Marcus Hahnemann starting

[Sportman77]

...for Reading next year??

So what does everyone think? Will Reading get a new keeper for the Premiership next year, or will the American get the nod?

[Mr. Bee]

Considering how poorly he performed and how many goals he conceded in the championship, I think they have no choice but to release him and find somebody better. Maybe DJ Countess is available. They can only hope.




























:confused:

[passtheblizz]

I think he is under contract for another year looking for a three year deal or something. He is one of the fan favorites and a HUGE reason they have been doing well. The coach also seems to like him a lot. I fully expect him to play.

[zanderbz]

I'm sure they will make changes to improve the squad in order to compete. But in this case I think they stick with the horse that got them there. I look forward to watching Marcus and BC in the premiership next year.

[LittleMaradona]

I think you're in the wrong forum.

[Captain10]

Now ... if you're making a case for Marcus starting for the US in the World Cup, that's a different thing. I'm a big Keller fan, but based on Hahnemann's performance in the Championship, he's got a good case for challenging for the starting role. The tie breaker is experience and Keller's got the edge on that.

What it means to me, however, is that if Keller was injured in one of the games, I would have full confidence in having Marcus step in. And there's absolutely no reason for even remotely thinking Howard is our number 2 keeper right now.

[Shackleton]

And there's absolutely no reason for even remotely thinking Howard is our number 2 keeper right now.

You mean apart from the fact that Arena said in summer or fall of 2005 that Howard is our number 2 keeper? :confused:

You and perhaps even I think Howard should not be our number 2 keeper, but absent an Arena quote or clear preference in playing Hahnemann over Howard in games, there's good reason to think that he still is our number 2.

[Soccernethost]

You mean apart from the fact that Arena said in summer or fall of 2005 that Howard is our number 2 keeper?

Well, given Reading's year, and the comparison of Hahneman vs Howard over the last 12 months I think you could make a pretty persuasive case that things might have changed even in the absense of a quote from Arena.

[DiscoWarrior11]

You mean apart from the fact that Arena said in summer or fall of 2005 that Howard is our number 2 keeper? :confused:

You and perhaps even I think Howard should not be our number 2 keeper, but absent an Arena quote or clear preference in playing Hahnemann over Howard in games, there's good reason to think that he still is our number 2.
A year ago, I think Arena had full confidence in Zavagnin as a solid back-up D-mid and Johnson as one of our starting strikers for the WC... a lot of things change in a year. I mean a year ago, would we have really thought that Dempsey would be this far ahead of someone like... Gaven... okay that may be stretching it but still...

[Mr. Bee]

And there's absolutely no reason for even remotely thinking Howard is our number 2 keeper right now.

You want to have a reason, I mean seriously? (Not that I 100% agree with it, but, hey...)

Since the 2002 World Cup, Hahnemann has been capped the same number of times as Johnny Walker and Jonathon Spector. He's been capped even less than Chris Rolfe!

He hasn't played a game with the NT in 7 months.

He has never played on the USMNT with any of the defenders that we will be taking, with the possible exception of Hedjuk (and Pope? Can't remember).

I mean, we're discounting Spector because of lack of NT experience, he's played more recently than Hahnemann has.

Howard looked rock solid against Poland in an "A" level friendly. He has nearly 3 times the international caps, 6 times the international shutouts. He's played behind every single defender we are taking to Germany, many of them multiple times.

So... there's that.

[cleansheetbsc]

A year ago, I think Arena had full confidence in Zavagnin as a solid back-up D-mid and Johnson as one of our starting strikers for the WC... a lot of things change in a year. I mean a year ago, would we have really thought that Dempsey would be this far ahead of someone like... Gaven... okay that may be stretching it but still...

Hell 9 months ago, Arena thought Chris Armas could take a penalty kick.

[cleansheetbsc]

He has never played on the USMNT with any of the defenders that we will be taking, with the possible exception of Hedjuk (and Pope? Can't remember).

I mean, we're discounting Spector because of lack of NT experience, he's played more recently than Hahnemann has.



He played a half versus NZ in '03 - Gibbs was on the field (his 1st cap).

[Mr. Bee]

He played a half versus NZ in '03 - Gibbs was on the field (his 1st cap).

Thanks, had forgotten. 2003 was many, many beers ago for me.