For first time in years, U.S. starting goalkeeper job completely up for grabs

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 13, 2017

LISBON -- Go through each U.S. World Cup team over the past 25-plus years, and there is steady progression of goalkeeping legends. You start with Tony Meola, move on to Kasey Keller, then to Brad Friedel, back to Keller before settling on Tim Howard. Sure, some handoffs were more seamless than others. The Keller/Friedel competition was more like a wrestling match, but there always seemed to be a fairly clear line of succession.

Of course, the U.S. string of either hosting or qualifying for seven straight World Cups has now been broken, and with it the succession line for keepers is looking less clear-cut as well. At 38, this looks to be the end of the line for Howard at the international level. Brad Guzan, who largely split the duties with Howard this cycle, is 33 and still has something left in the tank, though who knows for how long.

So with Guzan not called in for Tuesday's friendly against Portugal, an opportunity beckons for Club Brugge goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, FC Dallas' Jesse Gonzalez, and Bill Hamid, who recently secured a move to Danish side Midtjylland from D.C. United. In some ways, the U.S. has been down this road before, especially when Howard took a yearlong sabbatical from national team commitments after the 2014 World Cup. But it seemed like the U.S. team, regardless of who was in charge, never stopped looking over its collective shoulder at Howard, though Guzan did his bit to challenge.

So this gathering has a different feel to it, especially since the U.S. has 19 months or so until its next competitive fixture. The prospect for a sea change in the goalkeeping department has never been more real. The list of keepers training in Lisbon is by no means exhaustive either, especially with the Columbus Crew's Zack Steffen dazzling in the MLS playoffs.

At 26, Hamid is the oldest of the current group, and has been a pro for eight years now. His move overseas will see him leave his comfort zone after spending his entire professional career with D.C. United.

"I think it's a good thing to step out of the league and see what the European environment is like," he said prior to Sunday's training session. "It's one thing watching it, it's another playing in it. I think it's going to benefit me tremendously as a goalkeeper in terms of growing, in terms of technique, in terms of efficiency, in terms of my all-around play I think it's going to benefit me tremendously."

That process has been taking place for some time now. Early on in Hamid's career he was pegged as a shot-stopper but not someone adept at reading the game. Yet U.S. goalkeeper coach Matt Reis has seen steady progress in that regard.

"Hamid has really come around and knows himself in terms of goalkeeping," said Reis. "It takes a while to be seasoned so to speak, and go through a lot of trials and tribulations. I think no matter what, when you play in games, you learn with experience. That's why you see a lot of these older goalies who do well at an old age because they've seen it all. The guy's coming in saying, 'I've seen this a million times, I know what to do.' I think Hamid has come around on that. I think he's settled into being a top-class goalkeeper."

If anything has held Hamid back it's been injuries. The last two off-seasons have seen him sustain knee injuries that knocked him out of January camps. On Sunday, the topic of Hamid's injury history was met with a curt "I haven't been hurt all year." While it's true the 2017 injury didn't see Hamid miss any game time with his club, and that the even played one match at the Gold Cup, historically the ailments have slowed his ascension within the national team pecking order.

Gonzalez's season proved to be more up and down, coinciding with an FC Dallas free fall in the second half that resulted in FCD failing to reach the postseason. But Gonzalez is viewed as a keeper with tremendous upside, even if his technique is still somewhat raw.

"Gonzalez reminds me of [former L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper} Jaime Penedo in that his technique might not be great, but he finds a way to make saves," said Reis. "The timing and the ability to be in those spots is something you can't teach. You either have it or you don't, and he definitely has it. It's just a matter of technically ironing out a few of those things that aren't perfect and getting better at those day in and day out."

Reis' description conjures up images of a pitcher with awkward mechanics who still baffles the opposition, and therefore is best left alone. So does Reis try to change the way Gonzalez does things, or does he not mess with what's working?

"It's a little bit of both," he said. "I think in a national team setting you can't affect too much change on players. We don't have that much time, but just little things you're trying to remind him of and constantly telling him. It's tough in practice because you're getting there and reacting. You're trying not to think too much. When you overthink things usually bad things happen, so it's a lot of little key reminders to say, 'Hey, watch this.'"

Gonzales indicated that Reis has been working on having the keeper be more adept with the ball at his feet, and the 22-year-old has been spurred by Dallas' late-season flameout.

"It's something that motivates me, knowing that we didn't go through to the playoffs," he said. "It's something [where] I come here and keep working knowing there's always next year, and looking to improve.

Horvath has been dealing with a different kind of challenge. A calendar year that has largely seen him on an upward trajectory flattened out two weeks ago when he was benched by club manager Ivan Leko, even with Club Brugge six points clear at the top of the Jupiler Pro League standings. Now a spot in the lineup that appeared to be his is up for grabs.

"Stuff like this happens in a professional career. You've just got to deal with it and in training work even harder," he said. "I think for me, I'll take it as a bit of a test to make sure my head is okay, that I can handle it and deal with it. I think it's a positive that I can come here to this camp. I can recharge the batteries and get everything out of my head and go back with a clear mind and ready to go."

That levelheaded demeanor is among the attributes that have impressed Reis.

"Horvath is a calm goalkeeper back there," he said. "He's got very good feet. He's long, so he can make a lot of stops. Watching a lot of games in Belgium, he's made a lot of saves to help his team up into first place."

Horvath is the youngest of the bunch, but may have the best chance of playing on Tuesday. Gonzalez's season ended a couple of weeks ago. Hamid was benched at D.C. United for the last month of the campaign as his contract situation saw D.C. look elsewhere. To compensate, Hamid has been training with Preston North End goalkeeper coach Dean Kiely in a bid to stay fit.

Regardless of who plays, Tuesday's match will be the first step in a long journey to see who will the one to take over the goalkeeping position.
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olephill2 · Nov 14, 2017

You know, this 2018 qualifying cycle was really the first time since 1994 that goalkeeping hasn't been a major strength of the US team. For so long, we've been able to count on our exceptional goalkeepers to bail us out and keep us in games. I think about Tim Howard's performances against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup or in that 0-0 friendly against Argentina in 2008. Or Brad Friedel's performance against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup. Or Kasey Keller's in that famous 1-0 win against Brazil in 1998.

We didn't have that luxury this cycle. Tim Howard (bless his heart) finally started to show his age. Brad Guzan, while solid and pretty steady, never emerged as an elite goalkeeper. The guys in their prime age years (Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, etc.) either haven't taken the leap to elite or haven't been given opportunities to do so.

That said, I'm optimistic about the future. I think Bill Hamid is a talented keeper and he has an opportunity to continue to improve with his move to Europe. He also has all the physical tools in terms of being a great shot stopper.

I think the young trio of Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath and Jesse Gonzalez all have great promise. Steffen has impressed me continually, and despite his adversity with Club Brugge the past few weeks, I think Horvath has good potential.

And while we give opportunities to Hamid to see what he's made of and while we wait for these younger guys to hit their prime, Brad Guzan should still be a solid stopgap option for us for the next few years, either as a starter or a capable backup.

Eleven Bravo · Nov 14, 2017

The 2018 cycle seemed like a train wreck ever since the end of the 2014 World Cup. Personally, I’m just glad it’s over. I’m ready to fall back in love with this team, as that was really tested this past cycle. That said, I’m excited to see the new blood. Horvath vs Gonzalez vs Steffen vs Hamid... they should all get a shot. I’d probably start Hamid today, although I want Horvath, just because he’s a little older and might settle the team down. However, I might sub Horvath at the half. Gonzalez can wait, same with Steffen, until January Camp. Right now, we can spend time alternating between the 4 to see who rises to the top.

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 14, 2017

I agree. Gonzalez and Steffen in the winter camp.

Hamid has experience but hasn't played in maybe 2 months I think. While Horvath hasn't played in 2 weeks. I wonder if the coach might take this into account.

chad · Nov 14, 2017

LouisianaViking07/09 said: ↑

I agree. Gonzalez and Steffen in the winter camp.

Hamid has experience but hasn't played in maybe 2 months I think. While Horvath hasn't played in 2 weeks. I wonder if the coach might take this into account.
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An important thing to remember for tonight is that Dave Sarachan is an idiot.

STR1 · Nov 14, 2017

chad said: ↑

An important thing to remember for tonight is that Dave Sarachan is an idiot.
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Excellent point!

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 15, 2017

chad said: ↑

An important thing to remember for tonight is that Dave Sarachan is an idiot.
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can you elaborate?

juveeer · Nov 15, 2017

Steffen is the best of the bunch IMHO. Gonzalez, I want to se him too. Jan camp will be critical for both. Too bad we won't have a real coach in charge by then.

chad · Nov 15, 2017

LouisianaViking07/09 said: ↑

can you elaborate?
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He's a terrible coach who only gets head coach jobs via inheritance or sentimentalism. He's a good example of the Peter principle.

RoyalYank · Nov 15, 2017

olephill2 said: ↑

You know, this 2018 qualifying cycle was really the first time since 1994 that goalkeeping hasn't been a major strength of the US team. For so long, we've been able to count on our exceptional goalkeepers to bail us out and keep us in games. I think about Tim Howard's performances against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup or in that 0-0 friendly against Argentina in 2008. Or Brad Friedel's performance against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup. Or Kasey Keller's in that famous 1-0 win against Brazil in 1998.

We didn't have that luxury this cycle. Tim Howard (bless his heart) finally started to show his age. Brad Guzan, while solid and pretty steady, never emerged as an elite goalkeeper. The guys in their prime age years (Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, etc.) either haven't taken the leap to elite or haven't been given opportunities to do so.

That said, I'm optimistic about the future. I think Bill Hamid is a talented keeper and he has an opportunity to continue to improve with his move to Europe. He also has all the physical tools in terms of being a great shot stopper.

I think the young trio of Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath and Jesse Gonzalez all have great promise. Steffen has impressed me continually, and despite his adversity with Club Brugge the past few weeks, I think Horvath has good potential.

And while we give opportunities to Hamid to see what he's made of and while we wait for these younger guys to hit their prime, Brad Guzan should still be a solid stopgap option for us for the next few years, either as a starter or a capable backup.
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Goalkeeper has been a major strength for us since 1930 in Uruguay. Meola was a pillar, a rock in 1990

olephill2 · Nov 15, 2017

RoyalYank said: ↑

Goalkeeper has been a major strength for us since 1930 in Uruguay. Meola was a pillar, a rock in 1990
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I like Tony Meola and he was a good keeper, but I don't think he was ever at the same level as Brad Friedel or Tim Howard in their primes, or even Kasey Keller when he was at his best. I consider Meola more at the level of a Brad Guzan (one step below Howard and Friedel, and Keller).

But yes, relative to the rest of our squad in 1990, Meola was good.

Bruce S · Nov 15, 2017

chad said: ↑

He's a terrible coach who only gets head coach jobs via inheritance or sentimentalism. He's a good example of the Peter principle.
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team played well under him last night

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 15, 2017

olephill2 said: ↑

I like Tony Meola and he was a good keeper, but I don't think he was ever at the same level as Brad Friedel or Tim Howard in their primes, or even Kasey Keller when he was at his best. I consider Meola more at the level of a Brad Guzan (one step below Howard and Friedel, and Keller).

But yes, relative to the rest of our squad in 1990, Meola was good.
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what's amazing is he started in 2 World Cups. 7 WC games.

And he was 21 during the first tournament. Hard to imagine Horvath or Steffen as our no.1 (at age 22) now

olephill2 · Nov 16, 2017

LouisianaViking07/09 said: ↑

what's amazing is he started in 2 World Cups. 7 WC games.

And he was 21 during the first tournament. Hard to imagine Horvath or Steffen as our no.1 (at age 22) now
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For sure. Meola had kind of a weird USMNT career, though. He emerged at a very young age (while he was still in college), toward the tail end of the dark ages for US soccer. He started every match for the US at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and earned a ton of caps in between, so he was clearly ahead of Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel in the pecking order during that cycle. Then, he didn't appear at all for the US from 1995 - 1998, which should've been the prime of his career based on age (including missing the 1998 World Cup). A great run of form in MLS in 1999 brought him back into the national team picture, mostly as our #3 guy behind Keller and Friedel, and he made the World Cup squad as our #3 keeper in 2002 as a 33 year old. He would only appear for the US one more time after that tournament - a testimonial match in 2006 as he earned his 100th cap.

RoyalYank · Nov 16, 2017

olephill2 said: ↑

For sure. Meola had kind of a weird USMNT career, though. He emerged at a very young age (while he was still in college), toward the tail end of the dark ages for US soccer. He started every match for the US at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and earned a ton of caps in between, so he was clearly ahead of Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel in the pecking order during that cycle. Then, he didn't appear at all for the US from 1995 - 1998, which should've been the prime of his career based on age (including missing the 1998 World Cup). A great run of form in MLS in 1999 brought him back into the national team picture, mostly as our #3 guy behind Keller and Friedel, and he made the World Cup squad as our #3 keeper in 2002 as a 33 year old. He would only appear for the US one more time after that tournament - a testimonial match in 2006 as he earned his 100th cap.
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You know why Meola had a weird career? cause after he shut down England in one of the most impressive games a keeper ever had: 1993 friendly (Lalas goal)...nobody in England signed him.

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 16, 2017

Is that true? didn't he have an italian passport

Surely he must have had some European interest after starting in 2 WC's

eric_appleby · Nov 16, 2017

Meola certainly had his moments. He was not the weak link in those teams.

LouisianaViking07/09 · Nov 16, 2017

eric_appleby said: ↑

Meola certainly had his moments. He was not the weak link in those teams.
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Meola made his U.S. National Team debut on June 10, 1988, against Ecuador. Meola's second cap came in a June 4, 1989 victory over Peru in the Marlboro Cup which won the U.S. the cup. The team took the trophy to the Scots-American Club in Kearny, New Jersey. After the party, Meola drove back to the team's hotel, dropped the trophy at the front desk and drove home. As he remembers it, "A week later Doug Newman called me up and asked where the cup was. I told him I'd left it at for him at the hotel. . . . I'm sure they got it back. Back then there weren't too many cups in U.S. Soccer."[3]

Later in the summer, the national team went on a tour of Italy, playing several Serie A teams. At the time, David Vanole was the U.S. starter, but he and Meola had traded goalkeeper duties over the previous month as Vanole fought USSF on a contract dispute and attempted to get his burgeoning weight under control. U.S. coach Bob Gansler intended to start Meola against A.S. Roma, but Meola was injured in a freak accident when a ball struck his head during practice. Vanole started in his place, but let in three weak goals in a 4-3 U.S. victory.[4] Gansler benched Vanole, who never again played for the U.S., and turned toward Meola as his starting keeper. Meola went on to play the remaining U.S. qualifying games for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, including the famous 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago which clinched a spot in the finals for the U.S. He then played every minute in goal for the U.S. in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Meola remained the keeper of choice for the U.S. national team from 1990 through the 1994 FIFA World Cup. At that tournament, his play and ponytail made him a recognizable face around the country. After the U.S. loss to Brazil in the second round of the World Cup, Meola informed the U.S. coach Bora Milutinović that he intended to pursue a professional football career as a placekicker. Milutinović never called Meola back to the U.S. team and it was not until January 1999 that Meola again played for the U.S. By that time, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel were competing for the starting goalkeeper spot on the team and Meola never regained the first team place he had enjoyed in the early 1990s. However, he continued to play for the U.S. and earned his 100th cap in 2006. He was the third-choice goalkeeper at the 2002 FIFA World Cup behind Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller.

Really interesting

Scotty · Nov 17, 2017

olephill2 said: ↑

I like Tony Meola and he was a good keeper, but I don't think he was ever at the same level as Brad Friedel or Tim Howard in their primes, or even Kasey Keller when he was at his best. I consider Meola more at the level of a Brad Guzan (one step below Howard and Friedel, and Keller).
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Yeah, just check out the goal he allowed against Romania in the 1994 WC. It wasn't pretty.

LouisianaViking07/09 said: ↑

Surely he must have had some European interest after starting in 2 WC's
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He did. After the 1990 WC he had stints in England with Brighton and Watford. They didn't pan out.

comoesa · Nov 17, 2017

I'd leave Horvarth alone with his club to win the starting job back.

I'd start Hamid. Gonzales and Steffen can challenge him.

russ · Nov 18, 2017

Keepers don't win jobs,they lose them.

HomietheClown · Nov 18, 2017

Horvath, Steffen, Hamid

Rotate them and see who plays better.

RoyalYank · Nov 19, 2017

LouisianaViking07/09 said: ↑

Is that true? didn't he have an italian passport

Surely he must have had some European interest after starting in 2 WC's
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you would think....then again you (and I) might also choose a healthy 2009 Clint Dempsey over an injured Bobby Zamora in a Europa Cup Semi? or the Final over Gera and Zamora? no accounting for english/european taste. :-(

RoyalYank · Nov 19, 2017

comoesa said: ↑

I'd leave Horvarth alone with his club to win the starting job back.

I'd start Hamid. Gonzales and Steffen can challenge him.
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HomietheClown said: ↑

Horvath, Steffen, Hamid

Rotate them and see who plays better.
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give the gloves to Guzan. Hamid #2...everyone else can hang. I don't even want a #3.

RoyalYank · Nov 19, 2017

chad said: ↑

An important thing to remember for tonight is that Dave Sarachan is an idiot.
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what? GFYYMFI/A. Sarachan is all that is right about the USMNT