Dude WAS good, but he hasn't played in a competitive game since what, 2003? But Sean feels that he is in the mix. Sean, maybe we can throw in D.J Countess' name next time.

As for the rest of the article, he speaks of Howard's lack of confidence. It was lack of hands at critical moment, not confidence that got him benched. That and too much David Silvestre, not enough Rio in front of him.

As for the #3 Keeper at WC 2002, on pure talent Howard goes over Meola. Don't think there are too many arguments there. But, it has been discussed before, the #3 keeper at the World Cup is a useless position. Sort of a David Regis with a pair of gloves, if you will. Useless, unless you bring a veteran like Meola who had been to 3 previous cups. Howard was best left to spend some time playing for the Metros back then.

Finally, when can we take Kevin Hartman of this list of potential backups. The guy has been a bridesmaid sooo many times, yet he is ultimately passed over by ANYONE else in camp when gametime comes. Hard to take him seriously as a candidate

[the Next Level]

Finally, when can we take Kevin Hartman of this list of potential backups. The guy has been a bridesmaid sooo many times, yet he is ultimately passed over by ANYONE else in camp when gametime comes. Hard to take him seriously as a candidate

Never thought about that. Very true.

You would think he would've gotten a game against Colombia