View Full Version : Who is the best Keeper in the PL? Where does Howard rank? [R]
sidefootsitter
11 Nov 2006, 10:59 PM
If you mean Robert Green of West Ham, no team will sell their starting keeper half way through a season, especially one who was only signed in August and therefore on a long contract. Carson is currently on loan.
Dave216J
11 Nov 2006, 11:12 PM
One man's opinion - trying to divide into truly world class, excellent, solid starter, and could be improved as divisions...
Top tier:
Cech
Lehmann
Given
Second tier:
Van der Saar
Robinson
Reina (not lately, but class vs. form)
Niemi
Jaaskeleinen
Friedel
Third tier:
Howard
Sorensen
Schwartzer
James
Green
Foster
Cudicini
Fourth tier:
Harper
Carroll
Carson
Weaver
Hahneman
Kirkland
Kenny
Interestingly, a lot of the imports near the top - something you might expect from a flair position but that surprises me for keepers. Robinson is the only English starter that I can imagine between the nets for a team like Chelsea where they wouldn't buy a new keeper in the next window (that's my "gold standard" for clearly-defined quality).
For those of you wondering how that last post relates to the EPL...
If you can't even qualify as one of the top 3 American keepers, how can you qualify for a discussion of best in the EPL?
Clearly Keller, Freidel, Hahnemann, and I would also put Reis up there, are all better than Howard.
Not to mention you all passed over such keepers as Neimi, Sorenson, Schwarzer, and Ian Walker (who I think is the most udnerated keeper in england).
How can you tell me Howard, who regularly rid the pine is in the top 5 of the EPL? That's ludicrous.
What does he have, 1 game verse Arsenal and everyone goes on about how great he is? Or are you going to tell me he's good because he has a low goals allowed average in a very low scoring defensive league...
If he were not American you would not be thinking about the guy right now.
Pretty much spot on amazingly enough. I'd also say Cudicini, Robinson and a fit Given are also better 'keepers than Howard. So, based on this season's form, I'd say Howard is pretty middling in the standard of Premiership 'keepers. Which, if you think about it, is a significant improvement.
mschofield
12 Nov 2006, 03:47 AM
Pretty much spot on amazingly enough. I'd also say Cudicini, Robinson and a fit Given are also better 'keepers than Howard. So, based on this season's form, I'd say Howard is pretty middling in the standard of Premiership 'keepers. Which, if you think about it, is a significant improvement.
And something we forget. It is an improvement and great news for US soccer.
Even Howard's "best in prem" year was marred by the fact that by the end of it, he was on and off the bench after the CL disaster. The vote took place in February, and the results were mocked by the end of the season.
He looks steadier, more in control, right now. Being a great keeper isn't about being athletic, but if you learn the rest (the most important stuff, reading the game, positioning, mostly) it helps you reach an elite level.
Howard has played well this season, hasn't hurt Everton (top 10, will challenge for europe), has helped them, deserves to their starting keeper, and will likely earn a permanent deal (if ManU sell, which I guess they will, but based on no info). Everton look like they'd be very happy to have him, at least.
And that is pretty impressive.
former baller
12 Nov 2006, 05:57 AM
And something we forget. It is an improvement and great news for US soccer.
Even Howard's "best in prem" year was marred by the fact that by the end of it, he was on and off the bench after the CL disaster. The vote took place in February, and the results were mocked by the end of the season.
He looks steadier, more in control, right now. Being a great keeper isn't about being athletic, but if you learn the rest (the most important stuff, reading the game, positioning, mostly) it helps you reach an elite level.
Howard has played well this season, hasn't hurt Everton (top 10, will challenge for europe), has helped them, deserves to their starting keeper, and will likely earn a permanent deal (if ManU sell, which I guess they will, but based on no info). Everton look like they'd be very happy to have him, at least.
And that is pretty impressive.
Well said!
Ceres
12 Nov 2006, 07:35 AM
...and then the official Actim EPL rankings (so far this season) :
http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=actimTop100
.
lmorin
12 Nov 2006, 07:36 AM
Drum roll--and the answer is--Edwin van der Sar. Howard ranks #4, at least as of last week according to the Actim Index (http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=actimTop5&type=Goal%20Keeper).
Juan Luis Guerra
12 Nov 2006, 10:04 AM
I live in New York City, ( proud to be a new yorker) and i have to tell you that last week I spoke to a group of English tourist. We were all making a line at Red Lobster restaurant in 41st street in Time Square. I asked them what do they think about Tim Howard and said the following:
"greeeeaaaaaat keeper"
"Excellent"
"the best thing in England for the past 20 year"
"Very atletic and veery intelligent". When he played for Manchester he was still learning how to play in the Premier league. Now he has the potential to be the best keeper in the world".
The last tourist said " dont expect him back in New York for a long time. Also, he is very happy in England. He is a great guy too".
So this is what English fan think about Tim Howard.
Juan Luis Guerra
12 Nov 2006, 10:12 AM
Drum roll--and the answer is--Edwin van der Sar. Howard ranks #4, at least as of last week according to the Actim Index (http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=actimTop5&type=Goal%20Keeper).
thanks
when i started this post, I placed Tim among the top 3, but he is top 4, no bad at all. So i was not far away from the truth. I guess some people here need to change their prescribe lens/glasses ASAP and maybe start using binoculars. Tim is super great. No doubt about it.
Placid Casual
12 Nov 2006, 10:54 AM
"Very atletic and veery intelligent". When he played for Manchester he was still learning how to play in the Premier league. Now he has the potential to be the best keeper in the world".
So this is what English fan think about Tim Howard.
Don't make quotes up. 99.99% of English people would not say "when he played for Manchester"
Can you guess why?
dark knight
12 Nov 2006, 11:13 AM
thanks
when i started this post, I placed Tim among the top 3, but he is top 4, no bad at all. So i was not far away from the truth. I guess some people here need to change their prescribe lens/glasses ASAP and maybe start using binoculars. Tim is super great. No doubt about it.
I doubt most neutral, knowledgeable viewers would agree with you - and Friedel is better than Timmy at this point.
was a friendly jab/joke at you and Wahoo anyway...:D ;)
I'm not quite as dumb as I look.
thanks
when i started this post, I placed Tim among the top 3, but he is top 4, no bad at all. So i was not far away from the truth. I guess some people here need to change their prescribe lens/glasses ASAP and maybe start using binoculars. Tim is super great. No doubt about it.
So Actim ratings are the sole purveyors of truth? :rolleyes:
dark knight
12 Nov 2006, 11:15 AM
Don't make quotes up. 99.99% of English people would not say "when he played for Manchester"
So you are saying they do fly to NYC and go to Red Lobster?!?
Placid Casual
12 Nov 2006, 11:23 AM
So you are saying they do fly to NYC and go to Red Lobster?!?
It is every English persons dream to eat at Red Lobster.
Juan Luis Guerra
12 Nov 2006, 11:53 AM
Don't make quotes up. 99.99% of English people would not say "when he played for Manchester"
Can you guess why?
Since when I lied to you before???????????????????????. Sorry, but I dont lie.
fix your post
El Steve
12 Nov 2006, 11:54 AM
Allow me to translate.
"Outside of 30% of Prem keepers, how many of the other 13 are alot better than Howard?"
Yeah, essentially... I was making the statement... which I would put as above-average to good, as opposed to mediocre...
Which was the entire arguement I was going for, though I kind of went over the top in wordage.
appoo
12 Nov 2006, 11:56 AM
c/s ;)
Keepers better than Howard in the premiership:
1. Lehman (Gunners)
2. Healthy Cech (Chelsea)
3. Van De Sar (Manure)
3. Shay Given (Geordies)
4. Friedel (Blackburn)
5. Reina (Liverpool)
then Howard
Reina?? no way.
Cech
----------------
Lehman
VDS
----------------
Jussi
Foster
Howard
Freidel
Given
-----------------
the rest
Placid Casual
12 Nov 2006, 12:18 PM
Since when I lied to you before???????????????????????. Sorry, but I dont lie.
fix your post
And yet you quote something that an English person would not say........
superdave
12 Nov 2006, 02:43 PM
Reina?? no way.
Cech
----------------
Lehman
VDS
----------------
Jussi
Foster
Howard
Freidel
Given
-----------------
the rest
Niemi has impressed the hell out of me this year.
Matt Clark
12 Nov 2006, 05:00 PM
I live in New York City, ( proud to be a new yorker) and i have to tell you that last week I spoke to a group of English tourist. We were all making a line at Red Lobster restaurant in 41st street in Time Square. I asked them what do they think about Tim Howard and said the following:
"greeeeaaaaaat keeper"
"Excellent"
"the best thing in England for the past 20 year"
"Very atletic and veery intelligent". When he played for Manchester he was still learning how to play in the Premier league. Now he has the potential to be the best keeper in the world".
The last tourist said " dont expect him back in New York for a long time. Also, he is very happy in England. He is a great guy too".
So this is what English fan think about Tim Howard.
I don't usually post in YA, because it's almost impossible to respond to the standard fare without being accused of trolling, but this is just gorgeous. I've never seen a more wilfully fantasist mess of delusions and outright lies on any Internet board, ever. I saluute the poster, the board and the world that made it all possible.