Beats a number two, for sure. But when trying to think of a young player's (hopefully) linear progression, it's very tough to do build off a resume that most recently reads "started for a team that got relegated". Usually that just gets you to a similar level team and can stall a career for a period. Not trying to ring the panic bell, but if Horvath can land with a mid-level team instead of one at the bottom, it'll be some much-desired consistency for a goalkeeper who hasn't experienced a ton at this point.
He is overrated and having Berhalter as the coach is a bit biased .....what has he won so far nothing
Big fan of Horvath, but even if he were starting for Brugge in the league #8 in Europe, that wouldn't match Steffen starting in the league #3.
TBF he's won a starting position for one. And that kind of matters - when you're a keeper, especially... I'd be thrilled if Horvath was in the mix too, but you're not going get a lot of traction around here with gratuitous shots just cause you're in some player's camp.
ehhhh.... Steffen has arguably been the best keeper in the Bundesliga so far this year. I don't think that makes him overrated. Although, I agree with you that Berhalter is definitely biased. I think we have two very good US keepers with Steffan and Horvath. I really hope they both have the opportunities to become starters for top clubs in the world sooner than later. Can't we support both instead of trying to knock one down?
Well, he's won a starting place in the Bundesliga, starting every game this season. Let's start with that.
As for Steffen becoming a BL1 starter being down to having Beerholder as his coach, I hadn't realised that the guy was coaching in the Bundesliga. Much obliged for the update . . .
Just everyone's periodical reminder that clubelo.com exists, which has Brugge as the 40th best team in Europe (1708) and Düsseldorf (1580) at 111.
I agree that Horvath has won in Europe (Norway, Belgium) and that Berhalter is clearly biased while being a poor coach (imo) but the folks un-associated with ussoccer in Germany seem to rate Steffen pretty well. Steffen isn't some machination of ussoccer.
Yes, and Steffen is an automatic first choice while Horvath is - yet again - dropped to the bench. Any PT Ethan gets will be for the reserves, which is at RL level, if even that, making him, which means he's playing for the 11,111th best team in Europe. Jesus, what is it with this Steffen hate? Dis he screw someone's girlfriend? Someone's pooch? Both?
He only “won” the starting spot as last years #1 keeper got hurt badly in training camp in a mountain bike accident ....it was a team outing on mountain bikes WTF ? So Steffen lucked out.
And Brugge broke the bank rather than trust Horvath in nets... I mean, is this really the battle you want to have, because I don't see how this works out in Horvath's favor.
He's also keeping an experienced BL1 No. 2 (50 appearances over 5 seasons as Bremen's No. 2) in Raphael Wolff and a 22 year-old prospect signed from VfB Stuttgart on July 1st nailed to the bench to keep that starting spot. That's not lucking out, it's another example of "chance favours the prepared mind".
Admittedly this is going over my head but Brugge has a higher UEFA coefficient as well, as Dusseldorf does not have one at all. This is a really good point but I'd like to add an asterisk in that, even if the opposition won't change, when you get elevated to a higher club your responsibilities are heightened as well. It's one thing to look like a king among peasants, but it's another thing to perform well with a higher level team. But yes the opposition is incredibly important. Brugge played a top 100 team 20 times last season and it looks like Steffen is set to play a top 100 team around 26 times this year.
BTW, love the site. I'm a sucker for rankings and such, although I understand they are more descriptive than predictive, since they rely on the past for a rather long period, while the present is more due to form, that can change fast. So while I understand why a club like Schalke is ranked #56 right now, if we take form into account, they're a Top 50 at the moment. Another way to see the Brugge vs. Düsseldorf is that while Mignolet is going to face no Top 50 clubs in regular league play (as per your list), Steffen is going to face nine of them, twice each. And that with a terrible defense in front. There's a reason why he's the keeper with the most saves by far in the Bundesliga: 36, the next one is Gulácsi with 27 (Leipzig): https://www.bundesliga.com/en/stats...n/all-matchdays/player-stats/goalkeeper-saves