Man U goalies' pecking order[R]

[BillyManutd]

I just want to know your opinion on ManU goalkeepers. It is clear that Howard is #1 and Carroll#2. But who will be called up to the first team when Howard plays for the US in January, leaving only Carroll as goalie because Barthez will never see action with the team and he is with Marseille.
There are some young goalkeepers in the reserves: Steele, Williams, Heaton. who will be called up? or will Man U sign an experienced goalkeeper when the transfer window reopens in January?

[Danks81]

I doubt Howard will get called up for the matches in January. Arena has a history of avoiding conflicts with European clubs and given the more than capable keepers available in the MLS (Brown, Walker, a healthy Rimando) I believe Howard won't miss a match for Man U.

[BillyManutd]

Last week i read an article saying that Arena and Sir Alex have reached an agreement allowing Howard to play two games for the US in January.
Thats why I started this threat

[Achtung]

Originally posted by Danks81
I doubt Howard will get called up for the matches in January. Arena has a history of avoiding conflicts with European clubs and given the more than capable keepers available in the MLS (Brown, Walker, a healthy Rimando) I believe Howard won't miss a match for Man U.

Problem is that it seems out top keepers are all in England right now. I understand that Arena won't want to get into conflicts, but if he wants a good team, he'll need to tap into the guys he has playing abroad.

That said, I think the depth chart for the US at keeper is still Friedel, Keller, Howard, and then probably Hahnemann, all of whom do play in England. Maybe Howard has leapfrogged Keller, but overall I still think Arena sees Friedel as the #1 guy for WC qualifying. After that, he'll probably take Rimando or Jonny Walker or someone else from MLS.

[Achtung]

Originally posted by BillyManutd
Last week i read an article saying that Arena and Sir Alex have reached an agreement allowing Howard to play two games for the US in January.
Thats why I started this threat

Hmm, thats interesting. I wonder if Friedel's troubles this season at Blackburn have led Arena to push Howard as his man. I'd be surprised if Arena based that choice on 1/3 of a Premiership season.

[BillyManutd]

Apparently howard will miss at least 3 ManU matches. So there will be a goalkeeping crisis in ManU bacause with Howard in the US only Carroll is left. Hope that they don't call Carroll for national team duty too.

[sch2383]

Originally posted by BillyManutd
Apparently howard will miss at least 3 ManU matches. So there will be a goalkeeping crisis in ManU bacause with Howard in the US only Carroll is left. Hope that they don't call Carroll for national team duty too.

I believe that was before CONCACAF changed the WCQ schedule. We don't start until June and I doubt Bruce would have Timmy miss 3 matches for friendlies.

[BillyManutd]

Originally posted by sch2383
I believe that was before CONCACAF changed the WCQ schedule. We don't start until June and I doubt Bruce would have Timmy miss 3 matches for friendlies.


WQC is scheduled to start in January and I know that CONCACAF submitted another format to FIFA to start qualifying later but I don't know if FIFA has agreed to the proposal.

[haven]

I wonder how much Arena will weight EPL performance. So far this year, Howard has looked substantially better than either Friedel or Keller, who have both been very average all season.

I don't see the point in Howard missing club games to sit on the bench in qualifiers that will be routs, regardless of who's in goal. The US could start any of about 3 MLS GKs and *still* have the best GK in CONCACAF. And I can't think that the back-up GK needs to learn the "chemistry" of the team all that much by being there. That would annoy me. Starting would be a different matter entirely...

[Motterman]

I could see Fergie releasing Howard for Internationals ONLY if he's the No. 1 choice for those run of games. While Friedel and Keller are both World Class keepers still, Howard is the true heir apparent and it would be extremely short-sighted of Arena to not see if Howard can claim the No. 1 spot and be the US No. 1 for years and years... Since Arena is pretty smart, I can see this happening.

[onefineesq]

Originally posted by BillyManutd
WQC is scheduled to start in January and I know that CONCACAF submitted another format to FIFA to start qualifying later but I don't know if FIFA has agreed to the proposal.

I think that it is FIFA that pushed them to change the schedule in the first place, so it's unlikely that fifa will reject their newest proposal.

[BillyManutd]

Originally posted by onefineesq
I think that it is FIFA that pushed them to change the schedule in the first place, so it's unlikely that fifa will reject their newest proposal.

If this is the case i agree.

[Bizzo]

U.S. fans should be prepared to hate Fergie. Although he is obliged to let Howard leave Fergie is under no obligation to keep Howard's place for him. Managers routinely threaten the starting spots for player who play national outside Europe.

What would Howard's decision be if he had to choose between starting for United and sitting on the bench for the U.S. and possibly losing his spot when he got back.

[bourque312]

Originally posted by Bizzo
U.S. fans should be prepared to hate Fergie. Although he is obliged to let Howard leave Fergie is under no obligation to keep Howard's place for him. Managers routinely threaten the starting spots for player who play national outside Europe.

What would Howard's decision be if he had to choose between starting for United and sitting on the bench for the U.S. and possibly losing his spot when he got back.

It would be 10000X better for US soccer if Howard stayed at Man U. until his spot was ABSOLUTELY secure. The US has a TON of more than capable goalies to take Timmy's place.

[prk166]

Barthez unless he gets sold during the transfer window.

[Motterman]

Originally posted by prk166
Barthez unless he gets sold during the transfer window.

Barthez is at Marseille until the Summer.