That would make Cropper like Victor Valdes. Not so sure I like that comparison. Also Cropper started the last two U21 matches for Southampton. A 5-2 loss to West Ham and a 3-3 draw with West Brom.
Will join the U-20s for the Toulon Tournament: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...nder-20-roster-toulon-tournament-seven-mlsers
Considering that the Saints have three other goalkeepers (Artur Boruc, Paulo Gazzaniga, and Kelvin Davis) on first team contracts that they did take with Spain with the first team for preseason I would say not good.
Probably won't be part of the first team this season, but Boruc is 33 and Davis is 36. I doubt that both will be with Southampton for the 2014-2015 season. Cropper might have a chance to be the #3 GK for that season.
Hurt his finger in a U21 friendly against Sunderland: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/u21s-held-by-black-cats-925805.aspx
Cropper is back from his injury and played in U21/"XI" games against Welling and Brighton U21 recently. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/welling-utd-3-3-saints-xi-report-955447.aspx http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/brighton-u21s-1-5-saints-u21s-report-966459.aspx
So what's life like as a u-21 GK for a Premier League club? Are they still part of the academy? Do they get bonuses if they make the roster on gamedays?
Don't know about the latter but U-21's are technically still in the academy. Some players in Spurs academy like Milos or Bentaleb have been playing on that level whilst competing in other youth tournaments.
Do you think he'll be a starting GK for them someday? I'm trying to update my FIFA 14 DB but I have no idea what Cropper's potential is.
so could he actually start tomorrow??? http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/...er-u-s-international-goalkeeper-cody-cropper/
This has to put him in contention to be a wild card for a World Cup spot. Not that Rimando, Johnson, Hamid, etc. aren't capable of sitting on the bench for a BPL team, but if Cropper was to see any minutes with Southampton this year, it would be hard to ignore that. Cropper has shown well with the U-20's and has already been called up to the National Team. I'm not saying he is in contention for a place yet, but I think he could be in a few months. This opportunity isn't coming because Cropper has played extraordinary, but he has a chance to cement a place within the Southampton first team, and now would be a good time for him to show what he can do.
Of course, but he will probably get a chance or two in a league cup game. Gazzaniga is also a bad keeper. I wouldn't be so sure that he is head and shoulders more highly regarded by Southampton. If Gazzaniga has another few bad performances, Cropper might get a chance that way.
Gazzaniga gave up three goals today and got a 5.4 rating from whoscored, which was by far the worst on Southampton. This was his second really poor game in a row. I think Cropper might get a shot soon.
Boruc is out two months. I don't know how long Davis is out. I think he has a hamstring injury thats not very serious. I am not sure though and the internet doesn't have much on his injury. If Cropper proves that he is good enough for the first team, I don't think Davis would overtake Cropper once he is back. Davis is 37 years old with very little BPL experience. He has played most of his career in the 2nd and 3rd divisions of England. He also has shown that he isn't good enough for the BPL level.
He has no chance for the World Cup team. Mainly, because he isn't very good (he was a disaster for the Under 20s) and secondly because his elevation to the Southhampton bench is just temporary.