Keller - Aiming to be on USA 2010 WC squad

[FirstStar]

He wants to be our starter in 2010:

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6595070

I suppose I can understand the desire to get back up after what was a poor showing in Germany. Still, I hope that the USA will be able to do better than his 40-year-old reflexes in South Africa. My money's on Timmy.

[Sandon Mibut]

This isn't germain to this conversation but out of curiosity I'd like to know how many first team games Keller has for top flights teams in his career.

That is to say, his games with Leicester, Rayo Vallecano, Tottenham and Mochengladbach - all of which were in their respective countries highest division - but not his games at Milwall, which was in the second division (pre Premiership days) and first division (after the inception of the EPL) when Kasey played there.

[russ]

I think the crunch may come if Tim becomes the #1-which is clearly the likely scenario right now.
Would KK be a backup again or will he "retire from intertnational play" once it's clear he's not first choice?

[Sandon Mibut]

Nevermind, looked it up and if you believe Wilkipedia, he's got 289 top flight first-team games.

He's also got some UEFA Cup appearnces but I haven't tracked those down.

All told, however, when you combine his 96 caps (and counting) with his top flight games, his UEFA Cup games and the 178 games Wiki says he played at Milwall and it's an absolutely great run. Just amazing.

I'd like to think Timmeh! could beat him out but I'm not gonna bet against Keller.

[Jabinho]

I hope Kasey isn't just trying to break Mexican goalkeeper Carbajal's record of having conceded 25 career goals at the WC..;)
To be fair, a Saudi goalkeeper tied it in 2002 so Kasey would be chasing a shared record..

I guess this is an argument we won't fairly be able to ivolve until we're much closer to 2010.. We'll know after the hex..
Guessing based on age and current form isn't fair..:p

[voros]

Kasey Keller would be older than any player who made any of the rosters in the last three World Cups. He'd be five months older than Ali Boumnijel was at the last World Cup, he'd be 8 months older than Jim Leighton was in 1998.

I don't think he 's playing better than Howard is right now, why on Earth would I think he'd be able to do so in 2010 at 40 and a half years old?

See this is why long time key players for national teams announce their international retirements like Reyna, Pope and McBride did; it avoids the unpleasant situation where you have to push aside someone who has been so important to the program for so long.

Are we or are we not a nation renowned for its goalkeepers? Why on Earth would we need to cling to a guy pushing 41 when we got three guys starting in the Premiership who are actually younger?

[Eleven Bravo]

I'm glad to see he's not giving up. Granted, i think he won't be my #1 pick (Howard), but he'll only be two years older than Hahnemann in 2010 & most people have them penciled in on their rosters. And this will only make Howard push harder to make sure Keller doesn't beat him out.

[FreddyAduhowdoyoudo]

Keller's had his time. He should also declare his USNT retirement.


It's Howard's job now with Hahnemann as a back up in case he gets injured.

[voros]

I'm glad to see he's not giving up. Granted, i think he won't be my #1 pick (Howard), but he'll only be two years older than Hahnemann
Two years and seven months, and Hahnemann is similarly too aged to be counted on. These guys are old, even by goalkeeper standards. Fitting the last three world cups onto 2010 years, Goalkeeper birth years from the last three World Cups (adjusted to fit a 2010 World Cup):

1969 - 0 - Kasey Keller
1970 - 2 -
1971 - 2 - Brad Friedel
1972 - 1 - Marcus Hahnemann
1973 - 11 - Zach Thornton
1974 - 10 - Kevin Hartman
1975 - 14 - Joe Cannon, Matt Reis
1976 - 20 -
1977 - 19 - Jon Conway
1978 - 21 - Adin Brown
1979 - 20 - Tim Howard
1980 - 18 -
1981 - 24 - Zach Wells, Troy Perkins
1982 - 22 - Matt Pickens
1983 - 23 - Steve Cronin
1984 - 12 - Brad Guzan
1985 - 15 - Tally Hall
1986 - 20 -
1987 - 13 - Chris Seitz
1988 - 3 -
1989 - 9 - Joe Bendik
1990 - 4 - Josh Lambo
1991 - 0 - Zach McMath
1992 - 2 - Samir Badr
1993 - 0 -

285 Goalkeepers total.

In other words, 280 of the 285 keepers were substantially younger than Marcus Hahnemann will be, and Kasey is more than two and a half years older than Marcus. Guys the ages Chris Seitz, Joe Bendik and Josh Lambo will be are significantly more likely to make World Cup rosters than guys Kasey and Marcus' age.

Hahnemann, maybe, if he plays out of his skull for several years. But most likely, they're too old, even for goalkeepers. That guys _can_ play well at that age doesn't mean they will. The above numbers tend to suggest otherwise.

[markinho]

For me, Keller and Friedel are really the only two keepers who really have historically given me some peace of mind in the US goal over the last decade. Keller really sealed his legacy with that friendly win against Brazil several years back--the one where Romario remarked that Keller's performance was the best he'd ever seen. So with Friedel retired from US duty, who's the competition? Howard has improved, especially now that he's got some solid performances lined up with Everton. After that, it remains to be seen who's really #1--despite the relatively deep US goalkeeper pool.

But still, is Keller going to be the US version of Germany's Oliver Kahn and adopt a never-say-die attitude as he focuses his attention on a death grip on the USMNT goalkeeper position instead of incoming opponents' shots? I hope not. That can't be good for player development. And as good as Keller has been, I don't see him maintaining his ability over another WC cycle.

So other than putting pressure on the upstarts like Howard, Hahnemann, et al to assert themselves and/or so that they don't get complacent, I don't see how Keller's refusal to go gently into this good night helps anything. Then again, I've always maintained that the US should field its best starting XI.

And if Keller is in that XI in 2010, as good as he's been, God help us.

[dsp87260]

I'm glad to see he's not giving up. Granted, i think he won't be my #1 pick (Howard), but he'll only be two years older than Hahnemann in 2010 & most people have them penciled in on their rosters. And this will only make Howard push harder to make sure Keller doesn't beat him out.

Not only that, but as those of you who have read through the other thread re this (in USA Men*) know....Keller at 40 wouldn't be the oldest keeper to have started for his nation at the World Cup. There are a couple of them who were older (some very well known names).

I'm not gonna' predict the future and say he'll be the starter or even on the squad, but as the best ever goalkeeper in US history for the USMNT...I'm not gonna' count him out either.



*Just out of curiosity.....why was it moved (from here to there)?


EDIT: I just looked at the other thread, and the info about the other keepers over 40 isn't in the thread itself....it's in the 2nd article that was linked to.
Keller hoping to keep starting spot (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/03/21/bc.soc.ecuador.us.ap/)
Dino Zoff captained Italy to the 1982 World Cup title at age 40 and Peter Shilton was nearly 41 when he started for England at the 1990 tournament.

The other article was from Yanks-Abroad.com
BRADLEY: KEEPER COMPETITION IS OPEN (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=2891)

[art]

Hey cmon man, Keller is in some ways the ultimate competitor with the US Nats, he's said he won't ever "retire" from the national team like McBride or Reyna or Friedel, he'll be available until he stops getting called, and give his all when called, and is still capable of playing well at a true international level, the only guy in the current pool of GK's to have proven this.

I think that's the proper attitude, don't you? Who gives a shit how old he is or will be in 2010, if he's the best guy available, play him. Who was the Italian goalkeeper who won a world cup at age 40? I should know, I dont remember.

FWIW I think Hahnemann should get called in too, he's not much younger but arguably playing better than anyone.

[LittleMaradona]

Keller's had his time. He should also declare his USNT retirement.
I only hope that Donovan does the same.

[LittleMaradona]

Hey cmon man, Keller is in some ways the ultimate competitor with the US Nats, he's said he won't ever "retire" from the national team like McBride or Reyna or Friedel, he'll be available until he stops getting called, and give his all when called, and is still capable of playing well at a true international level, the only guy in the current pool of GK's to have proven this.
Alot of times, it seems like KK is the only USMNT player out on the field that gives a crap to be wearing a US jersey.

[speedoblobb]

I have great respect for your knowledge of the game, but I don't think you've fully realized that the game was invented when humans were much slower and shorter than they are now. Please enlarge the goal by one foot higher and 2 feet wider. Thanks. THE ALIENS. We watch soccer and want it to be hugely popular!@!#!!#

[green94]

I only hope that Donovan does the same.

:rolleyes: Because 25 and consistant starter is the perfect candidate for retirement.

[entropy]

Aside from a potential testimonial match, I don't wanna see Kasey Keller again in a U.S. jersey, especially on a World Cup team. Keller's a frakkin' jinx for World Cups...dude's never won a match in the finals.

[mrliioadin]

I am a die hard Keller fan. The man is hands down the best U.S. product to the world game. I would not be against him playing in 2010 as long as he's still in form however I think that it is far more likely that his role in the national team will be in qualifiers. There will be several circumstances where Howard or Hahnamann cannot make it to a qualifier. Keller would step in, do a good job, and head back to Monchengladboch (sp?).

In short. Use his experience to get us through qualifiers... don't worry about who is in for 2010 until we get there. More than likely we'll go with the young guns... or younger perhaps. but If Keller is there, I'm sure he'll do a fine job.

[Geneva]

Someone once said it's a young man's tournament. I know not specifically goalkeepers, but still. He's a long, long shot. I say give the young guys in their prime a chance. They will need experience the next 3 years to get them at their peak internationally for the World Cup. We won't be able to spare a lot of caps on Kasey - we probably shouldn't spare any. I'm against using him in the qualifiers. But if 2010 comes & he's still one of the 3 best as shown by his club play, then fine, bring him to S.A.

[mrliioadin]

Aside from a potential testimonial match, I don't wanna see Kasey Keller again in a U.S. jersey, especially on a World Cup team. Keller's a frakkin' jinx for World Cups...dude's never won a match in the finals.

Sorry for the second post.

I can't think of a single game Keller lost for us. He played well in net in all of the games. The teams lost the games and people want to use this as an excuse to do away with him.